In the wee hours of Monday morning, Christel was awakened by a loud thud against their hotel room door. She sat straight up in bed just as the thud sounded again. She looked around the dark room at the door and waited in silence. When the thud sounded again fear gripped her as she reached for Kevin's sleeping form.
"Kevin!! Kevin wake up!! I heard a noise at the door," she cried. Kevin mumbled something incoherent and rolled over away from her.
"God Kevin you could sleep through an earthquake," she muttered. "Kevin wake up!!" she fairly yelled. Kevin, startled by her yelling, sat straight up in bed.
"What the fu. . . Christel do you realize what time it is?" he asked groggily.
"Yes, I know what time it is but I heard a noise at the door," she replied fearfully. He just looked at her and listened.
"I don't hear anything. It was probably just a dream," he replied. Just as he got those words out of his mouth the thud came again only louder than the first time. Christel nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Just a dream? So what are we having collective dreams now, Kevin?" she asked clutching his arm.
"Ok well what do you want me to do?" he asked.
"Go see what it is," she almost shrieked. Kevin looked at her in utter disbelief.
"You're seriously scared aren't you?" he asked.
"Well usually when someone is banging on your door like that in the middle of the night it's not a good thing. Now would you go see what's going on please, Kevin."
"Ok ok just get your nails out of my arm and I'll see what's going on." Kevin quietly slipped from the bed, made his way to the door and peered out the peephole.
"It's AJ," he said to her.
"AJ?" she asked climbing out of the bed and coming to stand next to him. "Maybe something's wrong, open the door." Kevin cracked the door open. As soon as that was done the door flew open, narrowly missing her head and AJ staggered into the doorway.
"Hey you guys. . . did I interrupt something?" he stammered grinning like an idiot.
"Just our sleep," Kevin muttered.
"AJ what's wrong? You look. . . . odd. Are you drunk?" she asked getting closer to him.
"Nooooooo. . . I'm not drunk. I'm just a tiny bit buzzed. . . but not drunk," he stuttered. Christel and Kevin looked at each other.
"Well why the hell did you come here? This ain't your room," Kevin asked getting irritated.
"I neeeeeedddd to talk to Chrisssssssssy for your inflammation," AJ said swaying on his feet.
"Inflammation? I think you mean information," he corrected him.
"That's what I said Mr. Smarty pants. You know what Kev you're not all that
and-"
"What do you need to talk to me about AJ?" Christel asked interrupting him.
"I need to talk about. . . everything," he said.
"Care to be a little more specific? It's a little late to talk about everything," she replied wearily.
"Everyone's leaving me. . ." he started as he plopped down in a chair. Kevin let out a heavy sigh and sat down at the foot of the bed.
"Everyone like who, AJ?" she pressed on.
"First you left me and then Chinita left me. . . Nick left me downstairs in the bar. . . everyone is leaving me," he sobbed. Kevin and Christel shot each other another glance.
"AJ it's ok. My leaving you was your own fault. You cheated on me remember? I'm still your friend though and I'm willing to help you in almost any way I can. As for Chinita and uuuhhh Nick I can't speak for them."
"No one loves me anymore. No one loves me. I love everyone but no one loves me," he sobbed on. Kevin rolled his eyes muttering, "You loving everyone is what made her leave your ass in the first place."
"Kevin," she admonished.
"AJ can you wrap this up I'm tired," he said ignoring her.
"Seeeeee even Keeeevvv doesn't loooovve me," he wailed covering his face with his hands.
"That's not true AJ we love you. . . everyone loves you, we're your friends," Christel comforted him.
"Oh yeah well if you love me soo much than say it, Kev," AJ wailed.
"Say what?" he asked.
"Say that you love me Keevv," he said. Kevin shot him a glare that could have cut glass.
"AJ you're drunk," he replied.
"See he don't love me," he sobbed covering his face again. Christel went over to where Kevin sat.
"Tell him that you love him," she whispered.
"Have you lost your mind? I'm not telling that drunk that I love him," Kevin whispered back.
"Look, the faster you tell him the faster we can go back to bed. You're not the only one who's tired here, Kevin," she said. They both looked at AJ who had begun singing "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" to himself. Kevin sighed to himself.
"Ok fine. . .," he said.
"You abandoned me, love don't live here anymooooooorrree. Just a vacancy, love don't live here anymoooooooorrre," he sang.
"AJ. . . AJ?" AJ, stopped singing and peered at him through his hands. "I. . . love you. . ." he muttered.
"I don't believe you," AJ sobbed. Kevin looked at Christel as AJ continued to sing.
"Go on say it louder hon," she said.
"When you lived inside of me, there was nothing I could conceive, that you wouldn't do for me, trouble seemed so far away, you changed that right away, baaaabbbby," he sang louder.
"AJ, I love you," Kevin said in a huff.
"You do?" AJ asked.
"Uuummm yeah apparently," he said shooting a glance toward Christel. Suddenly AJ burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Christel and Kevin asked simultaneously.
"I never thought I'd get you to say it," AJ replied between laughter. "AJ, I love you," he said mimicking Kevin, who looked fit to kill.
"AJ what the fuck is your problem," he shouted. "You barge into my room at 3:29 in the fucking morning and decide to play games? Get your drunk ass out of here now before I physically throw you out." AJ stopped laughing and looked at Christel who rolled her eyes at him.
"AJ. . . get out," she replied suppressing a yawn.
"Wait Christel. . . I actually do need to talk to you," he said sounding sober despite his slight staggering.
"Do it in the morning. . . I'm going to bed," she said. AJ stumbled to the door and stepped into the hall.
"Goodnight," he said with a wave. Kevin shut the door on him. As they climbed back into bed Kevin asked,
"What the hell do you think that was about?"
"I don't know precisely but I think tomorrow is going to be interesting," Christel answered snuggling down beside Kevin.
******
AJ stumbled his way to his room feeling like an idiot and a little bit queasy. Fishing through his pocket he couldn't decide whether he wanted to throw up or just go to bed. His mind was a jumble of thoughts. It took a couple of tries to get his key to work in the lock and to get his door to open. When he finally had the door open AJ decided that he needed to lay down rather than throw up. Just as his head hit the pillow he felt nauseous but didn't feel the need to vomit. Deciding the bed would be more comfortable than the bathroom floor he stayed in the bed. As AJ drifted off into unconsciousness his last thoughts were of Chinita.
******
The next day, Christel awoke alone in the huge bed that she shared with Kevin. I'm really getting sick of this. I hate waking up alone, she thought. She rolled out of bed and wrapped herself securely in a warm robe. Not really feeling up to going down to the caf� she figured she'd order room service. Christel reached for the phone and noticed a note in Kevin's handwriting. Wiping the sleep from her eyes she picked up the note written on the hotel stationary that read:
Christel,
You looked so peaceful asleep and you seemed so tired last night after AJ's "visit" that I didn't want to wake you. I'm going to the studio today. I don't know when I'll be back but I'll call you on our break. See ya when I get back..
Love,
Kevin
She set the letter back on the night stand with a sigh and picked up the phone to call down to room service. Looking at the clock she realized how late it was, it was nearly 1:00pm.
"Geez I hadn't realized I slept so long," she said to herself. Christel placed her order with room service then went to the bathroom for a quick shower. By the time she was out and wrapped securely in a robe there was a knock at the door. She crossed the room quickly and let the food in.
"You can just set it over there," she said.
"Yes ma'am," he replied. She went to the dresser to pick out something to wear as the man busied himself with the food. Just as he went to the door and cleared his throat to signal his departure the phone rang.
"Uuuuhhh. . . ok just let me answer that and I'll give you a tip," she said as she turned her attention to the phone.
"Hello?" she said brightly.
"Hey Chris I see you're up. Did you sleep well?" Kevin drawled.
"Hey sweetie yeah I slept like the dead apparently but hold on a minute I have something to take care of," she said.
"Uuhh ok I'll be here," he replied. Carefully setting the phone down on the table she grabbed her purse from the desk and turned her attention toward the young man.
"Ok here you go and thank you," she replied with a smile. The young man nodded and left the room quietly.
"Hey Kev I'm back. How is it going there at the studio?" she asked when she returned to the telephone.
"Well I'm great, so is Brian, Howie, and Nick but AJ is a whole different story," Kevin replied.
"What's going on with AJ. . . besides having a huge hangover?" she asked.
"Well he's really quiet and when he does say something it's usually a snide remark. I guess-"
"Wait a minute did you say that AJ was �really quiet'? Wow that's a first, he must be really hung-over," she said interrupting him.
"Uuuhh yeah. . . he's just in a bad mood and I'm sure the hangover that he has isn't helping any," he replied. Christel sighed.
"Hey Kev come on man," she heard Brian say in the background.
"Ok ok I'm coming," Kevin said to him, then to Christel, "Look sweetie, I got to get back to work here. I'll talk to you when I get there."
"Ok see ya when you get here. Bye Kev," she replied.
"Bye," he said. They both hung up. Christel sat there for a minute and thought. She grabbed a croissant from the table of food and picked up the phone again. She had to have someone to talk to and she knew just who to call. The phone rang countless times or so it seemed until finally the answer machine picked up.
"Hey this is Niecey."
"And Nick."
"And we're not home right now," they said together.
"No we're here. We're probably just screwing around," Nick said.
"NICK!!"
"What? Ok we're NOT here right now. Is that better?" he said.
"Ok you just totally ruined the message. Anyway leave a message," she said.
BEEP!!! God I hate that message, Christel thought to herself.
"Hey Niecey this is Christel. Remind me to help you change that message. You and Nick can be soooo sickening together. Anyway, I need to talk to you and tell you what's going on here. Things have definitely taken an interesting turn. So call me when you get this message. Bye!"
"I wonder where she could be," Christel said aloud.
Meanwhile in Florida. . . .
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Ohniece stood outside of Chinita's house knocking on the door. She waited a minute or two for her to answer. She couldn't believe here she was standing outside of Chinita's door. She was more than surprised when she got the phone call from her asking her to come over. She knew wild horses wouldn't be able to keep her away from her apartment. She wanted the scoop on everything that had happened in Sweden and she knew that by coming here she would definitely get it. Then on the other hand, she felt like she was consorting with the enemy or that's the way she was sure Christel would see it.
"Hey Niecey come on in," she said as she stepped aside. She walked into the apartment and went straight for the couch. Taking a look around it was clear to her that Chinita hadn't even begun to unpack, in fact, it looked like she had just got home that very day and dropped everything in the livingroom. She also noticed that Chinita was still on crutches.
"So when did you get in?" she asked.
"Uhhh early this morning."
"It must have been hard to get around the airport on crutches," Ohniece said.
"Yeah wasn't as easy as I had originally thought," Chinita replied.
"You haven't even started to unpack. . . why did you call me here?"
"Well I just needed someone to talk to. . ." Ohniece eyed Chinita for a moment. She wasn't acting at all like her usual self, she could tell something was up.
"What do you want to talk about?" Niecey asked cautiously.
"So much has happened since I went to Sweden. You're probably the only one that knew I had feelings for AJ before anyone else. . ." she trailed off.
"Someone else knows?" Niecey asked.
"Well I told Howie but then I needed someone to talk to. He was really understanding and easy to talk to. . . ." she trailed off again.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to Sweden? You just up and left and it wasn't till Christel called me completely upset that I knew you were there and had been there for some time." she asked her. Chinita looked at Niecey for a moment she knew she could tell her. She eventually told her about the feelings she thought she was having for AJ. At the time she brushed it off as just a silly crush because she and AJ got along so well. Since her trip to Sweden she knew it was way more than that.
"First I didn't tell you because I knew that you would tell me not to go," she said.
"Ya got that right. So what's going on with you?" she asked.
"If you would just listen before you start judging me. I went because AJ needed someone to talk to-"
"You couldn't do that over the phone?" she interrupted.
"Would you stop interrupting me," she exclaimed.
"Ok Chinita, us arguing is getting us no where. Just take a breath and tell me whatever it is you brought me here for," Ohniece said.
"I wanted to tell you about what happened over there and why I went. Before you say it I know Christel's been supplying you with all the dirty tales but I think you should hear my side too," she said. Ohniece looked at her suspiciously.
"Chinita. . . why would Christel lie to me about you?"
"I didn't say she lied, I just need to tell you what happened from my point of view. Look, I'm not just asking for your understanding. . . I'm asking for your advice."
******
Christel had settled herself in the armchair with her book. She sat completely engrossed in her book and munching on the strawberries she order earlier when Kevin and Brian walked in chatting happily.
"Hey guys, you two sure are in good moods. What's up?" Christel asked setting her book aside.
"Hey babe," Kevin said coming over and dropping a kiss on her lips.
"Oooohhhh I'm babe now someone is in a good mood," she replied.
"Yeah we have a reason to be," Brian said.
"Well will one of you care to fill me in please? I'd like to join the party too," she said. Kevin took her hands and pulled her out of the chair to stand in front of him.
"Well we get to go back home next week," he replied.
"Stop playin'," Christel exclaimed.
"I'm serious. Next Friday. . . if we get everything done in time we're heading back home," Kevin replied.
"Yes! Oh I can't wait to get back home. I miss my room. . . I miss my bed. . .," she exclaimed bouncing around the room.
"You don't like this bed?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah it's ok but it's what's in it that makes it special," she said shooting Kevin a sideways glance.
"Geez you guys are like rabbits," Brian retorted rolling his eyes.
"Hippity Hop," Christel said. Then, "Oh my gosh work!! I have to go back to work. I bet that bitch Ms. Batch is going to give me such a hard time. I told her that there was an emergency in the family and that I had to go back home."
"I'll write a note for you," Brian said jokingly. "Dear Ms. Batch please excuse Christel from work. . . for a month or so. She has to get back with her boyfriend and then they have to.... well you know."
"Ha ha ha very funny Brian," she said sarcastically.
"Don't ya just love me? Anyway I thought you had one of your friends at work cover for you," he said.
"Yeah but she can't cover for me forever. Going home next week is good because if you guys weren't going to go home next week I definitely would have to," Christel replied.
******
"So you and AJ didn't sleep together?" Ohniece asked.
"No. . . we didn't sleep together," Chinita replied.
"Well then all you have to do is tell Christel that," she replied.
"Don't you think I tried that but you know how she gets when she thinks she's right. It'll take a whole lot of proof to prove she's wrong."
"Well you and Christel need to sit down and talk."
"Oh no I'm not talking to her. Even if I wanted to she wouldn't listen. If she wants to talk to me then she'll have to come to me first. . . . I'm not going to her," Chinita said. Ohniece could tell by the look on Chinita's face that she meant what she said and she knew that there was no way in hell Christel was going to come crawling to Chinita to apologize. The only solution was for Ohniece herself to get them together to talk. But how? She thought.