Two Months Later...........

Adrianne had adjusted to tour life well. She loved all the work involved in the show and the fan club. When she wasn't helping out at the meet and greet she was on her bus working on the next monthly newsletter. Melinda was estatic at all the ideas Adrianne had. Heather and Dee had made her nights off more interesting. She felt like and completely different person. Everyone noticed she was acting like one as well.

"Come on Adrianne! We're gonna miss the previews. You know I like the previews." Heather whined from the door of the bus.

"Ok, ok. I just had to put my laptop away. You remember what happened last time."

Heather made a face. "It's a good thing Melinda proof reads everything since I seriously doubt Joey has a third nipple."

Adrianne giggled as they headed towards the movie theater. "Chris got dirty looks for weeks."

Heather laughed and linked her arm with Adriannes'. "So where is you're shadow tonight? You two seem to be getting pretty close."

A smile touched her lips. "Chris is a good guy. He's been a great friend to me. Somewhat of a comic relief."

Since the first day of the tour Chris and Adrianne had spent a lot of time together. They developed an unexpected sort of friendship.

"Ya know the others have a running bet on whether you two will hook up or not."

Adrianne blushed and straightened her sunglasses. Her face turned serious. "We're friends, thats the way we both like it."

Heather cleared her throat and removed her arm from Adriannes'. "You guys compliment each other. Friends or not its nice to have someone you can talk to like the way you talk to Chris."

A wave of guilt washed over Adrianne. She still hadn't told Chris anything about her life in Penn state and he never asked her. She had just left him hanging since the day of the cookout. Her face twisted into a frown.

"Adrianne? What's wrong? Heather questioned.

Heather....I just remembered there is something important I need to take care of."

Heather looked confused. "Ok, I'm still gonna see the movie but you go ahead."

Adrianne gave her a thankful look and ran off in the direction of the hotel. It was an off day for the guys and she knew right where Chris would be. Her legs carried her into the elevator and onto the eighth floor. Lonnie nodded hello as she walked past. SHe knocked on the door before her nerves could get the best of her. There was some laughter and commotion before the door opened. Joey stood there, surprised to see her.

"I thought you and Heather went to a movie."

"We did, well she did. I..........is Chris here?"

Joey stepped aside and let her in. "Yeah, he's kicking Justins' ass on the Playstation over there."

"He's not kickin my ass!" Justin yelled from his seat on the floor.

"Joe, who is it man?" Chris yelled above the noise of the video game.

"It's me." Adrianne announced.

He turned and saw the nervous look on her face. "What's up you?"

"Can we talk?"

He looked around at the others. Dee stepped forward and took the controller from Chris.

"Go ahead, it's my turn to whip his butt."

"Thanks." Chris put his arm around Adrianne and led her down the hall to his room. He threw his key on the dresser and took a seat in a large overstuffed chair. "Have a seat." He said pulling up a chair from the table.

Adrianne sat and took a deep breath.

"Spit it out before you choke on it." He was starting to worry.

She rubbed her hands together and looked him in the eyes. "I never explained to you about the article."

His eyes grew large. There was silence so she continued.

"That article was six years old and I know it didn't tell the whole story." Tears made their way down her face. "I was a junior in high school and my parents had bought me a brand new mustang for my birthday. My two best friends were with me in the car when.......when......."
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The rain came harder and was making it hard for Adrianne to see the road ahead of her. She rounded the curve leading to the school, but noticed a yellow light coming towards her. "What's that?" Adrianne asked no one in particular.

Leyla screamed and looked over at Adrianne before the truck hit them. It was a semi, and the other headlight had been blocked by the curve in the road. Silence was all their was.
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She paused to wipe the tears from her eyes and gather the strength to go on. "The semi came out of nowhere, I didn't have time to react. And.......I killed my best friend."

A sob escaped her throat as Chris took her into his arms. "Shhhhhhh.......Adrianne. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't help it." He was weeping with her by this point.

She calmed herself a bit and leaned away. "You don't understand Chris. I was on drugs."

The color drained from his face. "What?"

She turned her face away. "I was on drugs. We all were. That's the only reason I'm not in jail right now."

"Wait, you went to court?"

She nodded and stood to look out of the window. "I had a really messed up couple of years. My parents have more money than they know what to do with. My father was in control of my mom, and me as well."

Chris stood and turned her so she was facing him. "Go on." He urged.

"Daddy beat my mom. I just ignored it. He never laid a hand on me until after the accident, until he found out I wasn't perfect." She started to cry again. "He claimed I ruined the family name and sent me away. I spent the first half of my senior year in rehab. The kids in school tortured me until I dropped out and my aunt taught me at home."

Chris moved the hair away from her face. "Thank you."

Adrianne looked at him like he was crazy. "Why are you thanking me? You should be forcing me out, calling security or something!"

He pulled her in close once again and hugged her. "I'm thanking you for trusting me with your past. You didn't have to tell me any of that."

She visbly relaxed and leaned into the embrace. "I should be thanking you for not hating me." A stray tear fell from her red rimmed eyes.

Chris wiped it away with his thumb. "I couldn't ever hate someone so honest. Someone who has quickly become one of my best friends." He backed away and hopped up on the table.

Adrianne was still standing in the same spot, letting the whole conversation sink in.

"Can I ask you a question?"

She nodded.

"What happened to the girl that lived?

"I never spoke to her again. I felt to guilty, because she's paralyzed from the waist down."

"How about your parents?"

Adrianne laughed and shook her head. "Well it's funny really. My daddy had a heart attack about a year ago and he doesn't remember anything before that time. My mom still calls and says I need their help but I can't deal with that." She saw the look on Chris' face and felt she had to explain herself. "I love my parents very much but it doesn't erase the memories. She won't let it drop."

"Would you be pissed if  I tell you what I think?"

"Go for it." She flopped back on the bed.

"I think......," he started, "I think you are trying to hard to run away. If you used all that energy on making things right they wouldn;t eat at you like they do. But thats just my opinion."

"No, Chris you're right. I've got to make myself happy and I can only do that after I let go of the past." She smiled and sat up on the flowered comforter. "By the way, you can call me Addy."

"Addy huh?" He stretched his limbs. "Well Addy, how about some dinner?"

"Ok, on one condition."

"What's that?" He asked.

"If I beat you to the lobby you treat!" She took off in a run out the door and down the hall.

Chris laughed and took off after her. He almost mowed Lance and JC down as he caught the elevator. Lance chuckled as the doors closed.

"What's so funny man?" JC asked giving Lonnie a high five.

"He's is so not gonna catch her."

"Lance, what are you talking about?"

Chris was after Adrianne. She took the stairs and he took the elevator. When have you ever been on an elevator with a speed control?"

JC snorted and knocked on Joeys' door. The door swung open causing a breeze.

"Hey C, Lance. Are you here to witness the kicking of Justins' skinny butt?" He asked them in his best Terminator impression.

Lance gave him a why not look and followed JC into the noisy room. Dee and Justin were on the floor going at it with the Playstation.

"How many times has he lost today?" JC asked Joey.

"To her, or Chris?"  Joey plucked the back of Justins' head.

Justin paused the game and turned to defend himself. JC and Lance erupted in laughter when the saw his red colored lips.

"Dude! You gotta stay outta Dees' make-up."

The rest of the group including Dee broke out in fits of laughter. Justin threw his controller and stood up.

"Well what would ya'll do if Joeys' butt was sitting on you?"

"Good question." JC stated.

"Joe, man you sat on him and we missed it?"

Joey nodded before exploding into laughter once more.

"You guys suck!" Justin mumbled as he walked out of the room.

Dee stood up and went after him, but not before giving Joey a thumbs up.

"So C, who's your guest you've got flying in tomorrow?" Joey was curious after Lance had mentioned it earlier.

"Um.....actually it's someone you know." He ran a hand along the back of his neck. "Marie is coming out. We're going to try and work things out."