Brian threw his nerf football towards Nick but Kayla intercepted it.

“Hey! Give us back our ball!” Nick yelled when she took off running backstage. They both chased after her and Nick tackled her, knocking the wind out of her.

“Nick! You killed her!” AJ yelled when Kayla laid there with her eyes closed. She then opened them slowly and started gasping for air.

“The winds knocked out of her,” Brian said crouching down to her level. He helped her sit up and they all waited patiently ‘til she could talk.

“Nick,” she whispered as AJ and Brian helped her stand up.

“Yeah,” he asked giving her a smile.

“Run.” Nick stood there for a second before taking off. Kayla was right on his heels.

AJ chuckled. “She’s gonna kill him.”

Brian nodded his head in agreement. He smiled when he saw Sara walking with Kristen towards them from the dressing rooms.

“No,” Sara said walking up to Brian. She laid her head down on his chest and snuggled up against him.

“Please,” Kristen begged.

“Will somebody tell her no for me,” Sara said her voice was muffled and Brian was the only one who understood her.

“No,” he said smiling bigger when Kristen stomped her right foot. “What exactly am I saying no to?”

“Sara won’t come to Bemidji with me for Thanksgiving,” Kristen said glaring at Sara’s back. “My parents are expecting Sara and me but she changed her mind.”

“I never said I would,” Sara said but nobody heard her.

“Maybe she wants to spend Thanksgiving with her family,” AJ suggested.

Kristen snorted. “No, she just wants to make me go insane when my parents give me the third degree about Nick and my job.”

“Or maybe she wants a break and is going to celebrate Thanksgiving by herself with a bunch of movies and a pizza,” Sara said trying to snuggle even closer to Brian.

“No, I won’t allow it,” Kristen said shaking her head.

Brian noticed Sara tense up and motioned for Kristen and AJ to leave. He put his arm around her back and then spoke. “Why do you want to spend Thanksgiving alone?”

Sara sighed and pulled away. “I don’t want to impose on anyone, it’s a family holiday and I don’t have a family.” When Brian opened his mouth she added, “or at least, I don’t have a family who wants me there.”

“That can’t be true,” Brian said confused. He had known they hadn’t gotten along but not want to see her that was going to far.

“Well it is,” Sara said turning to walk away. She hadn’t even took a step before Brian wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Don’t go,” he murmured. He lowered his arms and grabbed both her hands. “Let’s play hooky.”

Sara stared at him. “You mean leave rehearsal.”

“Yep,” he said smiling.

“Like walk out,” she said confused.

“Yep.”

“You mean-” she started but Brian pulled her out the door.

“If we wait until you understand, we’ll never escape,” Brian joked and laughed when Sara slapped his arm.

“Where are we going to go?” Sara asked confused.

“Anywhere,” Brian said taking Pat’s jeep. At Sara’s shocked look he smiled.

“I thought you were the sweet one,” she said shaking her head as he pulled out on the main road.

“A mistake most people make,” he said.

Sara glanced back at the venue but was really glad they left. She needed a break and since Brian had practically forced her out the door, she wouldn’t be in too much trouble. Hopefully.

“You are the one who got her in trouble,” Kayla accused glaring at Brian. “She’s probably going to be grounded.”

“Grounded?” Brian asked incrudiously. “Pat isn’t her mother, she can’t ground her.”

Kristen started to giggle. “Wouldn’t it be funny if she tried to. I’d pay to see Sara’s reaction to that one.”

Dani chuckled because Kristen was right. Sara had never listened to her own mother or father for that matter.

Sara walked into the room yawning. She sat down beside Kristen and made a face. “I could fall asleep forever.”

Dani laughed. “Was it that boring?”

“Yeah,” Sara said. “You need to take more responsibility, we have to be prepared,’ Sara said mimicking Pat.

“Sorry I got you in trouble,’ Brian said sheepishly.

“I don’t care,” Sara said giving him a smile. “I had fun, that made it worth it.”

Brian smiled back. He was about to say something else when Pat started talking.

“Okay, girls, do you know what you are doing for Thanksgiving yet? I’m going to have to be able to get a hold of you,” she asked giving each girl a look.

“I’m going home,” Dani said shrugging her shoulders.

“Same here, I haven’t seen them in awhile,” Kayla said.

“Home,” Kristen also agreed.

Everyone looked at Sara and she felt her face flush. “I’m just staying at the apartment in Florida.”

“Why don’t you just go home?” AJ asked confused.

“Because I’d rather not,” Sara replied standing up. “Now if you excuse me, I have to go do something.”

Dani hurried after her while Kayla slapped AJ’s arm. “It’s called tact Jay,” she hissed. “She doesn’t get along with her dad.”

“How was I suppose to know that?”

Kayla sighed. “I guess you couldn’t but Sara’s very touchy about that subject.”

Pat decided it was time to change the subject. “Okay, we leave tomorrow to prepare for the VMA’s. One of you let Sara and Dani know that. Also, we have to decide what song we want to do. Be thinking about that.”

They talked a little more about Thanksgiving, except Brian had something else on his mind. Sara couldn’t spend Thanksgiving alone but where could she go?”

“Sara, you can always come to my house for Thanksgiving,” Dani said softly. She sat down besides her and prayed Sara wouldn’t push her away. “You are always welcome there.”

Sara shook her head. “No, I will not impose on you. Besides, I think I would rather spend it alone this year.”

Dani was upset by that comment. “But you can’t Sara. You’re not a hermit for christ’s sake.” Dani was getting really upset. She couldn’t stand to see Sara, her best friend, like this.

“I really don’t want to talk about it right now, okay?” Sara said softly, getting up to leave. Why was Dani pushing her ot go home with her?

Brian was wandering the halls of the hotel thinking about Sara and how she didn’t want to go home. Was it that bad there? He was so lost in though, he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going.

“Oops, excuse me,” Sara said looking up. She wasn’t watching where she was going either. “Oh, hi Brian. What are you doing in the halls? Hello! Fan’s do attack!”

“Thinking, I guess. But I’m glad I ran into you. I want to talk,” he said softly. “Sure,” Sara said. “About what?”

“Thanksgiving. But listen, I know everyone’s been bugging you about your plans and I just want to make an offer. You could come home with me. I’m sure my mom won’t mind . If you don’t that’s alright, I don’t want to push you. It’s your choice.” He was rambling and he knew it but he had to get it all out before she said no.

“I’ll think about it. But do me a favor, don’t let anybody else know. I especially don’t want Dani to find out. She’ll be pissed at me for eternity.” Sara was happy that Brian cared. She wouldn’t mind spending Thanksgiving with nice people for once.

Brian smiled. “Great, I promise not to tell Dani and I won’t even tell anyone else, but you have to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” Sar asked slowly.

“That you won’t spend Thanksgiving alone. No matter what, if you don’t go to my house or even Dani’s house, promise me you’ll go somewhere.” Brian watched as Sara, who had a very expressive face, bit her bottom lip. He could see the uncertainty in her face and prayed that she would make that one promise.

“Brian,” Sara began softly. “I can promise you that. I’ll let you know soon what my plans are.” Sara leaned over and kissed his lips softly. She pulled away and gave him a smile before walking away.