| Chapter 41 Nick woke up before his alarm went off. He really was excited to go to church. It had been ages since he'd graced the door of any church, and he was ready to find out what it had to offer. Even after he'd accepted God into his life, it was hard for him to go. He was either on tour, or had meetings, there always seemed to be something. When he was with Lyn, they had looked around for a church to go to, but hadn't found one they felt comfortable in yet. Nick remembered what Brian's church was like. It was always friendly and open to anyone that would come. In the last several months Howie and Kevin has started going too, so there was a good possibility that everyone would be there. Nick jumped out of bed and headed for the shower, wondering what the morning would bring. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aleisha was standing in the closet looking around. "What do you wear?" she asked. Brian walked in, "You can wear anything you want. There's no dress code or anything." She stared at him, "That helps a lot." Brian laughed at her, "Here wear this. I like that on you." Aleisha looked at the dress Brian had picked out, "OK, I guess it'll do." Brian kissed her cheek, "You'll have fun." She smiled at him as he walked out of the closet and headed into the bathroom. Yeah, sure I will, she thought. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was waiting downstairs, the first to be ready. Lyn came down, smiling at him. "You been down here long?" she asked. "A few minutes. You look pretty," he said. "Thanks," she laughed. Brian and Aleisha came down together. Nick could see the nervousness in Aleisha's eyes. "Hey guys, looks like we're all ready to go," Brian said. "Yup," Nick said, helping Lyn with her coat. Then he put his on, with some help from her. Brian handed Aleisha her coat and grabbed his own on the way out the door. They all piled into Brian's car and headed down the road. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Man, I don't know why you guys dragged me here," A.J. grumbled. "Bone, give it a try," Howie said. "Yeah, might do you some good," Leighanne said, smiling at him. A.J. sighed and slumped down in the pew. "There's Kev," Kira said, waving them over. "Hey guys," Kevin said, sliding into the same pew. "Kris, I love that dress," Kira said. "Thanks," Kristin said. Everyone talked quietly waiting for the service to start. The parishioners where used to seeing them there now, so no one made a big deal about their presence. Nick and Lyn were the first to walk in. Nick spotted the gang and walked over, "Hey guys, there room for the rest of us?" "Nick, Brian, good to see you here," Kevin said. "Good to be back," Brian replied. "There's not enough room for all of us, we'll sit behind you," Lyn said, walking down the pew behind the rest. Everyone got settled. Nick winked at Leighanne, and she smiled back. A.J. glanced at Aleisha and nodded. She nervously smiled at him, wishing she had backed out of coming. The longer she was here, the more her emotions raged. It was already hard for her hide it, she could imagine what it was going to be like when the preaching started. Everyone quieted down when the music director took the podium. He led them in a few hymns, and they said a couple of prayers before the preacher got up. Aleisha was fidgeting with the straps on her purse. Brian looked at her and smiled, she gave him a slight grin as the preacher started. He began by saying that he was going to talk about sex. That perked everyone's interest. Most preachers avoid the subject like the plague. Aleisha paid attention, wondering what was going to come next. The preacher asked everyone to stand for the reading of the word. Everyone stood and he began to read. Everything is permissible for me�but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me� but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food�but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, The two shall become one flesh. But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.�1 Corinthians 6:12-20. Everyone sat back down as the preacher started on the subject. Aleisha was ready to flee the building at any moment. A.J. was fidgeting around in his seat, glancing at her every once in a while. Nick sat there with a huge smile on his face, he had definitely picked the right time to come. He could see some of what the preacher was saying sinking in with Brian. The look on his face said it all. He could also see the angry stares he was getting from Aleisha. Nick knew that somehow she'd make him pay for this, but it was worth it to see her squirm and see Brian start to come to his senses. By the time the message was over and the services ended, Aleisha could no longer sit still in her seat, and A.J. had the most shameful look on his face. Everyone got up and visited for a moment before deciding to all go out and eat. It had been a long time since they'd all ventured out to a nice restaurant with each other. They decided on the place and went to their cars, making their way there. Nick and Lyn got in and buckled up. "Man that was a good sermon," Nick commented. "Yeah, that preacher doesn't hold anything back at all," Lyn said. "Yeah," Brian said, concentrating on the road, and thinking to himself. "Leisha, what did you think about it?" Nick asked. He couldn't resist pushing her on it. "Um, it was interesting," she said. Nick caught the flash of anger in her eyes. They arrived at the restaurant and joined the others. The hostess sat them at the back of the building, away from all the other patrons so they wouldn't be bothered. Everyone ordered and visited with each other. The subject was constantly changing with that many people talking. The food came, and they all ate like it was their last meal. No one realized they were that hungry until they'd finished and there wasn't a scrap of food left at the table. Aleisha stood up, "I'll be right back." Nick and Leighanne watched her head toward the bathrooms. A few moments later A.J. got up and excused himself. Leighanne glanced at Nick, wondering if one of them should go check things out. Nick signed no to her, no one else seeing him do so. Leighanne slightly nodded and joined back in the conversation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. walked into the small hall the bathrooms were located down, and headed for the men's door. He was grabbed from behind, and pulled into the women's bathroom. Aleisha quickly pulled him into a stall and shut the door. "Geez girl, someone's gonna see us in here," A.J. said. "There's no one in here. I checked," she said, "I wanted to tell you how proud I am at your mechanics skills." A.J. hung his head, "I never wanted to hurt her." "Well, sometimes you have to hurt the ones you love to get what you want," Aleisha said. "I guess," A.J. said, a defeated sound to his voice. Aleisha stared at him, "Come on now, you aren't gonna let what that preacher said this morning affect you are you?" A.J. refused to look at her in the eyes, "He said a lot of stuff that made sense. It's not right for us to be doing this, you're with Brian, and I'm with Sarah..." Aleisha put her finger on his lips to quiet him, "Shhhh...Alex, I want to be with you. Don't you want the same thing?" A.J. looked at her for the first time, getting lost in her eyes. "I want you so much, but it's still wrong," he answered. Aleisha was getting tired of all this talking. She pushed A.J. down onto the toilet seat and straddled him, kissing his neck. "Don't tell me you don't want this," she whispered in his ear. A.J.'s heart was beating out of his chest, "Leisha, I..." She kissed him passionately, and every thought in his head left him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. She laughed, knowing that even if he didn't want this, he couldn't stop her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick had lost track of the conversation, his head pounding. He didn't want to leave, he was genuinely having a good time, but he'd forgotten to bring any of his medicine with him. He leaned over to Lyn, "Do you have any Tylenol?" She looked at him, "Headache?" Nick nodded, not wanting any of the others to notice. "You didn't bring any of your medicine?" she asked. "No, I was in such a hurry this morning I forgot it," he whispered. "Hey, no secrets," Brian teased. Nick and Lyn both smiled at him. "I don't have anything on me, you want me to ask one of the other girls?" Lyn whispered. Nick shook his head, this was going to be a major headache, he already was feeling the nausea and having a hard time keeping his eyes open for the light in the room. "I think we better go," he finally said. Lyn looked up at Brian, "We need to go." Brian noticed Nick rubbing the side of his head and knew exactly what that meant. "OK, um could someone go see what's keeping Leisha?" he said. "I will," Leighanne volunteered, getting up and heading to the restrooms. Brian handed Kevin some money for their part of the meal, as did Lyn. "Come on Nick, let's get your coat on," Lyn said, helping him with it. "You guys need help?" Howie asked. "Naw, we can get it," Brian said, taking one side of Nick, as Lyn had the other. "Tell Leisha to meet us at the car," Brian said over his shoulder as they walked through the restaurant and out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne walked into the women's bathroom. "Aleisha are you in here?" she said. A.J.'s eyes grew wide with the sound of her voice. Aleisha stood up and A.J. pulled his feet up so they wouldn't be seen under the partitions. "Yeah, I'm here," Aleisha answered. "Brian wanted me to come get you. Nick's got a really bad headache and they are headed out to the car," Leighanne said. "OK, I'll be there in a minute," Aleisha said. "You OK, you've been in here a while," Leighanne asked. "Yeah, just fine," she said, straightening her clothes and reaching around A.J. to flush the toilet. She then opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her. Leighanne looked at her, "You sure you aren't sick? Your face is flushed." Aleisha smiled, "Naw, I'm fine," she said, washing her hands and leaving the room. Leighanne followed her out, leaving A.J. alone in the bathroom. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was laying down in the back seat, resting his head on Lyn's lap. He moaned with the pain, and wondered why they weren't leaving yet. Aleisha ran up to the car, seeing Nick's condition, she opened the back door, "Lyn, trade places with me." Lyn got out letting Aleisha take her place, and they were off. Nick really didn't care at this point who's lap he was laying on. He just wanted to get home and take some medicine. Aleisha looked down at him, stroking his forehead with her fingers. She then grabbed one of his hands and started massaging it. Nick had to admit that it did ease the pain some, but he also knew what her touch would do to him. He was already feeling its affects, so he pulled his hand away and grabbed his head, squeezing his eyes closed and moaning. "Brian, can't you drive any faster?" Lyn asked looking over at him. "I'm going as fast as I can in this traffic. Nick we'll be there soon, OK, buddy," Brian said. Nick didn't acknowledge Brian's comment, he was to busy trying not to pass out. Aleisha began stroking his forehead again, quietly talking to him. Nick knew she was just doing this for Brian and Lyn's sake, and not for the sake of really helping him. He wondered how mad she'd be if he threw up on her. He rolled over, "I think I'm gonna be sick." "Brian pull over," Aleisha said, not wanting to be wearing what Nick had just eaten for lunch. Brian pulled the car over, and Nick made it out the door before he vomited. When he was done he crawled back in the car, laying back down. He was shaking and sweating now, which he could see made Aleisha happy. She smiled down at him, but it wasn't in a comforting way, it was more like a �payback's are a bitch' kinda of look. Nick closed his eyes and waited for the car to stop. Soon they were at the house. Brian helped Nick upstairs, while Lyn got his medicine for him. Aleisha had gone to change clothes, having the front of the dress she was wearing drenched in his sweat. Nick was laying in bed holding his head, "God, this hurts," he said, tears escaping his eyes. Lyn touched his shoulder, "I know it does. Just try and relax, the medicine should start working pretty soon." Aleisha came into the room, "How is he?" Brian shook his head, "This one is bad." She walked over and sat on the opposite side of the bed, taking one of Nick's hands away from his head. "Nick, let me do this. It'll help," she said. Lyn took Nick's other hand, mimicking the motions Aleisha was doing. Nick started to relax, a combination of the medicine and the massage. As he drifted to sleep, Angel came into the room. She jumped up on the bed to take her place at Nick's side. The movement on the bed woke Nick up for a second. He looked at the wolf and smiled, then was asleep again. Lyn and Aleisha continued to massaged his hands as he slept. The phone rang, and Brian ran to answer it before it to woke Nick up. A few moments later he came back, "Lyn, Ted is on the phone for you," he whispered. She got up and left to take the call. Brian stood there watching Aleisha with Nick. She seemed to care so much about his friends well being. She looked up at him and smiled, "You don't have to stay. I'm just gonna do this for a while longer." Brian stared at her, "Alright, I'll be downstairs when you finish." She nodded her head as he left the room, closing the door. Angel stared at her and growled. "Angel, you remember what I told you?" Aleisha warned. The wolf snorted at her and jumped off the bed, curling up in the floor, watching her. "That's better," Aleisha said, turning to look at Nick. She stared at him for a long time, studying his face. He was a handsome man, she had to admit. Course all the guys were. Nick moaned a little in his sleep and turned his head. She smiled, at this exact moment he was actually cute to her. She traced his face with her fingers, feeling of his soft skin. Aleisha thought of the game that Brian had played with Nick, hoping it would work with her. She leaned down close to his ear, "Nick, are you hiding something from me?" *Tracy looked at Jade in surprise. She reached down and put her hand over Nick's mouth, so he couldn't answer her.* Nick mumbled, but it was nothing that Aleisha could understand. "Where are you hiding it?" she asked. Nick turned his head and sighed. Aleisha gave up on the game, seeing that it wasn't working for her. Instead she ran her hands down Nick's chest and arms, feeling the muscles underneath his shirt. She stopped herself, "Don't do this. You hate him, remember? Stick to the plan," she told herself. *Jade looked at Tracy, raising an eyebrow. Tracy watched Aleisha, seeing the emotion in her eyes, and smiled.* Aleisha finally got up and left the room, closing the door. Angel jumped back up on the bed and licked Nick's cheek. He moaned and wiped at his cheek with his hand, then rolled over. "What was that about?" Jade asked. Tracy looked over at her, "I think she's starting to like him." "So what does that mean?" Jade asked. "It means, I think we found our weakness," Tracy answered. Chapter 42 |