| Chapter 2 |
| Mere seconds later she was standing face-to-face with Kevin. Well, technically she was more like face-to-chest ~ he was a tall one, alright. Kevin smiled down at her and shook her hand. Firm, but not too firm. A politician�s handshake. She was having a hard time. She wanted desperately to talk to Kevin, but she couldn�t shake the vision of AJ literally filling up her mind. There didn�t seem to be any room for any other thoughts. She was fairly certain she and Kevin shared an intelligent conversation. She was pretty sure she told him she was a big fan and was anxious for a new album. It was hard to say. She hoped she hadn�t said something stupid. Kevin hadn�t given her any funny looks or called for security, so she breathed a sigh of relief as she thanked him for his time. Lisa giggled, �Wow, K,�he really is pretty hot! Did you see his eyes?� Katrina didn�t answer immediately. She was still on autopilot; no one manning the controls. �Hello�? Earth to Katrina? Hey, he�s not one of the married ones, is he?� �Um, yeah. He�s married. Married to a dancer. Name is Kristin.� The facts tumbled forth effortlessly. �Aw, hell,� Lisa grumbled, then quickly brightened. �Oh, well. This is fun! Let�s go see who else is here!� The friends locked arms and headed back to the periphery of the crowd where it was easier to see and be seen, to move and schmooze. Lisa was in her element, winking and flirting with every guy they passed. Katrina stopped short. �Wait, I really gotta pee�.those two drinks went right through me.� Lisa rolled her eyes. �Girl! You and your mutant mini-bladder. Want me to go with?� �Nah, I�ll be quick. I think the bathroom is right over there. You stay around here, OK?� Lisa promised not to move. Katrina did her business, touched up her makeup, and hurried back out to join her friend ~ but Lisa was nowhere to be found. She scanned the entrance for Annie, but didn�t see her either. Great�where are they? She meandered toward the buffet table, trying to stay out of the way while she had a look around. She bit her lip in exasperation; the place was jam-packed and it was going to be a real hassle finding her pals. Standing near the buffet, she realized she was more than a little hungry. She surveyed the table: all organic, no doubt, she snickered to herself. She took a small glass plate and selected some fruit and cheese to nibble as she pondered the events of the evening. She figured she probably would not see AJ again. That is, If it really was him. Funny, Annie hadn�t mentioned the possibility that he might be here, only Kevin and Nick. She sighed deeply. Maybe she�d imagined the whole thing. If so, what a vivid and glorious mirage she�d conjured. The way he had looked at her�she shivered at the memory. |
| �You cold?� Annie�s voice startled her. �Mmm, a little,� Katrina replied through a mouthful of food and rubbed her shoulders briskly. It�s only about 30 below in here. Where you been?� She took another bite of cheese. �Talking to Seth. We have a date!� Annie beamed as she produced a card with Greenpeace boy�s phone number. �Hey, good for you! Early score! Don�t tell me you�re quitting for the night?� Katrina teased. �Me quit? You nuts? Look around at all the beautiful, rich, environmentally conscious men out there! No way!� Katrina laughed at her friend�s determination, then added, �Hey, have you seen Lisa?� Just then the two heard the shrill sound of an electronic ringer. �Oh wait�looks like we found her.� They both instinctively reached for their pagers. �Not me,� Annie announced, after quickly checking hers. �Hmmm�I could have sworn I had mine on vibrate,� Katrina said quizzically as she popped open the cover of hers. Text appeared against a glowing blue backlight. �Where R U?� Katrina quickly typed a message back using just her thumbs. �Buffet, U?� After a few seconds, more words appeared. �Balcony. Outside.� �K� she answered, then looked up and around for anything indicating where the balcony was located. She scowled and showed Annie the message. �Where�s the balcony?� Annie grabbed the sleeve of a passing waiter and asked him the whereabouts of the balcony. He pointed to the staircase leading to the second story, then to a set of thick velvet curtains at the end of a walkway. Another message appeared to replace the last. �Join me?� |
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