| They next day flew by with Kelci hanging out with Rachel and Lance before they took her to the airport. JC had locked himself in one of the small studios early that morning and his only reply to the knocks on the door was ‘give me another hour'. Kelci waited longer than she should have and had to run to her gate, making it just in time for the final boarding call. She understood that his work was important and he needed space to concentrate, but she couldn't help feeling slighted. Hell, he hadn't even kissed her mouth to mouth since the morning before. Her mind raced the entire flight and she was exhausted as she exited the plane, surprised to see Tyler and Jenn waiting. "Hiya!" Jenn beamed and hugged Kelci. "Hi. I didn't expect you." "Lance called and said JC was an asshole today. We figured you needed some friendly..." "Thank you, but I'm fine. Can I buy you dinner? Plane food sucks," Kelci smiled as she fought tears. "Sure." They went to dinner, but Kelci didn't talk. In fact, she barely said anything outside of her interview for three days. Rachel called to check in, but she usually got only one word answers so on Sunday, she called for back-up. "Kelci," Tyler called as he knocked on JC's bedroom door Sunday afternoon. "Rock and Gina are downstairs. The door flew open and she ran downstairs, straight into Rock's chest. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed and silently begged him to take her away. "Come on, C. Let's go to lunch," Rock said and she nodded, but didn't let go. They headed out and got deli sandwiches before going back to Rock's because it was raining hard. Kelci sobbed her way through her Orlando visit, leaving out JC's morning feast, and picked at her turkey on wheat. "C, you know he gets consumed by his work," Gina reasoned, her hand swirling around her tummy. "Yeah, but he couldn't even spare a second." "Has he called at all?" "No. Not even to see if I landed OK. Rachel said that when she left on Saturday, she still hadn't seen him," Kelci explained and sighed. "Maybe this cold shoulder means it's over." "I don't know," Rock sighed, having thought JC was a good guy. "Have you tried calling him?" "I left a brief message sayin' that I'd made it to LA, but that's it. I head home tomorrow morning so I can close on the house and move." "When do you find out about the movie?" "Some time this week," Kelci frowned. "Wish we started filming right away instead of August." "At least you'll have time to settle into the house and see the baby. Thank you for the crib, by the way," Gina smiled. "I have more stuff at the house...JC's house. You can get it tonight. Can I see the nursery?" "We're in the process of painting it," Rock said as he led the way. Kelci quickly threw herself into painting the rest of the room as she hummed to herself. It gave her something to concentrate on besides JC. Once she'd finished with that, she assembled the crib and helped Rock move the dresser, changing table, and rocker around the room until it suited Gina's approval. IT was well after midnight when Kelci waved good-bye to Rock as he left JC's with the baby things and she headed silently upstairs. Her flight was at 7 a.m. and she knew that sleep wouldn't come. It hadn't since she had left JC's arms, so she finished packing. She watched the sun rise from the patio door then called a cab. It arrived 20 minutes later and she left her house key on the counter before pulling the door shut, silently wondering if she'd ever step foot inside again. ************ JC finally left the studio at 9 a.m. Monday morning. He'd been locked in the little room working on several new songs and sleeping on the couch for a couple of hours at a time. Now, he was ready to show the others his work and crash in a bed for days. He headed up to the lounge and found Johnny and Chris having coffee. "Hey!" "My GOD! He lives," Chris gasped sarcastically. "Sorry. Had a wicked song flowing and needed to get it down before I lost it. It flowed into four more." "That's great, JC," Johnny stated. "Yeah, but you probably lost Kelci," Chris added and JC's smile fell. "Yeah, your girlfriend that flew across the country for two days then had her boyfriend stick his head up his ass and lock himself in a studio. She knocked and pleaded for you to stick your head out for two seconds, but you blew her off." "Lance and Rachel took her to the airport in tears," Johnny added. "Shit!...well she's gotta understand that my music comes first," JC defended himself. "That's fine, but you couldn't even open the door to hug her good-bye or wish her luck on her audition or anything. She looked so crushed," Johnny spoke his opinion when he'd usually bite his tongue. "I gotta go." JC headed over to his condo and booked a flight to LA that left in 90 minutes then called Kelci's cell phone. He got her voice mail and sighed, hanging up before he left a message. He told Johnny that he needed a couple of days and Chris drove him to the airport, assuming JC was going to KY where he knew Kelci was. "I'll call you tomorrow from home." "Home? Uh...JC, Kelci's in Kentucky. She's moving this week," Chris reminded and JC cussed loudly. "All right. I gotta switch my flight and I'll have to buy some clothes there. I didn't pack anything because I thought she was still in LA. Damn it!" "Good luck, man." "Thanks!" ************ "OK. That's the last of it," Kelci sighed as she dropped the rag back into the bucket of icky water. "What's next on the cleaning list?" "Shampoo your bedroom carpet and the hallway to your office back there then our bathrooms because the new tubs arrive tomorrow." "Let's do this hallway then lug that machine upstairs since we'll need to do the hallway carpet up there after the tubs are installed," Rachel suggested as Kelci drank some of her bottled water. "Sounds like a plan." "Hello!?" "Lance?" Lance followed the voice into the dining room. He carried a large house plant in his arms with a duffel back over his shoulder and a smile on his face. "Hi, baby." "Hi. I thought you had FreeLance stuff to do this week," Rachel reminded, but didn't refuse his kiss. "I finished it today and had to come see your new home. This is for you both." "Thank you," Kelci smiled and couldn't help but look past him for JC. "He's not coming. When I headed to Mississippi yesterday he was still locked in." "I wasn't lookin' for him. I just...thought I heard something. That's all." Kelci was a horrible liar and both could see how crushed she was. Lance hugged her tight for a moment before she pushed him away and offered to clean the bathrooms then ran upstairs as she lost her battle with tears. "God, I hate JC right now," Rachel spat and Lance pulled her close, rubbing her back to sooth her. "I'm not very fond of him myself, but he hasn't answered his phone." ************ JC took a cab to Kelci's apartment, but it was empty and he didn't have any way of getting to the house. It was almost 3 in the afternoon and Kelci still wasn't answering her cell phone. He was exhausted and hungry, but had to see her. ************ "Kelci! Pizza is here!" Lance yelled up the stairs as he shut the front door. She trotted down the stairs and they settled on the dining room floor with a box as their table. Kelci checked her phone and realized it was off, so she turned it back on. "Wouldn't this be front page news for Teen People," Rachel teased as she opened her soda. "Two celebrities picnic inside vacant house." All laughed and someone knocked on the door. "What? Did you stiff the delivery boy?" Kelci laughed and jogged to the door with her wallet in hand. She opened the door and froze. "Hi." "What do you want?" "Can I come in?" JC asked, dead on his feet. "No." "C, baby, please." "Kelci's the name and I don't think we have anything to say to one another," Kelci stated coldly, but her heart ached even as the words left her mouth. "Please, just hear me out." "Why? You couldn't even open a door to tell me good-bye. Why should I give you the time of day?" "Because I love you." "HA! That's funny. Didn't seem like it on Thursday," she laughed bitterly as her eyes burned through him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, my dinner is getting cold. Bye!" She shut the door and headed back to the dining room in tears as JC opened the door. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a monstrous kiss. She couldn't help but kiss back as he pressed her against the door frame and their friends looked on. He deepened the kiss for a second then she finally got a grip on herself, pulling away from his mouth. "I'm sorry I hurt you. That was uncalled for," he panted, but didn't release her. "Yeah...well...no sweat." "Don't shrug me off like that. I know you're pissed." "I think I'm more than entitled to be pissed. You beg me to come see you and I do, but you blow me off like that. I get that you get totally consumed...I do, too...but you couldn't even say good-bye. I can't deal with the hot and cold of this relationship and stay sane," she stated and took a deep breathe before continuing bravely. "I don't think we should be together." "What?!" the other three questioned loudly. "We shouldn't date...see each other...be a couple." "But...I lo.." Kelci covered his mouth and shook her head, "No, you don't. You love the idea of someone at your beck and call." "No, that's not true." "Well.." "I do love you.." "Maybe I don't love you....enough," she whispered as she looked down at her hands with the last word almost inaudible JC looked stunned and felt like he'd been kicked in the balls. Surely she couldn't mean it. She loved him. He had FELT her love...even in the kiss they'd just shared. Of course, she loved him...she HAD to...otherwise he'd given his heart over to someone who wasn't worthy. But he KNEW she WAS worthy. Before anyone could speak, Kelci's cell phone rang on the kitchen counter. She rushed to check the screen and squealed hen she saw ‘Voight'. She took a deep breath and answered. She chatted politely for a few minutes then froze. Her answers became one word until she hung up a few minutes later then she let out a big howl. "You got it?" Rachel asked as she stood and Kelci nodded as she hugged her. "Oh my God! How awesome!" "You got Tomb Raider?" JC clarified and Kelci nodded as she jumped into his arms. He spun her around as they laughed then leaned in to kiss her, but she turned so he got her cheek. "Thank you, JC." Lance took his turn in congratulating her as JC still looked crushed. "We have to celebrate," Rachel declared. "Let's go dancing." "OK." "No, Lance. Not clubbing...dancing," Kelci clarified. "Country...you know, line dancing...boots...the works." "I'm game," JC stated even though he looked tired. All be damned if she think she's getting away from me. "Sounds fun. Let's get cleaned up," Lance suggested. "Why don't I drop you ladies at the apartment and grab some soap then JC and I can shower here." "I don't have any other clothes," JC stated. "You didn't pack clothes?" Rachel laughed. "Guess you were hoping for something more...romantic." "No I thought I was going to LA where I HAVE clothes, but Chris reminded me what day it was after I got to the airport. Can I borrow a shirt or something, Lance?" "Sure. My bag is there." Lance and the girls headed out and Lance returned 15 minutes later with towels, washcloths and soap. Rachel showered first at the apartment and dressed before applying her make-up as she waited to grill Kelci. "Bathroom's free, but steamy," Kelci announced as she headed to her small bedroom in a big, fluffy towel. "We shouldn't stay out too long tonight because the plumbers will be at the house around 10." "So...what's it feel like to crush a man?" "What?" "What does it feel like?" Rachel asked as she stood in Kelci's doorway. "I didn't crush him. I didn't have that kind of power. I...I ..it's just too hard." "I know, but I have NEVER seen you back down from anything...ESPECIALLY if it's difficult." "I just don't have the energy." "Whatever. You can't lie to me." "All right then. Why did I ‘crush' him, all knowing Rach," Kelci scoffed as she tossed her outfit for the evening on her single bed. "You don't want to give in to the power. You HATE to be out of control and he makes your head spin...in a good way. But trust me,....giving in...it feels AMAZING." "I can't....maybe I'm not strong enough to give in. We need to hurry up." They finished dressing then picked the guys up and headed to Brock's bar. Kelci ordered a pitcher of beer then carried it plus four glasses over to the small table and expertly poured so that there wasn't a big head. Rachel lifted her glass and said, "To the new Tomb Raider...may she be safe through production." "And may the movie gross over $100 million," Lance added with a wink. "Amen...then Angelina and I would get bonuses," Kelci grinned. "To great friends....who will brave the flight to London often, I hope." "To spontaneous, romantic jaunts to Paris," JC added and all four clinked their glasses. They drank and danced with the girls teaching for hours. By the end of the evening, even Lance was good at the tush push, but Kelci still fought JC's touches. He was beyond tired and quite cranky when they finally made it back to the apartment. With a mumbled ‘good night', he headed back to Kelci's room and collapsed on her bed, snoring softly a few moments later. "I'd offer to move him, but he's dead weight when asleep," Lance offered softly from behind her as she looked at JC from her doorway. "Thanks anyway." "I'd offer part of Rach's bed, but I don't think you want a front row seat for what we're gonna do." "Lance," she gasped when his hard-on brushed her ass. "And, honestly," he chuckled and bit her shoulder. "I wouldn't jeopardize Rachel's love...not even for a gorgeous actress who is too scared to let my friend love her." "It's just so hard. Listen, don't worry about me. Go take care of my friend and Mr. Happy. I'll meet the plumbers in the morning so you can sleep late." "You are TRULY a Goddess," he laughed and hugged her shoulders. "Smooch me." She kissed his cheek then patted his ass as he trotted to Rachel's door. She changed into her pajamas then settled onto the couch. |