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Whenever You Call Chapter 10 Kevin was relaxing with a book on the flight home from Frankfurt, Germany when Howie came and took the seat recently vacated by Brian. "Hey, Train." "Wassup, D?" "Just coming to check up on you." "Couldn't stand Nick and Brian fighting over Frack's GameBoy?" Howie chuckled. "How did you know?" The older friend rolled his eyes. "It happens every time. So what are you doing when we get home?" "Visiting the parents and family and just relaxing. A.J. wants to check out some new clubs. I want to make sure I make the most of the next month before we have to leave again. What about you?" "There is a friend I really need to catch up with. But I like that idea of relaxing. Then we have that thing on the 24th." "I hadn't forgotten that. I think deciding to do an accapella set was the best. Can't believe Nicky is the one that came up with it first." Howie looked at Kevin. "So tell. Who is this friend? Anyone I know? Something tells me this 'friend' is a member of the opposite sex." "What gave it away?" "That look in your eye. She must be pretty special, Kev." "Oh, she is. Only problem is I have yet to actually meet her." Howie's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Huh?" "You're a romantic, D. I think I can tell you this without having you judge me. Brian is the only other person who knows. I met her over the phone when I dialed the wrong number one night." Kevin told Howie everything that had happened with Mariah. "I think I love her, Howie. But I don't know how to go about this. I mean, within the next couple of weeks, I'll be meeting her. The one person I've waited my whole life to find. My soulmate." "Man, that is incredible. It sounds like you were made for each other." "I am just worried that something will go wrong. I mean, everything seems too perfect right now." Howie put a hand on Kevin's shoulder. "Everything will work out. Are you going to call her?" "Yeah, tonight. I promised her I would as soon as I got home." "I wish you the best of luck, Train. I can't wait to meet her either." Howie rose from his seat. "One of these days I need to get some pointers from you on how to dial a telephone number. I need some lovin' too." He winked at Kevin, who chuckled. "Go away, D. You're corrupting me." Later that day, Kevin unlocked the front door of his Orlando home and dropped his two duffel bags in the foyer promising himself he'd unload the suitcases from his car later. He went into the kitchen and fetched a bottle of water from the nearly empty refrigerator before grabbing the phone. Across town, Mariah was cleaning her condominium when her phone rang. "I'm home, Riah." "Kevin?" "Who else calls you Riah?" "Just you, K." "K?" Kevin asked raising his eyebrows in confusion and disapproval. "Sorry I can't bring myself to call you Train, and it's better than Vinny." She giggled as she heard the gagging sound Kevin made. "So how was the trip back?" "Loooong, but, girl, it feels good to be home. Even though it is sweltering in here." He reached to turn the central air conditioning up a couple of notches. "And even though my refrigerator is completely empty of anything but baking soda." "Sounds like someone needs to go shop before he dies from starvation." "I'll have to get around to it tomorrow. Probably just go get Chinese take-out for dinner tonight. I am too exhausted right now to compare apples and oranges." "Just don't fall asleep during our conversation, Richardson," Mariah warned. "Somehow I think that is completely avoidable. So tell me how are things coming together for the 24th?" "Pretty well. Everyone at the hospital is excited." "Well, the guys have decided to an accapella set. It will make things easier for both parties. I just hope the kids won't be disappointed that we aren't doing any flashy choreography." "I'm sure they'll all be happy seeing you guys performing." Kevin thought for a minute. "Ri, you do realize that this means we are finally going to meet face-to-face?" Mariah knew the issue would arise eventually and acknowledged that she was nervous about their first meeting. She sighed. "Yeah, Kev. Maybe we should talk about that..." Oh God. She doesn't sound happy about this. "O-okay...what's up?" She swallowed hard trying to find the courage to say what she wanted to and said a quick silent prayer that he wouldn't misunderstand her. "I've had such mixed emotions about our first meeting. I can honestly tell you that you are one of my closest friends and I really want to get to know you better. On the other hand, meeting each other could cause problems. "I have this image in my head of what you are like and I am sure you have done the same thing with me. I don't want to have to think that you aren't anything like what I have conjured up. It's not necessarily a physical ideal. But a psychological one too. "I know I won't live up to your ideal. I'm average at best. I'm not the glamorous, blonde model-type that pop stars have on their arm at award shows. I'm not even close." What the hell was she talking about? At this point, Kevin couldn't have cared what she looked like. He wasn't 18 anymore just attracted to a person's outside appearance. Certainly, it mattered somewhat initially, but after that it didn't. What is she trying to do? "Mariah..." "No, Kev, maybe this isn't such a good idea." "Wait a minute. I thought that you didn't have a problem with me and my job?" "I don't." "It sounds to me like you do," he replied curtly. "You think I'm like every celebrity? Dammit, I'm a normal person. Understand that please. I want you to understand that. I thought you understood that." "I don't want to fight about this. I just wanted to get the issue out there. I'm not worried about me. I-I don't want to disappoint you." "Oh, darlin'. Why do you put yourself down like that?" "Because I'm not worth it. I'm not good enough for you." "I think I should be the judge of that. And right now I'd almost think the opposite is true," Kevin said as he felt his eyes begin to tear. "You've been a great friend to me, Riah. I wish I'd been here for you when you needed me after the party that night. I wish I'd kept in better touch with you in the first few weeks of the tour. I wish I hadn't yelled at you when I called that morning. I wish I could be as good to you as you have been to me." "Stop it, Kevin," Mariah was near tears now as well. "Just stop. Don't beat yourself up over this. You have been an incredible friend to me. In fact, I think you are my best friend. I can't talk to anyone else like I talk to you. I guess that is what worries me the most. I don't want our relationship to change when we meet. I am so scared that it will." Kevin thought about his conversation with Howie earlier in the day. "Would it be okay if it did change...for the better?" She smiled. "I think I could accept that." "Good. Listen, I need to go get some food and some rest. I'll talk to you more later, okay?" "Sure. It's good to hear your voice again - just across town." "Yeah, I missed you too, Ri. Have a good night." "Night, Kev."Next: Chapter 11 |