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Whenever You Call Chapter 6 *TWO WEEKS LATER* To: Calliope73 (Mariah Arseneaux) My dear Lady Calliope: Germany is crazy as Great Britain. We're doing a lot of appearances and plenty of performances promoting the new album. Tomorrow in Munich we have a half day off. Can't wait. Maybe I'll actually have the chance to call you. I've missed talking to you and I'm sorry our schedule is so crazy that I haven't been able to yet. Let's just hope nothing gets scheduled last minute. Always, (a.k.a. Sir Richardson of Kentucky) Mariah couldn't help but chuckle despite her nervousness for the night ahead. She had turned on her computer the second she arrived home hoping that Kevin had written. He hadn't called her yet, but he never allowed two days pass without an email. She missed talking to him although she realized that the notes were his way to keep in touch. She always noted the time they were sent - mostly in the early hours of the morning. He hadn't let her down yet. Why couldn't more men be like him? She could only hope that this Steve she'd been fixed up with for her best friend Rachel's birthday party would be half that Kevin seemed to be. God, why am I comparing every man I meet to him? It's not like I know him that well. Ever since he had told her about his being a Backstreet Boy, she had wanted to go pick up the album and do some internet research to find out whatever she could about him. But how fair would that be to him? He couldn't do that to know what she was like. She wanted their relationship to remain equal. Two hours later after showering, Mariah turned on the radio while she readied for her date. She was slipping the floral patterned sundress over her head when she heard the disc jockey say, "Here comes the latest tune from the pride of Orlando. The Backstreet Boys with 'I Want It That Way.'" She ran over to the stereo and pushed the volume a bit louder. As she listened to the music, she found herself humming the melody. Wow, they're really good. A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.Now I can see that we've fallen apart "Kevin." She hadn't realized how much she really missed him until that moment but before the melancholy could unsettle her mind, the doorbell rang. He's early. With that, Mariah slid her feet into her sandals and took one last glance in the mirror. When she opened the front door, a handsome blonde man with brown eyes stood there holding a bouquet of daisies and brown-eyed susans. He was wearing khakis, a white t-shirt and blue blazer. He looked like he'd probably played football in college or maybe he was one of those "weekend jocks". "Hello, Steve. I'm Mariah." "Hi, Mariah. For you," he said handing her the flowers. "Thank you. I'll put them in water and then we can go."*MUNICH, GERMANY* Something didn't feel right, but Kevin couldn't be certain what was wrong. His heart felt heavy. His mind was cluttered. He couldn't focus. The Backstreet Boys hadn't been able to take the afternoon off like they had hoped because of a late scheduled interview and a meet-and-greet local record store. Because of it all, he wasn't able to call Mariah like he had promised. At around 2 a.m., he found himself jolted awake from an all too realistic nightmare. "MARIAH!" He pulled his cellphone from his bag and dialed her number as quickly as his fingers would allow. As he waited for her to pick up, he paced back and forth. "Come on, Riah. Please answer. Answer, dammit, come on." "Hello?" Thank you, God. "Mariah." At the sound of her best friend's voice, she broke down. So he had been right. "Oh, sweetie, what's wrong?" "Nothing. Kev, I don't want to bother you with this." "Don't shut me out. Please." He wanted so badly to be with her, to comfort her. This was not easy with him being in Germany, her home in Orlando. He had to try. "The date...was a disaster." "Why? What happened?" "Everything. It was fine when he picked me up and on the drive there. He seemed nice enough. But we got to the party and he started to have a few drinks..." Kevin could hear her swallow a sob before she continued, "We were dancing. His hands were all over me, touching me. He held me so close that I felt him getting hard. I pushed him away. He wouldn't stop. I-I pushed him away again harder and told him to STOP. He laughed and called me an ugly bitch." She couldn't control her emotions any longer. "I disappeared into the bathroom to try to compose myself. When I came out, he was leaving with some leggy blonde, size D." She was crying uncontrollably. "I'm betting she put out." Kevin was shocked at her bluntness but understood that it was the anger more than her talking. How could someone do that - and to her? "God, Ri, I'm so sorry." "I'm about ready to just give up. Maybe I'll convert and join a convent." "Don't do that." "Why? Kevin, you don't know how hard it is for me. Every date seems to end this way these days. Either that or with the promise to call...we both know that never happens. Guys just want a trophy on their arm - you know, a Claudia Schiffer or a Tyra Banks. I just can't compete with girls that look half like that." "Not all guys...It means more to me to have someone sweet, caring and intelligent." "You say that, Richardson, but you and I both know that you drool over any tall blonde that walks in the room," she said angrily. "I don't know why I put up with men. I hate them all." "You can't mean that. You like me. Last time I checked I was a man." There was a pause on his end. "Yep, still a man." Mariah laughed despite her frustration. "Kevin..." "Listen to me for a second. We're not all like Steve. Maybe you haven't dated the right guys...You know what? There have been times I wanted to give up and find the closest monastery. My relationships don't seem to as perfect as they could be either." With that he told her the story of his engagement at the age of 19. "I was SO ready to give up after that. She basically tore my heart to pieces." "I didn't know, Kev. I'm so sorry." She thought for a second. "So why do we keep doing this to ourselves?" "Well, someone has to be out there. It's strange I know, but I believe in the idea that everyone has a soulmate, someone meant for only them. Maybe neither of us have had the opportunity to cross paths with ours yet." "I suppose," she said not quite convinced then glanced at the clock. "Damn, Kevin, I have to get to bed. It's 10 o'clock. I have school tomorrow." "Hey, it's 3 a.m. here." Mariah giggled. "Sorry, I forgot you're not just across town." "Yeah? Well, I really missed talking to you." "Me, too...although I finally did hear you on the radio tonight. First time. You guys are good." "Thanks...sure it was me?" Being a music teacher, she might be able to pick up my voice in the chorus. "Uh-huh. I think the song was called 'I Want It That Way'?" "Okay, yeah that was me...I'd better go. Early day tomorrow. I promise to call more often. Actually, let me give you my cellphone number and Brian's - just in case." He rattled off the numbers. "Oh, look for another email." "Okay. Thanks for everything, Kev." "No problem. Goodnight, Lady Calliope." "Night."****** When Mariah stopped into the school office on her way to her classroom the next morning, she saw a dozen roses sitting on the secretary's desk. "Wow, those are beautiful. What's the occasion?" The secretary looked up from her computer. "I don't know. You tell me." "What?" "They're for you, Mariah." Mariah was surprised. "But who would..." Steve wouldn't have sent them as an apology? "It's strange. Someone called this morning asking if you worked at our school and said that he'd like to have something delivered for you," the woman mentioned as Mariah opened the card.Riah - Thought you might like a little sunshine to brighten your morning. I hate to hear you so down on yourself. Here's to mending a broken heart and connecting with your soulmate. Love always, P.S. We're not all bad, you know? She felt the tears stinging her eyes. "Someone special?" Mariah glanced at the secretary. "You could say that." She answered with a smile.Next: Chapter 7 |