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A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes Chapter 23 Kristy returned to Portland, and her normal routine, while Kevin and the Boys moved on with their North American tour. But unlike their previous separation, this time between scheduled visits wasn't filled with daily phone calls for hours at a time. Their conversations were not only less frequent, but were even strained at times. Kristy felt like there were times when things were going great - she and Kevin would share what was happening in their lives, both good and bad, and everything was like it had been in the beginning. But then, as soon as she started to feel close to him again, it would change. Kristy hung up the phone in frustration after leaving a message on Kevin's voice mail. She wouldn't go as far as to say he was avoiding her calls, but it sure seemed like they were playing phone tag a lot more lately. She'd had a long week at work, once again redirecting herself to distract her from missing Kevin, but now she didn't even have his nightly phone calls to look forward to. She tried to call Erin, but her sister was on the phone with A.J., so Kristy simply said they'd talk later. Heather was out for the evening, and while it was still relatively early, it was too late to call any of her friends on the East Coast. Kristy was in her kitchen making some hot cider and getting ready to curl up with one of her favorite romance novels in front of the fire when the phone rang. "Hello?" "Hey, Doll-face. Miss me?" Kristy chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Normally I'd have some extremely creative come-back for that and dazzle you with my witty repartee, but honestly, Nicky, I'm glad to hear from you." "Uh-oh, sounds like someone's had a bad week." Kristy sighed as she grabbed her cup and moved into the living room. "Let's just say, it hasn't been the best week in recent memory." "Work?" Nick asked, mentally crossing his fingers that it was something as easy as that. "I wish." Nick hesitated before he broached what he knew would be a sensitive topic. "Is it Kevin?" It was impossible not to know something was going on with the two of them. While all the guys were fairly used to Kevin's "moods," ever since Kristy's last visit he'd been worse than usual. It wasn't that they were trying to butt into Kevin and Kristy's relationship, but the rest of the guys couldn't help but wonder what was going on. The five guys were as close as brothers, and when one of them was having problems, they all felt it - either directly or indirectly. Kevin had been in such a bad mood lately that the others were all feeling directly effected by whatever was going on between the couple. What confused Nick, as well as the others, was how and why things had changed - especially when Kristy and Kevin had seemed so solid from the beginning. Nick felt especially effected by it since he was the one that had "brought" Kristy to Kevin to begin with. Of course, it hadn't taken very long for them to connect after they'd met. Nick smiled as he thought about the Portland concert and Kevin's special performance of "Once Upon a Time." The other guys had stood backstage, watching Kevin sing to Kristy, and had known then that they were witnessing the start of something magical. The rest of that evening had confirmed it, and by the time Nick and Brian had returned to the hotel, Nick had heard about the wishing well and Brian's discovery of them backstage after the concert. When A.J. and Howie had returned from the club, they couldn't stop talking about how close Kristy and Kevin were. Nick knew he'd never seen Kevin happier than that weekend they'd spent with Kristy. And during the weeks between that weekend and Kristy's recent visit, Nick and the other guys had watched how Kevin and Kristy had continued to develop their relationship despite being physically apart. Yet now they were struggling to maintain even the most casual relationship. Nick heard the pain in Kristy's voice as she answered him. "Nick, I just don't know what's happened." He didn't attempt to give her an answer. He didn't have one. She sighed in frustration. "And I'll be honest, it bothers me that I'm letting it - him - upset me so much. We haven't actually known each other for that long... So why does it feel like I'm losing something so important?" Nick didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He knew Kristy was strong and spirited. She wasn't the type of woman that would let herself be defined by a relationship. He also knew that this wasn't a typical relationship. "Kris, I'm not saying that you've lost anything yet... but what you and Kevin had - HAVE - is special. It IS important... and it doesn't matter how long you've known each other. What is it you said in "Once"? 'You're living the fairytale.'" Kristy let out a sound that was something between a whimper and a groan. Nick could practically hear her head fall back on the sofa. "Brainwashed." "Huh?" "Women are brainwashed at an early age into believing that someday Prince Charming is going to come rescue them from their dreary little lives and they'll go riding off into the sunset on a white charger. As kids it's through fairytales and Disney movies, then it's perpetuated throughout our adult lives by these damn romance novels. �Only then 'Prince Charming' is usually handsome and rich with some secret or problem that only the heroine can get to. And while the Princess isn't quite as helpless as in the fairytales, something always happens that the hero needs to fix. Things always start nicely - lots of chemistry - and everything seems like it's going great, then some conflict happens... and of course they're usually both too stubborn to admit their feelings or their problems and it becomes this drawn out drama. I hate that." �Are you serious?� Nick fought to contain his laughter as he realized the irony of what she�d just said. �About the romance novel stuff? Yeah, it�s true - they�re all pretty much like that. Of course they always live happily ever after � again contributing to our delusions.� Nick shook his head. He knew that his friend was not in the mood to hear that she�d just describe her and Kevin�s relationship to a tee. The only unknown was the �happily ever after� part.Kristy and Erin flew out to join the guys on tour almost month after they�d first met. At the airport, they found a driver waiting to take them to the guys � after they picked up another guest... Toni! The girls talked and laughed their way to the hotel, and Kristy was glad to have more friends with her, since lately she never seemed to know how things with Kevin would go. They arrived at the hotel and checked in, and Kristy had to admit she wasn�t terribly surprised upon hearing the �room assignments.� The three girls were staying together that night in a deluxe suite and then would travel with the guys to the next stop on the tour for another concert the following evening. The girls stepped into the elevator and headed up to the floor of suites the Boys and their band had reserved. Kristy dug around in her purse for her lip balm, while Toni caught Erin�s eye and arched a curious brow. Kristy had told both women about the incident with Allen on the bus, knowing that if she didn�t, the other guys would inevitably let it slip. But as far as Kristy knew, neither woman was aware of what was going on with her and Kevin now. What Kristy didn�t know was that both Erin and Toni suspected that something had changed. It was obvious to both of them � especially Erin � that Kristy wasn�t completely herself lately. For the first couple of weeks after they�d met, Kristy would light up at the mere mention of Kevin�s name. While Erin had talked with A.J. numerous times after that first weekend, she knew her sister and Kevin had taken �phone dating� to a new level. Since the previous trip to visit Kevin, Erin had noticed Kristy had been more reserved when talking about her relationship with the oldest member of the group. While she could talk calmly about the rape attempt, Erin watched as Kristy often struggled to remain composed when someone would bring up her boyfriend. And now she was staying with Erin and Toni. The three women entered their room and had to admit they could get used to traveling �BSB-Style�. Each girl had her own bed, with Erin and Kristy taking the larger bedroom. Their bags were soon brought up to their room and the girls hurriedly began to unpack, anxious to see their men. Another knock on the door disrupted their activities and Toni answered it with a shriek. Kristy and Erin emerged from the back room to see Toni and Dennis in a prolonged embrace, with A.J., Kevin, and the rest of the Boys standing in the entryway. Erin crossed the room, stopping when she reached A.J., and planted a solid kiss on his lips. He chuckled at her straightforward approach and returned her kiss with just as much directness. Kristy shifted her gaze from the other two couples towards the man that only two weeks ago she�d started kissing the minute he�d opened the door. She met his eyes across the room and smiled hesitantly. Kevin had been watching Kristy from the moment she stepped into the front room. He saw the way she watched the other couples with longing and thought back to their reunion mere weeks ago. He vividly remembered holding her in his arms � how he had pulled her into the room without ever breaking their kiss. He knew she was thinking of the same thing as she turned to him with a shy smile. Kevin would admit the last couple of weeks had been hell. He couldn�t ever remember feeling so wrong about something he was knew was right. Seeing her now � in overalls and pigtail braids, looking adorable, although worn out from her long flight � made him feel even worse. No matter how good his intentions were, he couldn�t stop himself from wanting to be with her. Kevin stepped further into the room and extended his hand to Kristy. She walked towards him slowly, trying to calm her pounding heart. She hadn�t been this nervous since they�d first met at the private meet-n-greet before the Portland concert. �Hi,� Kevin murmured as he gently pulled her to him. �Hi.� Kristy looked into his face that was now only inches from hers. Kevin lowered his head and claimed her lips in a soft, leisurely kiss. Kristy rested her hands on his upper arms, trying � unsuccessfully � to stop herself from getting too lost in the powerful kiss. It was pointless. Kevin continued the kiss, his hands now around her back, pulling her close to him. Sweet. Gentle. Sensual. In one kiss, Kristy felt herself falling in love with Kevin all over again � not that she�d ever stopped. How had he captured her heart so completely? Kevin knew he should end the kiss. Hell, he knew what he was risking by kissing her in the first place. He just loved her so much. Why couldn�t he have fallen for her slowly? Kevin finally pulled back, reluctantly ending the searing kiss. �Hi,� he repeated, at a loss for other words. Kristy smiled, her eyes sparkling with laughter and happiness. �You already said that.�Next: Chapter 24 |