A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes by Angel of Music ([email protected]) Chapter 26 Nick looked around the band bus, his forehead creasing slightly as he searched for Kristy. A.J. stepped from the back of the bus and paused. "What are you doin' here?" Nick felt his cheeks redden slightly as both A.J. and Tommy smiled knowingly. "I thought maybe you and I could talk with Kristy about the way Kevin's been acting lately. That, and I really didn't want to be in a confined space with him like he's been." A.J. nodded his agreement. "Can't say as I blame you... considering he's bound to be really irritable after that little encounter with Kris." He chuckled as he pictured Kevin's dazed expression after Kristy had abruptly ended their passionate kiss. "So, how do you propose we approach Kristy on this?" Nick shrugged as he sat in one of the chairs near Mindi. "I know she's hurting, but she's trying to be strong � as always," Nick sighed as he ran a hand through his blond hair. A.J. propped his hip against the table and thought over Nick's last comment. "Is she okay with the Allen-thing? I mean, it seemed like it never really got to her." Nick shook his head. "I think that was for our benefit. Remember how Kevin stayed up with her that night because she kept having nightmares? I'm afraid that whole thing is still effecting both of them." "Yeah, I know Kev was pretty rattled by it. I've never seen him lose control like that before..." Despite Kevin's temper, none of the guys had ever seen him so enraged as he'd been when he was punching Allen. "Although he hasn't been acting like it lately, I think that incident made him realize just how much Kristy means to him." "Then he has a funny way of showing it." Both men turned at the sound of Erin's voice. They could see she did not look happy about what was happening between her sister and Kevin. "Kevin should be doing everything possible to make sure she feels safe and loved. Instead, half the time he acts like he doesn't want to be anywhere near her..." "And the rest of the time, he acts like he can't get close enough to her," A.J. finished. "I don't think he knows what he wants." * * * * * * * * * * * * Right then Kevin wanted Kristy... more than he'd ever wanted anything in his life. He sat in the back of the bus; none of the other guys were bothering him, which was good. He sat with sheet music and other papers surrounding him, but he had barely glanced at them since walking on the bus. He couldn't concentrate. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Kristy's face � her sweet smile, her twinkling eyes, her soft lips. He took a deep breath and could practically feel the searing kiss from that afternoon. That kiss reminded him of the kiss from the day before in the hotel room. That memory prompted another... from Kristy's first trip out to join him on tour. He sighed with frustration as his mind replayed every kiss they'd shared since their first meeting... Backstage at the wishing well Kevin had arranged as a surprise. After the concert in the back halls of the venue. All the kisses and flirtatious exchanges they'd shared at the club and the next day at her parents. The trip up and back from Seattle. The night after Allen's attack. `No!' Kevin clenched his jaw and tried to dispel the tempting thoughts from his head... and heart. He thought about why he was doing what he was � for the millionth time. He was doing this for Kristy. For her safety and happiness. His conscious nagged him. Was he really acting selflessly? Or was he using it as an excuse because he was afraid of the intensity of his feelings for her? He'd admit he'd fallen fast � and hard. The moment he'd walked into the meet and greet area before the Portland concert and saw her standing amongst his friends he'd known his life was going to change. If he was honest with himself, he'd admit he had started to fall for her even before that... `Once Upon a Time,' he thought to himself with a rueful smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kristy sat in the back of the bus, chatting with Toni and Dennis and several of the other band members. Erin had gone up front in search of A.J. and hadn't returned. She drummed her fingers on the table and wondered what Kevin was thinking about at that moment... hopefully her. She knew she had to give him some space � some time to think. She hoped he was using this time to come to the same conclusion she had. They belonged together. For reasons she still didn't understand, Kevin had been acting differently lately. She was confused by his behavior... especially by the unpredictability of his moods. The one thing she could predict, however, was their chemistry. While she would never base a relationship on only the physical aspect, she knew that Kevin couldn't hide his emotions from her when they were physically close. Just as her eyes betrayed her thoughts, Kevin's kisses betrayed his. Their kisses weren't simply those of two people who were physically attracted to each other... they were kisses of soulmates. Each time their lips touched, they shared their love, tenderness, friendship, and desire. They couldn't deny it and she wasn't about to let Kevin forget it. Kristy realized she hadn't been contributing to the conversation going on around her and excused herself to go find Erin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Erin knew Kristy was in love with Kevin... and love could be blind. It wasn't that Erin didn't like Kevin, she did � or at least she had until his recent behavior. She just felt it was her responsibility to help Kristy see the truth... good or bad. While she'd admit she wasn't entirely unbiased, at least she had a little more objectivity than Kristy could in the situation. "Guys, don't take this the wrong way, but would you consider Kevin a player?" Nick and A.J. both grinned. "We're talking about Kevin Richardson, right?" A.J. asked jokingly. "As opposed to A.J., here!" Nick chuckled then ducked as A.J. threw a pillow at the laughing blond. Erin rolled her eyes. She KNEW A.J. was a player, but she wasn't worried about herself. "Tell me something I don't know. But seriously... what about Kevin? I know he's got all the tools... the looks, voice, personality, money, fame... but is he the type to just use women?" "Kevin's never really been a player," Nick said with sincerity. "But you're right, he'd be dangerous if he wanted to. If anything, I'd say he's pretty reserved when it comes to women. That's why I think it's the real deal with Kris... I'd never seen him like that before." A.J. nodded. "We've all given him a bad time about how whipped he is... or at least WAS." Erin thought that over for a while. "Okay, so maybe he's not the typical player... what about a `thrill of the chase' type guy?" Nick looked puzzled. "Huh?" A.J. nodded his understanding. "You mean the guys who say and do all the right things in the beginning to make girls fall for them?" Erin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Exactly. And then once they have what they wanted, they lose interest." She arched an eyebrow as an unspoken question. A.J. and Nick exchanged looks. "I never would've classified Kevin like that, but now that you mention it..." Nick trailed off. "Although they both liked each other from the beginning," A.J. defended. "It wasn't like Kevin was chasing her. They met and there was this incredible mutual interest." Nick agreed with A.J., but he couldn't think of any other explanation for Kevin's sudden change in behavior. The thought of him "dismissing" Kristy infuriated Nick. "But it makes sense. That prick!" Nick exploded, just as Kristy wandered into the front of the bus where they were gathered. "Whoa, Nicky... calm down." Kristy sat next to him on the edge of his chair and brushed her hand over his hair in a calming gesture. "What's wrong?" The concern in Kristy's eyes was more than Nick could handle. "Kris, you don't deserve this." Nick struggled to keep his anger at bay. It was a good thing he wasn't riding their bus... he probably would've gone after Kevin at that moment. Kristy glanced to Erin and A.J. in confusion. "Deserve what?" A.J. glared at Nick and in a calm voice tried to see how she was feeling about her and Kevin. "Kris, we're worried about you... and Kevin." Kristy's eyes widened as her sister and two of her dearest friends sat around her, their faces reflecting A.J.'s words. She tried to ignore the knot she felt form in her stomach and forced a patient smile. "There's nothing to worry about. I'm fine. Kev's fine. Everybody's fine." She tried to smile brighter. "But the way he's been treating you lately..." Nick started, his loyalty to his "brother" and his friendship with Kristy battling inside him. "He's been a jerk." Kristy knew Nick was looking out for her, but she wasn't willing to admit there was a problem... at least not one that couldn't be fixed. "Guys, he's just having a bad day. Everyone's entitled to `em once and awhile." Nick was about to argue that Kevin was having more than his fair share lately, but stopped as he saw the resolve in Kristy's eyes. "We're fine," she repeated. Nick and A.J. exchanged looks with Erin. Kristy wasn't ready to give up on her and Kevin, and they were going to help her in every way they could... even if she didn't ask for it. Next: Chapter 27 -FanFics -Home