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A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes Chapter 27 Kevin wandered to the front of the bus where Brian and Howie were watching MTV. His two friends eyed him carefully, trying to gauge his mood. He sat next to Brian and stared at the TV. After several minutes of silence � save the videos on screen � Howie spoke. "Someone should document this. I don't think this bus has ever been this quiet... `cept maybe when we're all sleeping." Kevin chuckled. "Definitely a first. But really, I appreciate it... I needed to think." Brian nodded, but refrained from asking what he'd been thinking about � or what conclusion he'd reached. "I'm sure it must be killing Nick... How'd you manage to keep him so quiet?" Brian and Howie exchanged a quick glance. "Actually," Brian started, "It wasn't that hard... He's, uh, not here." Kevin quirked an eyebrow. "Don'tcha think some of the fans will notice if he's not there tonight? Besides, who will we pick on if he's not around?" Howie grinned. "He's still around, he's just not HERE." Kevin looked between the other two. Something was up and Kevin had his suspicions about what it was. "So, where IS he?" Brian met his cousin's even stare. "On the band bus with A.J." "Don't you mean with Kristy?" Kevin knew Nick and his girlfriend had become good friends � now he wondered just HOW good.The busses arrived at the hotel shortly after lunch. Everyone stayed on their respective busses, waiting for Denise to check them in and give out room assignments. Denise stepped aboard the band's bus and handed out the room keys. "Mindi, Tommy, Dennis, A.J., Nick..." She turned to the girls. "There's been a small change though. Someone cancelled your girls' room." Erin saw A.J. and Nick exchange a brief look and bit back a smile. `So that's what they were up to.' "Were you able to get us another room?" Erin asked, suspecting that Denise wouldn't have told them about the cancellation if she'd been able to easily rectify the situation. "No, they're completely booked. So, I was going to ask if a couple of you could double up to open up a room for Toni, Erin, and Kristy." "Toni can double up with me," Dennis said with a grin while Toni blushed slightly. "That is, if it's okay with her." She nodded and let herself be pulled in for a hug. "And Erin can stay with me," A.J. offered. Erin's eyes widened slightly as she looked between mother and son. "Are you sure?" A.J. chuckled and Denise smiled at Erin. She knew her son wasn't a little boy anymore, but was impressed that Erin would be concerned about what she thought. She nodded her acceptance. Kristy remained seated, quietly wondering where she'd be staying. Nick saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "You can always stay with me..." "That won't be necessary." Kristy raised surprised blue-green eyes to Kevin's tall frame filling the doorway of the bus. Kevin had heard about the girls' room being cancelled. While he knew sharing a room with Kristy would be a bit of a challenge, there was no way he'd let her stay with Nick. Kristy smiled up at him as she rose and walked towards him. "Did you get your work done?" Kevin nodded, not wanting her to know he'd been unable to think about anything but her during the drive. "Yeah, it was nice not to have any distractions." He glanced from Nick back to Kristy. Kristy felt her stomach knot again. When had she become a distraction? Erin, A.J., and Nick heard Kevin's comment and all frowned. It looked like Kristy and Kevin would need more than just sharing a room to get back on track.They were at sound-check and Nick was nowhere to be found. "Where is he?" Kevin had just about reached his limit with the youngest member of the group. A.J. shrugged, knowing Nick was hiding out backstage as part of their plan. He looked to Erin and nodded slightly. "While we're waiting for the little guy to show... Mindi, why don't you play something from your new album?" Mindi smiled at Erin and A.J., then glanced casually at Kristy sitting on the edge of the stage a few feet from where Kevin was pacing. "What would you like to hear?" A.J. and Nick had filled her in on their plan and she agreed to help... if she could. "What about that song you were telling me about on the bus?" Erin looked at Kevin, then at her sister. Nick had shown Erin a copy of the lyrics to one of Mindi's songs and Erin has immediately agreed to his plan. She knew they were taking a chance, but something had to change... one way or another. Mindi began playing and singing with the rest of the band, Boys, friends, and crew listening � and watching.I'm still the girl with butterflies in my hair With the first lines Kristy turned, her eyes wide at how close the words were to her and Kevin. She raised a hand to touch one of the butterfly barrettes that held a small section of honey-blond hair at her temple. ... And I can still see that glimmer in your eyes Kevin had stopped pacing and sat to the side of Mindi. He'd heard "First Kiss" before, but never had it had such significance. ... Maybe it was you Maybe it was me And maybe it was youth That let us love so freely If you'd give me one wish I'd wish for this That everything could be As beautiful � As our first kiss... Kristy and Kevin's eyes locked. The song was about a relationship ending, yet remembering � holding on to � the good parts. Kristy could tell Kevin was as surprised as she was. She remembered their first kiss and her heart ached, remembering the sweetness of it. She knew it had only been about a month since they'd first met, but in some ways it seemed like so long ago. She listened to the words and wondered if it was some sort of sign. ... I still remember you Smilin' in the sun You put your hand in mine Our love had just begun You held me so close I thought you'd never let go I felt your love so deeply Thought it might save my soul... Kevin couldn't take his eyes off Kristy. The song seemed to hang in the air around them and Kevin felt like he might as well have been singing the words himself. ... And I can still see that glimmer in your eyes Kristy's nerves were raw, her emotions exposed. Kevin's eyes held hers throughout the second verse, but finally she began to break down. She could feel the tears starting to form and knew Kevin would be able to tell how upset she was. She closed her eyes, the first tears trickling down her cheek. ... And I still wonder how we ever made it through Kevin could see the confusion, love, fear, and pain in her vivid hazel eyes. He remained sitting where he was a she watched her shut her eyes in frustration. He felt his heart constrict as a tear escaped down her cheek. ... Maybe it was you Maybe it was me Maybe it was youth That let us love so freely... Kevin crossed the stage to Kristy in a few strides, sat next to her, and pulled her onto his lap while wrapping her in his strong arms. ... If you'd give me one wish I'd wish for this That everything could be as beautiful As our first kiss... The feel of his arms around her was more than Kristy could handle. The tears she'd been struggling to hold back broke with a sob. ... I'm still the girl with butterflies in my hair Right then Kevin was hardly without a care in the world. It was his fault Kristy was hurting right then. He'd done exactly what he'd set out to avoid. The "gradual" distancing was agony for both of them. His heart cried in protest as Kristy's body shook slightly as she cried in his arms. ... It's funny how time flies when you're having fun Maybe it was you Maybe it was me... Kevin's gentle touch, the way he stroked her hair and held her so close, comforted and tortured Kristy at the same time. `Where do we stand? Is the song right? Have we outgrown our love?' She buried her face into the crook of his neck, the smell of his cologne and warm skin filling her head. ... If you'd give me one wish I'd wish for this That everything could be That beautiful... The chorus repeated and Kevin whispered soothing words as he kissed her temple. "Shh. Angel, don't cry." ... That everything could be That beautiful... Kristy pulled back slightly and raised teary eyes to Kevin's. They couldn't turn back time or erase all that had happened, but she still wished that they could go back to how things were in the beginning. ... Maybe it was you Maybe it was me Maybe it was youth That let us love so freely... Kevin had been thinking he should just end it � now, before either of them got hurt even more. That thought was temporarily forgotten as he looked into Kristy's eyes. ... If you'd give me one wish I'd wish for this That everything could be As beautiful - As our first kiss Kevin and Kristy both felt themselves lean in, neither able to resist the force moving them together. Their lips met in a beautiful kiss � and for a few moments everything else was forgotten. |