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A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes Chapter 31 Brian, Howie, and two of their bodyguards stood by the edge of the dancefloor and watched the scene unfold before them. Kristy stormed off the floor and headed for Brian. "Where are Erin and Leigh?" The look in Kristy's eyes made him pause. Anger flashed in those bright hazel orbs, but behind that was pain and sadness. "Ah, A.J. took Erin back to the hotel, and Leigh's outside with Nick." Kristy nodded and turned for the door. "Kris," Brian laid his hand on her arm, "Are you okay?" Kristy turned to Brian, trying not to take her anger out on him simply because he was Kevin's cousin. "What do you think?!" Brian nodded in understanding. "Is there anything we can do?" he asked, gesturing to the men around him. Kristy glanced over her shoulder at Kevin who was grinding with the girl from earlier. She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "The only ideas that come to mind would likely put you in jail � and would definitely break up the group." She started to leave, then paused. "Actually, there is something..." She looked Brian in the eye. "Keep him the hell away from me." Brian shook his head sadly as he and Howie watched Kristy's retreating form. He couldn't blame her. Kevin had thrown a lot of crap at her lately, though tonight had been the breaking point. Brian had shared Howie's opinion earlier in the evening and thought things were finally working out for them... now he guessed it had just been the calm before the storm. "I hate to say this, but Kevin doesn't deserve her," Howie said as they watched their friend continue to dance with a stranger. Kevin had his eyes closed and the blond was kissing his neck as their bodies moved together. Brian had seen enough. He walked onto the dancefloor, followed by Nelson, and tapped Kevin forcefully on the arm. "Kevin." He opened his eyes and Brian realized he had to struggle to focus them. "What are you doin', man?" Kevin looked down at the blond in his arms. He stepped back as he realized he didn't even know who he was dancing with. "Where's Kris?" Brian looked at him with a combination of anger and pity. "Do you care?"Kristy burst through the door into the side alley, the cool night air filling her lungs as she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door, concentrating on her breathing and trying to slow her racing heart. "Kris?" Kristy's eyes flew open in surprise at the voice in the alley. So much for slowing her pulse rate. "Nick, you scared me to death. Hi, Leigh. Brian said you guys were outside, but I guess I forgot..." Leighanne stepped up to the other girl and placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Are you okay? You came through that door like you were trying to get away from someone..." she trailed off, wondering what else had happened since they'd left the club. Nick stepped towards the door, ready to do battle with anyone who entered the alley. "What did he do to you?" Nick grabbed Kristy's shoulders and turned her to him, his eyes searching hers. "Did he hurt you?" Kristy shook her head. "No." `Not unless you count a broken heart,' she thought to herself. "Guys, I just want to get out of here, okay?" She shivered, realizing in her hurry to leave the club she'd left her wrap. "Shit! I left my shawl inside." Leighanne smiled reassuringly. "Brian and D are still in there, right?" Kristy nodded but gave her a skeptical look. "But they won't think to get it," Leighanne concluded, reading Kristy's thoughts. "I'll go inside and get it and the others... Nick you head back to the hotel with Kristy."Kevin sat at the table in the corner while Nelson went to go get him some water and coffee. His head was starting to pound, though he was pretty sure it wasn't only due to the alcohol. He rested his head in his hands, elbows on the table, and shut his eyes, trying to shut out the pictures flashing through his head. He'd wanted to end things for good tonight, and he'd done it. Kristy had been outraged at his behavior, as he'd known she would be. His heart sank at the look of pain and disappointment he'd seen in her eyes. `Angel, it's the only way I could keep you safe.' Leighanne approached the table and resisted the urge to dump Kevin's glass of water � or his coffee � over his head. Brian turned, surprised to see his girlfriend there. "I thought you'd be with Kris." Leighanne shook her head and pulled Brian away, lowering her voice as she spoke, "I promised I'd get her scarf for her. Nick took her back to the hotel." They decided to head back to the hotel themselves, along with Howie and Marcus, leaving Nelson to watch over Kevin. They instructed the bodyguard to keep him there for awhile, partly to sober up, but mostly to give Kristy time to get out of their room."You don't have ANYTHING?" Kristy desperately asked the clerk at the front desk. "It doesn't have to be a suite or even near the rest of the band..." Her shoulders slumped in frustration as the young man shook his head. Nick stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. They'd traveled back to the hotel in silence and Nick was still not sure of what else had transpired at the club. "Kris, c'mon." He pushed the button for the elevators and watched as Kristy stared blindly at the wall. They got off on their floor and Nick guided her past the security team in the hall to his room. "You're staying here tonight." He smiled slightly as she turned to him with a surprised look on her lovely face. "I'll sleep on the couch. Just make yourself comfortable... I'll be back in a couple of minutes." He stepped into the hall and had Kevin's bodyguard open his and Kristy's room so he could grab some of her personal things. He considered leaving a note for Kevin, letting him know where Kristy was, but decided against it. He wasn't feeling particularly considerate at the moment. Besides, he doubted Kevin would even notice she was gone. Nick returned to his room to find Kristy exactly as he'd left her... sitting atop his bed, staring blankly at the T.V. - though he doubted she even noticed the videos playing on MTV or that he'd been gone. "Kris?" He paused as she turned her head towards him, his heart dropping as he saw how her eyes lacked their usual sparkle. "Ummm... I, uh, brought you some of your stuff." `Articulate there, Carter,' Nick berated himself. "Thanks." Kristy shifted her gaze back to the T.V. as "Larger Than Life" started. Nick stood off to the side and watched Kristy as he and his bandmates' futuristic forms appeared. Once again, he felt his chest constrict as he watched her wince slightly when Kevin's "space commander" filled the screen for the first time. Nick moved to sit next to her on the bed, not knowing what to say. He tried to lighten the mood as the second verse started. "Now THERE'S a good looking guy," he joked as the video showed him leading his dancing robot army. Kristy smiled slightly then stilled as the video cut back to Kevin. They watched the video in silence. Kristy turned to Nick as the dance sequence began. "My favorite part is coming up. Right... here!" she said with a grin as she pointed to a shot of Kevin brushing the side of his nose as he glanced over his shoulder at his bandmates. "I call it his `watch-and-see-how-it's-done move'!" she giggled. Nick chuckled. "Yeah, we called it his `step-aside-boys-this-is-a-man's-job look'!" Kristy's eyes twinkled as she followed Kevin's movements on the screen. "Yep, that's the man I know and lo..." She paused, stopping herself and Nick could see the pain shoot through her. Nick turned towards her. "Do you still love him?" Nick watched as Kristy set her chin. "No." Her eyes softened as once again Kevin's face filled the T.V. "Yes. Oh, I don't know." "Let's start with the important stuff... what do you love about him?" Nick knew she was hurting, and he couldn't blame her. Kevin was acting like a world-class asshole, but part of him couldn't help but think they still belonged together. Kristy watched the final shots of their video then spoke. "A couple of weeks ago I would've been able to answer that without hesitating, but now..." "Just remember how you felt then," Nick prompted. Kristy shut her eyes briefly, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "His kindness. His honesty. His strength." She opened her eyes, but her mind was still replaying their first few weeks together. "The way he could always make me smile. The way I get goose-bumps at the sound of his voice. How I get weak every time he kisses me." Kristy stared at the wall in front of her, not noticing the sad smile that crossed Nick's face. "The power of his gaze, his voice, and his character. How he's so passionate about music, his family and friends, and life. And the fact that when I'm in his arms, I feel safer, happier, and more loved than I've ever felt in my life." She paused as she looked at Nick, remembering the reality of the evening. "But I don't love how he was tonight � or has been for the last few weeks. That person at the club was not the man I fell in love with." She sighed and closed her eyes. "Maybe Kevin's right, maybe I just fell in love with who I thought he was � who I wanted him to be. Maybe I really don't know him after all." "Bullshit!" Kristy jumped slightly at Nick's response. "If you don't know him, then none of us do. Do you remember what I said to you in my first email note to you after I read `Once'?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I asked if you actually knew Kevin, because you'd gotten his personality down so exactly. Why would I have said that if it weren't true?" Nick took a deep breath to calm himself as he could see his emotional outburst wasn't helping Kristy any. "Kris, we all read the story and all knew you two would be perfect together � Kevin included. You can't fake what you two feel for each other � and felt from the very first time you met." "Then why would he do this? How could he just throw this away?" `Throw us away.' Kristy drew a shaky breath as she felt her eyes tear. Nick watched with equal parts sadness and anger as she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, struggling to maintain her composure. `Damn him for doing this to her.'Kevin was miserable. He walked into the hotel lobby, past the few dedicated fans, and straight into the elevator. His head hurt, his stomach hurt, and most of all his heart hurt. The elevator ride was as quiet as the cab ride had been and Kevin was thankful that Nelson was through lecturing him. They'd stayed at the club well after it had closed. Kevin had cleared his head - and his conscience - as he'd confided everything to Nelson. The stoic bodyguard hadn't spared Kevin's feelings as he let him know how stupid he thought his plan had been. Kevin conceded that it hadn't been his finest moment, but that he had good intentions and was just trying to protect Kristy. Nelson had taken the opportunity to remind Kevin that they had a team of security people trained to do just that � and that Kristy was stronger than most. "Did you think to ask her if she felt like she needed `protecting'?" Nelson had asked. "No," Kevin had sighed, wishing he could have had the last few hours back - the last few weeks actually. "What have I done?" "Screwed up the best thing in your life," Nelson had answered honestly. Kevin looked to the bodyguard and friend. "Do you think I could get her to forgive me?" "After the way you treated her tonight? If she does, she's even more of an angel than I already think she is." Kevin opened the door to their room quietly. He stepped into the room and froze as he saw the empty, still-made bed. He looked around the suite, then the bathroom. It was there that he noticed some of Kristy's things were missing. He called down to the front desk to she if got another room, but was told that the hotel was completely booked. He felt panic welling up inside him. `Where could she have gone? Please, God, let her be okay.' Kevin knew right then that his life was meaningless without her.Next: Chapter 32 |