Chapter

Kaylee and Ali wandered down the main street on their way to dinner and their big night on the town. Kaylee felt some of her anxiety lift as they walked further away from the hotel. They were trading jokes and laughing so hard, Kaylee thought she would cry.

It was a fairly warm fall evening, and the restaurant and the concert venue were both within walking distance of the hotel. Kaylee was starting to have doubts about her new outfit. "Damn Ali...I thought it would be a lot cooler than this...", she exclaimed, "I am so glad I didn't bring my jacket." "Yeah, no kidding...it IS warm..and who wants to worry about a jacket when you're going to be having as good a time as us," Ali replied, "not to mention you look great in that. If 'Adonis' could see you now, he'd flip!"

"Oh please, Ali...stop..'Adonis'....KEVIN...probably wouldn't want someone with my baggage anyway."

"Excuse me?? Baggage??? You?? And, who was the one sitting on a public sidewalk, crying his eyes out, about God only knows what, and you think YOU have baggage? Please...give ME a break!"

Just then the traffic light at the crosswalk turned red and the two woman had to stop and wait to cross. Ali pointed out that the venue was to their right, but dinner was straight ahead.

Ali looked over her shoulder and saw the large tour bus approaching the same intersection.

"Holy cow Kay...look at that!", she exclaimed.

"What...what??", Kaylee asked, turning around to look at whatever it was that caught Ali's eye.

"That bus...THOSE buses...oh my god Kaylee..those buses belong to the Backstreet Boys. I've seen them before. It must be time for them to get to the venue for their sound check."

"Oh wow...those ARE their buses. I saw them at the hotel this afternoon", Kaylee added.

The two woman watched as the buses slowed at the intersection and then proceeded to make the right turn directly in front of them. Most of the windows were darkened and the two women couldn't see inside. But, Kaylee found herself oddly curious about what or who was in each bus.

"Hey Kay...looking for Adonis?", Ali giggled.

"Kiss my ass...I told you...he is NOT a Backstreet Boy! Good Lord Ali, will you give it a break," Kaylee said rather annoyed, "and....ummm......well....at least I don't think he is...."

"A HA!! I knew it...I just knew it....you're NOT convinced are you?"

Kaylee just glared at her friend...and then decided that no matter what she thought, she wasn't going to let it interfere with their good time tonight.

"Ali...I'm sure he's not, ok? Can we just forget about KEVIN...and have a good time?"

"You're right Kay....I'm sorry...but, I'm just not sure WE can forget about Kevin. I mean, I sure can...never met him...you on the other hand...I don't know?!?! And, is it so wrong that I just want you to meet someone and be happy again? But, anyway....I won't bring HIM up unless you do first. Deal?"

"Deal!", Kaylee exclaimed, throwing her arm over her friend's shoulder.

The last bus made its way through theintersection, the walk light came on, and the two women started to cross the street.

Kaylee and Ali made their way across the intersection and on down the street to "Carmen's" where they had dinner reservations. Once inside the restaraunt, the two women were seated, ordered a bottle of wine, and decided to make this the best night of their lives. They ordered their dinners and enjoyed their wine. Before the end of their meals, another bottle of wine had been ordered and finished.

They were enjoying life and their friendship. They reminisced about the many good times, and tried not to bring up the few bad times.

"Oh Ali, I just can't do it....no matter how hard I try...I keep wondering what he is doing right now?"

"Who Kaylee...Jeff?? Why would you care what that loser is doing"

"No", sighed Kaylee. "Not Jeff, Ali........Kevin," Kaylee said softly, "I can't help but wonder where he is...if he's ok or ... or..... if he....dammit...if he even remembers me! Ali, what's wrong with me? Its not like I even KNOW this man. He's a total stranger to me, and yet I can't get him off my mind."

Ali watched her friend closely. She had never seen Kaylee this unsettled before and was very anxious to try and figure out what was going on with her.

"Kaylee, I don't have any answers for this hold Adon.......sorry, Kevin...has over you. I don't have a damn clue why you're feeling the way you are. I did not see him...or talk to him...remember? But, I do know that you've been hurt in the past, and its time to move on! You've got to come back to life Kaylee. You may never see this Kevin again...and that would be ok. I'd still be grateful to him because, for some unknown reason, HE is making you feel things I don't think you've felt in a long time."

"I know, sweetie....this is the strangest thing that has EVER happened to me...."

Just then, the waiter arrived at the table with their bill. The two women paid for their dinners and headed out the door.

"Kaylee....we WILL have a great time tonight! You'll love these guys...and trust me...they WILL make you forget everything...at least for two hours."

With that said...the two women walked up the avenue toward the venue....not sure what the night was going to bring them...but willing to take a chance. One woman not realizing that tonight, was the night, that would change two people's lives, forever.

The night that would give her, and a broken hearted man, a chance to live and love again.