Chapter

Ali had been trying to get Kaylee to talk to her ever since Luke had walked away from them.
They were now outside the venue, walking back to the hotel, and Kaylee still had said nothing other than..."can we leave now?"

"Kaylee....PLEASE talk to me. I know you're mind is racing in 100 different directions, but......"

"Oh really Ali...try a million different directions and spinning around all at the same time! I did NOT need this....I really didn't," Kaylee shouted at her friend.

"Kay...do NOT yell at me," Ali said while taking Kaylee by the arms and forcing her to stop walking. "I'm not the enemy here....hell, there IS no enemy here. Just you...and a gorgeous man that wants to meet you."

"Oh..oh really Ali...is that ALL????? Huh??? Me and some extremely gorgeous...very famous man! Big difference there, don'tcha think Al? BIG difference!"

"Kaylee....from everything I've heard about him...Kevin Richardson is a nice man. Not the least bit impressed with himself. Very down to earth....cares about everyone!"

Kaylee and Ali turned and sat on the bench, with Kaylee not really listening to anything that Ali was saying.

"Oh yeah Al...he sure looks like an average ordinary guy to me. Ya know...I spent last night thinking about him. I couldn't get him out of my head! I spent TODAY thinking about him...and guess what? I had finally decided that I would probably never...ever....see him again. And, I was OK with that...really, I was!! Now...he' right here....right in front of my face...............," Kaylee said in a voice that quickly became an emotion filled whisper.

Ali turned to face her friend and she saw the emotion...the conflict in Kaylee's eyes.

"Kaylee...for once in your stubborn life...will you listen to me? Please! I try to never tell you what to do...and I'm not going to now, either, but hear me out. Kevin Richardson is a man....he's just like any other man in that he feels pain...he gets hurt. Ya know...he has a girlfriend........"

"A GIRLFRIEND???? He has a GIRLFRIEND?? And, you still think I should go meet him?? For what?? I mean...its not like I want anything from him...I know ... oh shit......so..in other words .. me, Kevin...and GIRLFRIEND could sit and have some nice conversation, right?"

"Will you just SHUT UP and listen to me.....GIRLFRIEND may be no more! Remember when I went to the bathroom before the show...well, since it took me so long to get back to the seats, I never had a chance to tell you this little tidbit. But...listen to this... apparently this woman, who was in the bathroom, is staying at our hotel. She was hanging out in the lobby earlier yesterday...when she saw Trish, Kevin's girlfriend, storm across the lobby...and out the front doors..............."

"Big whoop Ali! What the hell do I care that his girlfriend left the hotel?"

"SSssssshhh .. just let me finish, ok? SO...not only did Trish STORM out of the hotel...but...she had her suitcase with her....AND...she got in a cab! Then this woman mentioned that she saw him in the lobby late last night...but Luke wouldn't let anyone near him...and she said that he smelled like booze! Sound familiar? ANYWAY..........today...she said he left for the venue.......ALONE! Me thinks there was a major fight...and Miss Trish, who I personally think is a major bitch, is no where to be found now! I also think that's why Kevin was drunk last night. Now...I don't know who was the 'dumper' and who was the 'dumpee' but SOMEONE was in serious emotional pain last night!"

"Oh God Ali.....that sure explains a LOT....but...I don't know...I just don't know.......," she said, her voice trailing off.

"Kaylee.....ummm....I hate to say this...but...his heart must've been broken yesterday...and from what Luke said this morning...and just again tonight...he really wants to talk to you." At this moment, Ali took a deep breath to get the courage to say what she knew she HAD to say. "Do you want to break his heart for the second night in a row? Do you really want to do that to him?"

Kaylee turned to her friend...her eyes as wide as saucers and she looked as though a light had just gone on in her head. Ali knew it was a low blow...that Kaylee would never intentionally hurt someone...but, she also KNEW she had to say it! She knew that if nothing else got through to her THAT would! And...she was right!

"Ali...oh my God...I'm so afraid. I'm scared.....really scared. He touched my hand last night and it felt like an electrical shock went through me. Hell...HE scares me. But, not like scary scared...like....oh shit..I don't know. He's almost overwhelming...between WHO he is....and good lord....what he looks like. Shit!

"C'mon .. you poor old woman...," Ali said, as she tugged Kaylee to her feet and started to walk back toward the hotel, "you know what to do.....you know what you HAVE to do.....just go with it sweetie. Don't think about it, ok? Stop following your head for once....just follow the path that's being laid out, right in front of you."

Kaylee took a deep breath and said..."Well, Luke said he'd be there in an hour....and that he'd wait for another hour. The way I see it is....I just wasted .. like.... 40 minutes here. That gives us 20 minutes to finish this walk back to the hotel. First hour gone! 10 minutes to get up to the room......another 20 minutes to get cleaned up. Oh shit...who am I kidding...all these 'tear tracks' .. I'm a mess...ok ok....maybe more like 30 minutes to get my "face" back together. That leaves me 10 minutes to get downstairs and find him."

"That's my girl! C'mon Kaylee...with a time schedule like that....we better get moving!"

Kaylee nodded at her friend, and then grabbed her hand and practically ran all the way back to the hotel.

They reached the front doors.....took a deep breath....and headed into the lobby. Kaylee pushed Ali in first. "Look for him Al...maybe he was early...and I don't want him to see me like this."

"KAYLEE", Ali sighed even as she took a full look around the lobby, "Luke said to give him an hour........and I say .. GIVE HIM AN HOUR! And, from what I've heard...an hour could mean an hour and a half or two hours."

But, well aware of her friend's trembling hand, Ali walked ahead of Kaylee and felt like she was a spy on a mission. She looked around the lobby...one more time, and just as she expected, he was NOT there.

They arrived at the elevator....pushed the button....got up to the 12th floor...and made their way to the room. As soon as they got inside, Kaylee went right to the sink. She was frantically washing her face to try to get rid of the tear marks. She started to quickly apply some fresh make up, and fortunately she never required a lot of it, so she didn't lose much time.

"Please Ali....tell me I'm doing the right thing..........."

"Kaylee...you ARE doing the right thing....it's something you need to do.........."

Kaylee had finished reapplying her makeup and started on her hair. "This will never do.......," she muttered as she yanked the clip out of her hair. She dampened her hair and let it lift into little curls. A quick splash of cologne.....and...."I think I'm ready!", she exclaimed with a sigh.

"You look fantastic....but....I hate to tell you Cinderella...you've used up a LOT more time than planned. Get your ass out that door........MOVE IT!!!!

"Shit...oh oh...Ali....WOW! That did take longer........ok ok...I can do this....I think...sure...sure I can...," she said, in a tone that sounded more like a question, than a statement.

Kaylee took a breath...opened the door....and stepped into the hallway.

"Good Luck Kaylee!! Enjoy yourself.....everything will be perfect," Ali shouted out the door at her friend.

Kaylee took a deep breath...and made her way to the restaraunt....totally frightened.......not sure if she was doing the right thing or not. But, something in her heart told her it was the "perfect" time..........to be doing, the "perfect" thing.................