Chapter

Kaylee had barely moved away from the closed door when the lamp between the beds was turned on, and Ali was sitting up asking a million questions all at once.

"So...where did you go? What did you do? Is he as nice as he seems? Did he kiss you???"

"Geez Al..take a breath...in fact...sssshh....let me get into my jammies and I'll tell you everything cause I'm not going to sleep..that's for sure! Oh shit Al...his jacket....THIS is his jacket! Holy hell...we both forgot about it....shit!"

"Relax Kaylee...I don't think he's going to miss it for a few hours....seems like a perfect reason to make sure you see him, if by chance he doesn't call."

Kaylee let her clothes fall on the chair..got into her pajamas, grabbed Kevin's jacket, climbed into bed ..with the jacket, and let out a huge sigh.

"That good, huh?"

"Oh Al...what did I get myself into? It wasn't good.....it was better than good. I hate to think what he'd be like if he was really trying. I mean...we didn't do anything...just talked. We went to the park...god Al...he wanted to ride the swings! Can you believe that?"

Kaylee told her friend everything that happened. Kevin falling off the swing....laying in the grass, looking at the stars....almost all of it. And, Ali did a good job of acting surprised, never letting on that she had seen most of what happened.

"Kay...what happened at the door? You leaving that part out for a reason....I mean...I figured he'd try to kiss you. And, since the door WAS open...and it DID get quiet out there...I assume he did....."

"Yeah Al....," she sighed, "he did, and it was the best kiss. Ali, he asked....he ASKED if he could kiss me. No one does that anymore...but he did. And, his kiss.....God......I mean....his mouth....it's so soft. And...his hands...they're soft, too. And.....and.......he's just......so....." She put his jacket over her face and started to laugh. The excitement of the day...and the lateness of the hour was making her giddy.

"Kaylee....you sound like a teenager," Ali laughed.

"I don't know...maybe it's just because I haven't been kissed for such a long time. I don't know...I just don't know....."

"Honey...you're going to see him again, right?"

"I hope so....he's supposed to call me. But, I know he's got a tight schedule...and if he doesn't call...I'll understand."

Uh huh....sure.......you're not convincing me! And, I don't blame you. Good God Kay...he's gorgeous, that's for sure. And, from everything I've ever heard about him....well...he's supposed to be a pretty nice guy too."

"Yeah...understatement. Extremely gorgeous. My lord Ali....when I looked into his eyes....I thought I was going to be lost forever," she sighed, "nice......mmm hmmm...very nice. A gentleman...and ya know what else? I got the impression that he doesn't get to be himself very often. We sat in the lounge for almost 3 hours, and I just listened to him talk. It was funny...he asked me if I wanted to get to know Kevin Richardson...or Kevin Backstreet."

"Well...you obviously answered the right way....because really....you don't have a clue about Kevin Backstreet."

"No...I really don't..but I sure learned alot about Kevin Richardson. And, what I learned...I liked. But, I still don't know what happened to hurt him so much the night before...but, if he wants to tell me..I'll listen. If he doesn't..I'll respect that."

The two continued to talk until they were both too exhausted to even move their mouths, and right before Kaylee drifted off to sleep, she took in a deep breath of the scent of his cologne on his jacket, remembering everything about him. She finally drifted off to sleep to dream of the tall dark haired man with the beautiful eyes....and the softest lips she had ever kissed.
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Kevin let himself into his room, locked the door behind him, and called Luke to let him know that he had arrived back at his room in one piece.

As he was taking his clothes off, his mind kept wandering back to his time spent with Kaylee. He smiled and tossed his clothes on the chair.

"What a night....," he mumbled as he walked over to the balcony in his tee shirt and boxers.
He unlocked the door and stepped outside, paying no attention to the cool fall air. He looked up at the stars again, thinking about how the last two days had put his emotions in such a state of turmoil.

"Dang dad....what the hell is happening to me," he asked with a big sigh. He leaned onto the railing and looked out at the city.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He knew in his heart of hearts, that what happened with Trish was probably for the best...but why did it have to hurt so much? Maybe Tim was right, he thought. And, Brian...and Howie.....all the guys. They didn't like Trish...never did. But Tim...Tim was different. He didn't pass judgement....he tried to like Trish. He really did....but the last thing he said to his little brother about his relationship was to think long and hard.

"Tim was right," he said outloud, "I think I WAS in love....with the idea of being in love."

He shrugged his shoulders and walked back into his room, locking the door behind him. He slid off his tee shirt and boxers....shut off all the lights...and climbed into bed. He pulled the covers up to his chin realizing that he was much colder than he thought. He closed his eyes and thought back on the last year. When he was hurting...who was there to pick him up? No...not Trish...she was usually the one that did the hurting. Who was the one constant in his life...who could he always count on? No....still not Trish.

"What the hell have I been doing? Lettin' all this time just go by...for what? Kev...dammit....you're such an idiot!"

He threw the covers off and walked across the room to his overnight bag. He bent down and put his hand in the bag, feeling around in the dark until he found what he was looking for...and as he pulled it out of the bag....he just shook his head. The tears were forming in his eyes again, as he slowly stood back up.

In the darkness, he slowly walked over to the stereo and turned it on, holding on tightly to the small box he had removed from his bag. He then walked over to the mini bar, took out the little bottle of Jack Daniels, opened it and drank it straight down in one gulp. He sat on the edge of the chair, and put his head in his hands, wiping the tears from his cheeks. He ran a hand through his hair....leaned back and opened the small black velvet box. He let out his breath...not even aware that he had been holding it in....pulled the diamond ring out and lightly placed it on the tip of his little finger. He sat in the darkness, with the music playing....staring at the ring. The ring that symbolized what he thought would be his future. He touched the diamond with his finger, and felt a fresh tear land on his hand. He closed his hand into a fist, put his head back on the oversized cushions of the chair and said a silent prayer. He had never been this confused in his entire life.

He started to doze off when thoughts of Trish flooded his mind. She was standing in front of him...trying to take the ring off his finger, all the while laughing at him.

"No....no.....get the hell out of here.....get away from me.....", he was talking in his sleep, as his head shook from side to side.

"You don't want ME......you don't love me.....shut up....just shut up.....go....go away," he was now pounding his fist on the arm of the chair. The last pound on the chair woke him up. He was covered in a thin layer of sweat, which left him shivering.

"SHIT....," he yelled outloud, as he jumped out of the chair, and headed toward the mini bar and Jack Daniels number two.

"Fuck it," he said, as he slammed the bar closed, "she ain't doing this to me again! Screw it all!" And, he walked away from the bar without the second drink.

He left the stereo on and climbed back into bed, holding his hand tightly closed around the diamond ring.

He thought back to what all the guys had said.....to what Dania told him...his family....Luke....they all told him the same thing. If he really searched his heart...he'd find that they were probably right. She never really loved him. Oh yeah...she loved being seen with him... being associated with him. She had used him.....and he had let her! She loved Kevin Backstreet...she didn't care about HIM..about Kevin Richardson. Didn't she know that he was both people? To love one you had to love the other too. He was a "package" deal.....and she didn't get it.

And, then he felt a smile slowly forming. He felt a lift in his chest....as he thought about the night he just experienced. For the first time in a long while...someone listened to him. Let him talk....didn't care about Kevin Backstreet. Hell...didn't care?!?! She didn't even KNOW who he was......and that made him feel good. She wanted to get to know HIM....the man .. first. He thought back over the entire night. He had fun....she made him laugh. They didn't do anything special....but to him....it WAS special. She let him be a normal man....something he realized he hadn't been in a long time.

The smile spread across his face, as he felt the tension leave his body. He set the ring down on the night table next to the bed...and he was finally able to get comfortable and relax. He kicked one leg out from under the covers...put one arm over his head, while resting his other hand on his chest. He let out a deep sigh.....and finally drifted off to sleep.
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"Shit.....shit.....," Kevin muttered, as he threw the covers off, grabbed his jeans and headed toward the loud pounding coming from his door.

"Kev.......c'mon.....we know you're in there......," AJ yelled, as the pounded got louder.

"Twice in two days......this better be good dammit," he bellowed as he yanked open the door while holding his jeans up.

"Holy shit Kev......you still sleepin," Nick asked, "it's almost noon, man."

"Yeah...we know you like to sleep...but hell....you're usually at least moving by now. Not normally worth a shit...but movin' anyway," AJ added.

"Kiss my ass," Kevin barked at them both...as he let them in.

"And, a mighty fine lookin' ass it is," Nick said in between giggles.

Oh shit, Kevin thought as he threw himself down on the chair, who wound these two up....and why do I have to deal with them?

Kevin put his head back....raised his arms up to cover his face...his pants were barely staying on as he stretched his long legs out in front of him...crossing them at the ankles. "What do you two want? I WAS sleeping.....had a late night."

"No shit dawg....that's why we're here. We know she showed......we peeked...AND, we already talked to Luke...so we pretty much know where ya went ... what'cha did .. and...ummm...Kev...man....ain'tcha a little too old for riding swings?"

Kevin picked up his head...and glared at the young blonde who had tumbled off the couch in a fit of laughter. Then he looked over at his other friend daring him to laugh, too.

AJ struggled to keep the smile off his face and was doing a fairly decent job until his friend jumped up from where he was sitting, slightly losing his pants in the process.

"DAMMIT!!! What time is it????? SHIT!!!! It's noon, isn't it?? SHIT!!!"

"Whoa buddy......," AJ walked over to Kevin, "what's the big deal with noon?"

"Kaylee....I told her I'd call her .. and she gave me until noon....well, one minute after actually."

AJ and Nick looked at their friend, then at each other and their mouths dropped open. Kevin seemed rattled.....Kevin was nervous.......Kevin was blushing!!

"You got two minutes buddy...so talk fast," AJ was the first to speak.

Kevin looked at them both....and smiled. He told them a greatly shortened version of his night with Kaylee, and then started to push them toward the door.

"If you guys don't mind...I have a phone call to make," he said, as he pushed them out the door.

"No problem dawg," Nick said, "we're outta here. AJ's got shoppin' to do and he's dragging ME with him!"

"Catch ya later Kev," AJ said, as he grabbed his friend's arm...and gave it a loving squeeze..."way to go. This could be a good thing man...a really good thing."

Kevin gave him a crooked smile, squeezed his arm back, sighed, and said...."I know AJ...believe me....I know....now go and let me get my phone call made."

AJ and Nick walked out the door, as Kevin closed it behind them. He looked down at his pants and started to laugh. He never even realized that his tattoo was showing.

"Shit......here goes nothin'," he said, as he took a deep breath....picked up the phone, dialed and waited. He didn't let out his breath until he heard the sound he needed to hear...."It's 12:02 and this better be Kevin Richardson."