| Back home, Kaylee attempted to make some sense of her life and what had happened to her in the short time that she had gone away. She still found it hard to believe that she had met someone like Kevin. They had stopped at Ali's parents house on the way back. Ali's mom was concerned about Kaylee. She wasn't normally that quiet, and she looked like she was in desperate need of sleep. What truly disturbed her though, was that it looked like Kaylee had been crying....a lot! Kaylee denied it....denied it all. She tried to agree with Ali's mom and blame it on lack of sleep. Even Ali's little brother, Michael, sensed something was different. He'd had a crush on Kaylee for months, and swore that he'd protect her from anyone that meant to hurt her. He bought into Kaylee's story....Mary Hughes didn't...she knew better. But, only Ali knew the truth. She had sat up and held Kaylee that last night in Cleveland, as she cried herself to sleep.She knew that a man was crumbling Kaylee's defenses. A kind, caring...gorgeous man...and she knew that it scared the daylights out of Kaylee. Building walls around a heart is easier than most people would think. Allowing the wall to crumble down is the hard part. For some people that never happens. For others, it's a long slow process. Kaylee felt the first signs that the wall around her heart was starting to fall when she danced with Kevin, and it scared the hell out of her. Somehow over the last few days, Kevin Richardson had worked his way into the very fringe of Kaylee's heart. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ True to his word, Kevin was trying his best to come up with a way to "overwhelm" Kaylee. This was going to be a difficult task travelling around the country on a tour bus. He thought back to the morning as he was leaving the hotel. He stopped at her door...laying the rose from dinner on the floor with a note. "Kaylee...I can't begin to tell you what the last few days have meant to me. You gave so much to me without taking anything in return. My only regret is that the time passed so quickly. I can't remember the last time I did not want to leave a town. Our time together will not leave my head or my heart. I don't know what the future holds for us... but, I promise you .. we WILL be together again! We WILL find out .... and until then...know that I'm thinking of you always... Be safe...and keep me in your thoughts! Peace....Kevin" The wheels in his head started to turn as soon as his bus rounded the corner and headed out of town. Three weeks and they would be in Pittsburgh for two shows.....two shows...followed by two days off. And, from there...Hershey...only a few hours away from Pittsburgh. He had the perfect set up for scheduling...now just to come up with a plan. Ali, he thought, she's the one that could help me pull this all off. I've got to try to get in touch with her...without Kaylee knowing..... "Luke.....I need help man...," he yelled to the front of the bus. "What's up boss," Luke asked, as he made his way back to Kevin. "I need to get in touch with Ali...maybe she can help me pull something together for when we play Pittsburgh....something really nice....special." "How you gonna do that boss...she lives with Kaylee," Luke asked. "Well...see...ummmm..actually I thought YOU could do it. If Kaylee answered, she'd know my voice....but, she might not connect you..calling her...will you help me??" "Kevin.....that woman put a smile on your face that I ain't seen for ages....and if she can do that...then yeah....I can help you. But...ah..can we wait until it's at least daytime?" Kevin laughed, and nodded his ok, but then he started to wonder about what his trusted friend was saying. Had it really been that long since he smiled...really smiled?? He didn't think much about it before, he just thought that's how life was supposed to be. He leaned over the bed and picked up his jeans. He fished around in the pocket until he found what he was looking for.....Kaylee's hair clip. She had forgotten about it when she left his room. He rolled it through his fingers and laughed. He felt like a little kid looking at it. He knew he should've just left it at her door, but he was willing to take the chance. "Perfect excuse to call her...yeah..Kaylee...missin' a clip.....shit Kev........that is so fucking lame." "Ah..boss..you talking to yourself again...or were you waiting for me to answer? Cause if you're waiting for an answer...I'd say you don't need an excuse to call her. Just call her." "Dammit Luke...your ears are too good, dawg. Wake me for lunch.....I'm feeling real old and tired right now." Luke laughed as he slid the door shut and made his way to the front of the bus. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Kevin act like this....like a kid. A happy kid. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke was awakened a few hours later by the yelling in the back of the bus. He tripped over his own feet trying to run down the aisle as fast as he could. "Kevin....what's wrong?? Kevin!!!" Luke slid the door open and found Kevin wrapped in the sheets...tossing from side to side and attempting to push his pillow to the floor. "Get the hell away from her....," Kevin was yelling outloud. "You have your life......let me have mine.....no noooooo......" Luke gently reached for Kevin's shoulder and leaned into him speaking in a calm voice. "Kevin.....wake up. Cmon Kev...no one here but me...and you. Wake up boss." Kevin threw open his eyes and looked at Luke. "Luuuu...Luke....she.......it was Trish.........and she........" "Ssshhh...Kevin...it's ok...it was just a dream." Luke watched Kevin. His chest was heaving and he had started to sweat making his hair stick to his face. Whatever it was he dreamed about, it had really gotten to him. Damn blonde bitch, Luke thought, how long's she gonna haunt him? "Luke....what time is it?" "Almost 11 .. why?" Kevin tried to get out of bed, but the sheets were still wrapped around him, and he fell onto the floor. "FUCK! OW!!! Man, that hurts, " Kevin said, rubbing his backside. "That dream Luke...it was so real. Trish was in Kaylee's face...screaming at her....telling her that I'm an asshole...that I can't be with anyone because I still love her...and I always will.......and.....and......." Luke stopped him from going on...he knew where this was headed, and frankly wanted to redirect Kevin's mind. "Kevin...the time....why'd you ask? Gotta be somewhere......do something?" "Oh....yeah.......as a matter of fact......yeah, I do have something I need to do. I got me a phone call to make.....and this sure seems like the perfect time." Kevin picked up his jeans for the second time and grabbed the paper with Kaylee's phone numbers. "If you need me.....just yell," Luke said as he walked back down the aisle. "Luke.......aaahh...thanks.....for before....," Kevin said in a hushed voice. "No problem.......just try to keep HER off your mind...and try to keep someone else there, ok?" "Ok....that sure sounds good to me," Kevin laughed as he fumbled around for his cell phone, "and Luke....don't forget...some advice....what to do in Pittsburgh.....let me know if you think of anything." Luke nodded and sat back down, hoping he could fall back to sleep. Kevin stared at his cell and then at the numbers in his hand. He wondered why he was so nervous. "C'mon Kev...she ain't a stranger....just dial the phone....there ya go.....shit.....breathe Kevin........what's taking so long.....three rings....." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kayleeeeeeeeeeee......your purse is ringing!!!" "Thanks Michael," Kaylee said with a slight giggle, "look and see who it is...I don't really feel like talking right now." "No problemo Kay," Michael said as he looked at her phone. "Who is it Mikey?" "I dunno Kaylee.....dunno.....says it's blocked. Whasat mean...blocked?!??!" "Blocked.....who would be blocking........their....oh......my......wow......." "Ummm..Kaylee.....yo....ya want me to answer it......it's still ringing." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin was just ready to give up when he heard the strange voice say "Who's this?" "Who's this," he repeated, while staring at the phone. "Well...who's THIS?!?!? Is this Kaylee Barrone's phone??" "Who wants to know?" Just then Kevin heard her voice in the background asking for her phone. "Kaylee...it's some guy.....he talks funny....but he wants to talk to you." "Hey buddy....just tell Kaylee that it's Kevin, ok?" "Kay........this guy says to tell you it's Kevin...." Kaylee looked at Ali, then to Mrs. Hughes...then back to the phone. "Kaylee.......get the phone," Ali yelled. Michael handed her the phone, all the while wondering why HE did not know who Kevin was! And, he was determined to find out WHO this Kevin was before the day was over. Three sets of eyes watched as Kaylee's smile stretched from ear to ear at the mention of the name 'Kevin'. She excused herself and went into the bathroom to talk in private. "Ok...spill it Allison...something went on when you two were away..and I have a right to know. I think of Kaylee as a second daughter...and I want to know. Who is Kevin? She didn't know any Kevin's when she left here....so......talk to me." "Mom...I can't....it's not up to me. It's personal...Kaylee will have to tell you when she's ready." "I can appreciate that honey..but can you just answer a couple questions....like...is he someone she met in Cleveland? How did she meet him? And, is she going to see him again?" "God mom...you're making this difficult. OK...three questions....three answers. Yes, she met him in Cleveland....how she met him is a long story....and rather odd...so I'll take the 5th on that one.....and your last one. God......I hope so. Mom......I pray to God that things can fall into place. This man...Kevin....he's a keeper mom." "A keeper...after how many days?!?!?" "He's not exactly a stranger mom.....he's......," Ali stopped speaking when she saw Kaylee walk back into the room. "It's ok Ali....," she continued, "yes...I met him there....yes, it's a long story how, but I've got the time....and yes, again... I am going to see him again. Oh... as for the keeper part...I'm not completely sure...but, yeah...I sure think he could be." "But, what does Ali mean...he's not exactly a stranger. He's someone you knew before??" Kaylee took a deep breath and sat on the couch. "Well....I guess you could say I did...in a way. I knew his voice....his singing voice. I didn't have a clue who he was to see him...but when he sang...I knew him." "Sang...you're really confusing me hon." "I know....this is confusing to me, too. But, Mrs. Hughes...he's Kevin Richardson....and God help me...he's stirring something up in me that I haven't felt in a long time...." "Oh my word sweetheart...the Backstreet Boy.....HIM?!?! This could be a long conversation." Kaylee then proceeded to tell her surrogate mother everything that had happened to her in Cleveland. By the time she was done, tears were flowing from all three women. Michael didn't understand the tears. Kaylee was dating Kevin Richardson! WHOA! How the heck was he supposed to compete with HIM??? Great...just great! "Kaylee...my dear. It sounds like this man has stolen a piece of your heart." "No Mrs. Hughes...he didn't steal it....he earned it. He's unbelievable. He's kind.....compassionate...loves his family...respects women....and it doesn't hurt that he's the most unbelievably gorgeous man I have EVER seen! I swear you can see his soul right through his eyes." "Then I'm going to talk to you like I'd talk to my own daughter. Life is short Kaylee. If he's all that you say he is.......then you have to try to make it work. You have to do whatever it takes. I can tell that he means alot to you. That he has 'earned' a spot in your heart....but I know that you were hurt terribly. Just know that not all men are like Jeff. Keep your defenses up, but don't shut him out." "Oh Mrs. Hughes...I couldn't even if I wanted to......he's sooooo special....and so damn persuasive. He's got this deep sexy drawl......and I'm telling you.....when he uses it...and he does...I become mush. It takes all I have to not drop my defenses completely." The three women talked for another hour before Ali and Kaylee decided that it was time to head home. "Kaylee......just remember what I said.......don't let life pass you by.......live it, ok? Let him work his way in, if that's what you want." They shared a hug and the two women were on their way. Kaylee spent the rest of the day thinking about what Mrs. Hughes had said....thinking about her conversation with Kevin....and thinking about what Kevin was doing to her heart. She put Ali's Millennium CD on and hit the repeat button so that she could hear "Show Me The Meaning" over and over again. Kevin's voice soothed her soul. She didn't have any idea that Kevin was spending his day the same way....thinking about his conversations with Luke...thinking about her..... Both of them silently counting the hours until midnight.......when he would call her again. |
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| CHAPTER 33 |