SemiCharmedCH9

(Pen�s point of view)

�God why am I crying my eyes out?� I kept asking myself as I looked out the window and waited for my flight back to Los Angeles. I needed to leave this situation. I needed to leave AJ and Kevin behind. I mean AJ probably thinks I�m a weak little girl that has major issues, and god knows what Kevin is thinking right now. I mean what if last night didn�t really change anything. What if he thought that would bring us closer, but AJ would tear us apart. And besides I don�t have time to fall in love with anyone right now. FALL IN LOVE? What was I saying? �I need to get out of here.� I said.

I was terrified to turn back and wait for Kevin. I couldn�t be with him. There�s too much to risk. I didn�t want to ruin his friendship with AJ. I mean not only were they close, but they worked together. I didn�t want to be the cause of the Backstreet Boys splitting up. Great now I�m being melodramatic! Maybe Kevin and I are from different worlds. I mean I�m meant to be behind cameras and not have a social life, and Kevin is meant to travel around the world to make beautiful music. We would barely see each other. But I would be willing to make time for him I guess. I mean we both were in the entertainment industry, and we did have a lot in common. But I was scared to open my heart to anyone again. �I cant� be with him.�

�Can�t be with me? What makes you say that?� I turned around and noticed Kevin standing behind me. �Pen why would you say something like that?� He asked. I looked away and tried to stop crying.

�I need to get back home. I need to get away from AJ and you.�

�Why are you running away from me? What did I do wrong?� Kevin asked. He made me look at him. His eyes were showing me that he didn�t want to let me go. �Penelope don�t go.�

I pulled away and said �Kevin I have to leave. This is too much for me. Things here are really chaotic, and I don�t think I can deal with that. And besides my agency said I should get back to Los Angeles so I can do a few photo shoots.�

�You don�t want to go. I can see it in your eyes. I can see that you�re terrified right now.� Kevin said. He pulled me close and looked at me with comfort. I started to shake, as tears fell down my cheek. �You�re scared that I�m going to hurt you too.�

I looked at Kevin, being surprised out of my mind. I could not believe that Kevin knew exactly how I was feeling at that time. It was like he was reading my mind. But I couldn�t let him know how right he was. That was a pet peeve of mine, allowing a man to be right. �You have no idea what you�re talking about.� I said. Seconds later I heard that my flight was ready for passengers to board. I grabbed my suitcase and said �I have to go Kevin.�

�So that�s it? What happened with us is just erased from your memory? To you it was just a mistake, right?�

�I�m not calling it a mistake, but it was something that shouldn�t have happened.� I started to walk to Kevin to kiss him on the cheek, but instead I waved and told him goodbye. Kevin looked shocked as I rejected him, but that�s how things had to be. I couldn�t be with him. I was too scared. God knows how much I cared about him and loved him.... Wait, I don�t love him. I don�t think I do.... I could possibly love him. But even if I did, it wouldn�t matter. Kevin doesn�t love me. He never said so. I started to walk away when I felt Kevin grab my arm. I turned around and dropped my suitcase. �Kevin let me go!� I yelled.

�I can�t! That�s the thing. I love you too much to let you go.�

�What did you just say?� I asked.

�I love you too much to let you go. I love you Penelope.� My heart was racing, and my body started to tremble. I was scared to say the three magic words, but there was nothing to be scared of. Kevin was a sincere man that loved me for me. He didn�t care that I was a model, and that men fantasized about me. He cared about the person that is inside of me. And I felt the same way about him. I didn�t care if he was a Backstreet Boy. I knew that he was a down to earth guy and he was someone that easy to love. Kevin finally let me go of me and turned away. �You probably don�t feel the same way, so maybe I should just let you be...� Kevin said.

�I do feel the same way.� I said softly. Kevin looked at me, and walked over. He looked into my eyes, and asked me to repeat myself. �I said I felt the same way. I love you.�

�You do?� Kevin asked. His voice was shaking a little, as if he was about to cry.

�Yes. I love you so much, and I�m so scared right now that you�re going to leave me too.�

�I would never do that. You just need to trust me Pen.� Kevin said. He hugged me tight, and kissed me avidly. He then looked down at me and asked �so you willing to stay in Miami for another day and then head back to California.�

�Actually I was thinking that maybe we could go somewhere else?�

�What did you have in mind?� Kevin asked.

� Ever been to the Italian Riviera?�