AD17

Chapter 17: Back To Your Heart

�Calista, what are you doing here?� Howie questioned, still in shock.

�I couldn�t miss my boyfriends birthday, could I?� she replied.

�But, Calista, we aren�t-� Howie started, but was cut off by her lips on his.

Howie struggled free from her grasp and looked up to see Kassandra standing there, her eyes wide and filling with tears.

�Kass, I can explain,� Howie pleaded.

�Don�t,� she said. �Just don�t.� And with that she ran out of the room.

�Kassandra! Wait!� Howie yelled, running after her.

�Let her go Howie,� I called after him.

�But I have to talk to her,� he exclaimed.

�Not now. Let her cool off,� I advised.

Meanwhile Calista stood there with a bewildered look on her face.

�What�s going on?� she asked.

�That�s what we�re going to figure out,� I said. �Excuse us.� I dragged Howie back to the table and sat him down.

�What�s this all about?� Kevin asked, coming up behind us.

�Good question,� I said. �Howie?�

�I don�t know what she�s doing here,� he said.

�I thought you broke up with her,� Nick said.

�So did I!� Howie exclaimed.

�Well, she didn�t get the message and if she doesn�t get it soon I may hurt you,� Kayla warned.

�It�s not like I meant for this to happen,� Howie stated. �I just want to make sure Kassandra�s alright.�

�Kayla, Juliet,� I motioned to the door.

�We�re on it,� Juliet said and they left the room to go check on their friend.

�What do I say to Calista though?� Howie questioned.

�No wonder they call you Sweet D. You�re too worried about everyone else,� Kevin said. �If I were you I�d be worried about the girl upstairs, probably tearing your picture in two.�

�I am, I just don�t know how to break it to Calista so that it gets through this time.�

�Well, think quick because here she comes,� AJ said pointing to the confused looking girl heading towards us.

�Howie, what�s going on?� she asked when she reached the table.

�Yeah, we�ll leave now,� I said, motioning for everyone to leave. We all walked off to let Howie and Calista have their privacy.

�Maybe you should sit down Calista,� Howie advised, pulling a chair out for her. She sat down and looked up at him expectantly.

�Calista, I don�t think we should be together anymore,� he said, recoiling slightly.

She looked at him for a second then smiled.

�Don�t be silly, Howie. We�re meant to be together.�

�Maybe we were, but not anymore.�

�Of course we are. We�ll be together forever,� the smile not fading from her face.

�Calista, we�re done. I�ve moved on, I�ve found someone knew,� Howie said, becoming frustrated.

�That can�t be Howie, you�re with me.�

Howie shook his head, not believing his words had no affect.

�Okay, I�ve tried to be gentle, but I�m just going to be blunt. We�re done Calista! Finished, finito, no more! I�ve moved on, now it�s time you did too.�

She let his words absorb before looking up at him, the smile still plastered to her face.

�Howie, that�s just ridiculous.�

Howie stood there stunned. Nothing he said got through to her.

�Goodbye Calista,� he said and headed for the door.

�Wait! You can�t leave,� she jumped up, knocking her chair over.

�Believe me, I can,� he said and kept walking.

�Are you saying we�re through Howie?� she called after him.

Finally! he thought. �Yes, Calista. I�m sorry.�

Leaving her standing there, Howie left the banquet hall in search of his real girlfriend.

******Meanwhile******

�How could he do that?� Kassandra sobbed.

�He didn�t mean to, sweetie. It was just a mistake,� Kayla tried to sooth her friend.

�Yeah, I�m sure he�s getting rid of that nasty girl right now,� Juliet reassured.

�But what if he isn�t?� Kass cried. �What if he decides he wants to be with her?�

�That won�t happen,� Kayla said. �But if, for some inexplicable reason, it does you have my permission to wrap them up in wet raw hide and wait for it to dry so that it mashes up their bones and squeezes their internal organs out through their orifices like a tube of tooth paste.�

�Kayla! Eww!� Juliet screamed.

�Sorry, I watched Man of the House the other day,� Kayla apologized. �You can still do that if you want to though.�

�Thanks,� Kass said bleakly.

Knock! Knock!

�That�s probably Eve,� Kayla said.

�I�ll get it,� Juliet said as she got up and headed for the door. �Howie!� she exclaimed once she had opened the door.

�I need to talk to Kassandra,� he said.

�I don�t think that�s such a good idea right now,� she said.

�Jules, please,� he pleaded.

�You can let him in,� Kass said, wiping her eyes.

Juliet opened the door and let Howie into the room. There was an awkward silence before Kayla spoke up.

�We�ll let you guys talk this out,� she said, grabbing Juliet and leaving Kass and Howie alone.

�Kass let me explain,� Howie pleaded.

�This should be good,� Kass remarked, trying not to let the heart seep into her voice.

�Calista is my ex-girlfriend. She�s just a little thick headed and it took a little longer then expected for the message to get through,� Howie explained.

�Howie, I�m not that stupid. I saw you two kissing.�

�No, what you saw was Calista forcing herself on me. I told her that she and I were through. That the only girl I want in my life is you,� he said, his eyes searching hers for answers.

Kassandra didn�t know what to say. She sat there looking at him skeptically.

�Kass, what can I do to get you to believe me,� Howie asked. �I swear to you that you are the only one for me.�

Still, Kassandra looked at him, but didn�t say anything. Finally, Howie got to his knees in front of her.

�Please Kass, I�m on my knees begging you to forgive me. I love you and I just want you in my life.�

Kassandra stared at him, a smile creeping across her face. �I believe you. I always did. I just wanted to see you squirm,� she laughed.

�Okay, I deserved that,� Howie said, getting up. �But you really do believe me?�

�Yeah. Kayla and Juliet assured me that you weren�t a cheating creep.�

�Remind me to thank them later,� Howie said, some what sarcastically.

�You know I love you.�

�Good, because I love you too,� Howie said, taking her in his arms. �And I�ll never stop.�