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| Chapter 21: Where Can We Go From Here AJ couldn�t believe his eyes. His girlfriend and one of his best friends. I can�t believe this, he thought. Convinced he wasn�t dreaming he turned around and walked off, eyes blazing. Back in the room I struggled with Kevin. I jerked my head back and slapped his arms from my waist. �Kevin! What the hell do you think you�re doing?!� I exclaimed. I wiped at my mouth, the stale taste of beer prominent on my tongue. �Have you been drinking?� Kevin suddenly looked sobered by my outburst. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, thought better of it, and shut his mouth. �Look, I�ve had a bad day,� I started, �I�m going to lie down and you need to sober up.� I started for the door, stopping when I felt him grab my hand. �Kevin, please,� I said, exasperated. �Wait, hear me out,� he pleaded. I looked at him skeptically. Noting my expression, Kevin gave me his best �I�m trying to be good so please listen to me� face. I rolled my eyes and sat on the couch. �I�ve been thinking a lot tonight,� he said, receiving and eyebrow raise from myself. �Granted, it was in an alcohol induced haze, but still. Now before I continue, promise me you won�t interrupt.� �Kevin-� �Promise.� �Fine, I promise,� I complied, wonder what he was going to say, slurring his words like that. �Now I know I�ve said this before but I love you.� I opened my mouth to comment, but was shushed with a finger to my lip. �You promised,� Kevin said, removing his finger. �I love you Eve. I probably always will. But as much as I want us to be together, I want us to be friends. Lately I haven�t been a good friend. I blamed you for Anya when you were just doing what was right,� he paused to look at me, his words getting steadier as he went along. �I was wrong. And I�m sorry. Especially for what just happened. AJ is my friend and I should never have kissed nor disrespected his girlfriend. I just hope that at the end of all this you�ll forgive me.� Having finished his speech, he looked into my eyes. Looked for approval. I just stared at him, completely shocked by what just came out of his mouth. I most certainly was not expecting that. Especially in the state he was in. �Kevin, I-I don�t, I don�t know what to say,� I stuttered. �Just say you forgive me,� he replied. �That�s all I want to hear.� I wrapped his arms around his neck before responding, �I forgive you Kevin. I forgive you.� ******************** �Hey baby,� Kayla said, sitting next to Nick on the couch in the living area. �H-hi,� Nick stuttered slightly. �How are you?� she asked. �Me? I-I�m fine,� he replied, not meeting her gaze. �You sure? It looks like something�s bothering you,� Kayla asked, concerned. �Bothering me? Nothing�s bothering me. Why would something be bothering me?� Nick rushed. �It was just a question honey.� Nick looked down guiltily and played with the edge of his shirt. �Look, it�s getting late. I�m going to bed,� Kayla said, getting up. �I�ll see you tomorrow.� She leaned over and kissed him goodnight. Nick recoiled slightly at the touch. Oh god, what have I done? Nick thought as Kayla left the room. What have I done? ******The Next Day****** �That�s wonderful! Yes, I�ll tell the girls right away. Thank you. Yes, see you tomorrow. Bye,� I said and turned off my cell. �Girls! Meeting in back!� I called, walking to the back of the bus. I entered the entertainment room to find the girls watching t.v. with Brian and Howie. �What�s going on Eve?� Juliet asked. �That was Nathan from Jive on my cell. He was calling to tell me that we have been booked for TRL tomorrow because they�re premiering our video!� I exclaimed. �Get out!� Kayla cried. �We fly out tomorrow morning so no parties after the show tonight,� I said. �We�re going to be on TRL!� Kass exclaimed. Soon we were all jumping up and down screaming. Howie and Brian just rolled their eyes at us. �I�m warning you guys now, Carson can be a real jerk. Watch out,� Brian said. �So what? Our video will be on TRL!� Kass exclaimed. �Just thought I�d say something,� Brian replied and turned back to the t.v. leaving the girls and I to celebrate. ******************** Nick walked into the kitchenette, his head hung low. He felt incredibly guilty about what happened the night before and he couldn�t get it out of his head. As he entered he noticed AJ happened to be sitting there. He was staring out the window, a wild gleam in his eyes. Nick hadn�t said a word to AJ since the show last night. Quite honestly, he�d been afraid to. AJ looked up from the window as Nick walked in. Nick kept his head low, avoiding AJ�s glance. �Hey Bone,� Nick said, trying not to look guilty. �Is something up Nick? You look preoccupied,� AJ commented eyeing his friend, rather suspiciously. �Um, nuh-no, nothing�s up,� Nick squeaked out. AJ stared at him for a minute before a little light went off. �Let me ask you a question Nick,� AJ started, �If you saw Kayla kissing someone you thought was a good friend what would you do?� He needed all the advice he could get, why not ask Nick. �I, I�m not sure,� Nick stuttered. Oh my god, he knows, Nick thought, panic rising in his chest. �You�re not sure? It�s your girlfriend and one of your best friends. Two people you�re supposed to trust,� AJ prompted. A film of sweat formed across Nick�s brow. His heart beat quickened. What should I do? What should I do? he thought. �Nick?� AJ interrupted his reverie. Finally, the guilt got to him and he broke. �I didn�t mean to AJ, I swear. Neither of us did. It just happened. Please don�t be mad,� Nick pleaded. AJ just stared at him. He blinked a few times then said, �Excuse me?� Nick�s eyes widened. �You mean, you weren�t talking about me?� he choked. �I was talking about Eve and Kevin,� AJ said. He thought for a second then said, �Wait a minute. Are you saying you kissed Eve too?� �I, uh, well we--� �You did! What the fuck! Who the hell else has my girlfriend made out with?� AJ�s eyes were blazing. Suddenly he grabbed Nick�s shirt. �How could you?� he spat. Nick saw AJ raise his fist and the next thing he knew, everything went black. ******************** �Fuck AJ!� Everyone in the entertainment room looked at each other. �What was that?� I asked. �Maybe we should go check,� Juliet said. We all ran to the front of the bus to find Nick on the floor holding his eyes and AJ standing over him, rubbing his hand. �What the hell happened in here?� Kevin asked, coming in behind us. Kayla rushed to Nick�s side as I ran to AJ. �AJ, what happened?� I asked, taking his hand. The second our skin touched he pulled back like he had been burned. He ignored my question and just stared at me with blazing eyes. �Why don�t you tell me, Eve?� he spat. I looked at him confused. �What are you talking about?� �Or maybe Nick or Kevin would like to elaborate,� he said, glaring at both men. Kayla looked at Nick, concern painted all over her face, �Nick? What�s going on?� |
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