REDDING, CA – THE ADDAMS’ HOUSE – APR.7th, 2002 – SUNDAY

     Kirstin rushed into her house and went straight to her bedroom, locking the door behind her.

     “Kirstin, dear.” Dawn Addams knocked on her daughter’s door after watching her run to the room “What happened?”

     “Nothing, mom. I’m alright.” Kirstin tried to answer her mother without shaking her voice.

     “Are you sure, honey?”

     “Yes, mom. I’m fine, thanks.” Kirstin said loud enough so her mother could hear behind the door.

     “Ok. If you need me, I’m downstairs.”

     “Ok.”

     Kirstin lay down on bed, looking straight to the ceiling. She wasn’t crying, she was just confused. Really confused. She knew she had done something stupid, but she just didn’t know why she had done it if she knew for sure she loved Ashley more than anyone else in this world.

     ‘Oh, my God. I have to tell Ashley, but I just can’t. He won’t understand why I did it. I don’t even understand why I did! Oh, God. I’m always screwing things up. I hate myself!’ she punched the mattress ‘Why?’ Kirstin closed her eyes to see if that way her mind would work better ‘Maybe it was because… Man, I don’t even know where to start! I have no idea why I did it. Maybe… the alcohol? Nah, that wasn’t it. Maybe… because I felt lonely? Nah… that can’t be it either, because I’m getting used to that. Maybe… I don’t know. I shouldn’t have done it. Jared is great, Jared is fun, I had the most amazing time with him, but I didn’t have to kiss him to thank him for that. Wait… maybe… was that it? Did I kiss him to thank him for all the amazing things he planed for us? For making me feel so good even without Ashley? I mean… he is so silly… so needy… I guess I didn’t see any other way to thank him for our time together. Nah… it sounds stupid. That can’t be it. I don’t know!’ Kirstin punched the mattress yet again.

 

LOS ANGELES, CA – HOTEL – APR.7th, 2002 – SUNDAY

     “Are you serious?” Jacob asked Ashley.

     “Yeah. More than anything.” Ashley nodded. He was happy with his decision. Nothing the guys could say would make him change his mind.

     “Because you have to be sure, Ashley. You can’t just propose to her and not mean it. You need to want to spend the rest of your life with her.” Dan said.

     “I do want to spend the rest of my life with her. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

     “Don’t you think it’s too soon?” Erik asked.

     “Not at all. We’ve known each other for 4 years now and I was always sure about my feelings for her. I always loved her. So I don’t think 4 years is too soon.”

     “Well…” Trevor stood up “Congratulations, man. I’m really happy for you. I know Kirstin is a great girl and I know she loves you too. Congrats.” Trevor hugged Ashley tight.

     “Thank you, Trev.” Ashley hugged him back.

     “Hey, man.” Dan stood up in front of Ashley “I just wanted to make sure. I know you love her, just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing.”

     “I understand you, Dan. But don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m doing and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

     “It’s great to hear that, man.” Dan hugged his friend too.

     “Congratulations, Ash! I know you two will be amazing together.” Erik also hugged him.

     “Thank you, Erik.”

     “Hey.” Jacob stood up “I really think you are doing a great thing and I can see your feelings are for real. I think Kirstin is an amazing girl and is a very lucky one too, because you truly love her and we can all see it. Congratulations, man.”

     “Thank you so much, Jake. That means a lot.” Ashley pulled back from their hug and looked at the four guys “Would you guys help me pick out the wedding ring tomorrow?”

     “Sure!” the four of them answered in unison.

     “Great!” Ashley rubbed his hands together. He was excited. Now he just had to plan when and where he’d propose to Kirstin.

 

REDDING, CA – THE ADDAMS’ HOUSE – APR.7th, 2002 – SUNDAY

     “Hello?” the voice on the other end answered the call.

     “Hey, G, it’s me.”

     “K! Oh, my! Do you still remember me? I thought you had forgotten all about your best friend from New York.”

     “Don’t be silly, G. It’s just that… Oh, my God. So much has happened that I didn’t find the time to call you.”

     “That’s alright. I understand. But, what’s up?” G asked her friend.

     “I… I don’t even know where to start, G.” Kirstin sounded worried.

     “What’s wrong? Tell me.” Grace picked up on her nervousness. Something was definitely wrong.

     “Oh, man. Ok… let me see if I can start it.”

     “Ok, now you’re just making me nervous. Spit it out!” Grace exclaimed.

     “There’s this guy…”

     “Oh… I already know where this is going. Why did you kiss him?”

     “What?” Kirstin sounded surprised.

     “Why did you kiss this guy?”

     “I… I mean… How did you know I kissed this guy?”

     “Because I know you better than you think I do. It wouldn’t have been a problem if you hadn’t kissed this guy.”

     “I didn’t mean to.”

     “You never do. But somehow you just do, right? Like… with Tom when you were with Ashley the first time?”

     “Are you throwing things in my face?” Kirstin sat up. She sounded mad.

     “I’m not here to throw things in your face. I just wanna know what happened this time that made you kiss this guy.”

     “I don’t know.”

     “You never do! You just gotta stop doing that, Kirstin!” now Grace sounded pissed.

     “But…”

     “Kirstin, for the love of God, you’re with Ashley. I don’t know why you do this. Every time you’re with Ashley, you try to be with someone else. And every time you’re with someone else, you wanna be with Ashley! Why do you do that?”

     “I…” Kirstin had never thought of this issue that way “Maybe…” Kirstin stopped to think about it.

     “I think you’re afraid of a serious relationship. And you see your relationship with Ashley has already taken all the levels, and… maybe you’re afraid there’s no where else to go from here. But that’s not like that, K. There’s a lot you two have been through together, but there’s still a lot that you have to go through.”

     “I guess…” Kirstin was still thinking,

     “I just think you should forget about all the guys and only think of Ashley from now on. I know for a fact he is the one for you and you do too. So just forget about all the screwed up things you did. Just leave them all behind.”

     “I’ve been thinking about something like that before, like… about all the levels our relationship has reached. I think you are right about everything you just said.”

     “I know I am, K. And I’m glad you can see that too, girl.”

     “I know. Thanks, G. I guess I just needed a wake up call from my friend.”

     “Well, that’s what I’m here for.”

     “Thanks so much, G.”

     “No, problem, K.”

     “Ok, now let me go.”

     “Oh, before you go, did Tom tell you about the party I’m planning for Mark?”

     “Yes. I’m definitely going, G.”

     “Oh, great! I was afraid you’d still be there.”

     “Nope… we’re getting there on the 11th, I don’t think we’ll be able to attend the game, but we’re definitely gonna be at your party.”

     “Great! Invite the other O-Town guys for me, please?” Grace asked.

     “Oh, I already did. And they also told me they’re going.”

     “Great. The party is gonna be great.”

     “It is.” Kirstin smiled.

     “Ok, now go. Call me anytime, alright?”

     “Thanks, G. You’re great. Thanks so much.”

     “No problem, girl. Love you.”

     “Love you, too. Bye!”

     “Bye.”

     Kirstin stared at the phone and placed it aside. She had a lot going on in her mind. She had to settle things down in her mind first, before coming to any conclusion. So she lay down again and stared at the ceiling.