Chapter 23
The room was full of shadows, the blinds were still pulled, holding the light at bay, there was barely enough light to see, and the three watched as Howie walked over to the blinds and jerked them back, flooding the room with light.
Howie stared out at the grey morning; it was still raining hard, a strong wind sending sheets of rain crashing against the windowpane in front of him. Suddenly the weather, that had not bothered him that morning, when he lay in the warmth of AJ's arms, seemed appropriate, and he could almost feel the cold wind biting against his skin. He lifted his hand and rested it against the glass. It was cold, almost as cold as he felt. He jumped as a large hand came to rest on his shoulder. He had forgotten that they were there, and turned to come face to face with Kevin.
"Howie?"
He sighed. He didn't feel like talking, but he also knew that he needed to. He looked up into Kevin's eyes, and saw the concern that radiated from those green orbs. He let Kevin lead him over to the bed, and sit him down. He slumped down and rested his head in his hands. The others waited for him to begin.
"Last night. I...We..." He stopped and took a deep breath before starting again. "I wanted to talk to him, find out what was going on, how he felt about what happened." The others were curious, as they still didn't know what had happened, only that SOMETHING had gone on between them before the sound check. Howie continued on, oblivious to their silent questions.
"He wouldn't wake up. I managed to calm him eventually. We talked... He asked me to stay with him. So I did. One minute we were lying there, the next we were kissing."
"Then what?" Nick asked, eager for the details. Brian smacked his arm to shut him up. Nick glared at him, but remained silent.
"This morning he kissed me. Then the phone rang. It was HER." He spat, unable to even mention her name.
The others were shocked. Not by Howie's revelations, but by the venom in his voice when he spoke that last word. None of them had ever heard Howie with such anger and hatred in his voice, and Brian shivered unconsciously.
"She didn't let him know she was coming until she was practically here. Till it was too late for him to stop her. She wants him back, and he will take her back. I left. I can't be here for that. I can't bare it. Not now. Not now." He dropped his head back into his hands as his body shook. Kevin moved quickly, pulling Howie into a tight hug, letting him cry on his shoulder. Brian and Nick were only seconds behind him, and the three surrounded their friend, silently offering comfort and love, yet knowing that it was not their love that Howie needed.