They walked along the beach with Marcus following a few steps behind them. The beach was a little crowded, although AJ had a hat and sunglasses on, he knew he would be recognized in no time.
“So, tell me about you. We’ve been doing all this talking about me all day,” Cassidy finally said.
“You’re fascinating, what can I say? I’m amazed by things that I don’t know about. Well, what do you want to know about me?”
“Ummm...”
“See, there’s not much to tell. Everyone knows everything about me. My life is an open book.”
“Oh, I’m sure there are things no one knows”.
She didn’t know just how right she was.
“What do you do when you’re home, when you’re not touring?”
“I like to shoot pool, hang out at my house. Quiet things, you know”.
“Do you live by yourself?”
“Um, well, no.” He answered quietly as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Cassidy looked at him, puzzled by his response.
“Ah, you live with someone. Your girlfriend?” she asked, already sure she knew the answer.
He took a deep breath. “Yeah, she lives there”.
“How long have you guys been together?”
“On and off for about 3 years. I don’t know if you could say that we do anything ‘together’”.
He looked down at the ground as he walked.
Cassidy’s heart was silently breaking. Not so much because he had a girlfriend, but because she had found the source of his pain and unhappiness. Problem was, she didn’t know that she could do anything about it.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
AJ looked over at her, not sure if wanted to talk about it or not. He had been having such a good time with her, he didn’t want to ruin it. Truth was, he didn’t know what he would say about the situation. He was unhappy with Ashleigh, but he stayed with her because he was afraid to be alone? He didn’t want Cassidy to know that he was that weak.
She sensed his uneasiness. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry..” her voice trailed off.
He stopped and placed his hand on her arm. He ran his hand slowly down her arm then took her hand in his. Their eyes locked.
“You’re not prying,” he smiled.
He didn’t know what else to say to her. Today was the first time in a long time that he was truly happy, aside from when he was onstage. He felt so overwhelmed.
He grazed her cheek with his finger. He knew it was too soon, but something inside of him wanted so badly to kiss her. He was afraid she would think he was trying to take advantage of her. It was all so clear to him now, all this time he was unable to explain why he felt the way he did about her. Now he knew...
Suddenly, a group of women recognized him and ran up to him wanting autographs and pictures. Cassidy stood off to the side as he stood there with Marcus for a few minutes obliging the fans. She watched how he interacted with the fans, it was obvious how much he loved and appreciated them. As she stood watching him, she was struck with a sudden revelation.
‘What am I doing?’ Cassidy asked herself. ‘I don’t fit in his life, friend or otherwise, we’re too different. I have to stop this before it goes any further’.
She was afraid of what may have, what probably would have happened between her and AJ, had those fans not appeared. Although they had just met, her feelings for him went a lot deeper then she could admit to him. She started to walk away then turned around once more and looked back at him.
“I was crazy to think otherwise,” she turned and walked away quickly, heading back towards the hotel.
Just as she was about to open the door, she heard someone running after her and calling her name. She didn’t turn around, she knew who it was.
“Damn it Alex, don’t make this harder on me than it already is,” she whispered as she walked inside the hotel.
Tears were starting to well up in her eyes. She pressed the button, hoping the elevator would already be there. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
“Come on, come on. Hurry up,” she pleaded with the elevator. Her pleas did no good, as AJ reached her before the elevator appeared.
“Where are you going? Why did you leave like that?” he asked, out of breath.
“I just have to get going,” she answered, not looking at him. She didn’t want him to see the tears in her eyes.
“Why? Weren’t you even gonna say good bye?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt you...” her voice trailed off.
“Cassidy, look at me, please.”
She took a deep breath and turned around to face him. As she looked him in the eye, she felt her tears start to fall down her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” he asked softly as he wiped her tears away with his finger. “Tell me.”
“I wish I could explain it,” she replied softly. “I just know that this, us meeting, was not a good idea. I should have known better”.
“What do you mean?? It was a great idea! I can’t remember the last time I was this happy. You’re like, a ray of sunshine in my life. You have no idea what you’ve done for me, how you make me feel. Ever since I got your letter I haven’t been able to think of anything else but you. Now that I’ve found you, I can’t imagine just letting you go...not having you in my life...” his voice trailed off. He hadn’t intended on telling her any of that, it just came out. “Please don’t walk away from me,” he pleaded.
“There is no room in your life for me, Alex. Plus, you don’t even know me”.
“I know how I feel, and I know you feel something too or you wouldn’t be running away. I also know that I want to get to know you. I want to know everything about you. You just have to give me the chance”.
As she gazed into his emotion filled eyes she wanted nothing more than to give in to him, but she knew she couldn’t. Amongst other things, he had a girlfriend, and weather or not he was happy with her, he still had one. There was no room for her in his life, just as there was no room in her life for him.
“I’m sorry Alex. I have to go,” she said as the elevator door opened, “Take care of yourself”.
She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and got onto the elevator. She turned around and their eyes locked once again right before the doors closed. He was left standing there sad and confused as Cassidy broke down in tears.

Chapter 10
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