�So who has dish duty?� Josephine asked.
�You,� they all said in unison and Josephine just looked at them, as they laughed.
�Funny,� Josephine said, as a phone rang.
�That�s me,� Kevin said getting out his cell phone. �Hello.�
�Hey, Kevin, it�s Sunn,� they said.
�Hold on a minute,� Kevin said. �Excuse me.� He got up and walked from the room. He walked to the parlor and sat down. �Where are you? Danielle said you were in Australia.�
�I�m still here,� Sunshine replied. �How�s everything?�
�It�s fine. We�re all here at Alex�s having lunch�including the girls.�
�Yeah.� Kevin heard the cracking her voice. �Nick with Des then?�
�Yes.�
�How is he?�
�He misses you. Even though he doesn�t say anything his face says it all and his many distant moments.�
�What�s he doing? Although I shouldn�t ask.�
Kevin went to speak, but then saw Nickolas sitting in the corner of the parlor. He shook his head and then said into the phone, �Moping and sitting in the corner looking at your bracelet.�
�So he found it. I thought I lost it forever.� She still had a cracky voice and Kevin sighed. They stayed silent a few minutes and Kevin heard Sunshine sniffle. He thought of something to get her mind of Nickolas then said, �We saw your picture in the April issue of Teen People. We were very surprised.�
�I wanted to tell ya myself, but when I saw the article I figured you already saw it.�
�I�m very happy for you. I�m glad you got the big break you�ve been waiting for.�
�It just took me a hundred years to get here.� They laughed. �The movies going great though. I think it�ll be a blockbuster hit.�
�I hope so. When will you be back?� Kevin didn�t notice Nickolas getting ready to walk by him. Nickolas stopped, as Kevin looked up and they both just stared at each other not saying a word.
�Kevin, are you still there?� Sunshine asked.
�Yeah,� Kevin said.
�What�s wrong?� Sunshine questioned.
�Is that Sunnie?� Nickolas asked. �Let me talk to her.�
�Nick�s standing here,� Kevin said into the phone.
�Does he know it�s me?� Sunshine wanted to know.
�Yeah,� Kevin said. �He wants to talk to ya. If ya don�t want to talk to him just let me know.�
�Um�no�I�ll talk to him,� Sunshine replied.
Kevin handed Nickolas the phone and said, �Don�t say anything to upset her.�
�I won�t,� Nickolas said putting the phone to his ear. �Sunnie.�
�Hey, Nick,� Sunshine said.
�How have ya been?�
�Pretty good I guess. I�ve been busy so it keeps my mind away��
�I understand.�
�How about yourself?�
�I�m alright.� Neither said a word for a moment. �How�s Australia?�
�Beautiful. The movie�s going great. Everyone�s really nice and helping me a lot with the acting stuff.�
�Ain�t it late there?�
�Yeah, but we�re doing a night scene so yeah.�
�You should be��
�I know I should be resting, but I just wanted to check in and see how everyone was doing. And let ya know I was fine.�
�When are you coming home?�
�Probably not until the end of July or the beginning of August.�
�I�ll be waiting.� They stayed silent a few moments more. �I really want us to talk when you get back. I have a lot I need to say to you.�
�We�ll see. Um�can you put Kevin back on?�
�Sure.� He sighed disappointedly that Sunshine didn�t want to talk to him, but understood. Nickolas gave Kevin the phone then walked away and out of the room.
�Hey,� Kevin said into the phone.
�Hey I have to go,� Sunshine said through a sniffle. �They�re ready to start filming again and I�m in the next scene. Maybe we�ll talk before I get back.�
�Alright. Bye.�
�Kevin.�
�Yeah.�
�Don�t tell the others we talked.�
�Ok.�
�Tell Nick not to say anything either.�
�I will, but I know he won�t. I�ll see ya later.�
�Bye.� Kevin turned off the phone and walked back to the kitchen.
�Kev,� Destiny said. �Where�d Nick go?�
�I�m not sure,� Kevin answered sitting at the table again.
�Well I�m going to go find him,� Destiny said getting up.
Destiny walked out with the others watching and then Danielle said, �I don�t think he wants to be around anyone. He misses Sunn too much and Destiny can�t see that.�
�I agree,� Josephine said. �I love Des to death, but I think she should get a clue and just leave Nick alone. She knows he wants Sunn and there�s nothing anyone can do about it.�
�Well she�d still be here if ya�ll kept your mouths shut,� Danielle said, as everyone looked at her not knowing what to say. �Did you guys ever stop and think why she left without saying anything? She left because of you.�
�Danielle,� Kevin said.
�Josephine, she left because you told Howie how you felt and ruined things between them,� Danielle said. �And, Howard, even though you�re my boyfriend, you�re a jerk. You left Sunn believe for one year that you were over Josephine when you two were together. Yes she still had feelings for Nick when she was with you, but you knew that. She was deeply hurt and felt betrayed by you both.�
�I feel bad about that,� Howard said.
�Then why�d you do it?� Danielle wanted to know. Howard didn�t say anything and she continued, �Well you�re not the only one who broke her heart and Jo you�re not the only one who betrayed her. Nick and Des helped.� Just then Nickolas and Destiny walked in and looked at Danielle.
�Danielle,� Kevin began, �now�s not the time.�
�Well I think it is,� Danielle said. �You two don�t be so surprised. Destiny, you betrayed Sunshine by going out with Nick when you promised her you wouldn�t.� Nickolas looked at Destiny. �And, Nick, you broke your Sunnie�s heart by pushing her away and making her think you care nothing for her, but the worst you did to her was not telling her you were seeing each other until the day she wanted to get back together with you, Nick.�
�Are you finished?� Venus asked.
�For now,� Danielle replied getting up. �Excuse me. I need some air.�
�That went well,� Alexander said sarcastically.
�She�s right,� Nickolas said and they looked at him. �I mean it. She is.� He walked out and they all looked at each other.
�We�ll clean up,� Josephine said. �Don�t worry about it.�
�Ok,� Kevin said and the Boys walked out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Brian, can we talk?� Venus asked sitting beside him on the sofa.
�I was just going to ask you that,� Brian replied. �You go first.�
�I�ve been thinking and I think we shouldn�t see each other anymore,� Venus said trying to break it to him easy and unhurtful.
�I was thinking the same thing actually,� Brian said.
�Really?� He nodded. �I wasn�t sure how you would react. I couldn�t think of a better way to tell ya.�
�Me either. It�s been fun though.�
�Very fun. We can still be friends right?�
�Of course. I ain�t holding this against you, because we agreed.�
�I�m glad.�
�Now what?�
�I�m not sure.� They looked at each other and laughed.
CHAPTER 3
HOME