�I�m glad you�re enjoying yourself,� Howard said. �I had a great time tonight also.�
�I�m glad,� Lillie said. �I was actually afraid you were going to hate being with an 18 year old.�
�I did find it a little awkward at first,� Howard started, �but as I got to know you I realized it wasn�t that bad.� She smiled.
�My grandparents will probably flip out if they knew I went out with a guy who is, like, seven years older than me.�
�Don�t they know that age is just a number?�
�Yeah, but they still don�t care. They think ya have to be with someone your own age.�
�Are they the same age?�
�Yeah.� He nodded. �They�re not bad people though. They�ve been raising me since my mom left me with them and moved to Miami.�
�Do you talk to your mom?�
�Yeah; we finally got back on track after about ten years.�
�That�s good; better late than never.�
�Yeah.� She sighed. �That�s why I feel bad for Loni though. She�s always lived with her parents and they don�t, and never, acknowledge her existence. They just don�t care.�
�Right.�
�So I enjoy my time with my mother for the both of us. I could be in the same situation as Loni and have both my parents hate me, ya know.� He nodded. �I�m fortunate to have at least one parent want something to do with me.�
�That�s good.�
�Yeah.� They looked at each other and smiled. �Do you get along with your parents?�
�Of course; I�m their baby.� She chuckled. �I�m not a mama�s boy or anything like that no matter what the others tell you.�
�Gotcha.� They both smiled. �You�re really sweet.�
�Thanks.�
�You�re fitting the description of the kind of man I wanted.�
�Um, thanks�I think.�
�You�re sweet, caring, good-looking, romantic, a very good listener��
�I try my best.�
�I�m glad Loni arranged this.� He looked at her.
�So am I.�
�I feel a connection between us.� He looked at her not knowing what to say. Is this what Valondra meant when she said Lillie falls fast and was clingy? �Do you feel a connection between us?�
�Um, I think it�s a little too soon for me to think that.�
�Oh.�
�You�re great company and all so don�t get me wrong. I like getting to know girls before I decide anything. If a connections there I�ll know it, but it�s never on the first date or whatever.�
�Right.� She smiled. �I don�t want to push you into anything.�
�Thank you.�
�You�re welcome.� He smiled and they stopped walking. They looked at each other and she kissed him. Howard kissed her in return a second and then pulled away. �I�m sorry. I feel like an idiot.�
�Don�t�� He smiled and kissed her this time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Farah and Kevin sat at the local coffee house and talked about the movie they just saw; �Titanic�. They were both enjoying each others company and were glad that Valondra had set it up.
�Have you enjoyed yourself tonight?� Kevin asked.
�I had an excellent time,� Farah replied. �Especially since I was with you.�
�Thanks,� Kevin said.
�I�m really glad Valondra set this up. I guess I owe her one although this will probably be a one time deal.�
�Maybe not.� She looked at him and he smiled. �I�ve had a great time tonight.�
�I�m glad. I was pretty sure you weren�t going to, but it looks like you proved me wrong.� He continued smiling. �And I�m glad you did.� They both chuckled. �This has to be the best night of my life right now. I am with Kevin Richardson. How many girls can say that they spent one on one quality time with you?�
�Not a lot.�
�Exactly, but I get to be one of them. This is like a dream come true.�
�Anything to help.� She smiled. �Do you want to get out of here?�
�Sure.� Kevin paid for their drinks and they walked out of the coffee house and started walking towards Farah�s house. They walked in silence a few blocks and then they both stopped walking. �What is it?�
�Would you hate me if I kissed you right now?�
�Actually I was hoping you would.� They both smiled and moved in for the kiss. Their lips touched and they put their arms around each other and stood their on the sidewalk kissing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rachel and Brian walked from the nearby court after a late game of one on one basketball. They walked into the hotel and over to the elevator, as the hotel employees watched them.
�Some people are so nosy,� Rachel said. �Look at them all looking.�
�They act like they never see a celeb before,� Brian said.
�Most of them probably haven�t,� Rachel stated.
�It�s no big deal really,� Brian replied. �I see them all the time and they�re just like everyone else.�
�Try telling these nosy people that.� They laughed and got on the elevator. �So when are you leaving?�
�The day after tomorrow; we have a show in Miami Tuesday night.�
�Cool.� Brian nodded. �Does it ever get boring?�
�Nope; I love what we do and wouldn�t trade it in for the world.�
�Cool.�
�What about you? What do you want to do?�
�Psychiatry; I love helping people out with their problems. They always come to me anyway so I must give good advice.�
�Apparently.�
�After grad next year I�m going to Tampa U for, like, 4 years.�
�Cool.�
�Yeah.� They got off the elevator and walked to the Presidential Suite.
�What about for fun?�
�We�re all into the local theatre program so it�s acting for fun. This year we�re doing �Romeo and Juliet� and putting on the show at the end of summer. Next week we�re putting on �Grease� which is going to be so awesome.�
�Did you think about doing acting professionally?� They went inside.
�There will be no way in hell you�ll get me on screen like that. We all love acting and shit, but Loni is the only one that wants to make a career out of it. She�s still waiting for that big break.� He nodded. �I can�t see putting myself out there like that ya know.�
�Yeah, but you get use to it after awhile.�
�I wouldn�t be able to. I could handle dating someone that does that, because I wouldn�t be the one in the spotlight. That�s just not for me.�
�It�s not for a lot of people.� She shook her head and saw Valondra and Nickolas lying on the sofa together sleeping with the television on. �And he said Kevin and D were pathetic.�
�They�re not the ones lying on a sofa with someone they don�t know.� They both chuckled.
�Do you want to watch a movie?�
�Yeah sure.� They walked to the one room, but stopped before going in. �Maybe we should knock first.�
�Right.�
Brian knocked on the door and then they heard Alexander, �It�s open.� They walked in and saw Alexander and Antoinette sitting on the one bed watching a movie. �Hey, man.�
�Hey,� Brian said. �Do you mind if we join ya?�
�Not at all,� Antoinette said.
�Loni and Nick are out there sleeping,� Rachel; said.
�Yeah, that�s why we came in here,� Antoinette stated. �We didn�t want to wake them. Ya know how Loni gets when she�s woken.�
�She�s a cranky ass bitch,� Rachel said and they laughed.
�Nick�s no better,� Alexander said.
�What are ya watching?� Brian asked.
��Ghost�,� Antoinette replied.
�Cool,� Rachel said making herself comfortable on the extra bed. �I love this movie.� They all looked at each other and then watched the movie.
CHAPTER 11
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