�Whoa!� Howard practically yelled.
�Did ya miss me?� Lillie asked, as she left him go and he turned around to face her.
�I didn�t even know you were gone to be honest with ya,� Howard stated.
�You didn�t know I was gone,� Lillie said making it sound more liked a question than a statement. �How could you not know?� He smiled.
�Hey, Lillie, I�m just kidding,� Howard said. �Ask these guys, you�re all I�ve been talking about since you left. I�ve been asking where ya went, when you will back, so on and so forth. I�ve missed you.�
�Oh, you�re so sweet,� Lillie said, as Howard dipped her and then kissed her. �I should leave more often if I�m going to get this kind of lovin� when I get back.�
�This is just the beginning,� Howard said kissing her again.
�Hey, Howie,� Brian began, �don�t you think it�s time for you two to take a breather?�
�Yeah, D,� Nickolas chimed in. �Loni and I are.�
�You two are always all over each other,� Brian added. �I�m surprised you two ain�t ripping each others close off.� Nickolas and Valondra started laughing along with Brian and Howard glared at them.
�You have ten seconds to start running before I knock you both down,� Howard said.
�Ooh, you�re scaring us now,� Nickolas said sarcastically.
�Don�t even get me started,� Howard said.
�What are you going to do about it?� Brian asked. �Drive us over a cliff and make it look like an accident?�
�Don�t give me any ideas,� Howard smirked. �You got five seconds.�
�Even if we did start running,� Nickolas began, �you wouldn�t be able to catch us because you�re too slow.�
�There goes is social life,� Valondra smirked, as Lillie slapped her and the others started laughing. �Ow, bitch.�
�You�re both dead,� Howard said. �Valondra, I�ll deal with you later.�
�Uh-huh, yeah,� Valondra said rolling her eyes. �Right.� They all continued laughing and Howard shook his head.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Toni,� Alexander said, as he joined her in the audience area.
She looked at him and said, �Alex, you actually do know I�m still alive. I thought you thought I was dead.�
�Not even,� Alexander said. �Do you mind if I sit?�
�It�s a free country,� Antoinette stated looking at the others again. �Do what ya want.� He nodded and sat next to her.
�Why are you mad at me?�
�Why are you ignoring me?�
�I�m not the one that broke it off; you did. I�m not ignoring you now.�
�Then why were you? I told you I still wanted to be friends.�
�I wanted and needed some time to think. You know, to clear my head, think about what I did to make you call it quits after only a year; everything basically.� He sighed. �Why are you mad at me?�
�I wasn�t mad at you, just a little upset that you weren�t talking to me, but as I sit here and think about it I finally understand. Me breaking up with you had nothing to do with you. It was me.�
�What was it?�
�I wasn�t really ready for a relationship and I didn�t think we were very compatible as a couple. I never really had a long relationship with anyone like I had with you and it kind of scared me and creeps me out. Again it had nothing to do with you. I did have a great time doing all those different things with you. I had a blast.�
�Why didn�t you tell me this in the beginning? I wouldn�t have given you the silent treatment for so long.�
�I�m really sorry. I wanted to tell you, believe me, but I thought you wouldn�t understand the way I felt.�
�You could�ve tried me, but I do understand. Who knows, maybe we�ll get another chance and if it�s meant to be we�ll know.�
�Maybe.�
�Friends?�
�Definitely.� He smiled and hugged her. She grinned and hugged him in return.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�What are you looking at?� Kevin asked, as he put his arm around Valondra and she looked at him.
�Oh, just Alex and Toni,� Valondra replied pointing. �It�s nice to see that they�re getting along again.�
�Yeah it is,� Kevin agreed, as they saw Farah walk towards the stage. They watched as she stopped in her tracks and then run the same way she came. �What was that all about?�
�I have no clue,� Valondra said, as Nickolas walked over to them.
�Will you get your damn hand off my girlfriend,� Nickolas demanded. �You got your own.� Valondra looked at him and smiled.
�I think you better go talk to Farah,� Valondra suggested.
�Why should I?� Nickolas asked.
�Not you,� Valondra said. �Kevin.�
�Yeah, I better,� Kevin said. �Excuse me.� He walked away and Nickolas spun Valondra around.
�Whoa!� Valondra said laughing. �What�s your problem?�
�Nothing,� Nickolas replied. �I just wanted to see your beautiful face and then kiss your soft sweet lips.� He leaned down and put his lips on hers. She put her arms around him and kissed him in return.
CHAPTER 3
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