|
|
Chapter 3
"Wow, that was quite a greeting!" I gasped, wondering how often the guys had to do that. AJ laughed heartily.
"Welcome back to Orlando, Kris! Christian called me and asked if I would pick you up, since you wanted to surprise Na. I told Kevin, but that's it, I swear!" AJ grinned, then started humming, "Let's Have A Party!"
"Hey, are those new tattoos I see there Bone? I like them," I said, pointing out the newer ones. AJ beamed, looking at me over the tops of his sunglasses.
"Yup, they are! Oh, I've got one on my back, too, a dragon," he mumbled, then pulled up his wife beater to reveal a dragon on his left shoulder, his muscles flexing as he tried to stay on the road.
"Hey, I love it!" I said, tickling him, which was a bad idea, 'cause he was driving.
"So you only told Kevin, right? I want to really surprise her, Bone. I can't wait to see everyone again!" I exclaimed, smiling, then quieted at a sobering thought. "AJ, how's Brian? Is it true that blond woman is his girlfriend?" I asked, almost afraid of the answer. AJ peered at me, his soft brown eyes concerned.
"Yeah, her name is Leighanne. Brian is, well, he was never quite the same after you left Kris, honestly. But are you really going out with Christian? Brian was hurt when he found out." I sighed, wondering how I could explain our complicated relationship.
"Well, in reality, we aren't going out. We live together and we're close. It's hard to explain, but we do see other people occasionally." I sighed and leaned back in the seat, watching the familiar scenery fly by. "I hurt Brian badly, didn't I?" I asked, slumping in my chair. AJ glanced at me, then took off his sunglasses.
"Honestly, yeah. Confused too, I think but then again, so was everyone else."
"I'm sorry AJ, but I just wasn't happy here. I was caught between my two best friends, and then Brian saw us and wouldn't talk to me for so long...but let's not worry about that now," I commanded, sitting up and smiling brightly. "Was Na home when you left?" I asked, all of a sudden nervous. AJ started to laugh at me, then squeezed my hand comfortingly.
"Na is gonna be home in...about one hour, so I'm gonna take you to see Kevin, first."
"What..what about Brian?" I asked, my nervousness growing.
"No need to worry, he is out, he shouldn't be back for a while," AJ replied, glancing at Kris' anxious face. "Don't worry, Kris! He's gonna have to find out you're here, eventually though," AJ warned.
"I know, believe me, I know!" *
Kevin and Brian's house hadn't changed much since I last saw it, still huge,
very modern and neatly kept.
"Just remember, it's all good," AJ murmured in my ear, holding my hand as we walked in the house via the garage.
"Yo man, we're here!" AJ sang out, slamming the door loudly behind us.
"Yo yourself, no need to shake down the house, I know you're here.. but the we part confuses me!" a deep voice called from down the hallway, followed by footsteps on wooden floor.
"I thought you told him," I accused. AJ just smiled a maddeningly annoying smile and pulled me into the kitchen as a tall, broad figure appeared in through another doorway.
"AJ, we need to talk about this press conference next-" Kevin was saying, pulling on a black wife beater over his muscular body, then stopped short, staring at me open mouthed. AJ smiled, delighted that his surprise was working so well.
"Kris?" Kevin gasped, more than a little surprised.
"Kevin! I missed you!" I cried, running into his open arms and a tight hug.
"Same here, Kris! It's been way too long! Oh, wow!" Kevin murmured, kissing my forehead lightly. He looked down at me, grinning widely.
"Kev, is that a smile that I see on your face?" I teased.
"Hey, is there a party going on out here that nobody told me about?" a voice called from the same hallway Kevin had appeared. A short, curly haired Latino man appeared in the door, his brown eyes shining.
"D, when would we ever not tell you about a party, man?" AJ replied, then gently pushed me away from Kevin. Howie D.'s eyes widened and his handsome face broke out in a huge smile.
"Kris, is that you girl? Dang, where have you been the past two years? We've missed you!" Howie D. cried, hugging me tightly, even though I was a good four inches taller than him.
"So, what brings you back to Orlando from..where were you, anyway?" Howie asked, wrapping an arm around my waist. I looked around at the smiling guys, then slowly replied,
"I've been far away D, but I'm gonna visit until you guys or Na feel like kicking me out or I wanna go home." Kevin's serious, emerald green eyes smiled down at me, though his lips weren't.
"That won't be for a while, I hope?" I looked at him, then replied honestly, "Not for a long time, Kevin." I thought to myself, "I only hope it's the truth," glancing at my watch.
A sharp ringing noise woke me from my thoughts, but it was only AJ's cell phone. He mumbled listened, then said, "Okay, see ya later, bye," and hung up.
"Okay, slight change of plans Kris. That was Nick, he said they're caught up in some traffic, and it's probably gonna be an hour and a half more before they're even close. So he's gonna call when they're closer, and you get to chill here with us for a bit longer."
"Eew, why would I wanna spend time with you guys?" I exclaimed, then ran when I saw the look on their faces, because they are pretty damn fast runners! *
Kevin and Howie D. ended up going out somewhere, clubbing probably, which left AJ and I alone. I made my way around the house until I found Kevin's gorgeous concert grand piano. Delighted, I grabbed the nearest stack of music and started playing. *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~