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Chapter 4
*3rd
Person*
Brian pulled up into the driveway, tired and unhappy. Leighanne had just broken
up with him, and there had been a press conference and a photo shoot, when all
he felt like doing was going home and crying.
"This day can't get any worse, it just can't," Brian muttered as he walked in the kitchen. He saw a note on the table, written in AJ's messy style. It said, "Forgot something, back in five, AJ."
"I didn't even know he was here, but okay," Brian thought. He pulled off his deep blue T-shirt and threw it in the laundry room, heading for the stairs, when faint piano music caught his ear.
"Oh, Kevin is home," Brian thought and headed towards the room. He drew back in complete surprise when he caught sight of who was playing, but said nothing. Brian thought to himself, "Okay, maybe it can get worse." Finishing off the song, Kris turned and gasped when she saw Brian. Their eyes locked and it seemed like two years had never passed as they just stared. Slowly, like in a trance, Kris got up and walked over to Brian, never looking away from his penetrating, hurt gaze.
"Brian?" Kris whispered. Snapping out of it, Brian's face became a mask and his eyes, ice cold.
"Hello Kris, quite a surprise to see you in my house. Do you mind my asking why the hell you are here?" Brian asked, uncaring about how harsh he sounded.
"Hello
to you too, Brian! I came back to Orlando to visit some friends of mine. Too
bad they just happen to live in the same house as you," Kris snapped, taken
aback and hurt. She brushed past, him ignoring how wonderful he looked. Kris'
heart shattered at how cruel they were being to each other when they had once
been best friends.
Brian watched as Kris' shoulders slumped as she walked away on the verge of
tears. Something inside him said to follow her and at least try to fix things.
Brian sighed, then slowly walked up the stairs, his heart going out to the woman
he wanted so badly, but now would probably never have. *
AJ walked back in the house, whistling and smiling and just in an overall good
mood.
"Kris, we're gonna leave in about 45 minutes. Kris?" AJ called, glancing in the piano room. AJ frowned, then yelled up the stairs, "Kris are you up there?" AJ was startled by the cold, weary voice that answered him.
"No, she isn't. Look in the family room, Bone, maybe she's there." The medium height figure walked down the steps and AJ flinched inwardly and Brian's haggard appearance.
"Man, what happened, you look awful!" AJ said, his concern growing. Brian stared at him out of emotionless eyes, the shadows making him look even worse as he stood there.
"Well
Bone, it was a long day. Leighanne broke up with me, then I came home to a woman
I can't decide if I love or hate, that I haven't seen for two years and immediately
make her cry! That's what's wrong!" Brian exclaimed. AJ stared at him for
a moment, then turned and hurried down the hall to find Kris. *
He found her curled up in a ball on the family room couch, sobbing hard. AJ
sighed and took off his sunglasses, then approached the miserable young woman,
placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She gasped, then relaxed as she looked
at AJ with swollen eyes.
"AJ, I can't do this," Kris cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and getting his shirt all wet. "AJ, it's never gonna be the same, I'm so sorry I left, but God, do I love him! Now he has a girlfriend and I have a new life. I've tried to tell myself I love Christian, that he's the One for me, but he's not, never was. Now I just told the love of my life that I hate him, which is the farthest thing from the truth! AJ, what am I gonna do?" Kris sobbed. This was the first time she had cried since she had left Orlando, for any reason, and it was a downpour. AJ soothed Kris as her crying died down to sniffles, and Kris smiled weakly up at AJ's concerned brown eyes.
"I'm sorry AJ, I shouldn't have done this to you, I mean, you are one of his best friends," Kris apologized, not looking him in the eyes.
"Kris, look at me," AJ commanded sternly. When Kris finally did, there was a defeated look in her eyes.
"Never be sorry for how you feel or what you say to me. I may be one of his best friends, but didn't it occur to you that I'm also your best friend? I'll be here for you, whenever you need me, no matter for what reason," AJ murmured, then realized the exhausted and travel worn girl was asleep in his arms.
"Brian, did you hear any of that?" AJ asked as he heard quiet footsteps in the hall. Brian stepped into the door, a strange look on his face that AJ couldn't read.
"Yeah, I heard it, all of it."
"-and?" AJ pressed gently.
"I'm
confused as hell, AJ, but the fact that she still loves me doesn't change that
she left me, all of us, with barely any reason or contact for two years! Man,
it hurts!" Brian grabbed his keys and slammed the door closed behind him,
going to the one place he could just sit and think. *
Kris' eyes flickered open and she felt someone gently rubbing her arms, trying
to wake her up.
"Kris, babe, c'mon! Na is gonna be home soon," AJ murmured, carrying her up the stairs to her apartment and inside, flicking on lights as he went.
"Na?" Kris murmured, flinching at the bright lights as AJ gently set her on her feet, making sure she wouldn't fall over.
"Yeah, Na! Remember, surprise, looks who's home?" AJ prodded, holding Kris by the waist as she rubbed her eyes and stretched like a cat. Then something hit her.
"AJ, did you just drive me all the way over here? How long did I sleep and where's.." Kris' face crumpled when she remembered what had happened with Brian.
"Hey, no unhappy looks or crying allowed! Kris, you're gonna see Na, your best friend in the world that you haven't seen for two years! C'mon, smile that gorgeous smile for me!" AJ begged, pulling off his sunglasses and getting on his knees. Kris started laughing, pulling him to his feet and hugging him.
"You're right, you're right, thanks hon.."
"I have an idea!" AJ said with a grin, running off into the main room. Kris wondered, but said nothing until, "If You Want It To Be Good Girl (Get Yourself A Bad Boy)" came on, which made her laugh.
"Bone,
what are you smoking?" Kris called, following AJ, then burst out laughing
when she saw him.
AJ was dancing like an idiot, then grabbed Kris, making her dance with him as
the music blasted around them. They were having great fun, dancing and singing,
but Kris collapsed on the couch as the song ended. AJ jumped her, tickling her
as she laughed.
"What's the matter with you? That was only one song, and you're exhausted! I could do this for hours, Kris!" Kris managed to gasp through her giggles, pushing a strand of black hair out of her eyes.
"You do it for a living, give me a frickin' break, Bone!" She pushed AJ off her, but he was too quick for her and she fell on top of him as they hit the floor, her face inches from his, both of them laughing hysterically. When they finally stopped, Kris' fave song, "I'll Never Break Your Heart" was on and Kris said so, rolling off AJ.
"Would m'lady like to dance?" AJ asked with a little bow.
"Of course!" Kris accepted, slipping her arms around AJ's neck as he pulled her close enough that their bodies were pressed together.
"From the first day that I saw your smiling face, honey I knew that we would be together forever," AJ sang along.
"Nice contacts, Bone," Kris murmured, laughing. His eyes were purple, and hypnotized her as she stared at him, neither saying a word as a flash of electricity crackled between them. Their faces were thisclose, and AJ thought, "Oh Lord, what am I doing? We shouldn't, but.." Kris' thoughts were running along the same line. They leaned in, and Kris could feel AJ's wildly beating heart underneath her hand as she closed her eyes and gave herself up to fate, which unfortunately intervened. Their lips had barely brushed when there was a loud, "What the hell?" They backed away quickly, but no one had seen them. The voice was Na's, and she wanted to know who the heck was in her lit up, music blazing apartment.
"Na I'm back!!" Kris yelled, running to the door as AJ turned down the music. Na turned around, and her mouth dropped open as her black haired, seemingly missing best friend grinned at her. *
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