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Chapter 8
Brian had a pretty good idea where Kris was going. The same place he did when the world just seemed to be too much. He sighed with relief when he caught sight of her black Beemer parked at the top of the cliff, the top down in the already hot late Florida spring. Brian jumped out of his car, running down to the beach, hard to see in the pitch black night.
"Kris? Kris, where are you?" Brian called, practically running down the deserted beach. Nothing answered but the breeze and the crashing waves.
"Kris?
C'mon hon, talk to me! Where are you? Kris?" Brian called.
Further down the beach, Kris was lost in her misery and never heard Brian calling
her name so desperately. She wasn't crying anymore, just staring at nothing,
wondering how her life could be so wonderful, but so awful. Brian finally caught
sight of her, his black button down flying behind him as he rushed towards her.
It was too dark to see Kris' face, but he could feel her pain. Brian knelt in
front of her, looking into Kris' eyes as she looked up in surprise.
"Kris?" he questioned, softly brushing away a strand of silky hair. Kris felt a crackle of electricity go through her at his touch, even though she was in pain.
"Oh Brian," Kris cried as he pulled her up into his arms, sobs shaking her body once more. Brian just held her, letting her cry out her pain.
"I'm
so sorry Brian, I called Chris.. I told him we weren't going out or whatever
we were anymore. But I also told him I'm moving back to Orlando," Kris
managed one she'd calmed a little.
They were sitting in the sand, Brian holding her in his lap as she leaned against
his chest. She explained it all to him, except the part about him.
"Kris, are you gonna be okay?" Brian asked, making her look in his eyes when she stood up. Kris sighed.
"B-Rok, I'll be all right, but I'm gonna miss you, Na and the guys. There's something I need to tell you.. I'm gonna join you in Paris, about two weeks after the tour starts. This place is gonna be so quiet!" Kris murmured, avoiding his surprised and concerned blue eyes.
"What? Why? I thought you had as much time as you needed off?"
"Um, Brian, I can't lie to you. It doesn't have to do with work, but there is a reason, and well, it doesn't concern you. I know that sounds rude, but Na doesn't know what's going on either," Kris tried to explain, but couldn't help feeling guilty at the upset look on his face.
"I'm sorry Brian."
"Ah,
no need to be. I'm sure you'll tell me when the time is right," Brian said
confidently, puling her towards the cars by her hand. Brian thought, "Will
there ever be a good time to tell her how I feel about her? I once tried to
forget, but now that she's back again.." *
Kris woke up when she felt strong arms gently lifting her, cradling her head
to a muscular chest.
"Brian?" she murmured, hearing the car door close quietly.
"He's
waiting inside Kris. Ssh, go back to sleep," a deep voice said. Kevin gently
kissed her forehead, and Kris smiled up at him then fell back to sleep. *
When she woke up again, Brian had been trying to slip a t-shirt on her without
waking her up. She murmured, "Brian, you didn't have to, you could've woken
me up." Brian smiled at her, then pulled out her hair and gently lay her
back on the bed.
"Too late now, babe. Go back to sleep, I'll be back in a few minutes," he whispered, kissing her forehead and walking away. Kris looked around and realized they were in his room, the smell of his cologne clinging to the air and plenty of basketball stuff. He reappeared a few minutes later, clad only in smiley face boxers.
"Nice boxers, hon," Kris giggled as he slid into bed next to her, clicking off the light.
"Thank you, they're my faves," Brian said in a little boy's voice, making her giggle even more. He wrapped an arm around Kris and pulled her close as he smiled to herself, now much happier.
"Thank you, Brian, for listening tonight. There's still a lot going on in my life and being near you makes it seem easier, somehow. I know that you don't like Christian very much, for obvious reasons, and you still helped me. I love you for that, hon." She leaned over and kissed his cheek gently, wishing it was his lips instead, and snuggling closer as Brian's heart nearly stopped beating at those words.
"No
prob babe, good night," but she was already asleep, her arms wrapped around
his warm body. He lightly kissed her lips, then murmured, "I love you too,"
as he drifted off to sleep. *
Less than two weeks later, Kris found herself helping Na pack up and getting
ready to say her good-byes to the guys for the two weeks they wouldn't see each
other.
"Kris, are you sure you don't wanna come with us now? I know you have your reasons for staying, but.. we're gonna miss you! It just won't be the same without you! Besides, I know Brian will miss you," Na commented, her brown eyes sparkling as Kris turned red, then tossed a pillow at Na's head.
"Are you implying Brian and I are more than just friends?" Kris challenged, trying to sound convincing and failing.
"Yes, I am! If you only saw the way he watches you when you aren't looking, Kris. The boy is so in love with you he can't see straight!" Na cried, stating what was so obvious to everyone but Kris and Brian, it seemed.
"Na, I told you I don't want to go there. After what happened last time.." Kris trailed off, her mind elsewhere.
"Kris, the situation last time was complicated and so different! Josh is in jail, you and Christian are friends again, just friends...Nothing is there to stop you but you!" Na said, then left to finish packing. *
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