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Chapter 22
Kris left that afternoon with Cora, to everyone's great sadness. They had never seen Kris this hurt, and it only made their hatred of Josh deepen.
"I'm not up to singing tonight," Brian complained, their concert in about four hours. Howie D. said optimistically, "C'mon, man! It'll make you feel better and besides, think of how mad Kris would be if you canceled a show because of her! She'd fly back just to smack you on the head!" Brian laughed, knowing Howie was right.
"Okay, let's do it for Kris.. and Chris," he said, jumping out of his chair with a purpose. *
The days following that fateful night passed quickly for Kris, and she attended Christian's funeral in a daze, only feeling a sharp stab as she looked down upon his face for the last time. Cora's family, so close to Kris that they were more family to her than her real one, insisted she stay and help go through his stuff. Kris felt a chill as she walked into the apartment that was once hers, too. "Cora, I don't know if I can do this," Kris whispered, clutching her hand for support.
"Yes,
you can. I know it hurts, but he would've wanted it this way." *
Kris walked into his room and suddenly felt comforted, like Chris was there,
by her side. She slowly made her way through the room, stopping once in a while
to look at something she remembered, a memory that made her smile or laugh.
Kris picked up a picture from inside Christian's desk and froze. It was one
of her and Chris in Maryland, at the beach. They had gone right before she left
for Orlando, and she'd never seen the pictures. They were smiling happily at
the camera, their arms around each other's waists and the waves crashing behind
them.
"Cora,
he's really gone, it's finally hitting me-" Cora just nodded, taking Kris
in her arms, Kris' body shaking though she had no more tears to shed. Cora knew
how she felt. *
When they were done with the apartment, Kris and Cora went to dinner at a local
McDonald's. It made Kris think of AJ, then the rest of the guys.
"Cora, I have to go back soon. I want to be with the Boys, Brian. Speaking of the guys, Kevin has it bad for you,! Why don't you come with us on tour?" Kris offered, taking a sip of her Coke. Cora's face lit up, and she turned a bright shade of red.
"Kevin is an amazing guy, we had a chance to talk before we left. I'd love to go, if the guys won't mind!" Cora cried, smiling for the first time in the three weeks since Chris's death.
"I'm
positive they won't mind, and they already put up with Na and I! Cora, you'll
love it, I promise!" Kris replied, already planning the tricks they could
pull on the guys. *
Brian was missing Kris in a big way and it showed. They were in Rome now, and
he stared out his hotel window, lost in thought. It had been a month since she'd
left, and though they talked on the phone, Brian didn't know when she was coming
back.
"God Kris, come back, I miss you!" he murmured, wishing she was there to share the sunset with him. He closed his eyes, and for a moment he could've sworn he smelled her shampoo, then knew he was dreaming as he felt soft lips press against his, arms around his waist and a body pressed against his.
"I'm back, and I miss you too, B-Rok!" Kris whispered, smiling at him as his eyes flew open.
"I'm not dreaming anymore, am I? Oh baby-"
"Nope, I'm really here, in your arms, and I brought someone back with me!" She pulled him towards the door, and Cora waved happily. Brian grinned, a devilish look in his eye.
"Ooh,
does Kevin know you're here yet?" *
Kris pounded loudly on Kevin's door.
"Kevin, I'm coming in, you better be decent!" She walked in and was immediately attacked by Howie, Kevin and AJ.
"Kris, it's good to see you again!"
"We've missed you girl!"
"Glad you finally decided to join us, babe!" AJ held her close, incredibly relieved she was safe and in his arms in one piece. Kris turned to Kevin and commanded, "Close your eyes," then waved in Cora.
"Kev, say hello to our newest tour mate!" The look on his face was priceless as he hugged Cora close, his green shirt seeming to match his sparkling eyes perfectly.
"Thank
you! I owe you!" Kevin mouthed to Kris. She winked, then, closing the door,
ran into Brian's waiting arms. She pressed her lips to his, a tear of happiness
trickling down her cheek. She didn't know how to express everything she wanted
to tell him, but she realized she was with the man she loved. Words were unnecessary.
He already knew. *
The rest of the European Tour flew by, and before they knew it, it was late
July and they were on their way back home. Kevin and Cora were officially going
out shortly after she joined them, and he was slowly helping her forget her
pain and heal. Kris had slowly backed her way out of their close knit circle,
unconsciously, because on some level she feared having another person she loved
hurt. Her only salvation was Brian, who did his best to keep her going, but
slowly realized something was ready to burst. He never anticipated how much
her fear would reveal, and how much she really hadn't told him about her past..
*
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