Chapter 25

Brian and Kris could feel the music before they heard it as they stepped onto AJ's front porch. Kris turned to Brian, and asked, "Should we even bother knocking?"

"Nah, just go in. I doubt they'd hear us, anyway!" Brian watched Kris as she walked in, wondering what was wrong. She hadn't said anything, but something had been bugging her all day and it bothered him that she wouldn't talk to him about it. He closed the door and made a decision. Brian grabbed her hand and pulled Kris back down the hall as she frowned at him.

"Kris, what is wrong? Something has been off all day, and you don't seem to want to bring it up. Is it Josh, did he call again?" Brian asked gently, placing a finger under her chin and making her look up. Shaking her head, Kris tried to back out of his arms.

"No, it isn't Josh. I'm just.. um, well, having a bad day. Nothing you should worry about!" Kris turned, heading towards the party, but Brian refused to let go.

"Kris, you've never lied to me before, please don't start now. I'll let it go, but at least don't lie about it. We've had enough problems without adding that to the list." Kris slowly looked back up at him, tears in her eyes as his grip on her arms loosened.

"All right, I'm sorry Brian. It's just, things with my 'rents aren't going too well, they're trying to control my life, even though I've been on my own for five years. I can't tell you anymore, but there's been a lot of pressure from them." Brian hugged her, understanding her situation, trying to.

"Pressuring you to do what?" Brian questioned. Kris' face turned red, and she wouldn't look at him.

"Well, move back home, among other things-" Kris trailed off as Brian stared at her, and she wished they'd never started the conversation.

"C'mon, let's go party, Brian! I need a drink, anyway," Kris urged, pulling him down the hall by his hand.

"Kris, " Brian started, but paused when he saw the look on her face.

"Later, okay?" she commanded, and lightly pushed him into the kitchen, which was blazing with lights and bursting with music and the loud chatter of their friends. *

"Na, can we talk?" Kris murmured, tugging on her friend's sleeve. They were watching the guys play pool on AJ's red pool table, sipping beers and occasionally helping the guys with a shot.

"C'mon Kris, one game! These guys don't even put up a fight, I need a challenge!" AJ begged, giving Kris a look over the top of his purple sunglasses. Kris grinned, knowing she could beat him, blindfolded, any day.

"In a couple, Bone, I need to talk to Na for a sec," she replied, taking a sip of her beer. Na led her to the next room and sank into a zebra print chair.

"So, what's up? Something is wrong, that much is obvious. It's not Brian, is it?" Kris shook her head wearily, pulling up her tube top a little.

"I only wish it was that simple, Na. Mom called this morning." Nina flinched slightly, concerned as she watched Kris finish off her beer and pop open another one.

"So, what did she say?"

"Well, she wants me to move back home and well, do you remember Prince Edward?" Kris asked, her hand lightly shaking as she lifted the bottle to her mouth. Na nodded, her face a mask.

"The guy mom thinks is so perfect, for her pocketbook, anyway. Not to mention about 25 years older than me. Well, she thinks that he'd be a perfect match for her Antoinette Kristina. I hung up on her around the point where she threatened to send him here and take me home." Na gasped, more than a little shocked.

"Marry him, Kris? Doesn't she know about-?"

"Of course she does! Not that it would stop her! She doesn't approve that her princess is in love with a musician, no matter how famous!" Kris yelled, her words starting to slur as she took another gulp of beer. Nina got up and took away her beer.

"Okay, Kristina, you've had enough. Now calm down, she won't take you away from Brian. Why don't we go watch the guys play, huh? You can play AJ and kick his butt!" Kris nodded, giggling like a little girl.

"Let's show them how to really play, Na!" Nina watched her head back towards the guys, praying she wouldn't say too much or something she'd regret, while she was drunk. *

"Hey, did ya beat him yet?" a voice murmured in Brian's ear. He smiled at Kris, who was by his side with a beer in hand. Kevin watched her, concerned, as Kris' words slurred and she started hanging all over Brian.

"How many beers has she had?" Kevin quietly asked Nina, who had just walked back in the room. She frowned.

"Way too many! I just took one away from her." I was obvious AJ had also had one too many beers.

"C'mon babe, my turn to kick your butt now, I beat everybody else here." Kris giggled hysterically and looked at Brian, who was getting worried.

"I'll hold your drink, Kris. Go ahead and show him who's boss," Brian urged, kissing her and taking away the drink.

"Thank you!" Na mouthed, watching as Kris picked up the stick and grinned at AJ, then broke the set and sent balls into three pockets. AJ stared at her as Howie, Nick and the others cheered her on. Kris smirked at AJ and wrapped an arm around his waist, her slightly glazed eyes sparkling.

"And you were saying? Just because I'm a little drunk doesn't mean you're gonna win! I can go easy on ya, if you want." AJ glared at her, muttering something incomprehensible under his breath.

"No, go ahead, I'll beat you yet!"

"Yeah right, AJ! I think you've finally met your match!" Nick said, waving as Cora stepped in from the front door. Kris nudged Brian and giggled as Kevin's face lit up with a smile, and he went over to greet Cora. *
Nick and Nina opted to stay over at AJ's that night, both of them having had more than one or two beers. He pulled Na close, closing the door behind them.

"I have a question for ya Na," Nick said, lightly kissing her forehead.

"Shoot," she replied, lounging back on their bed, smiling as Nick stripped down to his smiley face boxers. He jumped on the bed next to her, sending both of them flying in the air, laughing. Nick grinned at her, his crystal blue eyes lighting up with happiness, then finally turning serious.

What's up with Kris? She's not being her normal Krissy self. I mean, like tonight, for example! I've never seen her drink so much, or hang all over Brian like that! At least, not in front of everyone. What's so wrong that she needs to get drunk to forget? I mean, is Josh bothering her again?" Na was desperately praying for inspiration, or a miracle, to get her out of this situation. She'd never lied to Nick before, she never had anything to hide until now. Mercifully, her prayer was answered, for there was a light knock at her door.

"Frack? We're going home now." They could hear Kris, too, giggling happily as Brian tried to quiet her. He continued, "I didn't have anything besides a Coke, so we'll be okay. I'll call ya tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, see ya Frick. Bye Kris!" Na started laughing at Kris as she giggled drunkenly and called back, "Bye Nicky, bye Na! You two be good!"

"Yes mother," Nick muttered, cuddling closer to Na under the covers. *

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