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Chapter 39
*AJ's
POV*
I could feel the slick of sweat on my skin when I woke so suddenly, but for
the life of me I didn't know why. I had this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach,
like I was feeling emotions not my own. It was fear, and guilt. Why would I
be feeling guilty? I was definitely confused, but then it hit me like a smack
in the face. Kris. I jumped out of bed, only in my boxers, and checked Kris'
room. Empty, the bed covers rumpled and on the floor. I walked slowly down the
stairs, a light quilt to fight the chill in my hand, wondering what was going
on.
"Kris? You down here?" I called, hearing the panic and worry in my own voice. I finally heard, rather than saw, her, Kris' sobs echoing quietly down the hall. *
*3d POV*
AJ walked into the family room, his blue hair pointing wildly in all directions. He spied Kris on the huge, comfy sofa that sank when you sat in it. AJ glimpsed her tousled black hair and said quietly, "Krissy." Kris looked up with swollen, red eyes, tear tracks running down her face. Even through her pain, Kris managed to think to herself how nice AJ's abs were.
"Hey, sexy. What are you doing up?" Kris sniffled, making room for AJ as he sank down next to her, the quilt in his hand.
"Hey, uh.. sweet thang," AJ chuckled, pointing to her halter top. It was pink and said sweet thang in bold, black letters across her chest. It ended halfway up her abs, and she had on leopard print, pink pants. Kris laughed with him a little, wiping away some of her tears.
"Cute outfit, Krissy. Anyway, I'm up because.. I don't know. I felt that something was wrong, with you. I can't describe it." AJ laid back against the couch pillows and Kris laid on him, using his chest as her pillow. She shifted until she was comfortable , AJ's heart beating quietly under her ear as he pulled the quilt over them. Kris relaxed as AJ stroked her hair, handing her a tissue when she started to cry again, patiently letting her get it all out.
"AJ, I miss him so much. When I saw him today, it took all I had to not run into his arms, and say I forgave him. When he accused me, us.. oh G*d, AJ. I was so mad!" Kris shook her head sadly.
"Maybe if he hadn't been so drunk."
"So, why don't you tell him what you're telling me?" AJ asked wisely, wrapping his arms around her bare stomach.
"I can't! First, he read.. those letters. Now Na is mad at me and what's more is I had to lie to her today. She knew I did, which pissed her off even more. After his behavior last night, I just don't know, AJ."
"Krissy, don't take this wrong, but you probably should have said something about-" Kris turned and looked him dead square in the eyes.
"AJ, that same letter that threatened Na threatened to kill Brian, if I told anyone." Her voice sank to a whisper, pain etched on her face.
"I couldn't tell anyone. He would know, I promise. And Brian would be dead right now. I've got to trap him before he does anything else stupid." AJ bolted up, practically throwing Kris of the couch.
"Are you insane, Krissy? Josh wants you dead. As in dead as a doornail, stiff as a board, six feet under! Do you want to end up in the ground, right next to Christian? Because that is where you'll end up if you go through with whatever psycho plan you have in your head!" Kris cringed at the mention of Christian, feeling more tears well up and spill onto her cheeks.
"Leave Christian out of this! He's-" Kris stopped, unable to finish her sentence.
"Dead, Kris. Which is what you will be if you-"
"I'm the only one who can stop him, AJ! Why don't you see it? Notice how the police have gotten absolutely nothing done towards his arrest! The haven't even seen Josh for three months!" Kris cried desperately, hot tears pouring down her cheeks and slipping onto her pants. AJ made Kris face him, pain, anger and something else in his eyes.
"Krissy, promise me you won't do this. Please, I-" The words seemed to have slipped from his mouth, but Kris urged him on with her eyes. "I can't live without you here.. I feel, know everything that you feel and know. If something happens to you, I'll be losing my other half, my soul mate. Please, Kris! I love you more than anything in the world. Please, promise me." Kris could tell by the urgency in his voice and look in his eyes, what he said was true. Something deep inside her was moved by the raw emotion and truth in AJ's words. Kris squeezed his larger hand tightly with her own.
"AJ,
believe me when I say that my feelings are the same. I love you, and if Brian
wasn't here, I'd be with you, happily. You are my best friend, maybe my soul
mate, more than Brian ever could be because you understand me so well. But..
this is one promise I can not make."
AJ stood up roughly, and walked away from Kris, his back turned to her and his
head down. In the deep gloom, the only sound to be heard was the clock ticking
and their ragged, emotional breathing. AJ stared out the window, though not
seeing the scene before him, listening to the soft footsteps from behind him.
"AJ, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you," Kris whispered in his ear, feeling his warm, bare skin beneath her cool fingers. AJ turned slowly, and Kris was startled to see tears running down his handsome face.
"Don't do this to me, to everyone, Kris," he whimpered, pulling her quickly into a tight hug. Kris felt hot tears against her neck and felt the pain and concern in the strong arms around her bare waist.
"AJ, I'm sorry. Don't cry, please don't cry. I hate seeing you like this," Kris whispered, gently lifting his head from her shoulder. AJ looked at her with pain-riddled eyes and gripped her tighter.
"Kris, I'm sorry. I know how miserable he made you, but is it worth you being-"
"AJ, shut up." Kris slowly looked up into his eyes, then kissed his cheek softly. "Let's just go back to bed, okay?" AJ stared intensely into her eyes for a moment, running a strong hand slowly along her face. He knew someone was going to have to have this conversation with her, and since it wasn't going to be Brian, it would have to be him. But maybe, AJ decided, now was not the time.
"All
right, Krissy." He grasped her hand, which fit into his like it was supposed
to be there, and led her upstairs without another word. She didn't need to say
anything, he already knew what she was feeling and what she was going to say.
*
Kris woke up with a start, to the realization that she was alone.
"AJ?
You here?" she called, slowly stumbling out of bed and down the stairs.
Her only response was dead silence as the bright sun shone in through the sky
lights. In the kitchen, she found a note on the table, next to a cup of cold
tea.
"Krissy- Have a shoot/interview/press conference. Won't be home 'til dinner
or later. Your parent's plane leaves at 8 tonight. Call Cora. See ya soon. Lotsa
luv, Alex."
"Oh, crap," Kris muttered, glancing at the clock. She had an hour before she went to spend the day with her parents.
"Bloody h*ll," she said, then ran upstairs to get dressed. *
*Kris' POV*
We got to the airport with about ten minutes to spare before my parent's plane left.
"I'm sorry about, well, everything. I never expected-" I started to apologize to my parents, but my dad laid a hand on my shoulder.
"Kristina, it's not your fault. We're incredibly sorry about Nina and Brian, but it isn't your fault. Maybe next time we come to visit, we'll spend more time together." I stared at him, more than a little shocked. Next time? I was sure after this masquerade, they'd never step foot in the United States again.
"Oh, daddy, I hope so," I murmured, hugging his tall frame. I felt awful for neglecting them while they'd made time in their very hectic schedule to see me. I felt my mother's blue eyes studying my face closely.
"Kristina, is there something going on? I heard talk from your friends-" My heart froze, and I prayed for a huge hole to open up underneath me so I wouldn't have to explain. *waiting* Nope. Okay, so I had to find a brilliant way out of this.
"What kind of talk, mom?" I asked, putting on (what I hoped) was an innocent face. It must have worked, because after a minute, she just shook her head.
"Never mind, just talk. And," she paused, tears filling her eyes as she reached up to hug me, "I hope everything works out with Brian- or AJ."
"Mom! AJ is not- Grr.." I gave a groan of exasperation and gave up and just hugged her back. "Give my best to the family. Tell Liam I miss him. Maybe you should have him come visit me," I suggested.
"Flight 906 boarding," interrupted my mom's answer, but I could've sworn there was an extra sparkle in her eyes for a small second.
"That's us. Keep in touch, Kris. I love you," she whispered, picking up her carry on.
"Bye mom, daddy," I whispered, watching as they mixed and disappeared into the bustling crowd. It wasn't until I was well on my way home that I realized mom had called me Kris. *
*3d POV*
Kris kicked the door closed loudly, mounds of bags in her arms.
"Krissy, that you?" she heard AJ call.
"Alex, help me!" she cried, almost tripping over a rug.
"Jeez, Krissy. You'd even give me a run for my money if we went shopping!" AJ commented, taking some of the bulging bags from her. Kris stumbled into the kitchen and promptly dropped all the bags on the floor and table, giving AJ a light kiss on the cheek.
"Well, my parents love to spend money on me. Like I was going to stop them!" Kris laughed, a bright smile on her face.
"So, how was your day?" she asked, pulling out clothes from various bags, such as Armani Exchange, GAP, Pacific Sun and 5th Avenue.
"Boring. Photo shoots, interviews. Same old questions. You'd think they'd find different ones by now," AJ muttered, digging through Kris' stash. "Yo! What's this?" AJ questioned with a whistle, holding up a pink Victoria's Secret bag with one finger, giving Kris a funny look.
"Nothing
you need to see," Kris retorted, a blush creeping across her tan cheeks
as she snatched the bag back. "Here. Think of this as a thank you for letting
me crash with you for a while," Kris said, handing him a different, nondescript
bag to distract him. She knew AJ loved surprises.
AJ looked at her quickly, saying, "Krissy, you shouldn't-"
"But I did. Look in it." AJ opened it and fished out a hat and sunglasses that he had mentioned, but passed up, the last time they went to the mall.
"Thank you, Krissy. It wasn't necessary. I tell you what, let me take you out tomorrow. I'll clear the whole day, and we'll go see what kind of trouble we can get into." Kris' eyes sparkled with mischief.
"All
right, Bone. A date it is." *
"Kevin, something is going on, I can feel it. Nina won't talk to anyone
but Nick, and Kris.. Well, she seems almost carefree since.." Cora sighed,
refilling her mug with her third cup of coffee that morning. Kevin sat down
at the table, his hair pointing in all directions and his wife beater all rumpled
from a long night of no sleep.
"I think Kris needs to do a lot of talking, to Brian and Na, fast. But, Brian also needs to do some explaining himself. Kris never gave him a chance." Kevin sighed, laying his head on Cora's petite shoulder. She kissed his forehead gently, whispering, "Kev, they're big kids now. Let them figure out how much they need each other."
"Yeah, I know. But, I hate seeing them suffer. Why can't they see what is so obvious to everyone else?" Kevin asked quietly, slipping his hand in Cora's.
"Because
love hurts and makes you blind, sometimes. It'll work out, Kevin. Don't worry."
But in her mind, Cora silently thought to herself, "I hope." *
Brian rolled over and aimed for his annoyingly beeping alarm clock. With a crash
and some loud swearing, Brian found himself on the carpeted floor, still wrapped
in his blankets.
"Ugh," Brian moaned, slowly sitting up. Suddenly, like so many things seemed to lately, he remembered a specific incident with Kris, when she had done the very same thing. Instead of the wrenching pain he expected at the thought of Kris, Brian felt happiness bubble up inside of him and he started laughing loudly.
"B-Rok,
what was that noise?" The door was open and light streamed into the dark
room, outlining the tall, husky figure of his best friend. Brian slowly stopped
laughing, managing, "Nothing, Frack. Me getting a rude awakening, in more
ways than one." Nick shook his head, mystified as to why it was so funny,
but thrilled his friend seemed to be turning back into his normal self.
"You okay, Rok?" Nick questioned, pulling him off the floor.
"Couldn't be better, Frack. Couldn't be better." *
*Brian's POV*
I couldn't explain why waking up, falling out of bed and thinking of Kris would make my day, but it did.
"Hey, Frack up for a game of bball at the park today?" I asked, twirling a ball on one finger. Nick grimaced, his blond hair falling in his face.
"Sorry, man. I've got some stuff to do. Tomorrow, okay?"
"No
problem. I'm off, see ya." *
I grabbed my ball out of the car and slowly walked through the cool shade, heading
for some hidden courts within the park. As I approached, I heard the distinct
bounce, swoosh! of baskets being made. For one small second, I let myself wish
it was Kris. I peered at the court as it came into view, and my heart sank.
It definitely wasn't Kris.
I watched the young woman as she gracefully dribbled down the court, fascinated
by the way her muscles moved under her smooth, tan skin. I clapped as she sank
the ball, all net, from almost mid court. I must've startled her, because she
gasped and spun around quickly. I couldn't believe my eyes. This woman was gorgeous.
Her startlingly green eyes looked me up and down and I felt small under her
superior gaze. Retrieving her ball, the woman approached me, her muscular body
covered in sweat. Flicking away a strand of her golden brown hair from her eyes,
this incredible woman offered me her hand, a smile on her full lips.
"Hi, my name is Destiny." *
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