Chapter 3
"You guys can come in if you want. It might take a few minutes for me to get ready." We went up to my room and as I opened the door AJ's mouth dropped.
"Wow, You have really great taste" AJ said and Howie agreed. AJ walked around admiring the paintings on the walls and the stopped at the wooden bookshelf. It was full of Shakespeare, other plays, and poetry books. "How did you get interested in Shakespeare?" A.J. yelled to me.
I walked out of my room and answered him, "When I used to live with my parents, they fought a lot and I read to keep my mind off it. The words he wrote and the language he used, he was so ahead of his time and the plots of his stories are problems people are really having. People I can relate to some off his plays." He seemed shocked with my answer.
"You have very deep thoughts for your age, you are really smart" he said
"I guess," I said looking toward the floor. I couldn't say anything else, I liked AJ a lot and I didn't want to mess up a possible friendship like I always did when I was younger. We finally went back out to the car and drove to the mall. Throughout the day I became really close to AJ and even Howie, but I was afraid. Usually whenever I became close to some one I would lose them, that is why I can't get involved with any of the guys especially Brian. I don't know what made me decide to, but I was going to risk it and try to stay friends with AJ. I felt that I could trust him, even though I thought the same about Brian and was wrong, AJ was different.
"Hey guys, I think we should head back it is getting late" I called to AJ and Howie "I just need to stop at one more store". I walked to the jewelry store and came out about five minutes later with a long red velvet case.
"So what did you buy" AJ asked nosily.
"Nothing" I said with a stupid grin on my face. We left the mall and headed back to the hotel to drop Howie off. AJ decided he would come over to my apartment and visit me for a while. We watched "Sleepless in Seattle" curled up on my sofa. It felt so right being there with him, it wasn't a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship though, we were just best friends.
"Well I'm getting tired, I should go get some sleep. Not to mention the guys are probably wondering where I am," he said as the movie ended.
"Hang on one minute I want to show you something" I went into my bedroom and grabbed the velvet box from my bag. I actually didn't want to show him anything, I wanted to give him a special necklace and ring that I had made for him while we were at the mall. The necklace was a long thick silver chain with a pendant that said "Bone" which had diamonds set into it, and the ring was also silver on the outside it said AJ and on the inside it said "Friends 4-Life". I walked out of my room and handed him the box. "This is for you". I said as he gave me a strange look. He carefully opened the box and smiled.
"Wow KC. they are awesome, but I can't take these from you, it wouldn't be right" he said.
"Bullshit it wouldn't be right. Out of my whole life no one has been as good a friend as you have to me in the past two days" I insisted that he take the gift. "Now why don't you take them out of the box and actually get a good look at them". He took the necklace out of the box and examined it closely.
"Those are real diamonds! How much did you pay for this?" he asked in shock.
"The price doesn't matter as long as you like it".
"Of course I like it, I love them both, but I can't accept them if I don't know how much you paid."
"It was only $768.00 for the set" I told him like it was no big deal.
"Holy holy, I don't even spend that much on jewelry. I really can't take it."
By now I was getting worried that I had ruined another friendship. "AJ, I'm serious, if you care about me at all then you will take them both with no second thoughts. I want you to have them."
"Ok, I will take them. Thank you so much, that was the sweetest gift I have ever gotten from a friend. If you ever need anything, promise you will call me. I know it sounds lame, but I am here for you no matter what."
"You don't have to thank me, and you certainly don't sound lame. I appreciate everything you have done for me so much. I can't promise you that I will call you though."
"Why not?" He asked me sadly.
"It's just that I have a hard time trusting anyone. I can't talk about my problems, I have to deal with them myself." I explained.
"You have to talk to some one, if you hold it all inside, one day you are just going to snap. I know, I used to be like that, but when I met the guys I realized that someone did care and I could confide in them."
"I just don't know A.J. I don't think I am ready yet. But I will promise you one thing!" I said to him.
"What's that?"
"That if I ever decide to talk to somebody, it will be you." He came over to me and gave me the tightest hug I have ever gotten, and gently kissed me on the cheek.
"Thank you. Well I have to go I bet the guys are wondering where I am. Call me tomorrow, I have four more days in New York, we can get together and do something. The number at the hotel is 295-5553 my room is extension (684). Okay? Oh and if somebody besides me picks up, don't hang up. I am sharing a room with Brian, just ask for me. I'll be there." He told me.
"Alright, I will, bye AJ. Thank You"
"Bye. Do you happen to know what time it is?" I looked down at my watch and told him the time.
"It's 3:30am"
"Oh Shit I really got to go now. I just wanted to ask you one more question. Why didn't you want Brian to know where you were going today?" he asked curiously.
"You didn't know what happened. Well I told Brian something about my life and he got out of hand." Was all I told him.
"What did you tell him, and what did he do?"
"It's a long story and you said you had to go."
"I would rather talk to you than go anywhere, I want to know when something happens to you." He said trying to convince me that I could trust him. I walked over to the loveseat and sat down, AJ followed sitting next to me. He put one leg up on the seat and guided me to sit in between his legs. I leaned up against his chest and he wrapped his arms around me. For the first time ever I actually felt safe. "Now first tell me what you told him." I hesitated for a moment then spoke up.
"Well I have lived alone since I was 12 years old, but when I was 15 I left home because my parents were abusive. I got a job after school to pay for everything I needed, including rent. I am 17 now and suicidal. I will most likely be dead by the time I am nineteen." He squeezed me tighter as I told him the story of my life.
"Please don't say that, please don't say that you will be dead. I don't even want to think of that" he gasped out. "Now what did Brian say?"
"He didn't exactly say any thing. He tried to tell me what was going to happen and what to do. I went out on the balcony and leaned over the railing, he came up to me and I threatened to jump then. He grabbed my waist and pulled me away from the edge. I asked him to let me go and tried to get free. He ended up throwing me into the wall a couple of times and then pushed me into the room. I got up and ran out of his room as fast as I could. I thought I could trust him, I never thought he would end up being like my parents." I said not letting down my guard like I did with Brian.
"Oh my god" AJ sobbed. I turned around and saw the tears forming in his eyes.
"Look at my back" I said leaning forward. He lifted up the back of my shirt and the tears stopped from his eyes as he saw the huge black and blue bruise covering more than half of my back. His comfort turned to pure rage as he gently rubbed my back. When I hissed in pain he stood up and started walking towards the door. "AJ, Where are you going?"
"I'm going to kill him," he said as he walked out the door.
"AJ come back, don't do anything stupid." I got up and ran out the door but he heard me coming and ran to the elevator before I could get there. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could and beat the elevator down. Standing outside the doors I decided to go and hide in AJ's car because I knew he wouldn't willingly let me go with him. I laid down in the small backseat and awaited him to get there. As soon as I heard footsteps running towards the car I ducked down as low as possible. He got in the car and slammed the door.
"I am going to kill him. Not kill him, just hurt him really bad" I heard him mumble to him self. "How could he do that to her, why would he, Brian has never hurt anyone before." We got to their hotel, AJ got out of the car, and I followed letting him know I was there. "KC what the hell are you doing here?" he yelled.
"Trying to stop you from doing something stupid AJ, I care about you and I don't want anything to happen to you".
"I have to, you don't understand".
"Why, Why do you have to do? What do you have to prove?" I asked giving him an unreturned hug. "Now why don't we both go up there and talk to him calmly."
"I don't want to talk to him I can't believe he did that to you."
"I don't want to talk to him either, but I have to. I obviously do deserve it, if my parents my ex-boyfriend, and Brian did it. I must have done something wrong." I said sadly.
"No, No you didn't do anything wrong. It was them." He reached out to give me a hug, but I began walking in to the hotel. We went up to the third floor and stood outside the room containing Brian.
"Stand off to the side so he thinks that I am alone , when he opens the door let him know you are with me" He agreed and I knocked on the door four times, as it swung open AJ rushed for Brian and threw him into the wall.
"How do you like it" he swung him around and thrashed him against the wall on the other side of the hall "Does that feel good, How about this" he said as he punched Brian in the jaw.
"AJ stop it" I screamed as loud as I could and tried to pry AJ of off of Brian. "This is so fucking immature, and if you two don't knock it off I am personally going to kick both of your asses". By now Kevin, Howie and Nick were coming out of their rooms to see what was going on and with my statement AJ got up off of Brian.
"What is going on out here?" Kevin asked sleepily.
"Nothing", AJ said and went into his room.
"Brian can I talk to you for a few minutes?" I asked.
"Yes, come on". So we walked into his room leaving the other three confused in the hallway.
Chapter 4
"KC, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I just got scared. I thought you were going to jump and I was so afraid I was going to lose you. I know I just met you, but I have never cared about anyone as much as I care for you now", Brian said motioning for me to sit with him on the bed. I sat down and looked deeply into his eyes.
"Brian I know you are sorry, but you don't understand how much that hurt me, Physically and emotionally. I grew up with people hurting me, my parents, my ex-boyfriend, and now you. The difference between them and you, is that I care about you." He looked at the floor and let out a small sigh. "I want you to look at my back" I turned around and he lifted up the back of my shirt revealing the same bruise that AJ had seen.
"Oh my God!" Brian sobbed I could tell he was crying. "How could I?" He left the room.
"Brian come here please" I ran after him and stopped him outside the door. I turned him around and gently wiped his tears away. "Don't go I think, I think I am falling in love with you".
"I love you, but" before he could finish I leaned forward and kissed him. Soon I slipped my tongue into his mouth and deepened the kiss.
"What the hell?"
"Uh, hi AJ" I nervously spit out.
"How could you do this, to me, to yourself" he asked.
"Do what?"
"HE hurt you, how could you just forget about it, and be with him?"
"It was easy AJ, I love him. I didn't just forget about it, I probably never will. He really hurt me, but it was forgiven, not forgotten, forgiven. I am sorry if you don't understand, but I have to go with my heart. You are still my best friend I just hope you realize that."
"I may be your best friend now, but it won't last. Soon you will just forget about me. So why don't I end it now and make it easy. So don't talk to me, don't call me and here" he said throwing the jewelry I gave him on the floor, "Our friendship is over".
"AJ NO, please don't say that. I will never forget you. Can we please talk, I asked. There were now tears rolling down both of our cheeks.
"No, I can't talk to you anymore, because if I do I won't be able to handle it when you stop talking to me." AJ said as he walked away. After he left I didn't know what to do. I wanted to die, but I couldn't do that to Brian or AJ. So I just sat there and cried in Brian's arms.
Chapters 1-2
Chapters 5-6
Brian and KC