3 Weeks Later....
AJ sat straight up in bed, his heart still racing from the dream he'd had. It had been so real, the scene very familiar. He had been in the corner of an extremely large bedroom. Across the vast area, in the opposite corner was a beautiful white antique bed. The bed itself had been very clear. It was the rest of the vision that seemed a little blurry. In the bed, he could see the outlines of two bodies. Two bodies moving as one. Through the bluriness, he hadn't been able to make out many details. But he didn't need to see. It had almost been as if he already knew who was heating things up between the sheets. He could see enough to see the dark haired man planting soft kisses along his lover's jawline, and as he made his way down to her neck, she lifted her head just enough for him to see her face. Destiny. And, though, he hadn't seen his face, AJ knew this dream lover of hers was Kevin, just as he was sure it had been in all the other dreams he'd had in the past few weeks.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath as he rolled out of bed. He knew what he needed to do. There was one person he could always turn to about anything. The one person who really seemed to understand him.
"Well, good morning, sleepy head," Serena said, entering the room as he pulled the white tshirt over his head.
"Morning," he replied, after pulling the shirt on.
"Hungry?" she asked. "Want some breakfast?"
"Uh, no thanks," he answered, sitting on the side of the bed slipping his shoes on. "I've gotta get to Howie's. I'll just get something on the way."
"My cooking isn't good enough for you?" she snapped.
"No, honey, it isn't that," he started. "I just thought I'd grab something on my way and save you the trouble. You knew I had to go over there this morning."
"Whatever," she replied coldly. "You just go ahead and 'grab' you something. I hope you choke on it. And, if you weren't so stupid, you'd realize your 'grabbing' is what has come between us already."
"What the hell are you talking about, Serena??" he asked, totally confused.
"I'm not as oblivious as you think I am. I see things. I know what's going on!" she hissed.
"What the hell ever," he shook his head, pulling his ballcap on backwards. "I'm gone."
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"You guys want any more coffee?" Faith asked, as she entered Howie's 'office', a sound proof room he used to work on his music.
"No, thanks, sweetie," Howie smiled. "I think we're fine."
"I'm good," Brian answered. "Thanks anyway."
"Sure. Do you think the other guys will want any when they get here?" she asked.
"Kevin probably will. But, if he does, he can make it himself," Brian laughed.
Faith reached over and picked up a piece of paper filled with Howie's handwriting. A partial song. She loved to read his writing. He always expressed himself beautifully and this song was no exception.
"And just what are you doing?" he asked sweetly as he reached around from behind her to take the paper, leaving a soft kiss on the side of her neck as he backed away.
"This is beautiful," she said, referring to the words he had written.
"It isn't finished."
"I know that. It's still beautiful," she smiled.
Howie stared back at her, the sweet sincerity in her words touching his heart. For no one knew as well as she did just how much of himself he poured into his music.
"So are you my dear," he smiled. "So are you."
Faith was trying to resist the urge to lay a very passionate kiss on him, knowing it would embarrass him in front of Brian, when the doorbell rang.
Her eyes still locked with Howie's chocolate ones, she said, "I'll get that."
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"Hey, Faith," a very disheveled looking Nick said, a nervous hand running through his hair.
"Hey, Nick," she replied, stepping aside to let him in.
"Um.... is Rok here?" he asked.
"Yeah, he's here. He and Howie are in the 'office'. You can go on in. Would you like something to drink?"
"Um.... no,....thanks," he smiled nervously. "I'm fine."
After he walked off, Faith pondered why he seemed to be so frazzled. I wonder if he has found out that Destiny lied to him, she thought. They hadn't talked in several days, but the last Faith had heard was that Destiny still had not told Nick what had happened that day.
Once again, she was jarred from her thoughts by the ringing doorbell. Shaking her head clear, she thought 'Grand Central Station' with a light laugh.
"AJ!" she said, greeting him cheerfully.
"Hi, Faith. How's it going?"
"Good. How are you?" she asked.
"I'm just here," he laughed, entering the large living room. "The others in Howie's 'office'?"
"Yeah. Everyone but Kevin," she answered.
Kevin. Just hearing his name gave AJ an uneasy feeling. It was beyond his comprehension why he kept having those dreams. Dreaming about a naked woman in bed was one thing. But, in all of his dreams like that, he, himself, had always been the man. Seeing one of his closest friends like that, even if it was just a dream, was just way too weird for him.
It was obvious that Faith had picked up on the tension at the mention of Kevin's name.
"Something wrong?" she asked him.
"Uh, no. I'm....uh....I'm fine," he replied.
"Ok. As long as you're sure," she joked, as he walked past her.
What is wrong with everyone today? she asked herself. Something is up! And I'm gonna find out what it is!
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As AJ entered the room, he couldn't help but notice the look of hatred he received from Nick. What the hell is his problem? he thought to himself. He brushed it off as Nick simply being Nick and found a seat.
"Hey, Rok," Nick said. "Can I talk to you a minute alone?"
"Sure," Brian replied. "I need to get something to drink anyway."
After they had left, AJ crossed the room and sat beside Howie.
"What's up, AJ? How are things?"
"Man, I need to talk to you. I think I'm going crazy," he said.
"What is it?" he asked, laying the papers in his hand down and giving his friend his full attention.
"I keep having these dreams. Weird dreams. Strange dreams, even for me. And they're always about the same thing," he started.
"Ok. Tell me about them."
"Well, the setting isn't always the same, but the plot is. I keep seeing this couple in bed, you know, having sex."
"So, what's so weird about that? You're a pervert," Howie joked.
"I'm serious here, man. This is really bothering me."
"Ok. I'm sorry. Go on."
"Well, it isn't so much what the dream is about, as it is WHO it is I always see."
"So? Who is it?"
"Destiny."
"And?"
"Kevin," he whispered, ashamed to say it any louder.
"What? I didn't hear you," Howie said, cupping his ear.
"I said Kevin. Kevin, ok?"
Howie didn't say anything for a minute, just stood there thinking.
"I don't think there's anything to it. Sometimes you just can't explain dreams," he offered.
"Bullshit! Dreams have a meaning. Tell me honestly what you think mine means."
"I don't know, AJ. I really don't. I wouldn't worry too much about it, though."
"How can I not worry about it?" he exclaimed. "I have this same dream nearly every night."
"Man, you're thinking about it too much. I think you're just upset that it isn't you in the dream," he laughed.
AJ didn't respond. Rubbing his chin, he considered his friend's explanation. Maybe he was right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ok, Nick. What's up?" Brian asked, as he and Nick stood at the end of the hall on the other side of the kitchen from the 'office'.
"Man, I don't even know where to start," Nick said, nervously pacing.
"Nick. Stop pacing and tell me what's wrong!" Brian ordered, grabbing the taller boy's shoulder.
"Ok. First. I think Destiny is sleeping with AJ."
"What?? What makes you think that?"
"Besides the fact that they seem way too close to have just met, and the way he was eyeing her that day at the lingerie shop, she lied to me a couple of weeks back. She got a phone call and said it was work. I assumed she left to go to work. About an hour later, I go down to that new little Chinese place to get some lunch and who do I find? That's right, Rok. Destiny and AJ.... together."
"Have you asked her about it?"
"No."
"Well, maybe you should before you jump to any conclusions. There could be a good explanation."
"She lied to me, though. What explanation could there possibly be for that?"
"I don't know, man. But, just don't assume anything until you talk to her, ok?"
"Ok. I'll talk to her."
"Good. Now what else is wrong?"
Nick let out a big sigh and dropped his head.
"What?" Brian asked again. "What is it, Nick?"
"I saw her."
"Who? You saw who?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Caitlyn."
Brian stood there, in shock, not knowing what to say.
"Are you sure it was her?"
"Damn it, man. I'm positive!" he exclaimed.
"Ok. Just calm down. Where did you see her?"
"I saw her jogging. I had pulled over to think and she just jogged right past me. At first, I wasn't sure, but the more I looked at her, I knew."
"Did you talk to her?"
"No. I got out and followed her, but she was so far ahead of me that by the time I caught up with who I thought was her, it was someone else, and she was gone."
"Are you sure you weren't just seeing things? Maybe wishful thinking?"
"No, I wasn't seeing things, Brian," Nick said, getting agitated at his friend's disbelief. "It was her."
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Faith had just finished making another pot of coffee when the doorbell rang yet again. That has to be Kevin, she thought. Making her way to the door, she saw Nick and Brian out of the corner of her eye in the hallway. She just wished she had been close enough to hear what they were discussing.
"Hey, Kev," she smiled. "Come on in. The others are already here. And there's a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen if you want some."
"Thanks, Faith. I think I'll have a cup," he smiled back.
"Make yourself at home," she smiled, walking off. Poor guy, she thought, visions of Maddie crossing her mind. Though Maddie was a good friend of hers, Faith knew that Kevin was one of the most decent and honest men she'd ever met. How could Maddie do this to him?
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As Kevin stood in the kitchen, adding a ton of sugar to his cup of coffee, he could hear remnants of each conversation; the one between Nick and Brian as well as the one between AJ and Howie, as they'd left the office door open. And, though, he couldn't make out every single word, he was beginning to get the main point of each one. He'd strain for a minute to hear part of Nick's, and then try to block it out to hear AJ.
"She looked so good," he could hear Nick saying. "Just like she always did. Her long flowing blonde hair, those perfect lips, those eyes. Brian, what am I gonna do?"
Kevin shook his head, not sure he was hearing Nick correctly. Was he talking about another woman? Someone other than Destiny?
"Man, I know seeing her again had to stir up the old feelings you had for her. But you have to take control of them before they take control of you," Brian stated.
"I'm not sure I can," Nick said.
"Does Destiny know about this?"
"No! She doesn't even know Caitlyn exists! And she's not gonna find out. Not right now, anyway."
He WAS talking about another woman! How could he do that? Kevin thought. He was so steamed at Nick that he felt like punching him. But, then, he began to pick up more of AJ's conversation.
"Man, I'll tell you. She was amazing!" AJ was saying.
Is he really telling Howie about his and Serena's sex life?? Kevin pondered.
"Really?" Howie asked.
"Oh yes. And her body, my God! That look of pure ecstasy in those blue eyes of hers. Those long slender legs that can wrap completely around you. Man, she was heavenly."
Blue eyes? Long legs? Kevin thought. Serena is short.... and has brown eyes. Just who the hell is he talking about?
"Well, you'd better not let Nick know," Howie said to AJ. "He'd kill you!"
What?!? Kevin thought. He's talking about Destiny! What the hell is going on? Nick's gone crazy enough to risk losing Destiny over a ghost from his past. But, then, maybe she DOES know about her, after all, he thought. Why else would she be sleeping with AJ? And no wonder Serena is such a bitch! AJ's back to his old ways again! And, as if Nick and AJ weren't bad enough on their own, Brian and Howie were right in the middle of it all! He just couldn't believe his friends would do this. And, given his own situation, his disbelief grew. Here I am, being the best husband I can be, giving my wife everything she wants or needs, and then she shits on me like I'm nothing but trash. These two bastards have decent, loving women who'd do anything for them, and what do they do? They cheat!
The more Kevin stood there stirring his coffee, the angrier he became. As he made his way towards the office, Brian and Nick were coming through to get back to the office. At the same exact time, AJ and Howie were coming out of the office, and also into the kitchen. Kevin looked at Nick, then at AJ, then back at Nick. He calmly set his cup of coffee down, turned and landed a punch on Nick's jaw and then turned to face AJ. Kevin could see the shocked look on everyone's face when they realized what he'd just done. But, the look on AJ's face at the realization that he was next, was priceless. Kevin landed the next punch right square in AJ's nose.
Without a word, Kevin walked past them all and out the door. Howie and Brian looked around, grasping for any kind of explanation. But, there wasn't one. ,Without a word, Kevin walked past them all and out the door. Howie and Brian looked around, grasping for any kind of explanation. But, there wasn't one.
Faith had seen it all as she was coming down the hall. She had known something was wrong. Now, putting the pieces together was gonna be more difficult than she'd imagined. Faith had seen it all as she was coming down the hall. She had known something was wrong. Now, putting the pieces together was gonna be more difficult than she'd imagined.