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10,000 Kisses
Looking at each other, Kevin and Suzanne started to laugh. “What?” Kevin
said innocently pushing past the people and sitting on the couch. Suz
followed him and sat down. Everyone piled back into the house. “So, where
the heck were you guys?” Tracy said. “Yeah, we started to get worried when
you didn’t call or come home,” Brian added. “Don’t worry about us, Bri, we
can take care of ourselves, can’t we?” Kevin said looking at Suzanne. She
nodded in agreement then started giggling. “Geez, what did I say?” Brian
retorted. “Nothing really, Brian,” Kevin said trying not to laugh. “Oh, I
give up!” Brian said throwing his hands up in the air. “So, where DID you
guys go?” AJ asked. “Kevin took me to Disney World,” Suzanne said. “Oh,
cool, did you have fun?” Howie asked. “Yep, we did,” Kevin said with a
twinkle in eyes. “Well, I think it is evident that you had a good time at
something,” Donnie teased. Suzanne blushed. “I guess Rachel is still out
with Larry?” Kevin said changing the subject. “Do you mind if I check our
machine? Maybe she left a message,” Suzanne said. “No, go ahead. Here is
the phone,” Nick said holding it out to her. Suzanne dialed the number and
listened for the machine. She noticed that everyone sat down and were ready
to watch movie. Listening for the beep, Suz put in their code. She had one
message. Waiting she heard Rachel’s sister, Chrissy on the machine - “Hey
guys. Mom and Dad said that I could come down. I am going to be a Flight
104 arriving at 8:15pm at Gate 65. Can you guys meet me there? I am sure
that you will get this message but if you don’t, I have your beeper and cell
phone numbers for down there. I will try them. Ta-Ta! Florida here I
come!!!!!” Putting the phone down, Suzanne looked at the clock. It was only
6:30pm. There was plenty of time to get there. Interrupting everyone
Suzanne said, “Uh, guys, I have to pick up Rachel’s sister at the airport.
She is coming down to stay with us.” “I’ll come with you, ok?” Kevin said,
“when do you have to leave?” “Well, her flight gets in at 8:15pm and it is
6:30pm now,” Suz told them. “Well, leaving by 7pm will give us plenty of
time in case the flight is early,” Kevin said. No one else offered to go.
They wanted to give Kevin and Suzanne the time alone. “So, tell us what you
did at DW?” Brian said. “Well, lets see, went on some rides, DUH!” Kevin
said teasing Brian. “You asked for that,” Nick said as everyone cracked up.
“Yep, you sure walked right into it!” Val said. Realizing that it was 7pm,
Kev and Suz left to get Chrissy. On the way to the airport, Kevin asked how
Suzanne had met Rachel. “Well, unbelievably, we were friends with this one
girl, Lisa, and we meet through her in 6th grade. Now, see, Rachel and Lisa
had went to school together until 5th grade when Rach moved. Her and Lisa
still kept in touch. Then, I meet Lisa when I went to her school in 6th
grade. She introduced me to Rachel after that. I rarely ever saw Rachel.
Then,” Suzanne said laughing, “when I entered high school, I saw Rachel
there. Ever since then, we have be unseparably! Now, Rachel and I don’t talk
to Lisa at all but have her to thank.” “That is nice,” Kev said, “but why
don’t you talk to Lisa?” “Well, she changed and we went to different high
schools so we didn’t see each other as much,” Suzanne said. “Oh, I’m sorry,”
Kevin replied. “Well, don’t be, because I have Rachel as my friend and I
don’t know what I would have done without her since then,” Suzanne said as
silent tears ran down her face. She tried to hide her face from Kevin but
was unsuccessful. “Hey, don’t cry, please? Now you have all of us as
friends,” Kevin said smiling. “Yes, I do and I am glad that I met you guys,”
Suzanne said. Arriving at the airport, they parked and walked to the correct
gate to wait for Chrissy. Since they were early, Suz and Kev sat down and
talked some more. “So, tell me about your family,” Kevin said. For the next
15 minutes, Suzanne told him about her family including all her cousins and
aunts and uncles. She even told him that he was her aunt’s favorite of the
Backstreet Boys. “Oh, really?” Kevin said arching an eyebrow. “Yep, she
says there is just something about you but can’t put her finger on it,”
Suzanne replied. Kevin thought about what Suzanne said. “Well, she is
right, you know,” Suz said softly glancing down at her hands in her lap.
Kevin was ready to answer her when he heard someone call Suzanne’s name.
Standing up, Suzanne saw Chrissy running towards her. “Chrissy,” Suzanne
yelled. “Suz,” Chrissy yelled coming up to them, “I can’t believe I am
here!” “Well, we are going to have fun, so lets go. Rachel doesn’t know you
are here yet because she is out. Lets surprise her, ok?” Suzanne said. “Ok,
on to home,” Chrissy said. “Oh, I’m sorry, let me introduce you to someone,”
Suzanne said as she pulling Kevin forward. “Chrissy, this is Kevin, Kevin,
this is Chrissy,” Suzanne said. Kevin assumed Chrissy to be about 19 or so.
“Hi Kevin,” Chrissy said sticking her hand out. “Hello, Chrissy, it is nice
to meet you,” Kevin said accepting her hand. They started to walk to the car
as Suzanne and Chrissy chatted. “So, I can’t believe that your parents let
you come,” Suzanne said. “Yeah, well, after making a plea, many times, to
them, they came to the conclusion that I could handle it,” Chrissy said
laughing. “Well, it is good to have you here,” Suzanne said glancing at
Kevin. He turned and smiled over at her. Chrissy took note of the look
between Suzanne and Kevin. She could tell that something more then friends
was going on between them. Now, if only she found someone. “So, Kevin, how
did you meet Suzanne?” Chrissy asked. Suzanne told Chrissy the whole story.
“Wow, I didn’t think that there were any more gentlemen left in this world,”
Chrissy said when Suzanne finished. “Yeah, I know,” Suz said as she giggled.
Kevin parked at his house. “Kevin and his friends live across the street
from us,” Suzanne gestured at Kevin’s house and then hers. “We’ll be back,
Kevin, I am going to help Chrissy unpack. If Rachel is over there, don’t
tell her Chrissy that she is here,” Suz said. “Sure, see you in a few,” Kev
said walking to his door. As soon as Chrissy and Suzanne entered the house,
Chrissy bombarded Suz with questions about Kevin. “Ok, ok, I will tell you
everything,” Suz said. As they unpacked her stuff, Suzanne told Chrissy
everything that had happened so far. “Oh, Suz, I am happy for you!!! You
deserve it. But like you said, just take it slow,” Chrissy said hugging
Suzanne. “Thank you, Chrissy, now lets go on over to meet everyone else,”
Suz said leading her across the street. Knocking on the front door, Donnie
opened it. “Hey, Suz, come in,” he said eyeing Chrissy. “Oh, my god,”
Chrissy said when she saw everyone - Howie, Nick, Brian, AJ, Val, Tracy,
Jordan, Kevin, and two other girls - sitting there. Chrissy turned to look at
Suzanne with wide eyes. Suzanne just laughed at Chrissy’s speechlessness.
“Chrissy speechless? Amazing,” Suzanne said, “Never thought I would see the
day!” “Oh, shut up, Suz,” Chrissy said chuckling, “I am entitled to one
speechless moment in my lifetime, huh?” “Well, I take that you know who
everyone is except a few,” Kevin said. Chrissy just nodded still in shock.
“Well, I am Val, Donnie’s girl,” one of the girl said. “And I’m Donnie,”
Donnie said. “Well, duh!” Chrissy said under her breath. Hearing her,
Donnie laughed. “And I’m Joy,” another girl said, “Brian’s girl.” “And this
is Kathy,” Howie said gesturing towards the third girl. “And finally,”
Suzanne said, “This is Tracy, Jordan’s fiancee and a very good friend of
mine.” Suz filled Chrissy in quickly on the story behind Tracy and her.
Hearing a knock on the front door, Kevin noticed it was Rachel. “Quick hide
Chrissy,” Suzanne said shoving her towards the kitchen. Letting Rachel in
the house, Kevin and Suz filled her in on what happened with them. “Uh, do
you guys mind if I get something to drink?” Rach said standing up. “No, go
ahead,” Kevin said. Watching her walk into the kitchen, they heard a shrill
scream...
10,000 Kisses
Chapter 17
Everyone ran into the kitchen when they heard Rachel scream. Horrified, she
was standing there watching her sister, Chrissy, passionately kiss some guy.
“Oh, my,” Suz said realizing that the guy was Joe McIntyre. She couldn’t do
anything but laugh. “Yo, girlie, snap out of it,” Suz said to Rachel as she
waved a hand in front of her face. “But…” Rachel stuttered. “But nothing.
She’s a grown woman,” Suz pointed out. “I’d say so,” Nick muttered as he was
elbowed by Jordan. “Yo, Mac, come up for some air,” Brian said smiling.
Finally, Chrissy and Joe broke apart. “What was that all about?” Donnie
asked as he led everyone back into the living room. Chrissy and Joe looked
at each other as they sat down. “Well, I saw him standing in the kitchen and
couldn’t help myself. I had to kiss him and I have been waiting 10 years to
do that,” Chrissy said as Joe blushed at her comments. Suzanne laughed, “OH,
god, girl. You are a trip and a half.” “I know,” Chrissy replied looking at
everyone. “So, Chris,” Rachel finally said, “I can’t believe that you are
here.” “Sis, neither can I!” Chrissy said excitedly, “I was so surprised
when mom and dad let me come.” “Well, lord only knows what you said to
them,” Rachel added. “Actually, it was Suz’s parents that helped me,”
Chrissy said looking over at Suz. “Mine?” Suz replied questioningly. “Yeah,
Frank knew that I wanted to go and he talked to my dad,” Chrissy answered.
“Wow, I am going to have to thank him,” Rachel said. “Who’s Frank?” Kevin
asked Suzanne curiously. Even though Suz had said that she really didn’t
know any guys, Kevin was very intrigued to know who this Frank was. Suzanne
glanced at Kevin who had this worried expression on his face. She had to
laugh at it. “What?” Kevin said. “Oh, god, honey, you should see the look
on your face when Frank was mentioned,” Suz said. Kevin looked down
embarrassingly. He knew that his feelings for her were showing through and,
he just realized, she called him honey. Hugging Kevin, Suz said, “Frank is
my stepfather.” “Oh,” Kevin muttered. Everyone laughed. “My cute
stepfather, I might add,” Suz said teasingly. “What?” Kevin yelped. “Oh,
Kevy, I’m just kidding,” Suz said. “Though he IS cute,” Rachel said. “Yeah,
well, he treats her a lot better then my asswipe father every did,” Suz said
as she leaned back against Kevin snuggling close to him, “Leave it to my
mother to marry a younger man.” “Younger man?” AJ said curiously. “Yeah, my
stepfather is 13 years younger then my mom,” Suz said. “Damn, how old is
he?” Tracy asked. “Uh, lets see, well, if I am 24, then that makes Frank…”
Suz said. “37,” Rachel added. “Yeah, that is right, 37,” Suz said, “Leave
it up to that one to know any guys age over 35!” Chrissy laughed
hysterically. “Oh, shut up, Suz!” Rachel said embarrassingly. “Am I missing
something here?” Nick said. “For once, it isn’t just you,” Joe said looking
among the three girls, “Care to tell us what the hell you are talking about?”
“Well, Rachel here goes for older men and always notices guys that are like
over 35,” Chrissy said. “Donnie, you being the oldest one in this room of
guys, would be TOO young for her. Hell, Jon would be too young!” Suz said.
“Ha, Ha,” Rachel said as they all laughed, “I think I am going to go home now
to catch up with my sister.” Suzanne followed Rachel’s example, “I’m gonna
go also.” “Do you have to?” Kevin asked with a hint of sadness. “Come on,
Chrissy, lets go home,” Rachel said. “Night, Joe,” Chrissy said flashing in
a smile and giving him a hug. Joe walked Chrissy and Rach to their door
while Kevin and Suz stood outside his house talking. “I had a really good
time today, Kevin. I want to thank you,” Suz said getting choked up. “I did
too,” He said pulling her in for a hug. He rested his chin on the top of her
head. Suz wrapped her arms around his waist laying her hands on his lower
back. “Are you crying?” Kevin asked softly when he felt her shoulders
tremble beneath his arms. Suz laughed, “Sorry, sometimes when I’m happy, I
get emotional. “So, you’re happy?” Kevin asked. “Very much so,” Suz
murmured craning her neck to look at him. Laying her hand on the side of his
face, she rubbed her thumb along his cheek. Man, he was so beautiful, she
thought. Her thoughts brought a smile to her face. Kevin stared back into
her gleaming hazel eyes which sparkled from the tears. Leaning his head
down, Kevin attempted to capture her lips with his. Suzanne started laughing
hysterically before he could. Kevin stared at her in disbelief. “Brian!”
Suz yelled looking over Kevin’s shoulder. Kevin turned around to look at the
doorway as Brian continued to make his usual variety of goofy faces. Joy
came to the door and managed to pull Brian inside, “I’m sorry, guys.” Kevin
looked at Suz again and started to laugh but his breath caught in his throat
when he saw the look of desire in her eyes. He pulled her tightly against
him finally lowering his mouth to hers. Suz sighed when his warm lips
touched hers. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Though she was still
a bit scared about what was going to happen to her emotionally and
physically, she wasn’t going to let it stop her from feeling it. Breaking
apart, they both gasped for air. “Good night, Kevin. I’ll see ya tomorrow,”
Suz said softly. “Goodnight Suz,” Kevin said as she walked over to her
house. He watched until she was in the house and had shut the front door.
“Earth to Kevin, Earth to Kevin,” Nick said waving his hands in front of
Kevin’s face. “Someone has fallen hard,” AJ said nudging Howie. “Come on,
Kev, you gonna stand out there all night waiting for her to wake up?” Donnie
joked. Kevin dazily walked to his bedroom, not saying a word to anyone, and
went to bed for the night. “Geez, I hope he remembers to breath,” Howie said
as everyone chuckled.
Chapter 18
10,000 Kisses
The girls had all tumbled into bed the night before very exhausted. The
first one up the next morning was amazingly Suzanne. Usually Rachel was
always the first one up and awake. Hell, half the time, she was already
dressed. Suzanne, on the other hand, wouldn’t wake up until about 10am
without an alarm. Now Chrissy, you practically had to drag out of bed! She
could sleep forever and it doesn’t matter how early she went to bed the night
before! Thinking no one was awake, Rachel quietly crept downstairs to get
breakfast. After she was done, she decided to go back up and wake Suz up.
Lazy bum, Rachel though as she laughed. Charging into Suzanne’s room, she
almost tripped herself as she stopped suddenly. Suz’s bed was neatly made
already. Where the hell is she? Rach wondered as she walked through the
house. Walking by the front door to check the living room, she caught a
glimpse of green outside the front window. Stepping outside, she saw Suz
lounging and reading a book. “Hey, girl,” Suz said as she looked up. She
put her book aside and smiled at Rachel, “so you finally decided to roll your
lazy butt out of bed, huh?” “Finally?” Rachel squeaked. Suz just laughed.
“You sure that you don’t have a fever?” Rach said feeling Suz’s forehead.
Suzanne laughed even harder. “Nah,” Rach concluded, “just in love!” “Suz is
in love,” Rachel chanted over and over again. Thinking about Rachel’s
comment, Suz stared at Kevin’s house. She knew that she liked Kevin a whole
lot but how could she be in love after just 2 days? Who knows, she thought.
Focusing on Rachel again, Suz noticed that she was still talking to her.
Unfortunately, Suz didn’t hear a word that had been said. “Huh? What did ya
say again, Rach,” Suz asked. Rach rolled her eyes, “Never mind. I’m gonna
take a swim, ok?” “Okey Dokey Artichokey,” Suz said giggling like a 5 year
old. Rachel just shook her head as she walked away. Once out of view, Suz
sighed. “And DO NOT start stalking the poor guy. I can tell that you are
still starting across the street. Remember a certain guy named Mike?” Rachel
yelled from inside the front door. Suzanne laughed so hard that tears were
running down her face. After calming down, she became so engrossed in her
reading that she didn’t know that someone had approached her. “Hi,” Kevin
said softly. He had been ready to go over and see Suz right before Rachel
had come outside. But he decided to watch her until Rachel left. He had
realized that he could probably watch Suzanne all day and not get bored. He
enjoyed the site of Suz’s laughter and he had also heard what Rachel had
yelled to her when she had left. Suz jumped at the sound of his voice. “You
aren’t gonna faint again, are you?” Kevin teased. “Oh, no!” Suz said as she
stood up, “See? So, whatcha doing?” “Talking to a beautiful lady,” Kevin
replied as Suzanne blushed. Before either of them could say anything else, a
piercing scream penetrated the air. Suz and Kev raced through the house to
the backyard. Not realizing that Suz had stopped running, Kevin bumped into
her sending her flying into the pool fully clothed. Kevin looked over in
horror as Suzanne resurfaced. His first thought was if she could swim or not
but then he realized she could. Joking, Suz said, “Gee, did I look that
hot?” as she stared at Kevin. Rachel looked between Suz and Kev wondering
who was going to speak up first. “Well…actually, you did,” Kevin joked
wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “Wow, did Train just go where I think he
went?” Howie said from the back gate. “Yeah, I didn’t know he had it in
him,” Brian said. “Uh, huh, that is something Frick and I would do,” Nick
said. Suzanne started laughing while Rachel looked around at all of them.
“Wait! Hold up,” Rach said, “ I still want to know why you two come running
in like your butts were on fire.” “Because you screamed so loudly,” Kev and
Suz said in unison. “Oh,” Rachel murmured sheepishly, “I did, didn’t I?”
“We came running to see what was wrong,” Suz said as she climbed out the
pool, “but this one,” pointing over a Kevin, “was SO frightened.” “Aw,
thanks Kevin,” Rachel said teasingly, “But I screamed because the water was
freezing!” “Well, next time,” Suz said glaring, “Don’t jump in without
testing the water first, ok? Now I am all wet because of you.” “Better you
then me,” Kevin said teasing Suzanne. “Oh no you don’t! Come here,” Suz
said as she walked towards Kevin who proceeded to back away. He almost fell
when he tripped on the patio chair. “Hey, Big Bear, where ya going?” Suz
said running up to Kevin and giving him a big hug. He could feel the cold
water seeping through his clothes. But to her surprise, instead of pulling
away, he wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head.
“Ahhh,” Everyone said. Pulling away from him, Suz went to go get changed.
“You really like her, don’t you?” Howie said softly. Kevin nodded his head
as he stared into the house. “Be good to her,” Rachel said, “She hasn’t had
it easy.” Kevin smiled at her words. “So, anyone else want to go swimming?”
Rachel asked. “Sure,” Brian said looking towards Nick, “you?” “Ok,” Nick
replied. All the guys went to go get their suits on while Kevin changed his
wet clothes. When Suzanne came down from changing, she saw Kevin sitting in
the living room watching TV. Sitting next to him, she asked what he was
watching. “Nothing really. I was just surfing around,” he replied. “Well,
lets do nothing together, huh?” Suz said as she grabbed the remote from his
hands. “Hey,” he yelled making a grab for the remote. He leaned over but
Suz hid it behind her back. “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” Kevin piped like a little
child. “Demanding, aren’t we? Didn’t Momma teach ya any manners, Kevy?” Suz
asked. Kevin gave her a mysterious look as he leaned over her. Suddenly,
without warning, his arm reached out tickling her like crazy. Suzanne was
extremely ticklish in every place imaginable. “Oh, god, Kevin, please stop,”
Suz said through a fit of giggles and laughter. “Why?” He asked looking her
in the eye. “Because I can’t breath!” she said as she tried to wiggle out of
his reach. Kevin grabbed her pulling her closer. Suzanne stopped wiggling
at the sudden contact of his broad chest. She inhaled sharply at the
sensations this slight contact evoked. Kevin smiled down at her noticing her
blushing again. “Oh, how cute!” Kev said. “What?” Suzanne said feigning
innocence. She knew all too much what Kevin was referring to. “Here, let me
see if they could get any redder,” Kevin said as he lowered his head kissing
her. Suzanne stiffened at his touch at first because this kiss wasn’t like
any of the others they had shared. It was filled with more meaning and
feeling then any of the others. Kevin massaged the back of her neck when he
felt the tension enter her body. Relaxing slightly at his touch, Suz began
to relish the feeling of him next to her so close. She still couldn’t
believe that he would want to kiss her. Kevin ran his hands down her back to
rest on her hips. His thumbs rubbed her stomach through the fabric of her
shirt. Suddenly, images started to flash through her head…slowly bringing
back memories that she had blocked out for years. Jumping out of his arms,
Suzanne fled to her bedroom slamming the door. Kevin sat there in wonder
thinking that he had screwed everything up by moving too fast.
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