A NEW DAY by Michelle T © 2000 CHAPTER FIFTEEN By 1:15 everyone had finally arrived at the restaurant. Michelle wouldn't look at Howie when she arrived and seated herself between Kevin and Nick at the round table. Kimberly was between Nick and Howie and AJ sat to the left of them, Brian on Kevin's right. It was evident to all that something wasn't right between Michelle and Howie as they didn't look or speak to each other. They both tried to appear animated at times when they caught bits and pieces of other's conversations. When the meal was virtually over Kevin leaned over and whispered to Michelle, "What's going on with you and Howie?" Michelle shrugged briefly and replied, "Nothing." "Don't nothing me. Come on." with that he guided her out of her chair and out of the restaurant telling the others they'd be right back. Michelle struggled to release her arm from Kevin's grasp as they walked towards the lobby couches. "Kevin, this isn't necessary! Let go!" Michelle said with clenched teeth. "What did we say to each other this morning? That we'd be there for each other, didn't we? So, what is the problem." Kevin sat them down and was looking at her sternly. Michelle said nothing for a few moments and finally returned his stare. "I'm not sure…… I got mad at him for being too nice to me. I don't deserve it, especially from him. We are two worlds apart. I don't want….…I don't know." She turned her head and stared out the windows across from them. "Michelle, I don't get it. What are you trying to say?" Kevin turned her head back to look at him. "I don't want to fall in love with him, because I know I can so easily, and then have him get to know the real me and not want me……." Michelle swallowed and shut her eyes. "Fuck!" she swore under her breath, "You guys have been so good to me and you don't even know anything about me except for what I've told you!" "I know a lot of things." said a voice softly behind them. Both Michelle and Kevin turned around in surprise. Nick was walking towards them and came around and sat on the table in front of the couch. "Kimberly and I have talked a lot, early this morning mostly. She told me lots of things, good things, about you. She told me how you always made sure she kept up on her school work, even while you've been traveling. How you made sure she joined dance classes when she expressed a desire. How you signed her up for keyboard lessons and then went right out and bought her a bigger and better keyboard because the one she already had wasn't adequate. How you've decorated her room, several times, to the way she wanted. How anytime she got upset over her dad being drunk, you'd take her into another room and keep her mind occupied with other things or you'd take her out somewhere. She told me how you worked really hard at your job and how you'd go visit your mom in the hospital every day for a month. How you quit your job after her dad died and you just held her and cried with her." He looked up at Michelle, blushing slightly. "She said you are the best mom in the whole world!" Michelle stared at his bright blue eyes and the wisp of hair falling over his right brow. She was speechless. "Michelle, I'm sure everything Nick has just said is the real you and I don't see how Howie could hate any of that." Kevin said smoothly as he held onto her hand. Michelle shook her head and whispered, "Kimberly doesn't know everything." She looked back at Nick, and took a deep breath. "Did she tell you I'm an atheist? Did she tell you I had an abortion when I was sixteen? Did she tell you how I've abandoned my only sister, when she needed me the most? Did she tell you how often I said I hated Rob when he was drinking? No! Because I didn't tell her those things. And those are the types of things that Howie would hate, aren't they?" she turned to Kevin with questioning eyes, then she groaned, "God, Nick, I'm sorry!" Nick got up and sat on the other side of her and wrapped her into a hug. "Michelle, no one is going to judge you on things you've done in the past. Or at least, we won't. We've all made decisions others wouldn't like. We've all made mistakes, especially us. We have the world at our feet practically and you don't think we've taken advantage of that now and then. You don't think we've done things that we cringe about now? How do you know how Howie will feel until you talk to him?" Nick asked softly. Kevin looked over at Nick, not believing this was coming from him. He felt a surge of pride towards the younger man. "Thank you, Nick. I'm sorry I just blurted out those horrible things to you. I don't know what's going on. Everything is just happening too fast these last couple of days. I haven't talked about myself this much with the same few people in so long. God, I'm sick of hearing my own voice!" she said looking from one man to the other. "This is suppose to be your get away, and I've come barging in and wrecking havoc all over the place………..I think Kim and I will go back to our hotel this afternoon after all." she stood up to leave but was unable to as both tall men stood up around her. "Don't do this, Michelle, please. Think of Kim. She's so happy here with us. We're happy having her here. Both of you have brought the real life back into our hearts. You've brought us back down to earth a little. Please, don't go." Nick said passionately, looking as if he was going to cry. "Please, Babe, you know I need you. You can't just walk out on me, or us, now. You promised me this morning you'd be here for me too. I'm not going to let you come into my life and then try to run out of it just as fast because you feel bad." Kevin had his hand gripping her upper arm and the anguish in his eyes made Michelle cry for him, "We've only just opened the flood gates, there is a lot of work ahead of us and I know you are not a quitter anymore!" He pulled her into a hug so fiercely she caught her breath. She held him tightly and felt his tears sliding down her face. "I'll stay………." She said barely above a whisper. She felt Nick's hand on her shoulder for a brief moment before he left the room. "Kevin, I'm sorry. I swear I'll be here for you too. It's a little lopsided right now, but I promise I'm here for you." She turned her head up and kissed him hard on the lips. "And I don't care if you do have a girlfriend, I'm not going to stop kissing you or hugging you, ever! And I don't mean that in a sexual way, so don't get nervous." She felt Kevin start to shake slightly and realized he was chuckling. They pulled away from each other and smiled. They wiped their eyes and walked back into the restaurant hand in hand, happily this time. When they reached the table, Michelle stood behind AJ and placed her hand on his shoulder and gave a squeeze. Then she said, staring directly at Howie, "I'm sorry everyone. I've been extremely self-absorbed since I've gotten here and I promise to end it now. You've all be extremely helpful and wonderful. I've been blessed to meet such caring people and for that I'm more than grateful, to you all." She watched Howie's brown eyes change from hurt to love in a matter of seconds. He pushed back his chair and came around to her and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry," she whispered to him. He answered by leaning down and kissing her tenderly on the lips before pulling away and giving her a gorgeous smile. "Gross!" said Kimberly under her breath causing Nick, Brian and AJ to start laughing. The mood was lightened and they returned to their seats to finish their Thanksgiving meal. Afterwards, Nick bugged Kimberly and Brian to go shoot some hoops outside. After much groaning, Kimberly finally agreed and they took off running. AJ, Kevin, Michelle and Howie went into the hotel lounge and relaxed on comfortable couches around a low table, listening to the soothing music playing in the background and chatting amiably. After they'd had a couple of drinks apiece, Michelle finally talked Kevin into playing the piano for them. He played several beautiful songs, including Michelle's favorite, Back to Your Heart, which AJ and Howie sang along too. When he finished, Michelle pulled AJ and Howie up for a standing ovation. Kevin looked over in embarrassment and got a little redder when the other few patrons in the lounge did the same. "I'll get you for that, Ms. Wyman!" he growled at her but smiled anyway while he sank back into his seat. "This is nice, but my body is just dying to get on a dance floor and shake itself silly." exclaimed AJ, "Who's coming with me?" he asked looking at each of them. "No way! I don't dance!!" said Michelle. "What! You've got to be kidding me, everyone dances!!" AJ was shocked at her proclamation. "I'm serious, only slow dancing occasionally, and maybe, if I was buzzed enough, I could do the dirty dancing thing from that movie. But that's it." laughed Michelle. "Well, I'll have to add that to my list of "Fun Things To Do With Michelle', eh", he smiled brightly at her. She laughed and nodded her head. Kevin had been watching them silently and thought this would be a good opportunity for Michelle and Howie to spend some time alone and, hopefully, talk. "I'm up for it, AJ. Let's get Nick and Brian and Kim too." "Kim?? You can't take a 10 year old dancing at a club!" Michelle was shocked at his suggestion. "Babe, we are in Key West, they have dance clubs all over the place and since its not even 4:00, we can so take her in a couple places. Don't worry." Kevin replied with a firm voice. "Yeah, we'll keep her under control, make sure she doesn't dance too suggestively or anything!" laughed AJ. "You guys are awful!" Michelle said laughing. "D? You coming?" asked AJ, itching to be on his way. "Nah, I'll stay here with Michelle." Kevin got up and leaned over to Howie and whispered, "Go easy on her." He stood up and Howie was about to question him when Kevin walked away. "Okay then, catch y'all later." AJ and Kevin left to find the others.