A NEW DAY by Michelle T © 2000 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Michelle walked towards AJ with fury on her face. She pulled Nick out of the door frame and pushed AJ into the room, slamming the door behind her. "Whoa, chill, Babe, it's not permanent. It'll be gone by next week." He said with a wild grin, while backing into the room further as she advanced. He hit the bed and fell back onto it. "A week! She has to walk around like that for a week? AJ, you are nuts! I have to sign her up for school and find somewhere to live next week and now I have to do it with purple hair! God, I don't believe you!" AJ pushed himself into a sitting position and grabbed the back of her legs pulling her towards him. He rested his head on her abdomen and ran his hands up and down the back of her thighs. "Please, Baby, don't yell at me." Michelle struggled to push him away from her, but he wrapped his arms around her ass to prevent her from moving. He let one hand loose and scooped up the back of her skirt so he could run his hands over her bare legs. "Listen, Mr. Hot Shot, if you think you're going to get back in my good graces by trying to feel me up, then you've got another think coming" She was losing her anger quickly. "Oh Baby, you are so hot!" he said while pushing her shirt up with his nose and then kissing her belly. "AJ" Michelle couldn't help laughing, "Come on, this has been fun, but stop. Enough is enough." "Mmm, never enough" he mumbled and licked around her belly button. "AJ, stop, that tickles and……" she gasped. "Baby, I know this is turning you on and you want me!" he said seductively into her belly, while running his hands all over her thighs and ass. He slid one hand under her panties and trailed his fingers down to her moist pussy. She grabbed hold of his shoulders, moaning. He slid a finger into her and brushed his thumb over her clit. "Feel what you do to me, Baby," he said hoarsely as he pulled her good hand down to his crotch. He was rock hard and groaned when he pressed her palm onto his member. "AJ," she moaned. With all her strength, she pulled her hand from him and pushed herself away from his grasp, "God, AJ, I'd like nothing better than to climb onto your lap and let you fuck the hell out of me," she said breathlessly, "but I can't…….. I can't do that to you, or me, or Howie!" "Howie, what's he have to do with this?" he asked trying to pull her back to him. "Please, AJ, I love him………" she looked into his eyes and saw his confusion. "You are incredibly sexy and you really turn me on, and I love being with you. You make me laugh, but I'm not in love with you, and I can't just have sex with you." She looked ready to cry, "You make me feel so sexual, AJ. I wish things were different, but I don't think either one of us wants to ruin our new friendship with this." She bent down and kissed the side of his face and pulled him in tight against her chest. "Please, don't be mad at me. I couldn't stand that. I love you, but not like I love Howie." AJ wrapped his arms around her waist and stood up. He tilted her chin to look up at him. "I'm sorry, Babe. As much as I want you, I know it's not right. I love you too, and I'm just really horny and I almost used you to quench my lust. God, I'm sorry, forgive me?" He looked down at her with his beautiful brown eyes, begging her for forgiveness. "AJ, I doubt I could ever stay mad at you," she said smiling and reaching up to kiss his cheek again. "Let's just be friends that flirt outrageously with each other and never act upon it, ok? Like I said, you make me feel so sexy and I like that!" God, I'm sick, she thought. "My buddy D, is one lucky man. Once you let him get down and funky with you, you'll forget all about me anyway." He said with a wicked grin. Michelle started blushing. "God, you blush at me just mentioning that, you must have it bad for him!" Michelle laughed and turned towards the door. "Oh and AJ, good job on your hair, but I'm still pissed at you for Kimberly's." she said with a huge smile and left the room. She returned to the living room, only to find it empty. She walked over to Nick and Brian's room and poked her head in. They were having a fierce game on Nintendo. "Where's Kim?" she asked softly. Neither one would take their eyes off the screen. "Check your room, Shelley." Said Nick, whooping as he kicked Brian's butt. Michelle shook her head, wondering why he called her that and smiled and walked towards her room. She heard grumbling coming from the bathroom. She walked quietly to the partially closed door and poked her head in. Kim was leaning over the sink between Howie and Kevin. They both had their hands in her hair trying to shampoo out the purple dye. Kim wasn't happy and was hollering at them, "Ouch, you don't have to pull so hard! What's wrong with purple hair anyway. I like it and I want to keep it!" "Yeah, but your mom don't like it and I don't like it," replied Kevin with a grin. Michelle leaned against the doorjamb and caught his eye. She smiled at him and he winked at her. "Ok, Train, let's see if this is any better." said Howie as he squirted water over her head to rinse out the shampoo. Michelle reached out her hand and gently caressed his back. He turned his head and flashed her a gorgeous smile. "Just wait until I tell my mom how mean you two are being!" Kim shouted into the sink. Michelle raised her eyebrows and hid a laugh behind her hand. Kevin chuckled and threw a towel over Kim's head. "Ok, Squirt, let's hope that did the trick." He said laughing. Kimberly pulled herself upright and caught her mother's eyes in the mirror. "Mom, it's not funny!" she wrapped the towel around her head and pushed her way past Howie to stand before her mother. She had tears in her eyes. Michelle felt a rush of sympathy for her and hugged her. "Kimmie, please, it's okay for Halloween or a party, but not for a whole week. I'm sorry you're mad at us, but I'm not letting you walk around like that. Despite how mature you may think you are, you're still my little girl." Michelle looked up at Howie and Kevin and they saw the anguish in her eyes. She hated hurting her. Kimberly pulled herself away and looked at her mother. She instantly felt bad for her behavior. "Fine, but on the weekends, I'm getting some hair mascara and I'm coloring my hair! And it will be a lot funkier than what AJ does!" she said grinning. Michelle nodded and kissed her towel covered head. Kim rushed out of the bathroom, yelling, "AJ, look what they made me do!" The three of them broke out into laughter and straightened up the bathroom together. When they were done, Kevin decided he was going to bed and shut the bedroom door behind them. He walked over and sat on the end of his bed while removing his shoes and chuckled to himself. He really liked having Kimberly around and couldn't wait to have a child of his own one day. Howie and Michelle went back into the living room and collapsed on the couch laughing. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she wrapped hers around his waist, reveling in the warmth of each other. "Michelle, I never realized all the things that come along with being a parent. You do a good job." he said. "Thanks, Howie. It's nice to hear that. And thank you for learning quickly." "Did you kill AJ in there? He's awfully quiet?" Howie asked. Michelle felt a moment of guilt and then decided to be straight with him. "He's okay, and no I didn't kill him. I'd never be able to hurt him. He's special to me too, Howie. I hope that doesn't bother you. I can't help reacting to his flirting and I don't want you to get the wrong idea, but I enjoy it too. He's so much fun, but I promise I'll never let it get out of hand." She said looking into his eyes. He smiled and hugged her close. "Michelle, he's my best friend and I do trust him, but if he didn't at least try to get you in his bed, I'd think he was turning gay or something," he replied laughing. "Oh Howie, you are just too incredible!" she said. They laid in each other's arms for another hour watching television, but not really watching it. Finally, at 10:30, Michelle got up and said she had to go to bed. Howie walked her to her bedroom door and kissed her sweetly. "Sleep well, my love. I'll make sure Kimmie is all set and I'll be dreaming about you." He kissed her more passionately and then pushed her into the room, closing the door behind her. Michelle let her eyes become accustomed to the darkness. Kevin had left the bathroom light on, with the door opened just slightly. Michelle gathered some pajamas from the dresser and quietly went to change. When she emerged, she turned the bathroom light off and walked around her bed to Kevin's bed. She leaned over and heard his even breathing. She ran her hand along his head and bent to kiss him, whispering, "I love you." She climbed into her own bed and fell asleep with a smile on her face. Around 1:00 a.m. Michelle was awakened by a noise. She laid in her bed trying to determine what it was. Finally, she turned her head towards Kevin's bed and realized it was him, whimpering. She eased out of her bed and knelt behind him. She touched his shoulder and felt him shudder. She ran her hand along his cheek bone to his forehead. He felt clammy. She couldn't understand his words as he started to mumble. She eased herself against the headboard and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. She continuously ran her hand through his hair and over his forehead, trying to offer him comfort. She reached down and pulled the covers up high over both of them and leaned her head against his. She softly whispered comforting words to him over and over until she felt him settle down and sleep peacefully. After making sure he was alright, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.