A NEW DAY 
by Michelle T
© 2000

CHAPTER FOUR

AJ pushed himself away from the door, brought his hands up to his face and 
rubbed his eyes.  "Seeing Michelle like that, when we found her, just made me 
have feelings that I haven't had in a long time.  Not since Deanna!  I 
haven't let myself care too much about anyone in so long, and all of a 
sudden, a stranger alongside the road brings back so many things."  

Kevin leaned against the door and watched AJ.  "Bone, Michelle is not Deanna, 
and no other person on this earth could ever be.  I know seeing Michelle's 
scar really shook you.  Hell, it did me too!  And I'm sorry that now you're 
stuck in a room with two people who at one time tried to kill themselves.  I 
know how agonizing this must be for you.  I'm so sorry Deanna succeeding in 
killing herself and I know, if we had been home at the time, she may still be 
alive too," he shook his head and continued, "because I know we, and the 
other guys, would have been there for her.  She was our really good friend 
but none of us knew the depth of her depression."  

AJ stared back at Kevin in astonishment and asked, "How did you know what I 
was thinking?"  

"Well, let's just say, I've been having similar thoughts for the last couple 
of hours myself," Kevin replied while turning to look at the two sleeping 
females.  "I think we should pack them up and take them to our hotel.  With 
the other guys there, Kim will be kept well occupied and Michelle can get 
lots of rest.  I don't know what the hell we are going to do about her hand 
though."  

AJ nodded and they proceeded to gather the girl's personal belongings and 
pack them in the open bags lying on the floor.  Kevin went into the bathroom, 
quickly got dressed, collected their wet clothing and threw them into a 
plastic laundry bag.    While he was tossing toothbrushes, makeup and other 
toiletries into the cosmetic bag on the counter, Kim showed up at the door 
and watched him with interest.  

"Kevin, what are you doing?"  She rubbed her right eye and pushed her hair 
behind her ear.  

"Kim, we think it will be safer if you and your mom come to our hotel with 
us.  It's bigger and we'll have more people to help out.  The storm is 
getting worse and we really should hurry."  Kim nodded her head and went back 
into the bedroom to put her sneakers back on.  

AJ passed the bathroom door and said he had everything ready.  Together they 
loaded the truck and Kevin was grateful he'd thought to put the cab onto the 
back of it.  At least their luggage, and now Kim's and Michelle's, would stay 
dry.  

When they returned to the room, they found Kim sitting on the bed next to 
Michelle with silent tears running down her face.  AJ pulled her up into a 
hug and held her tight.  "Don't worry Sugar, your mom will be okay."  

Kim cried harder and choked out, "What if she dies? She almost died before 
and Iā€¦..I don't want her to ever die.  I love her so much!"  

AJ felt his chest tighten and held her tighter, "She's not going to die, 
baby, she's just got a broken hand and some bruises and is exhausted from the 
stress of it all.  I promise you, she won't die, ok?"  AJ looked over at 
Kevin who was staring at Kim's back with tears sliding down his face.  
"Kevin, tell Kim I'm right!"

Kevin looked up at AJ and then moved up to Kim and ran his hand over her 
back. "He's right Kimmie, your mom is okay and she's not going to die.  Let's 
go see Nick and Brian and Howie, ok?"  Kim nodded her head and released her 
grasp from AJ.  

"Ok, let's go," she said softly.

Kevin bent down and picked Michelle up into his arms and carried her to the 
door.  "Kev, wait a sec, I'll get Kim into the back seat and then I'll open 
the door for you."  AJ pulled Kim to the truck and they both nearly slipped 
when they hit a large puddle.  The rain was still coming down in buckets and 
they were instantly soaked.   Once Kim was inside, Kevin and AJ got Michelle 
in and they headed out of the parking lot.

They drove slowly the five miles to their hotel, taking nearly a half-hour 
for a ride that should have taken minutes.  When they finally turned into 
their hotel, AJ jumped out of the truck and ran into the front office to 
confirm that the other guys had made it.  Kevin pulled the truck into the 
first level parking area and pulled up as close to the doors as possible.  

In the lobby, AJ spotted Howie at the counter and ran over to him.  "D, man, 
am I glad to see you." He said while giving Howie a hug.  

"Where the hell have you been?  We tried calling you and got no answer.  
We've been here a couple of hours and expected you to show up right after 
us!"  Howie was yelling at AJ, but was relieved to see his friend safe.  
"Where's Kevin?"

AJ threw his arm around Howie's shoulders and guided him to the side 
entrance.  "I'm so glad you care so much, Dude.  Man, we've had one hell of 
an afternoon."  AJ gave Howie the short and quick version of finding Michelle 
by her car and everything else they'd done in the last couple hours.  

"Wow, and you've brought them with you?" he looked at AJ with concern.

"Yeah, their hotel was a lot smaller and we didn't think they'd be as safe 
there as they will be here and Michelle really needs some sort of medical 
attention," AJ pushed open the door and saw Kevin's truck. 

Michelle had awakened and was looking at Kevin with a questionable look.  
"Kevin, where are we? Where's Kim?"  

Kim leaned forward from her seat and wrapped her arms around Michelle's neck. 
 "I'm right here, Mom.  I was so scared driving over here."  Michelle brought 
her left hand up and clung to Kim's arms.  

Kevin watched them with his heart filled with compassion.   He brought his 
left hand up to Michelle's cheek and softly caressed it.  "We're at our 
hotel.  It has better facilities and it's much larger.  We thought you two 
would be safer and more comfortable here."  His eyes were piercing into hers 
and she couldn't look away.  

"Kevin, thank you again for being here for us."  She turned her head slightly 
and kissed his open palm.  

Kimberly noticed AJ and Howie coming towards the truck and opened her door.  
AJ jogged over to her and helped her down.  She looked at Howie and smiled 
shyly.  

"Hi Howie" she said quietly.  

Howie went over to her and gave her a hug.  "You must be Kimberly.  How are 
you?"  

She shrugged her shoulders and giggled, "Three times better than I was this 
morning!" 

Howie looked down at her and asked, "What do you mean three times better?"  

Kim grinned and said "Well, I've now hugged three Backstreet Boys today and I 
know Nick and Brian are here somewhere," Howie and AJ laughed at her happy 
face.  

"Okay, Kim, help me get the bags out of the truck" AJ said as he pulled her 
towards the back of the truck. 

Kevin continued staring at Michelle and she at him, he wished he knew what 
she was thinking.  "Are you okay?  Feeling any better," he asked her softly.  
She nodded her head and opened her mouth to say something further, when Howie 
pulled Kevin's door open.  Kevin jumped, not expecting it and turned to 
Howie, "D, you scared the shit out of me!"  

"Sorry, Kev!" Howie wasn't looking at Kevin; he was staring at Michelle and 
noticed her tired green eyes.  

"Howie, this is Michelleā€¦..you know, Michelle, I don't even know your last 
name," Kevin said looking back at her.  

"Hi Howie, how are you?  And my last name is Wyman."  

"Hi, let me help you out of the truck," Howie said and ran around the front 
of the vehicle.  Kevin grabbed his keys and got out and went around back to 
help AJ with the bags.  Howie opened the passenger side door and held his 
hand out to Michelle.  

She turned her body to the right and gave him her left hand, "Sorry, Howie, 
but I think my right hand is busted," She looked into his face and thought 
how beautiful he was.  She loved his large brown eyes and noticed his wavy 
hair clasped in a ponytail.  She found long hair and earrings on men 
incredibly sensual.  His lips were full and his eyes lit up when he smiled.   
 

Kevin came up to them and told Howie to be careful of her hand.  "I know, she 
just told me."  

Michelle started to climb out and Kevin stopped her, "Michelle, you have no 
shoes on.  I'll carry you."

"Kevin, please, I've been enough of a burden to you and AJ and I'm used to 
walking bare foot."  Michelle replied with a stern look.

"I don't care, I'm carrying you anyway! And I know your leg aches, so you'll 
just have to suffer in my arms." Kevin leaned in and scooped her up.  

Howie closed the door after them with a chuckle.  "Guess I'll help AJ with 
the bags then."