A NEW DAY 
by Michelle T
© 2000

CHAPTER FIVE 

When they finally reached their suite on fifth floor, the door flung open 
from the inside and Nick stood there speechless to see his three friends, two 
of which were holding onto a strange woman.  

"Whoa, what's this?" he asked backing into the room.  At the sound of his 
voice, Brian came from his room to see what the commotion was about.  

"Hey Guys, this is Kimberly," AJ said indicating the young girl holding his 
hand, "And that's Michelle.  Michelle was in a car accident earlier and we 
pretty much saved her sorry butt!" AJ was cracking himself up.  

At that, Michelle flung out her right foot and caught AJ in his ass.  "Talk 
about sorry butts, you don't even have one!"  

Brian and Nick doubled over into a fit of laughter and pulled Kim and AJ into 
the room.   Kevin followed them and headed towards the bedroom on the far 
right.  Howie pulled a couple of bags into the room and said, "Nick, since 
you do have one, why don't you drag your fat butt over here and give me a 
hand with this stuff."  

Kimberly giggled loudly while her eyes were glued to Nick, who had a shocked 
expression on his face at Howie's comment and was tongue-tied.  

Brian threw his arm around Nick's shoulder and said, "Come on, Buddy, I'll 
help you." 

Nick shrugged him off and turned to Kimberly, "You know what happens to 
little girls who laugh at my butt?" he asked with a large smile, "They get 
TICKLED!"  Kimberly screamed and went to hide behind AJ, but Nick caught her 
hand and proceeded to tickle her sides ferociously.  The other guys laughed 
at them and brought the luggage in themselves.  

In the meantime, Kevin brought Michelle into the bedroom and gently placed 
her on the bed closest to them.  "There you go, M'Lady."  He went over to the 
closet and pulled a spare blanket out and covered her with it.  

"God, you guys are totally spoiling me!  How am I going to live without you 
after today?" Michelle asked.   Then they heard the laughing and Kimberly's 
screaming coming from the living room.  "What the hell is going on?" Michelle 
asked and started to get up.   

"Stay right there! I'll go." Kevin went to the door and looked out.  "Uh oh, 
Nick's found someone new to tease.  He's tickling the hell out of your 
daughter."

"Really? She must be in seventh heaven." Michelle was glad Kim was enjoying 
being with the guys.  She had been through so much misery in the last year 
and deserved some fun. "I'm happy for her.  My poor baby."  She felt 
instantly guilty and saddened that she hadn't been able to make her child 
laugh like that in so long.  

As a few tears slipped down her cheeks, Kevin came over and sat on the bed 
next to her.  He wiped away her tears and forced her to look at him.  "Don't 
torture yourself, Michelle.  I don't know your story yet, but I intend to 
find out very soon." His eyes were boring into hers and he had a frown on his 
face. "I'm sure whatever has happened to you two, you never did anything to 
intentionally hurt her."  

"Trying to kill myself wasn't intentionally trying to hurt her?" Michelle 
asked sarcastically but softly.

"No, you were trying to hurt yourself and I'm sure you weren't thinking of 
how it would affect her." Kevin said forcefully.  "I know, Michelle, 
remember? I've been through it too and I know I never meant to hurt anyone, 
just myself.  For now, I'm going down to the lobby to try to see if they have 
an in-house nurse or something.  We'll talk later and in the meantime, just 
relax and don't think any bad thoughts."  He leaned forward and kissed her 
cheek and then walked out of the room.

Michelle closed her eyes and leaned her head against the backboard of the bed 
and willed herself not to cry anymore.  "God, he can read me like a book!" 
she thought.


Nick had finally finished torturing Kimberly and they sat on the couch 
together to catch their breath.  Kimberly suddenly jumped up and ran over to 
Brian and threw her arms around him.  He was startled and almost fell 
backwards but caught himself.  "That's number four!  Hi Brian, I'm happy to 
meet you finally," she said happily.  

Brian wrapped his arms around her shoulders and said, "Well, Kimmie, it's 
nice to meet you too finally!!"  He looked down at her and made a silly face. 
 She laughed at him adoringly. "But, what's the number four all about?" he 
asked.  Howie came up to them and whispered in Brian's ear.  Brian had an "I 
get it!" face on and then looked over at Nick.   "Well, well, Nicky, seems 
you are the lucky number five!"  

Nick looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, "What the heck are you 
three talking about?"  

Kim looked up at Howie and Brian and said, "Well, I guess now is my chance."  
They nodded and she turned to Nick and then flew onto his lap and gave him 
the biggest hug she could muster all the while screaming, "I LOVE YOU NICK!!" 
 AJ, Howie and Brian were laughing uncontrollably.  Kevin had caught the 
scene and was pulled into the laughter.  

Nick was speechless and looked at Kevin.  Kevin indicated that he should hug 
her back and so he did.  "Jeez, Kim, you sure do got a tight grip there.  I 
almost can't breathe!" 

Kim released him and laughed.  Her face was flushed from excitement and 
possibly embarrassment.  "Just wait 'til I email my friends and tell them 
about this day!" she said breathlessly.  

Kevin explained he was going on the hunt for a doctor and headed out.  The 
rest of the guys sorted through the baggage on the floor and put it into the 
different rooms.  AJ threw his bags on one of the beds in a room with Howie 
and then turned to leave.  "Hey Bone, aren't you even going to unpack?" Howie 
asked.  

"Nah, what for? I'll just have to pack it all up in a few days anyway," he 
replied.  Howie just shook his head and proceeded to unpack AJ's bags.  
"Thanks, D, I knew you couldn't resist."  AJ walked out of the room with a 
wide grin and headed to the room Michelle was in.

When he walked through the door he saw her staring off towards the wide 
window at the end of the room.  "Hey, Babe, how you doing?"  He walked over 
and climbed onto the right side of the bed next to her.  He stretched his 
legs out and put his arms around her and pulled her close.

"I'm better, AJ.  Just amazed at everything that's happened in the last few 
hours.  You guys have been so wonderful to us and I feel like I've known you 
for a lot longer than a few hours."  She looked up at his handsome face and 
smiled.  "What is it with you guys and your beautiful eyes?" she said half 
aloud.  He chuckled.  

"And aren't you always suppose to be wearing sunglasses?" she asked.  

He thought for a moment and then said, "Yeah, well, what you read isn't 
always what's true.  I did have some on earlier though, but took them off on 
the drive down here."

"Ah, I see," she said while tracing a tattoo on his arm with her left 
fingers, "I love tattoos."

"Then you should get one!  I'd suggest on your……. right hip bone" he said 
pointing his finger at her hip.

"What makes you think I don't already have one?" she asked him smiling.

"Oh Baby, I KNOW you don't have one!"

"What the hell do you mean by that?" she asked starting to feel nervous.

"Babe, how do you think you got these dry clothes on?" his eyes were dancing 
with merriment.

"Oh my God!! Oh my freaking God!!" she was shocked and a blush was spreading 
over her face.

AJ was laughing really hard and tightened his grip around her.  "Chill Babe, 
I enjoyed checking out your fabulous body!!"  

Michelle moaned in embarrassment and closed her eyes.  I can't believe this, 
she thought, two absolutely hot guys see me naked in one day and I was too 
out of it to even enjoy it.  Finally she looked back up at AJ and said, "Well 
what about the famous tattoo on your belly?  Is that for real?"

"Wouldn't you like to know!" he laughed and winked at her.  

"I do want to know now!" she laughed with him.  

"Ok," he said and jumped off the bed.  He pulled his shirt up and posed 
before her, displaying his work of art.  

"Wow, that's really something, AJ.  Those muscles are quite enjoyable to look 
at too," she said smiling and winking at him.  

He laughed heartily and fell back onto the bed.  "Michelle, you trying to 
flirt with me?"

"Who me? Noooooo.  Seriously, AJ, you just seem so easy to get along with.  I 
could have a lot of fun with you around," she said.  

"Well let's get you all healed up and I'll really show you some fun!" He was 
enjoying this easy banter with her.  

"You got a deal, Sexy!  But, I'm afraid we'll have to keep it platonic as I'm 
sure I'm way too old for you!" she said.

"What? No way, Sweetie, no woman I want is too old for me if I have anything 
to say about it." He said cockily.  "How old are you anyway?"

"You expect me, a grown woman, to actually tell you my real age? Get real, 
babe."

"Come on, I want to know, I need to know, so just tell me or I'll just go ask 
your daughter," AJ said and made a move as if he was going to leave. 

"Wait! Ok, you brute, I'll tell you, but no Old Granny comments.  Deal?" she 
asked holding out her left hand for a shake.

"Deal" he said with a grin.

"28, almost 29!  Whew! I can't believe I just said that out loud!" she said 
pretending to wipe the sweat off her brow.

"You gotta be shittin' me!  You think that's old?  Christ, the way you were 
carrying on, I thought you were gonna say at least 30!" he said laughing.  

She watched him laughing and enjoyed seeing his beautiful face so happy.  She 
reached for him with her left hand to pull his head towards her so she could 
kiss his cheek.  As she was just about there he turned his head so her kiss 
landed on his lips.  She was momentarily startled so she didn't pull back 
right away.  "Oh AJ, you are such a flirt.  But a flirt with nice lips." She 
smiled at him. 

He continued smiling at her and thinking how beautiful she looked with her 
dark blonde hair hanging around her face and a sparkle in her eyes.  
"Michelle, I don't know about you, but I really like you.  Will you be my 
friend forever?" AJ asked her with a puppy dog pout.  

She burst out laughing and nodded her head.  "Ok, but you have to sing for me 
in your sexy voice at least once a week.  Deal?" she asked.

"Deal!" he leaned over and kissed the top of her head and jumped off the bed. 
"I'm going to get some drinks and take a hot shower.  You want anything?"  
She shook her head and smiled at him.  

He strode out of the room as Kim and Nick came in.