While Becca was getting a shower, Sarah went back downstairs. She put on a CD, pulled out a photo album, and started looking through it. They were pictures of her and Howie and as she looked at them, she smiled remember when each one had been taken. She really did love him but she just couldn’t figure out why she was having these feelings for AJ and Kevin. Ever since she’d met the guys, they had been friends, laughing and joking most of the time but they had their serious moments too. Both men had been very understanding when she had told them about Jesse. Why now? Why did her life have to get so damn screwed up?

The doorbell interrupted her thoughts and she went to answer it. It was a delivery man with a single red rose. She tried to tip him but he said that the gentleman who had ordered it had already done that.

There was a card with the rose and as Sarah closed the door, she looked at the front of it. It was Howie’s handwriting. She had known it was from him because he use to send them every day when they first started dating.

She opened the card and read, ‘To the Angel of my dreams, I’m sorry about last night. I never meant to hurt you. I love you with all my heart and soul but I won’t rush you. Slow and easy, like in the beginning. Nothing or no one can tear us apart, You’ll always be here inside my heart, And just as sure as the stars shine above, No matter what happens you can always count on my love....I’ll awlays be there, baby. ‘D’"

Sarah started crying as she read the card and to make matters worse, ‘their’ song was playing on the stereo. How was she going to do this? She couldn’t stand the thought of being away from him.

There was something about this day that NO ONE wanted her to get through her thoughts without interrupting them. The phone rang this time and she picked it up. "Hello," she choked out through the tears.

"Sarah....you’ve been crying."

"I just got your rose," she whispered.

"Do you accept my apology?"

"Of course, ‘D’," she cried.

There was a long silence before Howie said, "Sarah.........I meant what I said in the card. Slow and easy."

"Thank you. ‘D’, I want you to know that....."

"You don’t have to say it. I already know."

Sarah said irritably, "For once, would you please let me finish what I was going to say." Howie laughed and Sarah said, "Now THAT is a sound I haven’t heard from you in a while."

"I could say the same thing about you. Go on, what were you going to say."

"Howie, I DO love you."

"I love you too, Angel. I’m going to go for now. I’ll...."

"Howie, what about your truck? Do you want it back?"

"No. We’re going to get back together....eventually. Just keep it."

"Thank you."

"Not a problem. I’ll talk to you later."

After hanging up with Howie, Sarah went upstairs to change...again. She dug through her stuff to find Howie’s jersey that he’d gotten on the ‘Millenium’ tour. She found it, put it on, and hugged it close to her. She could still smell his cologne on it. Then she got her ‘Howie’ bear, the Lupus one that he had given her the first time he’d taken her to breakfast. God, that seemed so long ago. Before she could collapse on the bed to cry herself to sleep, the doorbell rang.

‘Damn...what is it with people interrupting me today?’ she thought as she headed down to get it. Becca was still in the shower and didn’t even hear it. As she passed the kitchen, she glanced at the clock and saw that it was WAY too early for Nick. He DEFINITELY wasn’t known for being punctual and she’d warned Becca of that too.

AJ took Sarah in his arms as soon as she opened the door to him. "Hey, beautiful!"

Sarah laughed as AJ hugged her tight. "You’re a nut, Age...and I love you."

Setting her down and following her into the house, AJ said, "You forgot, didn’t you?"

"Forgot what?"

"My Johnny No Name gig tonight. You said you’d come with me."

"Yes, I forgot but I didn’t promise you that I’d go with you. I’m not THAT forgetful."

AJ laughed, "Damn....thought I’d trick you into it. Seriously though, go get ready and go with me! You’ll have a blast!"

"I always do but not tonight, AJ. I just don’t feel like being around a bunch of people."

AJ watched as Sarah plopped down on the couch. He spotted the rose by the phone and the pictures on the coffee table and knew what had happened. He sat down beside her gathering her in his arms. He spoke softly to her, "Howie called, didn’t he?"

Sarah nodded her head ‘yes’ afraid to speak.

"Baby, you’re just tearing yourself up looking at the pictures and wearing the shirt. It’s bad enough that he called and sent the rose."

Defending Howie, she said, "He did it to apologize for last night, AJ."

Sarah rested her head under AJ’s chin and traced his tattoo on his arm as he held her close. AJ didn’t know what to say. She seemed to have that affect on him, the only woman who could leave him speechless. They sat like that, Sarah nestled against his chest with his chin resting on her head and him holding her close, for quite some time. Sarah thought about how wonderful AJ and Kevin had both been and why they continued to hang around.

Finally, Sarah asked, "AJ, why do you stick around?"

"Because I do love you. You’re fun to be with and you’re a good friend." Sarah laughed softly and AJ added, "And because you’re so damn sexy when you laugh like that."

Sarah laughed harder. "You’re a nut, AJ. Thank you."

AJ looked down at her. "Tell you what. I’ll make a deal with you. We’re party pals, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, we’ll hang out together, party together, be together....if that’s what you want...for as long as you want. If you decide to go back to Howie, fine. No questions asked. If you decide you want to be with Kevin....fine. No questions asked."

"And if I want more from you?"

"Fine. No questions asked, but you don’t want more from me, you just aren’t ready to admit it yet."

"Thank you, AJ."

"No pressure, no commitments....just fun."

"Okay. Can I get out of tonight?"

"Only if you promise to fix me some dinner or let me call and order something."

"I’m not really hungry."

"But I am and you need to eat. You don’t want to waste away to nothing."

"I’m not hungry though. I promise to eat later."

"NO!! I’m going to watch you eat before I go do my show. Now, what do you want? Pizza? Chinese? Name your poison."

"How about a steak and cheese sub from ‘Pizza Shack’?"

"The lady wants a steak and cheese sub. Then the lady will have a steak and cheese sub. The usual?"

"Sounds good."
AJ reached for the phone, called their favorite pizza place and ordered dinner to be delivered. Then he hung up and continued to hold Sarah as she rested against his chest.

Becca came down the steps wearing a bathrobe to find AJ and Sarah sitting on the couch watching television. "What’s up?"

"Dinner. AJ just stopped by before going to do one of his Johnny No Name shows."

"You’re Johnny No Name?"

AJ laughed, "Yeah, I am. Your roommate is being a party pooper and won’t go with me though."

"Sarah, you ought to go. You always have fun when you go."

"I’m not up for a party scene tonight. I’ve had enough."

Becca could hear the sadness in Sarah’s voice and asked, "Do you want me to call off my date with Nick and hang out here?"

"NO!! Go out with Nick and have fun. I’m a big girl."

"Where is blondy anyway?" asked AJ.

Sarah laughed, "You know him. He’ll be late for his own funeral!"

"I just thought that a beautiful woman would change the boy’s ways."

The doorbell rang and Becca became extremely nervous. Sarah laughed, "That’s probably our dinner."

AJ said, "I’ll get it."

It was their dinner and Becca went back up to finish getting ready. Sarah and AJ sat down together to eat their dinner and talk about his show that night. He was doing several this week and Sarah promised to go to one before the week was over.

AJ had to leave after dinner to go home and get ready for his show. He gave Sarah a kiss and she thanked him for dinner.

When he was gone, Sarah went upstairs to her bathroom, shut the door, and proceeded to make herself throw up. Ever since this whole ordeal had started, Sarah had started starving herself or when she did eat, she would purge herself. No one had a clue that she was doing it, not even Becca.

Nick was almost on time. About 10 minutes after he had promised to be there, he arrived. Becca just about jumped out of her skin and Sarah had to laugh.

"I’ll get it and try not to trip this time. I’m not sure Nick is talented enough to catch you again."

Becca threw a pillow at her roommate but missed as Sarah ducked around the corner. At the door, Sarah gave Nick a hug and showed him in.

"Hey, Nicky!"

"God! Why do I let you get away with that?"

"Because you love me."

As Sarah and Nick walked to the living room where Becca waited, Nick wrapped his arm around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Yeah, I do. How are you doing today?"

"I’ve been better but I’ll survive."

"What did you two ladies do today besides talk about me?"

Becca had to laugh at that. "What makes you thing we talked about you?"

"Because I’m such a wonderufl guy!"

"Don’t even go there, Carter," teased Sarah. "You’re good but you aren’t THAT good."

Nick pretended to be hurt and Sarah gave him a kiss on the cheek. Nick laughed, "That’s better. Bec, you ready?"

"Yeah....I am. Sarah, are you sure you’re going to be okay?"

"I’ll be fine. I’m going to stick in a movie and just relax."

Becca eyed her roommate for any signs of her being upset. but couldn’t tell. "Okay then."

Nick said, "You’ve got my cell number if you need it, Sarah."

"YES! NOW GO AWAY!" said Sarah as she pushed the two towards the door.

As soon as they were gone, Sarah pulled out ‘Cop and a Half’, one that Howie had done a small part in and stuck it in the VCR. She curled up on the couch and began to watch the movie.

Part 8        Prelude Index        The Dance Saga Index