“Are you okay KK?”
“Yeah, I’m okay Nick, I just need some time alone.”
“Okay. I’m here of you need me. Just call me if you need to talk.”
“I will. Thanks.”
Nick walked away from Kayla and let her be alone. She’d had a rough week and he knew that she needed some time. Hot tears burned her eyes as they began to fall.
“Why did you leave?” she whispered.
Nick walked into the house and sat down on the couch next to Brian.
“I don’t know how to fix it.”
“What do you mean bro?” Brian asked.
“I mean, I don’t know how to make her happy again.”
“Her father just died Nick, you have to let her have some time alone so she can cry for a while. It takes time to get over something like that. Look at Kevin, I mean he’s still hurting from Uncle Jerald’s death and it’s been 9 years.”
“That’s true, but he doesn’t show it.”
“You should have seen him when he first died. He was a wreck. He cried all the time and he pretty much stayed in his room and nothing else.”
Nick nodded his head and looked over at Kevin’s door, “So you think that she’ll be okay?”
“In time, yeah she will.”
Nick got up from his place on the couch and walked over to Kevin’s door. Brian gave him a puzzled look as he knocked quietly.
“Come in,” Kevin called.
Nick walked in and sat down on the bed next to Kevin, “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure, what’s up little man?”
“It’s about Kayla. I was wondering if you could talk to her for me.”
“What?”
“She’s really upset about her father and all, and I was wondering if you could talk to her. You lost your father too and you know what she’s going through. I can’t seem to get through to her.”
“She’s your friend Nick, why can’t you talk to her?”
“I don’t know what she’s going through. I haven’t had anyone that close to me die and it’s hard for me to really understand what she’s going through right now. Please talk to her for me? It would mean a lot to me and to her if you did. She needs someone to talk to who knows what’s going through her mind instead of someone guessing.”
I don’t know, I mean, it’s been 9 years since Dad died…”
“Kevin, we both know what you do every year on August 26th. You go into your room, wherever that may be at the time, and hole yourself up. I don’t know what you do in there, whether it be cry or whatever, but the fact is, you still hurt and you know what she’s going through. Please?”
Kevin thought for a second ad then nodded, “Okay, I’ll talk to her. Where is she now?”
“On the beach.”
“Why didn’t I know that?”
“I don’t know, why didn’t you?”
“Shut up smart ass.”
“Thanks Kev, this means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome, I know it does.”
Kevin got up from his position on the bed and walked out the door. Brian was still sitting on the couch and he looked up at his cousin, “What’s up Kev?”
“I’m going to go talk to Kayla. Nick has it in his head that I can help her through all this.”
“Maybe he’s right. I mean, none of us know what she’s going through, and you still haven’t gotten past Uncle Jerald’s death completely. Maybe you two can help each other out.”
“You never know. Hopefully I can offer her something that ya’ll can’t, but I still don’t know what that is exactly.”
“Just give it your best shot.”
“I’ll try. See you later cuz.”
Kevin walked out the sliding glass door to the patio. He let his eyes roam across the beach, looking for Kayla’s petite figure sitting on the sand. He quickly found her and began to make his way toward her. As he approached, he heard her sniffling. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a napkin. Handing it to her, he sat down.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.
“I’ll be fine. You know me, I’m the ‘strong’ one in my family.”
He smiled, “Yeah, that’s what they thought about me too. But you know something, I cried more than any of them. I just didn’t let them see it.”
“You did?”
“Yeah I did. I still do sometimes. Deep down, I’m a big baby. I cry at everything. When something reminds me of him, I go somewhere where I know no one will find me, and I let loose. I cry until I don’t think I can cry anymore. Then, I dry my eyes, wash my face, and go on with whatever it was I was doing before.”
Kayla smiled, “I wish it were that simple with me.”
“It’s that simple with everyone, you just have to know how to escape the world.”
“And how would I do that?”
“Find a way to fade out of the spotlight for a few minutes. I know it seems hard, but believe me, if I can do it, so can you.”
She put her head in her hands and sighed, “Thanks Kevin. I’ll keep that in mind. For now, can I just be alone?”
“Sure, I know I needed it enough at first. But you’ll find that later on, you’ll need to be with other people. When that time comes, we’ll be here for you.”
“Thanks Kevin, tell Nick thanks too.”
“For what?”
“For sending you out here. I know it must have been hard for him to come to you, and even harder for you to come out.”
Kevin fidgeted with his shirtsleeve, “Yeah, it was hard. But the important thing is that I did it. I’m gonna go inside a find something more appetizing than my foot.”
Kayla laughed, “See you later Kevin.”
She watched him walk inside and got up to take a walk. After about 45 minutes of walking, she realized she was tired and turned around to go home and get some rest. Looking up at the sky, she noticed that it was getting dark rather quickly. One of the storms Florida was so famous for was coming in. She picked up her pace and headed towards the beach house her grandmother had bought for her last summer as a college graduation present. The rain started to pour down on her as she neared the house.
“Damn it!” she yelled as the rain soaked her, “How is it I’m always the one who gets caught in the rain?”
She ran inside the house and closed the door behind her.
“What happened to you?” Kevin asked.
“I took a shower outside, what does it look like?”
“Sorry, I didn’t know you forgot to take your Midol today.”
“I didn’t forget to take my Midol you prick, I got caught in a rain storm and you’re acting like a blond!”
“Hey!” Nick shouted from upstairs.
“Sorry Nick, but he is!”
Howie came into the room, “Chill out you two, you’re going to scare Jill.”
“I’m sorry Howie, how is she doing?” Kayla asked.
“She’s really tired, but she’ll be fine.”
Jill was Howie’s niece. She’d been sick with the flu for the past week. She was finally showing signs of getting better until the previous night when her fever shot up to 103. They’d taken her to the hospital to find that she might be coming down with pneumonia as well.
“Look, I’m really tired. I’m going to take a hot shower and then I’m going to bed, is that all right with you?” Kayla asked.
“It’s fine with me, it’s your house, remember?” Kevin said, irritated.
Kayla walked upstairs and into the bathroom. Moments later, running water could be heard as she prepared her shower. Kevin sat down on the loveseat as Howie made a bottle for Jill.
“What’s wrong with you man?” Brian asked Kevin.
“What?”
“You’re ragging on Kayla and her father just died.”
“She’s ragging on me, not the other way around.”
“Kevin, you two talked earlier today and you were fine with each other, what happened?”
“I don’t know. She walked in, I asked her a simple question and she started griping at me. How am I supposed to know what’s going through her mind? It’s not like I’m an expert. Ask A.J. he knows her best. She’s his girlfriend, not mine.”
“Actually, we broke up last night,” A.J. said from the kitchen.
“What?”
“Chill out Nick, you’re too loud and you’re going to wake up Jill,” Howie warned.
“Sorry.”
A.J. walked into the living room, “We were fighting a lot and we decided last night that the best thing for us to do right now is to take a break. So, as of now, we’re no longer seeing each other.”
Kevin got up from the loveseat and walked into the kitchen, “Man, that was dumb,” he muttered.
“What was that Kevin? I didn’t quite understand what you just said,” A.J. said loudly.
“A.J.” Howie warned.
A.J. shot Howie a look and turned his attention back to Kevin, “What did you say Kevin?”
“I said that breaking up with her was dumb.”
“I didn’t break up with her, we mutually decided that we should break up.”
Kevin rolled his eyes, “Whatever.”
A.J. looked over at him, “I don’t get you man.”
Kevin got up and walked to his room. A.J. sat down in front of the TV and switched it to MTV, where Serena Altsul was talking about Puffy’s latest album, “Forever.”
“Hey, where’s my CD Howie?”
“What?”
“I bought ‘Forever’ last week and now it’s not in my CD case.”
“Sorry about that A.J., I borrowed it yesterday.”
Howie went to his room and got the CD from his stereo. He brought it back to A.J., who glared at him.
“Don’t let it happen again Howie.”
Howie went back to his room and checked on Jill. A.J. went upstairs to Kayla’s room and knocked.
“Yeah?”
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
A.J. walked into the room and stood by the door, “I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay before I go home.”
“I’m fine A.J. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
A.J. walked out of the room and went out to his car. He got in and took one last look at the beach house before taking off to his own house.
The next morning, Kevin was the first person awake. He made a large breakfast and went out to the beach for his morning run. After about two miles of running, he started to get tired, so he headed back to the house. When he went inside, he found Kayla awake and eating a slice of toast.
“Morning,” he said.
“Hi.”
Kevin sat down at the table and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
“How did you sleep?” he asked.
“I didn’t.”
“You really should get some rest, it’s not good for you to be missing that much sleep.”
“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing, you’re not my father.”
“No, I’m not. But someone needs to tell you when you’re hurting yourself, and if no one else is going to do it, then I guess I am.”
"You never stop, do you Kevin? After six years of knowing you, you’d think that you might have the common sense to know that I don’t like being told what to do.”
“And you’d think that after six years that you might have the sense to know that I know what I’m talking about sometimes.”
“I know that you’re the king of all bull-shitters and that you need to mind your own business.”
Their argument was interrupted by a shrill scream coming from Howie’s room.
“Look what you did, you woke Jill up. Thanks a lot Kevin.”
“Me? You’re the one who rose your voice first.”
“I did not, you started it.”
“Would both of you shut up for one second? You’re starting to act like Nick for crying out loud,” Brian shouted over them, “You’ve already woken up Jill and me, please don’t wake up the rest of the house. Nick’s grumpy when you get him up screaming.”
“Too late, they already woke me up,” Nick said from the hallway, “What the hell are you two fighting about now? I thought you were going to team up or whatever.”
“Just because his father died a few years ago doesn’t mean he can help me now.”
“You don’t know that. You haven’t even given me a chance to help you.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to help me. Maybe I don’t want anyone’s help. I’m a big girl you know, I can handle myself.”
“It sure doesn’t seem like it,” Howie said, holding Jill in his arms, “You’re acting like a child and your argument woke Jill up. Thanks a lot. Kevin, do me a favor, go get some more formula, we’re almost out and I don’t want Jill screaming later on because she’s hungry.”
Kevin put on his jacket and went out to his car. Howie turned to Nick and Brian, “Could you two do something for me?”
“What’s up?” Brian asked.
“I need you to go pick up Polly and Angie from the airport. They’re coming in soon and I need to stay here with Jill. John is coming in about 30 minutes to get her.”
“Sure thing,” Nick said, handing Brian his keys. Howie then turned to Kayla, “And you and I need to have a talk.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you better than that and I know that you’re going through a rough time, whether or not you want to admit it.”
“Of course I’m going through a rough time, but I’m handling it Howie, you don’t have to talk to me like you’re a shrink or something.”
“I’m not a shrink, I’m your friend.”
Kayla rolled her eyes, “I know you’re my friend, but really, I’m fine.”
Jill started to wail again, “I’m here if you need me.”
“I know. You’ll be the first person I come to if I need something.”
“Okay,” he said, then went to get Jill a bottle with the last of her formula.
Kevin came back a few minutes later with two bottles of formula, “This is all they had, I hope it’s the right kind.”
“It’s fine, put it in the fridge please.”
Kevin did as he asked, avoiding Kayla in the process. They’d been fighting a lot lately, and the talk they’d had the day before on the beach was the first time they’d spoken without putting each other down or screaming at one another.
Kevin went to his room and gathered his things together before throwing them in the back of his 4runner.
“Where are you going Kev?” Howie asked.
“I’m going home. I can’t be here anymore. This is Kayla’s house and we can’t stand each other. The only reason I was staying here is because of A.J. Now that they’re not together anymore, I can go home.”
“Kevin, wait a second. Don’t run away from your problems, they won’t go away magically.”
“I know they won’t, but Kayla and I can’t stand each other anymore. We used to be such good friends. When she started dating A.J., she got distant and now it’s like I don’t know her anymore.”
“It’s called growing up Kev, everyone does it.”
“But I’ve known her since I was 22 years old. I think I was already grown up by then.”
“No, you weren’t. You still have some growing up to do man. So does she. The fact that her father just died doesn’t help matters any either. You need to get a grip and be a man about this."
“I am Howie, which is why I have to leave. If I don’t, I’ll end up hurting my friend.”
Jill made a gurgling noise then, reminding them that she was there.
“I’ll see you later sweetheart. Don’t forget your Uncle Kevin while I’m gone, okay?”
“You’re not coming back?”
“Sure I am, but I need to get some things settled before then. My mom is coming down soon and we need to handle some business.”
“Oh, so we’ll see you at Christmas?”
“Probably before that. Until then, I’ll talk to you later.”
Howie smiled, “Later man.”
The two men gave each other a hug and Kevin kissed Jill on the forehead, “Bye Jillie, I’ll see you soon.”
Kevin walked out to his 4runner and left with Kayla looking out her window, watching him speed off. She walked downstairs to find Howie talking to Jill.
“Howie, why did Kevin leave?”
“He needed to settle some things with his business. He’ll be back before Christmas.”
“Oh.”
She took Jill from Howie’s arms and walked her around the living room. The phone rang and Howie went to answer it. A.J. was calling to make sure Kayla was all right. She assured him that she was fine and that he shouldn’t worry about her.
The doorbell rang shortly after that. John had come by to get Jill. Howie called Brian and asked him to meet John and him at the café near John’s house so they could get something to eat before going out. Kayla was left alone in the house.
She walked around the living room for a while. After finding nothing on TV, she went outside for a walk. When she came back inside, she found Kevin back in his room.
“I thought you left.”
“I forgot my pictures. I’ll be gone soon.”
“What pictures?”
“The ones of my dad and me. I take them with me everywhere I go.”
“That’s so sweet.”
“Most people say that when they find out I always have pictures of my family. It gets annoying when people say ‘that’s so sweet’ a million times a day.”
“I’m sorry, I was just saying the first thing that came to my mind.”
“Like you always do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You never think about what you’re going to say, do you?”
“Yes I do. I think about everything.”
“You sure as hell don’t act like it, you know that?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help that.”
“You can’t help what? That you don’t think?”
“I can’t help that I’m not like you.”
“What exactly is ‘like me?’ “
“A perfectionist control freak.”
“Please, tell me what you really think.”
“For once I am telling you what I think. I’m always holding back because I think I’ll hurt your feelings, but now, I don’t think I really care anymore. I’m tired of trying to save everyone else’s feelings because mine just get stomped on along the way.”
“Well cry me a river! You’ll live, I still am.”
“Sadly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe it means that I don’t want you in my life anymore. I’m so sick of your constantly trying to control my life. Just for once I’d like to be in the one who puts you in your place Kevin Richardson.”
“If you don’t want me in your life anymore, that’s fine with me. You won’t have to deal with me anymore. I’m gone.”
Kevin stormed out of the house and got into his car. With a curse, he started it up and sped out of the driveway.
Kayla sat down on the couch, thinking about what had just happened.
“Oh my God, I just told Kevin I didn’t want him in my life anymore. What was I thinking?”