(Krystal's POV)
I didn't talk to Hills for about a week after AJ and I got together. I didn't know what to say to her. It was bad enough I let her leave on bad terms but I also cheated on her. AJ was constantly hounding me for more sex and I didn't want it. Not that it was bad or anything, it just wasn't right. My heart belonged to someone else. That one time was a mistake, a big mistake. I was sitting in my room when Mook came in.
"Krys, we need to talk," he said.
"Why? What's up?" I pretended to knot know what he was referring to.
"Your performances are.. Well.. They suck to put it bluntly. You have to get yourself together, girl."
"I will. Just give me some time, Mook," I said. Tears were starting to form and I looked away to blink them back.
"No! It's not ok. Dammit! Call her. I'm sure if you talk it out with her things can get better. She's a nice girl. I like and you love her. She seems like she would understand."
"It's not that simple, Mook," I said whimpering.
"Yes, it is. Call her," he commanded.
"No, it's too complicated," I shouted.
"What do you mean it's complicated. You call her up, talk it out, and get on with your life. End of story!"
"Mook, there are things you don't understand," I said desperately trying not to confess.
"Ok. Then tell me. Tell me so I will understand, because I am confused."
"Sorry. I can't. You would never forgive me." I got up from the bed and moved to a chair next to the window overlooking the city. He walked in front of my and knelt down, taking my hands into his.
"Krystal, there is nothing you can do that I wouldn't forgive. So tell me please. I'm worried now. What happened?"
"Ok. Promise you won't get mad?"
"I promise," he said making a cross over his heart.
"While you were taking Hills to the airport, I ran into AJ."
"OK. So what?"
"Well, AJ was there trying to console me and we ended up in bed together." There I said it. I told Mook. He was silent for a while. I could see his jaw twitching. That meant he was pissed.
"You slept with AJ. You slept with AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys! A fucking BSB?! Your boss?! Krystal Harris!"
I couldn't answer him. I hid my face in shame and the tears came rolling down my face like bullets.
"Have you lost your mind?! And with AJ of all people. He fucks anything with tits, for crying out loud!"
"I know Mook. He was just there and I needed someone," I said.
"Please tell me it was a one time thing."
"My God, Mook. You think I would do it again? Yes, it was a one time thing. Now you know why I can't call her. I cheated on her," I said letting the tears fall and my body shake with sorrow.
Mook was quiet then. He didn't say a word for a good five or ten minutes. He simply got up and walked to the door. My eyes followed him.
"Krys, call her. Tell her everything. She loves you. As far as AJ is concerned, keep away from him. He's a cool guy but there are some things about him that spells trouble. Any man who would take advantage of a girl is trouble." Mook walked out the room and slammed the door behind him.
I sat down on my bed for a while and thought about calling her. What would I say? How would I say it? I finally decided on calling her and picked up the phone.
* * *
(My POV)
It had been a week since I had talked to Krystal. I was starting to worry that I had blown it. The week itself was bad enough. The hotel was busy with a large corporation group and the kids were driving me insane. I was at home cleaning my house when the phone rang.
"Hello," I asked.
"Hello. May I speak to..."
"Krystal," I asked interrupting her. I spoke her name in a whisper.
"Yeah, it's me. Hi Hill."
"Hi," I said, my voice suddenly hoarse with emotion.
"How are you," she asked.
"Not good to be honest," I said trying my best to hold my tears back.
"Me either. I miss you."
"I miss you too, cherie." My heart must have down flips because all of a sudden my breath was becoming shallow.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about last week."
"I know. So am I, my love. I've thought about what you said last week. About how I shut you out. I'm so sorry baby. I'm scared."
"So am I. Baby, there are some things that we need to talk about but I don't want to do it over the phone," she said to me. There was a hint of sadness in her voice that alarmed me.
"What is it? You can tell me now."
"No, you deserve to hear this face to face. It's only fair to the both of us. We can't move on unless we talk face to face."
"Ok, but when? Your schedule is not exactly slow right now. And neither is mine."
"True but the tour is coming to Phoenix in two days. I can get you backstage passes and we can talk after the show. We will be there for two days."
"Umm. Ok. Call me when you get in town."
"Hill?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you. Never forget that. I love you."
"I love you, too. Always. We will talk when you get here."
"Ok," she said. Then she hung up.
I weird feeling washed over me. It felt like something bad was really going to happen, that my life hung in limbo and this meeting was to change it. I called Kathy and told her what happened. She was of course ecstatic. She said she would go with me as moral support if things didn't go the way we wanted it. If only we knew what exactly was in store for us, I would have never agreed to meeting her at the arena.
