Chapter One

Kevin steered his car into the parking lot of Estill County High School and pulled into a parking space. Taking a deep breath, he turned off the engine and sat in the darkness, silently watching the steady stream of people going into the gym.

This was his high school. These were people he knew, old teammates, girlfriends, friends. So why was he so nervous? It was his ten year reunion, and he realized that he hadn’t even been back inside the school since he’d graduated. It wasn’t long after he’d received his diploma that he and a friend had packed up and headed for Florida, on his father’s suggestion.

Now he was back and he wasn’t sure what to expect. Would they act differently to him now that he was famous? Would he get teased about singing in a so-called “boy band”? And how would he react? He always liked to think that he hadn’t changed much, but ten years and fame and fortune could slowly change anyone.

He jumped a foot in the air when someone tapped on his window.

“Kevin!” a blond female cried.

Kevin squinted through the glass and finally recognized the face. He grinned and opened the car door.

“Christy!” he cried, picking her up and swinging her around. “Christy Nicholson!” She laughed and hugged him.

“Put me down, you big bully!” she squealed.

Kevin set her on her feet and held her at arms length. “My gosh, just look at you! You look great!”

“So do you. I’ve seen your face in more magazines that I knew existed. I’m so happy for you, and Brian.”

“It’s been a long time.”

“Yes it has. Last time I saw you was at your father’s...” She stopped suddenly.

Kevin nodded, understanding.

“Um, so how come you never stopped to visit me when you were around? I talk to Ann on a regular basis and you still never stopped to see me.” Her pretty face turned pouty.

Kevin sighed. “I’m so sorry, I guess I forgot. I’ve been really busy and all, with the group. I hope you’re not mad at me.”

Christy giggled. “Nope! How could I ever get mad at you?” With that, she jumped up and ruffled his hair.

“Hey!” he protested.

Then she took off running for the door.

Kevin was quick to follow. He caught her just before she could scurry inside.

“Ha! I can still run faster than you!” he declared.

“No fair! You’ve got longer legs,” she pointed out. “And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m wearing heels.”

For a moment, Kevin felt like he was twelve again, running around the camp his father ran. Christy’s dad had been the general maintanence man so she stayed there with him during the time it was open. She and Kevin had been best friends since then. He felt sad that he’d lost touch with her.

“Are you ready to go in?” she asked him, motioning to the door. “There’s a lot of people waiting for you.”

He swallowed and slowly nodded. “I figured on that. I think I’m nervous.”

Christy’s mouth dropped. “What? Captain of the football team, lead role in the senior play, voted ‘Best Looking,’ ‘Best Dressed,’ and all the other ‘Best’ stuff? You’re nervous? Don’t you get up in front of millions of people and sing and dance around?”

“Well, yeah, but this is different. These are people I know.”

“I’d think this would be easier.”

“You’d think.”

Christy looked to the door again. Music could be heard drifting out to them. She turned back to face him. “Well, Mr. Richardson, I’ll help you,” she said, linking her arm with his. “Just follow me.”

She opened the door and they walked in together. Kevin gulped and looked around the decorated gym. Streamers hung from the rafters and a huge sign on the wall read, “Welcome Back, Class of 1989!”

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” he whispered to Christy.

“Not on me you’re not,” she whispered back.

She lead him to the most popular spot in the room - the food table.

“Kevin!” several voices called out to him.

He smiled and greeted his former classmates. They all congratulated him on his success and asked questions about what it was like to tour the world and be a famous performer.

He answered them all, even asking questions of his own. It surprised him how many of them had married soon after high school and started families. He felt really behind in the family department. He didn’t even have a steady girlfriend. He talked with friends about the good old days of their youth, reminiscing about the Prom and other dances. He almost forgot he was famous.

The music was still playing, and Kevin’s head was pounding from all the attention. Christy noticed and grabbed his arm.

“Excuse us, please,” she said, “but Kevin promised me a dance, for old time’s sake.”

The crowd backed away as she took him to the dance floor. Kevin breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her.

“You looked a little stuffy over there,” she said. “Now, dance with me.”

Kevin held his arms out to her and she melted into them. His mind drifted back to one of the annual “Getting To Know You” dance his father held in the meeting hall of the camp. Christy and he had danced together almost all night. Not that other girls hadn’t tried to pull him away, but Christy could be very firm when she wanted to be. As he held her, he realized he wasn’t holding a twelve year old girl anymore, but a beautiful, soft woman. He shivered.

“What’s wrong?” she murmured, her head resting on his chest as they swayed to a slow song.

“Nothing, just remembering.”

“The dances at camp?”

“How did you know?”

“I was remembering the same thing.”

They danced in silence for a few more moments until the song ended. Then he let her go, reluctantly.

“Do you want to go sit down?” he asked her. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Sure.”

They walked over to an empty table in the corner and he held her chair for her.

“Always the gentleman,” she teased.

“What can I say? My mama raised me well.”

“I’ll say.”

Kevin looked at her from across the table, slowly taking in every feature. Her long blond hair hung in soft waves around her shoulders, her dark green eyes sparkled behind long lashes. And those lips. God, he remembered the little peck they’d shared at the graduation ceremony. He wondered how those lips would feel against his right now.

Christy wasn’t tall, around five foot six, but she had legs that went to her neck. Every curve could be seen in the little flowered sundress she wore. Kevin found himself blinking several times.

He knew that he wanted her.

“So,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “Tell me about what’s been going on.”

He shook his head. “Uh uh. You first. Anything you want to know about me, you can read in the news. Tell me what you’ve been doing.”

She pursed her lips and leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. “Well, I got married to Brad, you remember Brad?”

“Yup. Don’t think I liked him all that much, though.”

“I know you didn’t,” Christy said, smiling. “I don’t either now. He cheated on me with a secretary from work, left me two years into the marriage.”

“I’m sorry, Christy. Is he here tonight?” Kevin asked, looking around.

“Lord, I hope not. No, he moved to California with his little friend. I doubt he’d come back.” She raised a brow. “Why? Would you beat him up for me, just because?”

“All you have to do is ask.”

“My hero,” she breathed, clutching her heart with both hands and laughing. “About the only good thing I got from him was a son.”

“You’re a mom?” Kevin exclaimed.

“Don’t look so surprised. Underneath my tomboy image was a girl, you know.”

Kevin laughed. “Whoops, sorry again. So, how old is he, what’s his name?”

“He’s eight, and his name is Chad. He’s got light brown hair and green eyes, like yours.”

“Now we know that can’t be,” Kevin said lightly.

“No, but don’t think I didn’t wish it.”

Kevin blinked. “What?”

Christy coughed and studied her nails. “Oh come on, are you telling me you never knew I had a crush on you?”

“I, Christy, no...” he stuttered.

“Please, the way I followed you around all the time? Imitating you?”

“What are you talking about?”

She threw him an exasperated look. “I learned how to do everything you did. I rode dirt bikes, horses, wild pigs, whatever. I swam in the lake, climbed rocks, climbed trees, I even ate a worm for you!”

Kevin burst out laughing.

“Anyway,” she continued, “I thought if I did what you liked, you’d like me. But alas,” she sighed. “You were too busy getting your heart broken by the pretty little girls who came to camp and giggled and batted their eyelashes at you.”

Kevin tugged at the collar of his shirt, feeling stupid and totally foolish. “Christy, geez, I never knew. I just thought we were great friends, that’s all.”

She waved her hand in the air and shrugged. “That was so long ago, I’d nearly forgotten. Trust me, I’m so over you.”

Kevin opened his mouth to say something, when suddenly Christy jumped to her feet and waved. He turned in his chair and saw a tall dark haired man in a business suit entering the gym. He saw Christy and made his way over.

“Kyle!” she yelled.

“Hey, sweetie,” he greeted her, taking her in his arms and hugging her.

Kevin stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. He watied patiently until Christy made the introduction.