(written by Lacy)
"Well? Tell me!" Jess said impatiently, waiting for Jade's recap of last night's events. Jade sat down at the table with a sigh. "Jess, I know I've been a different person ever since that summer we spent down here a few years ago," Jade said. "Yeah... but, Jade, that's expected. I mean, God, you had a kid," Jess said, sitting down across from her friend. "But it wasn't just that. Yes, Scott changed my entire life, but he didn't change who I was. Kevin did. I hadn't even realized it. I kept telling myself over and over again that I didn't need him... that I was making his life easier by NOT telling him about the pregnancy. Jess, I am so sorry about everything. About taking advantage of you being there for me and Scott, about not realizing just how much you really did miss Brian, about... well, everything," Jade said, her eyes misting over. Jess smiled at her friend. "Jade, you're my best friend. You would do the exact same thing for me." Jade smiled and nodded. "I know, but I just wanted to let you know that none of it has gone unnoticed." Jess laughed. "Fair enough," she said, "Now quit stalling and tell me EVERY LITTLE DETAIL of last night!" Jade laughed. "Alright, alright," she said, holding up her hands in defeat, "Here's what happened:"...............
*The Previous Night*
"Ssshhhhh...," Kevin whispered, quickly covering Jade's mouth with his hand as he entered the house. "It's only me," he said, laughter in his eyes. "Kevin Scott Richardson, I can't believe --," she started, but he covered her mouth again before she could finish. "I believe you've woken up the entire neighborhood with that voice of yours," he said. She gave him the evil eye, but he just laughed. "You didn't indimidate me 3 years ago, and you don't intimidate me now," he said, tapping the tip of her nose lightly with his finger.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, a serious expression falling over her face. Kevin's smile faded and he gently took her by the arm and led her into the livingroom. "Why did you leave?" he asked, sitting beside her on the love seat. She bit her lip and looked down at her lap. Just then she realized just how little she was wearing; a VERY short pair of light blue cut-off pajama shorts and a skimpy light pink tank top. Subconsciously, she crossed her arms in front of her. Her gesture didn't go unnoticed. Kevin looked at her. "I've seen you in less, Jade," he said quietly. She stared at him defiantly. But before she could even say anything, he unfolded the blanket that was hanging over the back of the couch and layed it over her. She felt a sudden rush of warmth, but shook it off.
"Kevin, you should know the answer to that. I was pregnant and scared," she said. "Scared of what? Jade, I would have taken care of you, you KNOW that," he said, looking at her unbelievably. She sighed. At least he knew she hadn't cheated on him... although she felt a pang of bitterness and pain at the thought of the fact that he thought she HAD cheated on him. "Kevin, look at what you do for a living. Look at who you ARE! The entire world is in love with you! You're a fucking Backstreet Boy, for God's sake! What do you think would have happened if the world would have found out that your girlfriend was knocked up, huh?" she asked, staring at him hard.
When he didn't say anything, she went on. "Your image would have been smeared all over every newspaper and tabloid in the world. Your reputation would have been ruined and your life, your dream, would have gone down the drain. And sooner or later, you would have resented me for it," she said, starting to feel the tears build up behind her eyes. Kevin just stared at her.
"What are you thinking?" she asked finally, after a solid five minutes of silence had passed by. "Jade, I'm so fucking sorry," he said, barely choking the last word out before breaking down into tears. Jade was shocked. She desperately wanted to hold him... to tell him it was okay and she was still madly in love with him and it didn't matter what happened in the past becasue that was behind them now, and...
But she didn't have to do anything. Because Kevin suddenly grabbed her and pulled her against him, his tears drenching her hair as he clung to her. He hugged her fiercly, as if to let her go would be to lose his very lifeline. "It's okay...," she said. "NO, IT'S NOT!" he practically yelled, making her jump. "I accused you of something that I knew deep down you didn't do. I knew you would never of cheated on me, Jade. I knew it! I just needed something to rectify all the hurt I had inside from you leaving so long ago. And goddam it, I had no right calling you all those names... saying all that shit...," he trailed off, pulling away and staring deeply into her eyes.
"Kevin...," she whispered. She didn't know what to say. She had definitely not been expecting an apology from him. "Jade, I am so sorry," he said, tracing the outline of her face with his finger. She closed her eyes and made a strong attempt to control her breathing. When she opened then, she gasped as she saw the intenseness in Kevin's eyes as he stared back at her. She held her breath as his face slowly moved closer to hers. His lips softly grazed hers and she exhaled in a long, soft breath as the kiss became deeper and more intense. He gently cupped her face with one hand while pulling her closer with the other. Kevin was taken by surprise when Jade slowly, yet suddenly, pulled away.
"Kevin," she said, "I can't do this. I can't handle losing you again." His gaze never wavered. "Jade, you never lost me in the first place. I love you. I always have and I always will. You have my heart, my soul, and everything that makes me whole. I am so in love with you it's sometimes difficult to breath." She looked at him, tears running down her face. "I love you, Kevin Scott Richardson," she breathed. "And I love you, princess," he whispered.
The night ended as the two lovers, once nearly torn to shreds by one another's words, fell asleep in each other's arms on the love seat in the living room. It seemed that Heaven was finally allowing once nearly-lost soul mates to find one another once again.....
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