Theresa paced her room, knowing Kevin had went for Stephanie. She had screamed, pleaded, and begged to go get Stephanie, or at least go with Kevin, but he refused. She tugged at her golden locks frustrated as the four men in the room sat around waiting as well. Nick was staring at the clock, checking his watch and glancing at the door periodically, waiting impatiently for Kevin’s return. Brian, looking quite changed from his once self-confident now humbled appearance, chewed at his nails in sheer agony. Howie seemed only slightly distressed by the others attitudes, worried only of the future of the band. Aj watched Theresa pace, feeling her stress above anyone’s. He wanted to consol her, hold her, kiss her, tell her everything would be all right. But he didn’t believe that any longer. With Stephanie gone Theresa would be nearly alone again and maybe even quit herself.
After what seemed a few millenniums someone pounded on the door, causing everyone to jump then tense. Noticing no one was willing to answer the door, Howie rose from reclining on the bed. He opened the door to find Kevin standing with his hands braced against the doorframe. Kevin straightened and started into the room, only turning once to nod Stephanie to follow. A round of sighs escaped the crowd as she followed Kevin into the room carrying her large suitcase with her head bowed. Theresa barely waited for her set her things on the ground before rushing forwards.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to just run out on ya, Trease. I just wanted some private time…” Stephanie murmured against Theresa shoulder, then muttered softer, “But Kevin found me first.”
“Babe, I know. I tried to get to you before he did, but I couldn’t.” The two hugged until Kevin’s voice tore them apart.
“Well, now that all the fun’s over, let’s get some rest before we have to drive outta here.” He started towards Stephanie, but only lifted her suitcase and headed for the door.
“Where do you think you’re going with my things?”
“You’re staying in my room so that I can be sure we don’t have another adventure tonight. Let’s go.”
“I don’t want to stay in your room!” Stephanie stated almost fearfully.
“Yes, well, you don’t have much of a choice. You aren’t staying in your room, or Theresa’s either. Knowing the two of you, you’ll plot together and take the next train out of here.”
“Well, if you weren’t such a cruel mother fucker, maybe we wouldn’t be in such a rush to leave…” Theresa sneered, never faltering even as Kevin raised his hand to hit her.
“Kevin, Stephanie can stay in Howie’s room. She’ll be watched and safe from… well, safe. Howie, do you mind her staying in your room?” Brian turned towards Howie, who sighed and nodded. “Good then it’s settled. I’ll take Stephanie to Howie’s room.”
Brian grabbed Stephanie’s suitcase from Kevin’s hand and took Stephanie by the arm with the other hand. He led her quietly out of the room as Nick and Howie both began asking what exactly had happened and if she had told anyone. Stephanie trailed behind Brian, mentally pondering his motives. It still astounded her that such an angelic face could hold such depravity.
“We’re all very glad Kevin found you before you left.” Brian stated, gazing at her for an instant before looking for Howie’s hotel room. They finally arrived at Room 3343, Howie’s suite, and Brian popped open the door. Stephanie enter somewhat cautiously, watching Brian drop her things at the foot of the queen size, cream covered bed.
“Well thanks, Brian, for getting me out of his room. I owe you one.” Stephanie muttered, ready to throw herself on the bed and sleep. Brian had yet to even turn to face her. She shuddered in anticipatory fear and moved a little closer, stretching out one arm to barely touch his shoulder. “I’ll be fine here until Howard gets here. You don’t have to stay if you’d rather be sleeping.”
Brian still didn’t face her, his shoulders heaved softly and Stephanie began to worry. “Brian, please go…”
With that soft murmur he spun to face her, tears shimmering in his deep azure eyes. Before Stephanie could fully understand what was happening, Brian was on his knees before her grasping her hands tightly so she couldn’t back away. Stephanie just stared down at him, dumbfounded.
“Stephanie, you probably hate me, with good reason, and will not believe me when I tell you this, but I feel so incredibly guilty about what happened in the initiation. Leighanne left after she found out and I can’t get her back with all the pain I feel inside. I’m pleading with you to forgive me, not because I deserve it, but because you truly forgive me…”
“Brian, if you swear to never, ever bring this up again, the whole morbid event is in the past, where it should be. Go get Leighanne back, and never ever even consider striking her, even in some sadist twist of pleasure. She deserves so much better, but she loves you too much to release you completely. Never touch that woman in anger or perverse desire and all is forgiven and forgotten.”
“Thank you…” He kissed her hands and rose to his natural height and kissed her cheeks. He looked into her mocha eyes for a moment to find the sincerity he searched for and left her standing in the middle of Howie’s room. Her tensed muscles relaxed slightly and she quickly changed into one of her satin nightie. She switched off all but one lamp and curled up under the luxurious sheets to sleep. She had nearly drifted to sleep when Howie entered. She remained half asleep and listened to him disrobe, waiting to see where he would sleep. She felt the covers being drawn back and the bed shift under his weight. He laid down carefully and stayed to his side of the bed. Stephanie sighed sleepily in the dark and drifted into another deep, dark nightmare.
**~~**~~**
Kevin lazily stretched in his bed and sighed as an arm rested over his bare chest. He yawned and rolled onto his side to look down at his bedmate. He tugged the coverlet back and gazed down, finding a mass of blond hair. Amy had willingly shared his bed the previous night. He had nearly knocked down her door and commanded her to stay with him, and she gladly accepted, leaving Christina glaring from her bed. Amy shifted peacefully in her sleep, the smallest of content smiles on her lips. If only she realized whose face Kevin was picturing while she was pleasing him.
Kevin removed her arm from around his upper torso and rose from the bed, indifferent to his nudity. He headed to the bathroom for a hot shower and felt himself tense when Amy snuck up behind him.
“Good-morning Train. Did you sleep well?” She asked as she stepped into the bathroom before him and started up the shower. She ran her fingers through her now short hair, having the extensions removed until concert night.
“I slept fine.”
“You were moving so much I thought you might be having a nightmare so I tried to hold you for a little while until you calmed down…” Amy confided, stepping into the shower and holding the curtains for him.
“I was just restless…” Kevin suddenly felt anger well up inside him and before he could stop himself, his chilling voice stated carefully cruel, “What the hell are you still doing here anyway?”
“Kevvy, I thought… well, last night you wanted… and you said…”
“Yeah, well guess what, that doesn’t mean shit from me, remember?” He growled, causing her to step back out of the shower, now half wet and trembling.
“But Kevin…” She tried again, already knowing it was hopeless.
“But nothing, get the hell out of my room and get ready to head out!” He replied, tossing her a towel before turning away to put on his clothes. He listened to the water shut off and the rustle of Amy scurrying around the room to collect her few possessions. When the door finally slammed, Kevin fell back onto the bed and let out one long roar before he was calm enough to grab his suitcase and head out.
**~~**~~**
The buses began their journey to the next city after everyone had loaded. The main bus was near silence, no one having much to say to anyone else. Stephanie stayed in the small kitchenette reading her novel while Theresa listened to her walkman in her bunk. The Boys were scattered about the entertainment room, flipping through channels. Grumbling as sitcom after boring sitcom flashed across the screen. Suddenly Nick rose from the beanbag chair and rushed to his bag of belongings.
“Since there’s nothing good on the tube, how bout we watch a home movie?”
“What did ya have in mind, Kaos?” Aj asked, pausing from scribbling in a notebook to glance up at the television.
“You’ll see…”
**~~**~~**
Theresa continued to write more and more into her small Powerpuff Girls journal, filling page after page with sadness, anger, rage, and any other emotions she could vent on the paper. Her eyes watered after explaining the happening with Aj and how much he had truly hurt her. ‘I’ll never be the same and I know that, nothing will fill my heart again. I never want to love, or feel any emotion as deeply as love every again. That sounds ridiculas, but Diary, I will make it happen.’
A face appeared at the curtain while she was recording her memoirs. Theresa shrank back until realizing it was only Stephanie sitting on the floor beside her bunk.
“Theresa, are you okay?”
“Fine and dandy. How bout you? You okay, none of the guys were rude or vulgar to you anytime recently?”
“No. But everyone’s been kinda restless all day…” Stephanie was cut off by a series of odd noise coming from the entertainment room. “What are they watching in there?” Stephanie’s voice was softer.
“Dunno, but only one way to find out…”
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