Chapter 21"I called Howie about an hour ago and he said that they should be done by six," AJ said looking at his watch and saw that it was five o'clock. "He said it would have gone faster but Kristen is terrible at sight reading music and Mandy can do it she just isn't an expert on it."
"They'll learn," Kevin said. "If they plan on doing this for a while they won't have a choice but to learn. So you might as well start teaching Kristen," Kevin finished saying to AJ.
"You might as well help Mandy too since I don't know a thing about reading music. I only dance to it," TJ said.
"That could be just as interesting as trying to teach both Toni and Kristen something at the same time. It's impossible," AJ said.
"How would you know?" Toni asked. "You haven't taught me anything. I learn very easily."
"Toni, I love you girl, but I highly doubt that one," Angela said.
"You people don't know anything. So, Kevin."
"So, Toni," Kevin said mocking her tone of voice.
"I heard from Brian, before him and Nick continued their battle of b-ball an hour ago, that you have a girl coming here tonight for the barbeque."
"You're nosy you know that don't you?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, I do know that so who is she?"
"Her name is Kristin."
"Kristin? Why does that name sound familiar to me?"
"Um I don't know, maybe that is your best friend's name," AJ asked sarcastically.
"Shut up, I'm not stupid. Have I met her before?"
"No, you haven't. She lives in Los Angeles," Kevin responded.
"Then how do you know her?"
"She used to live here and we've been friends for about seven years. She called me and told me she was going to be in town so I invited her over."
"He's got the hots for her," Brian said joining them. Nick went up to Toni and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"You got your ass whooped again didn't you?" Toni asked since Nick didn't say anything to her.
"Yes he did," Brian said happily. "So are you going to ask Kristin out when she gets here?"
"Brian, we are friends. She lives all the way on the west coast and I live all the way on the east coast of the country. You tell me if that's going to work out well. Besides, I want to keep our friendship."
"Oh come on cuz, you can't lie to me. You want her and you want her bad. Just admit it."
"I'm not admitting anything."
"What do they want you to admit to?" Kevin heard a sweet voice say behind him. He turned around to see Kristin standing there.
"Hey, nothing really. When did you get here?" Kevin asked giving her a hug.
"I got in town about an hour ago and I got here about ten minutes ago. You weren't answering the call button to let me in so I had to climb over the gate."
"Oh I'm sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. How are you guys doing?" Kristin asked as she went over to Brian, AJ, and Nick and gave them a hug.
"We're doing pretty good," AJ said.
"So I've read in magazines. What's this about you tying the knot? I was surprised when I found out. I always knew you as a wild party guy and figured you never wanted to be tied down."
"Yeah well I found a girl that put me into a reality check about life. I almost lost her a few times and I didn't ever want to risk it again."
"Well congratulations to you both," Kristin said giving AJ another hug.
"It's more like AJ found himself a girl who has him whipped," Brian said.
"She does not have me whipped," AJ said defending himself.
"Oh yes she does," Toni said. "You would do anything she told you to do. I'm still working on Nick that way but..."
"But it's not going to happen," Nick said cutting her off. "I'm a male with standards and no woman is going to control me."
"You just keep telling yourself that," Brian said. "Angie controls me, Kristen controls AJ, and Toni will control you. No matter how much we try to fight it that is just the way it goes."
"That's because you men know we would make your life a living hell if it wasn't that way," Angela said with a smile.
"Okay so I'm not completely lost here, I know Angela, but who are you?" Kristin asked Toni.
"This would be my girlfriend, Toni," Nick said.
"I can speak for myself you know," Toni said.
"I'm just trying to prove a point that us guys are in control of you girls. Therefore I can speak for you."
"You keep telling yourself that one. I'm Toni," Toni said as she shook Kristin's hand.
"Nice to meet you," Kristin said. "So Kevin what do you think of this whole theory of who has control of a relationship? You haven't said anything about it."
"Oh no, I'm staying out of this one. I was raised right and taught not to voice my opinion when it could cause harm to others."
"I don't think anyone controls the relationship," TJ said. "It's just what both people think that matters not just one."
"TJ you haven't been with Mandy long enough to know any different," Brian said. "Give it time and she will have a collar around you and leading you by a leash."
"Oh is that how you think it is with me?" Angela asked him.
"Of course not," Brian said kissing her trying to suck up. "I love following you everywhere."
"That's what I thought."
"No it's Angela who has Brian whipped bad," AJ said and Brian just glared at him.
"Kevin do you mind if I go inside and change?" Kristin asked changing the subject.
"Sure, you want me to show you a room you can change in?"
"No, that's okay. I know my way around," Kristin said leaving and walking into the house.
"Uh huh," everyone but Kevin said in unison.
"May I ask what that is supposed to mean?" Kevin asked.
"It means we're not stupid," Toni said. "It's obvious that you like her and it's also obvious that she likes you back."
"You guys don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't deny it Kevin. I've seen the way you two act towards each other before," Angela said. "Why don't you just ask her out?"
"Because we're friends. That's the way it will always be considering that is the only feelings we have towards each other."
"I never thought it would happen. But you are scared to death to ask her out," Brian said.
"To make it easier on you don't ask her out. Just go up to her and kiss her. If she kisses you back then you have something there," Toni said.
"Great advice Toni," Nick said sarcastically. "Which do you think puts more pressure on a guy, asking the girl out or just grabbing her and kissing her and either way you don't know the reaction you'll get? Just think about it." Everyone started arguing towards Kevin about how he should finally get the courage and ask Kristin out. He then stood there with a smile as he saw Kristen coming out of the house putting on a t-shirt over her bikini top she was wearing with jean shorts. He realized that everyone was right and he was completely in love with Kristin and he was only hiding it from her. He knew he had to ask her out.
