Kevin walked into Kat’s hotel room with a bottle of champagne in his hand. He just felt like celebrating. He didn’t quite know what. He called out her name but got no reply. A letter lay on the table and he picked it up.
Kevin,
I’m so sorry but I have to leave tonight. I won’t be coming back so please don’t look for me. Just forget me and move on with your life. I’ll send the book manuscript to The Firm by the end of the month so don’t worry – I will honour that contract.
I found out today that my mom skipped her bail terms. I will pay you back the money you’ve lost – I promise. I hope this knowledge helps you understand why I can’t see you again. I can’t look into your eyes knowing that my family has betrayed your trust. I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Kat.
“So now that the tour’s over, are ya gonna go find Kat?” asked Brian.
“No. Why would I?”
“Because you miss her? Because you love her? Because you’re miserable? Because you have all this time on your hands now? All of the above,” stated Brian.
“Maybe because SHE left ME and made it obvious she doesn’t want to see me again?”
“She was ashamed of her family. I mean, $10,000 is a lot of money to lose in her eyes.”
“It’s a lot in my eyes too,” muttered Kevin.
“You don’t blame her?”
“Of course not. I blame her mom. I blame her mom for a LOT of things.”
“I think you need to find Kat and tell her this stuff.”
“She should already know,” Kevin sighed. “She promised she wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Aw jeez Kevin, that’s life. Ya think Leigh never hurt me?” Brian said exasperatedly. “It’s all part of bein’ in love. If you’ve never been hurt, you’ve never been in love.”
“But how would I even START tryin’ to find her?”
“Ya could try asking The Firm where they sent her pay cheque.”
“Oh!” Kevin started dialling his phone and Brian grinned.
Kat threw down her pen and closed her notebook. She had been hired to write a series of short stories based around a Halloween theme and inspiration was running low. She crossed the room to stare out of the window at the dark ocean beyond. She had rented an apartment in Southern California ever since leaving Kevin in LA. She missed him so much. She couldn’t get him out of her dreams. Every time she closed her eyes she saw his green eyes and felt his lips brush hers. She had this dream of finding him one day and giving him the $10,000 back and then things would go back to the way they were before her mom had betrayed them both. A knock on the door broke into her thoughts and she walked over to open it. Kevin stood on the doorstep looking at her.
“Kevin?” she whispered.
“Yeah, it’s me. Can I come in?” She stepped back and then followed him into the lounge. He sat in a chair and she sat opposite him. “Nice place.”
“Thanks. How are you?”
“I’m ok. The tour’s over. We have around two months off before hittin’ the studio.”
“Cool. Any plans?”
“Uh, no…” he sighed. “Kat, could we stop pretending we barely know each other?”
“Sorry.”
“Why did you leave me?”
“I explained in the…”
“You just fobbed me off with some crappy excuse,” he interrupted. “Why didn’t you TALK to me?!”
“Because I knew what you’d say. You’d say the money didn’t matter…”
“It doesn’t!”
“But it does to ME. Every time I looked at you, all I would’ve seen was that money and my mom betraying you that way. It would hardly be an equal relationship.”
“You didn’t betray me Kat. And your mom didn’t either. I don’t even KNOW your mom. All I care about is you.”
“I’m sorry Kevin but I need to pay you back that money.”
“Kat, please just forget the money!” he crossed the room and pulled her up.
“I can’t! I will not owe you anything Kevin.”
“I owe you SO much Kat. Without you I’d still be locked away in some dumb meaningless life. That’s worth more than $10,000!”
“Not to me. Kevin, you have to understand…” Kat grabbed his hand. “I don’t want to feel that I’m in debt to you.”
“If that’s really how you see our relationship…” he pulled away from her and walked out of the door. “Goodbye Kat.”
A week after Kevin had walked out on Kat, she was standing outside the MTV studios in New York waiting for him. She hadn’t been able to get his face out of her mind. The way his eyes had looked – so hurt. And she knew she had done that to him. The one thing he had asked her not to do and she had done it. He was right – the money meant nothing. HE meant everything. She just hoped it wasn’t too late. Kevin was appearing on TRL with Howie to promote the group’s upcoming single release. She recognised Marcus, the group’s security manager, and walked over.
“Hi Marcus, do you remember me?”
“KAT!” he grinned and gave her a quick hug. “Of course I remember you! How are ya?”
“I’m good, thanks Marcus. Are ya here with Kevin?”
“Sure am. He’s missed you y’know.”
“I’ve missed him too. Is there anyway you could get me inside…?”
“Follow me,” he grinned and led her inside the building. “This is the relaxation room. If you just wait here, I’ll send Kevin in.”
“Don’t tell him I’m here – he might not come.” Marcus smiled and left the room. Kat paced for a while and then sat down. A few minutes later, Kevin walked in alone. He headed straight for the coffee machine and didn’t see Kat. She stood up. “Hello Kevin.”
“JEEZ!” he jumped and turned round. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. I thought you’d see me.”
“I didn’t. Uh, what’re you doin’ here?”
“Marcus let me in. I needed to see you Kevin.”
“I thought you already said everything?” he turned away from her to pour out a coffee.
“Forget everything I said. It was all wrong.”
“But you believe it,” he turned back to her with his coffee.
“Not anymore.”
“Well, that’s somethin’ I guess,” he walked past her to the door.
“Where are you goin’?”
“I got a show to do,” he raised an eyebrow. “Did ya think by sayin’ those words I’d just crumble and throw my arms around ya? I’m not that big of a fool.”
“Kevin…” she walked over to him. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too Kat,” he walked out of the room. She stood shocked for a minute and then ran after him down the corridor. She caught him up just before he walked into the MTV studio. She touched his arm and he looked at her.
“I love you SO much Kevin. Please don’t let this be over.”
“Kat…” he breathed staring into her dark eyes. “The day we are over is the day I die.”
He turned around and walked into the studio, leaving her breathless.