Brian woke up hearing the hurricane outside and Chesa wasn't there. He immediately sat up and gazed around. He spotted Chesa off in the corner
sitting with her knees to her chest. Brian walked over and she was crying.
"Chesa, are you OK?" Brian asked, crouching down. Chesa looked up red-eyed.
She wiped away the tears on her face.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She replied and sniffled.
"What the matter?" Brian asked concerned.
"I dunno. This storm is just scaring the crap out of me, I guess." Chesa replied, a little embarrassed.
She was usually never scared of storms, but
hurricanes made her really uneasy. Brian wanted to hold her, kiss and caress her to make her feel better, but didn't.
"Com'mon back to the sleeping bag. I'll wait till you go to sleep to go to sleep myself." Brian offered. Chesa smiled.
"You don't have to do that, I'll be OK. But I will come back over." Chesa replied. Brian stood up and held out his hand. "Just take my hand baby,
please-" The lyrics from "The One" played in her head. Chesa took his hand and Brian helped her up. They tip-toed back over to the sleeping bag. Chesa
crawled under the covers and Brian followed her. This time Brian went on instinct and put his arm around her. Chesa cuddled up close to Brian and rested her head on his shoulder.
The next day they all woke up and Amber climbed out through the basement window, then came and opened the basement door. All of them grew wide-eyed as they saw the house. The damage wasn't too bad, but never the less, Chesa and Amber were shocked, along with everybody else. One window was broken, and the wind had knocked over a lamp and a wall mirror. The throw rug on the floor was ruined by the water that had soaked into it.
"Aw, shit!" Chesa muttered.
"Damn it." Amber also muttered.
"I'll go grab the broom." Howie offered and walked off.
"And I'll get the mop." Nick muttered and followed Howie.
They all cleaned up the mess, in other words they mopped, swept and threw away the broken window, lamp and rug. Amber called their insurance company while Chesa and AJ went and got a new window a Lowe's. After Chesa finished installing the new window, she washed her dirty hands, and walked into the kitchen.
"So what's up with the insurance company?" Chesa asked Amber who was chatting with Rachelle.
"They are gonna cover the cost of the new window, the rug, and the lamp." Amber replied.
"Good, cause you paid a lot for that rug." Chesa replied.
"Yeah, it was like $175 bucks for the damn rug." Amber sighed.
"Hate to break it to ya, but I saw one exactly like it for one-hundred." Rachelle told her.
"See, Amber, I told you they lied at the Pottery Factory! It wasn't one of a kind!" Chesa exclaimed.
"For all of the hard work that has gone on today, all of us are going out." Howie announced walking in, Brian and Nick following him.
"Yippee!" The girls all cheered and clapped.
When they got back, all of the guys and gals immediately headed for bed.
Nick stayed in Amber's room for about ten minutes though before going to bed.
"Goodnight, Nick." Amber told him as they stood at the door.
"Night, Juliet." Nick replied with a smile. Nick wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss. AJ walked out of his room, he sighed.
"Have a little dignity," He muttered, "Get a room!" Nick and Amber turned to face him. Nick had a "Hey! I was enjoying that! I'm gonna kill you" look.
"Sorry." AJ replied and walked off to the bathroom. Nick turned back around to Amber.
"Now, where were we?" He asked with a grin, then he gave her a long, passionate kiss.
Later on the night Brian couldn't sleep. He just kept thinking about Chesa.
Brian knew that AJ would kill him if Brian made a move on Chesa, and she was AJ's best friend. Brian didn't want to mess with the friendship between the
group, but he wanted a relationship with Chesa, the feelings that were forming for her were too strong to ignore. Brian turned over on his side and glanced at the clock: 1:53am. Brian scratched his bare back, he then got up and stepped over his shirt to the door. He walked down the hall with one hand on the wall. He went past the stairs and opened the door to Chesa's
room. He walked over to her bed and smiled at the sight of her. He thought about how beautiful she looked, the moon's soft glow highlighting the blonde
streaks amongst her light brown hair. Brian climbed under the covers with her.
"Brian?" Chesa muttered. He wondered how she knew it was him.
"Yeah, it's me." He replied. She turned over to face him, Brian looked into her brown eyes and wrapped his arms around her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I couldn't stop thinking about you. "Brian admitted.
"Spare me the pleasantries." Chesa sighed.
"No, it's true. I had to see you." Brian objected.
"Brian, what about your friendship with AJ, you know he highly opposes this."Chesa pointed out.
"Chesa, I know you and he are best friends. He is one of my best friends too, but, are you gonna listen to AJ for the rest of your life?" Brian asked.
Brian felt a tear on his shoulder.
"Brian, I don't know what to do. AJ is like my big brother. He has always been there, always." Chesa emphasized, "But, on the other hand, I want to be
with you."
"You know AJ, he will get used to things." Brian assured.
"...Yeah. Maybe you're right..." Chesa sighed. Brian pulled away and stood up. "Where are you going?" Chesa asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Oh, so you don't want me to go now, huh?" Brian asked sarcastically. Chesa smiled.
"Yeah! Go on, no one wants ya here!" Chesa ordered sarcastically. Brian then went over to her and crawled onto the bed. He stradled over her and lightly brushed his lips to hers. Brian then pressed his lips to hers again and slowly moved his tongue into her mouth. Chesa wrapped her arms around him.
When Brian pulled away, Chesa groaned. "Don't leave." She pleaded.
"Sorry babe, I gotta go back, what would they think if the found me sleeping in your bed with you?" Brian asked standing beside the bed.
"Who the hell cares what they think?" Chesa asked. Brian smiled and gave her another quick kiss.
"Good night, beautiful." Brian replied and headed towards the door.
"Night." Chesa replied, once he had left Chesa smiled to herself. "He is sooo cute.." She thought to herself and continued on with her thoughts.
AJ dried his hands and walked out of the bathroom. Right then he saw Brian closing the door to Chesa's room.
"Brian, what were you doing in there?" AJ asked as he walked up behind Brian.
Brian turned around startled.
"Uh...Nothing that involves you Bone." Brian replied calmly.
"Brian stay away from her." AJ ordered.
"AJ, you aren't her father! And you're not mine either, you can't tell us what to do!" Brian shot back.
"Brian, just keep away from Chesa!" AJ repeated, raising his voice.
"AJ, what am I supposed to do? Leave her alone? I don't think so!" Brian yelled back.
"What did you do in there?" AJ yelled, fear growing in the back of his head.
"I kissed her! Not that you need to know!"
"Look, I'm her best friend, OK! And I'm telling you to leave her alone!" AJ yelled, anger beginning to take over.
Chesa heard yelling, and could barely make out what was being said.
"No, AJ, I'm not gonna leave her alone!" She could hear. She jumped out of bed and threw open the door. What she saw when she opened the door scared
and disgusted her. AJ at the very moment she opened the door punched Brian.
Brian stumbled back a few steps, regained himself, then punched AJ in the gut.
"Oh my God! Stop it!" Chesa yelled and got in between them. By the time they both finally stopped, everybody was fully awake and out in the hall.
Everyone stood silent.
"I can't believe you two! You have know each other for years and years, could you pick something more mature to fight over?" Chesa yelled,
reprimanding both AJ and Brian.
"Chesa I-" Brian began.
"NO! I don't want to talk to either of you!" Chesa cut him off and walked away.
Brian took a step towards her, but Nick stopped him.
"Let her go. She needs to think." Nick told his best friend. AJ was leaning against the wall, unable to come to terms with what had just gone on, but he
was still pissed at Brian for laying a finger on her. He was even a little angry that Chesa enjoyed Brian's company, and that she didn't slap him when he kissed her.
"Bone, you need to get a hold of yourself." Kevin softly said to AJ. AJ looked at him with anger in his face.
"How can I when Brian is kissing her and touching her all of the time!" AJ asked looking at Brian. Brian looked up at AJ with a disgusted look, but
didn't say anything.
"AJ, you aren't her dad, I hate to break it to ya, but she's already fallen for Brian. And as far as I can tell, Brian's fallen for her too." Rachelle
implied with a sigh.
"Rachelle, what do you know, you've only known us for three days!" AJ snapped.
"Hey! Don't you talk to her that way!" Kevin yelled.
"....Sorry, Rachelle, sorry Kev. I don't know what has come over me. I'm not myself."
"AJ, calm down and just think, OK?" Kevin asked.
AJ nodded, Kevin put his arm around Rachelle and they walked back to their rooms.
"Brian, you do realize that Chesa has the right to be mad at you, right?" Nick asked Brian as they sat on the stairs. Brian nodded.
"You know, you would be on her good side right now if you and AJ hadn't fought. Chesa can't believe that you two fought. She is probably mad at herself for letting it happen for one thing, and at herself because she thinks that she is the cause of the conflict. This is all making her very conscious of herself." Amber told Brian.
"You wanna be alone?" Nick asked Brian who was staring off into space.
"Yeah," Brian answered softly, "...thanks Amber, thanks Frack."
"No prob." Nick assured and gave Brian a pat on the shoulder as he headed upstairs.
"Hey, Bri, you want me to talk to her?" Amber asked before following Nick.
Brian shook his head.
"Thanks anyway."
"OK, well, good night." Amber replied and went upstairs.
"God damn it... Why me??? Uh, there are so many why's. Why does AJ feel the was he does about Brian and I, why do I feel the way I do about Brian? Why
does Brian care for me?" Chesa contemplated these questions and more as she sat outside on the stairs of her porch. For these questions she had no answer. She heard the door open, but she didn't turn to see who it was.
"Hey." She heard Brian say walking up from behind.
"Hi." She replied almost in a whisper. Brian sat down beside her, then rested his hand on her shoulder, when she didn't pull away Brian wrapped his arm around her. "Why did you and AJ have to go and fight?" Chesa asked looking away.
"I don't know...It just kind of happened." Brian replied. Chesa sniffled and ran her fingers through her hair.
"God this sucks. AJ is my best friend," she told Brian and looked at him, teary-eyed, "But I also have feelings for you. It isn't like I can choose." she whispered. Brian looked at her, studied her features. Studied every little detail, from the jewel spots of green and brown in her eyes to the fine curvature of her jawline. "And I'm sorry."
"For what? You didn't do anything."
"Oh, but I did," She objected and looked away again, "And Brian I'm sorry. Sorry that I'm best friends with AJ, sorry that he feels the way he does
about us, sorry that I feel the way I do for you, sorry for however you feel about me."
"Chesa, you should know how I feel about you." Brian told her and pulled her close.
"Brian, right now, I'm not so sure that I know anything." Chesa replied.
"Then I'll tell you," Brian started, "Chesa, at the moment I feel as though if I had to spend a day without you, your smile, your voice...I'd shoot myself."
"Oh please, no one feels like that anymore. No one is that sensitive," Chesa objected, "....except me." she whispered. Brian pulled her in and kissed her
softly.
"I'm sorry. And I love you. All of this is proving that."
"And Brian this is breaking my heart! "Chesa yelled, letting out all of her anger." Seeing you and AJ fight, it is horrible. Couldn't you guys talk it
out?"
"Chesa, if he isn't going to be mature so that we can talk, then I have nothing to say to him." Brian replied.
"Uh! Look at them! They are practically drooling over one another!" AJ complained to Howie.
"AJ man you need to calm down and get some sleep. I'm going to bed." Howie told him and walked out. AJ climbed back into bed and turned out the lights.
He couldn't sleep though. He was tired, but just couldn't stop thinking about Chesa and how he was sure Brian was going to hurt her. He didn't know what to do. All he did know was that he wasn't talking to Brian anytime soon.
AJ finally dozed off a hour later.
"Kev, what do you think this is going to do to the band?" Rachelle asked sitting on Kevin's bed.
"I've been thinking about that myself, but I figure AJ will cool off once he gets used to the idea of the two of them going out." Kevin admitted walking
over Rachelle.
"Oh, I'm tired." Rachelle sighed laying back on Kevin's bed. Kevin smiled devilishly. "What are you smiling about?" Rachelle asked him as he laid down
beside her.
"Oh nothing." He replied and pulled her closer to him.
"Uh. I'm too tired to get up. Can you carry me to my room?" Rachelle asked already knowing the answer.
"No, but you can sleep in here tonight." Kevin offered, his grin growing bigger. Rachelle returned the grin.
"OK, but, you better behave yourself." Rachelle warned, still grinning.
"Of course I'll behave! I'm an angel." Kevin stated and leaned over her.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that..." Rachelle replied with a chuckle. Kevin moved in closer to her.
"You wouldn't, would you?" Kevin asked almost in a whisper.
"No..." Rachelle replied softly as Kevin slowly pressed his lips to hers.
She pulled him closer and they held and kissed each other until they both finally fell asleep.
"Poor Chester..." Amber sighed as Nick held her close. Nick kissed her head.
"I'm sure that this will blow over soon, although I have never seen AJ and Brian fight or get into serious arguments." Nick confessed.
"Yeah, but Chesa is all caught up in the middle. Right before you guys came, all she could talk about was how her best friend in the world was coming to
visit and how she couldn't wait to see him." Amber told Nick, he sighed.
"Yeah... But, Chesa is a smart girl. She will be able to talk to them and come up with some way to get them to talk. But Amber, I must say you did quite well when you talked to Brian." Nick told her. Amber looked at him and smiled.
"Thanks, babe." She replied and looked back down at the floor. Nick looked at her. He thought about how lucky he was, I mean, he had only known her for
about four days, but he had that gut feeling already. Nick contemplated it, tried to give the feeling a name, the one thing that he knew was right was
love. Nick lifted Amber's chin lightly with his index finger and lightly brushed his lips to hers. Amber smiled shyly and again he kissed her...
AJ heard a knock at his door, but he pretended to still be asleep. The door opened and the hall light came shining in.
"AJ? You awake?" He heard Chesa's voice whisper. He really wasn't in the mood to talk, so he kept his eyes closed and pretended not to hear her.
Chesa walked over to AJ and looked down at him 'sleeping.' Chesa bent over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
"Sorry Bone." She whispered. Chesa then crept out quietly. AJ immediately opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Through all of this, he had forgotten to think about how his best friend felt. AJ was amazed, when he thought about it, that Chesa wasn't totally pissed at him. AJ's mind drifted as he thought silently.
