Chesa walked down the hall, back into her room. She crept into bed and stared out the window. She just couldn't figure out why AJ was being so protective...Was it because Brian had done something to a former girlfriend that scared AJ? No...that couldn't be it. Her thoughts floated around and
drifted, then she came up with one thought that surprised her. Does AJ love me too? No, we already went through that phase and it didn't work. I know it
and he knows it too. Chesa then turned over hearing the door open. There was Brian standing at the door.
"Hey, can I come in?" Brian asked softly.
"Yeah." Chesa answered. She really didn't wanna talk or anything, but she knew that Brian would think that she was still pissed at him if she said no.
Brian crept over and sat at the edge of her bed.
"I'm sorry Chesa. I'll try to talk to AJ tomorrow." He told her. Chesa sat up excitedly at this news.
"You will?" Chesa asked with a smile. Brian smiled back.
"Yeah." He reassured. Chesa crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thanks, Bri." She exclaimed. Brian smiled again and wrapped his arms around her.
"No problem." He replied. Brian laid back on the bed, pulling Chesa on top of him. Chesa giggled and then kissed him. Brian kissed her back, and soon
they fell asleep in the company of each other.
The next day at breakfast everybody was silent. In fact at one point you could hear the cat screeching next door. Amber, Chesa, and Rachelle couldn't
help but burst out laughing.
"OK..." Nick muttered.
"Oh shut-up Nick." Amber ordered.
"Yeah, shut-up Nick." Brian ordered mocking Amber. Amber stuck out her tongue at Brian. Chesa stood up as it began to get silent again.
"Can you all excuse me? Brian come with me." Chesa ordered with a smiled and pulled Brian away by his arm. AJ rolled his eyes and snickered. Chesa led
Brian into the next room.
"So, are you going to talk to him?" Chesa asked with a smile.
"Yeah, in a little bit." Brian replied, returning the smile. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You have no idea how great this is, Brian, or how much I appreciate it!" Chesa exclaimed.
"You're welcome. Plus, AJ and I can't stay mad forever. Might as well get it over with sooner." Brian pointed out as he pulled her in for a kiss. As
Brian and she kissed AJ walked in to see what was going on. Luckily for Chesa, her back was to where AJ was standing. Brian opened his eyes and saw
AJ walk in and frown. Brian pulled Chesa in tighter and she let out a soft groan. AJ rolled his eyes and walked out.
Later on that day AJ was sitting in the living room by himself, reading a book. Chesa and Brian both walked in hand in hand, AJ didn't look up.
"Hey, Bone. We need to talk." Brian told AJ. AJ looked up at him.
"Fine." AJ finally agreed. Chesa smiled and walked out.
"I'm sorry, Bone," Brian started and sat down on the other end of the couch, "...AJ, the thing is-is that I truly love her. Her smile, her eyes, her
personality."
"Brian, I'm sorry that we fought, but that still doesn't change my mind." AJ told him," I have a gut feeling, I think that you'll hurt her!"
"What?!" Brian asked amazed at what his friend was telling him.
"I have this feeling like you are gonna hurt her, so for now stay away from her!" AJ told him, starting to raise his voice. Moments later they were have
a screaming fight. Chesa ran in.
"STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" Chesa yelled. "GOD DAMN IT! CAN'T YOU GUYS HAVE A CONVERSATION WITHOUT SCREAMING?!"
Brian walked off in a rage. Chesa watched him leave and then turned to AJ.
"What the hell is your problem?" She asked AJ. "Why can't you just accept that Brian and I care for each other?"
"Because...I-I just can't." AJ replied, a little ashamed.
"AJ, for me, OK? For me try to get along and accept it." Chesa begged.
"Please AJ...I love him. And God knows I love you too, this is just tearing me apart."
"Chesa, you don't love him, you can't!"
"Is it so hard to let your best friend fall in love? Even if it is one of your friends?" Chesa asked. AJ stayed silent, Chesa walked away.
Amber was brushing her hair when Chesa came in and slammed her door.
"What was all the yelling about down stairs?" Amber asked her distressed friend.
"AJ and Brian again." Chesa replied, a tear sweeping down her cheek.
"Aww!" Amber exclaimed, "Come 'er chiquita." Amber then gave Chesa a hug.
Nick then walked in.
"Chesa are you OK?" Nick asked in a concerned manner.
"No...how can I be?" Chesa asked hypothetically.
"Good point." Nick agreed and also gave her a hug.
"How the hell am I supposed to get them to settle this?" Chesa asked herself aloud sitting on Amber's bed.
"Why don't you just lock them in the walk-in closet down stairs. We can go off on some errands while they stay in there." Nick suggested sarcastically.
Chesa sat up straight all of a sudden.
"Nick, you may be on to somethin' there." Chesa told him.
"Huh? I was just kidding." Nick objected.
"No, it just might work!" Chesa told him and stood up.
"Uh-oh...why did I have to open my big mouth?" Nick muttered, "Look, acting as Brian's best friend, I have to oppose this!"
"Nick, think about what Chesa's going through!" Amber exclaimed, "Her best friend, other than me ::giggle::, is fighting with the man she loves!" Nick
thought for a moment.
"Fine, but don't tell them I was the one that gave you the idea!" Nick begged.
"OK, deal." Chesa agreed. "OK we gotta gather Rachelle, Howie and Kevin and tell them and we gotta....."
"Brian baby, you in here?" Chesa asked walking into his room. She walked over to his bed and glanced to her right. She then felt Brian wrap his strong arms around her from behind.
"Hey, baby. What's up?" He asked her. Chesa turned around and kissed him.
"Nothing. I have a surprise for you though." Chesa told him. Brian raised an eyebrow.
"You do, do you?" Brian asked. Chesa nodded.
"Yeah, Com'mon." She ordered and pulled his hand.
They walked down stairs and Chesa opened the closet door.
"Huh?" Brian asked.
"Just come here." Chesa ordered and stepped in, Brian followed her. Chesa immediately closed the door, it was almost pitch black in there.
"Chesa, what is this?" Brian asked. He then felt Chesa's sweet lips on his.
Brian returned the kiss and wrapped his arms around her. Then the door opened and AJ walked in. Chesa pulled away from them and ran out, then she
slammed the door shut and flicked on the closet lights.
"Chesa, what is this?" AJ asked from inside.
"You two are staying in there until you settle this!" Chesa replied.
"Chesa, let us out, hon." Brian ordered.
"Don't call her "hon." AJ snapped. Amber and Chesa looked at one another.
"Uh-oh." Amber mouthed.
"I'll call her whatever she wants to hear!" Brian shot back, "Com'mon, this isn't funny."
"I know it isn't. That is why you are staying in there until all of the rest of us get back from dinner." Chesa told them.
"What?!" They both asked in unison.
"There are two cokes and sandwiches in there for your dinner. Have fun guys!" Chesa exclaimed. Chesa and the others left to go to the car.
"Chesa?!" Brian yelled....no reply.
"I hope this works." Chesa muttered as she, Kevin, Rachelle, Nick, Amber, and Howie drove to the Olive Garden. Howie put his hand on Chesa's shoulder.
"Don't worry. If I know Brian and AJ, they are probably getting it all worked out."
"Damn it. How could she do this?" AJ exclaimed leaning against the wall of the closet. Brian smiled as he looked at the floor.
"That's Chesa for ya." He replied. Brian looked up and noticed that AJ was looking at him with a frown. "What?"
"Brian, I don't want you going out with Chesa!" AJ yelled, standing straight up.
"AJ you can't monitor her whole life! And you can't tell her, or me who to fall in love with!" Brian yelled back.
"Yeah, but what about when I walked in earlier today?! You purposely pulled her in tighter to make me angry!" AJ shouted.
"I was pissed at you for being so protective!"
"What am I supposed to do?! She is the only best friend or sister-like girl that I have held onto over the years!"
"AJ, I understand that, but she is 22 years old and perfectly capable of taking care of herself!" Brian pointed out.
"So why don't you let her alone then?!" AJ asked.
"BECAUSE I LOVE HER, GOD DAMN IT!" Brian yelled, he took a deep breath, "...because I love her." Brian repeated quietly. AJ then realized what Chesa
had been trying to tell him the whole time. Brian did love her, that is why he couldn't stay away from her or keep off of her. He had such strong feelings that he couldn't help himself. AJ also knew that is what Nick and Kevin felt about Amber and Rachelle, and AJ longed for that feeling about someone...He sighed.
"Sorry, man. I don't know why I've acted like this...."
