"Oh Brian." She said as she ran over to him and gave him a long awaited hug. "I've missed you so much. I can't be mad anymore. I just can't." He stood there with his arms at his sides in disbelief for a second then wrapped his arms around his beloved sister and gave her the biggest hug he's ever given her.

Nick stared at them in disbelief. I don't believe this. He gets a hug and I get dry sarcasm. What is up with that? Nick realized now more than ever how much he missed her but he was with Lucy now and he couldn't bear to do to Lucy what he did to Jess. He learned his lesson the hard way the first time. It wasn't going to happen again.

Kevin had tears in his eyes when he saw Brian and Jess embrace. She forgave him; I never thought I'd see the day. But, what about me? Kevin couldn't help but let a tear drop. He always did get emotional. He never understood why people held their feelings in. Jess turned to him, and gave him a big smile, "Oh Kevin, do you honestly think I forgot about you? You're my cousin, I'd never forgive myself if I made you feel less than you are worth." And she moved toward him and gave him a big hug also.

AJ smiled. Even if she never forgave him he was glad that she was able to come to terms with Brian and Kevin. They were family after all.

Howie knew how much Jess meant to Brian and Kevin. If she didn't forgive them they would be devastated. I hope she gets over her sore feelings for me though. She means a lot to all of us. As if reading Howie and AJ's mind she walked over to them and gave them both a big hug. "I've missed you guys so much, Mark hates to shop." They all let out a laugh of humor and relief. She knew Nick was staring at her but she still had unresolved feelings for him and what he did. It still hurt. She couldn't look at him so she pretended not to notice. She was about to ask the guys for help with her computer but the blond-haired girl spoke up.

"You're Brian's sister? Hi! I'm Lucy. Nick's girlfriend and Howie's cousin. How are you?" She stuck out her hand to shake Jessica's.

"You're Lucy?" she nodded. "Oh. So, how about helping a poor little defenseless girl lugging her computer out to her car?" She said in a southern drawl towards the guys completely ignoring Lucy and her attempt at being polite. Jess knew she was being rude and completely ignorant and that her mother would probably yell at her for it later, but facing the girl that single handedly broke up her two-year relationship with Nick, it was just too hard. The guys jumped at the chance to help Jess with her computer. It felt like a weight had been lifted off all of their shoulders; all except for Nick's that is.

"So. The boxes are loaded into the back of the truck, did you find your disks?" Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Howie returned from loading Jessica's truck and Brian went over to her immediately. She had her back towards everyone looking at the pictures on the wall. She was staring at a picture of her and the guys. It was right before they went on stage to perform at their first American concert. She was in the front and had Nick's arms wrapped around her with Brian and AJ on her sides with Howie and Kevin on their sides. That was a happy time for all of them. That was the beginning of their relationship, when things were simple.

Things sure have changed since then. Just then she noticed everyone looking at her, "What? What'd I do?" She asked genuinely clueless. Everyone just laughed at her.

Kevin was the first to speak up, "Jess, where'd you go? Brian asked you if you found your disks." She smiled and was a bit nervous but didn't let it show. She didn't want them to know she felt a little uncomfortable around them yet.

"Oh. Yeah I found them. Thanks for the help guys. Look, I should get going. Mark is expecting me home soon."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can't leave yet." AJ said grabbing her arm. "And why not?" She asked about to get upset. AJ smiled at her and continued, "You have to come with us to our interview. It'll be at the local radio station, you gotta come. We haven't seen you in so long. Please." He pleaded, then the other guys joined in. "Please." They said in unison. Jess laughed and agreed, she forgot how convincing they could be when they put their minds, or voices, together. She chuckled at her little joke and told the guys she'd take her computer back to her apartment and would be back to the house in time to go to the interview. They all smiled their smiles that made millions of girls around the world swoon, all of them except for Nick that is. He just left and stormed up the stairs to Jess' room, his room for the week. Jessica noticed and felt bad that she was putting him through all of this but she just needed time.

***********************************

She pulled into the parking garage to the seven-story apartment building she called home. She made her way to the elevator with a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. She was so relieved to have resolved her feelings for her brother, cousin and two best friends. She couldn't wait to tell Mark. The ride on the elevator seemed to take forever until it finally reached the top floor and the doors opened up.

"Oh dear. Jessica what are you doing lugging all those boxes up here all by yourself? Why don't you go get Mark to help to, maybe then he'll be good for something." Jessica's elderly neighbor Mrs. Okatz didn't like Mark very much, she thought Jessica would be better off with her grandson Ken, an aspiring lawyer who loved to play football. Jessica always laughed when she would talk to her, always finding a way to put down Mark, she didn't know what it was exactly that made Mrs. Okatz dislike Mark so much, but it was always fun talking to her. Mrs. Okatz headed around the corner to grab Mark from their apartment, when she made her way back around Jessica had unloaded the boxes out of the elevator and was in the process of picking up the one that held the monitor. Jessica looked up expecting to see an annoyed Mark by her side but she came back alone,

"Well, either he's ignoring me by not answering the door or he's not home. I doubt he's not home, the boy never seems to leave your apartment, especially since he doesn't have a job." Jessica just smiled; she knew Mark didn't have a job. He got laid off a few weeks earlier from his job as a waiter at one of the most prestigious restaurants in Lexington and has been a little depressed since. Maybe he's finally gone to look for another job? She thought hoping with all hope. She was sick of seeing him lay on the couch all day while she went to work at the local radio station, where the boys would be interviewed later on today.

"That's alright Mrs. Okatz. I can handle it. But thanks for your concern, I'm sure you have places to go so I'll move these out of the hall." She headed toward her apartment with monitor in hands.

"Okay dear. Don’t hurt yourself now. Those boxes look heavy. I'll see you soon." She said and waved as the doors to the elevator shut. Jessica smiled and cleared the boxes out of the hall. When all the boxes were in her apartment she looked around and saw that it was a mess. Marks clothes from this morning were everywhere.

"Well, isn't this just great? Thanks for keeping the house so clean Mark, I appreciate it." She grumbled under her breath as she started to clean.

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