*~The Dream Of A Lifetime~*

Kevin found Farah inside the tour bus gathering up her stuff and sticking it in her suitcases. He stood there a few minutes until Farah finally noticed that he was standing there. She looked at him and continued what she was doing.

“Go away, Kevin,” Farah said.

“May we talk?” Kevin asked.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Farah began, “besides that it’s over between us and I’m going back to Clearwater.”

“What for? What did I do?”

“How can you ask that question when you already know the answer?”

“What are you talking about, Farah? I have no idea what you’re going on about.”

“Oh please, Kevin, don’t even play dumb with me.”

“Will you please tell me what I did? Maybe we can talk through it.”

“Fine I’ll tell ya if ya want to play stupid. I’m mad at you, because you’re having an affair with Valondra.” Kevin started laughing. “What are you laughing about? I’m not joking.”

“Is this some kind of joke? Are you testing to see how loyal I am to you?”

“This is no joke and I’m not testing you.”

“How can you even think of something so stupid like this?”

“How can you say it’s stupid? I saw the way you had your arm around her.”

“We’re just friends. She’s Nickolas’ girlfriend for crying out loud and I would never do that to one of my best friends or to you.”

“That’s what you say, but that’s not what I saw.”

“Just what did you see exactly?”

“The way you had your arm around her and the way you two were smiling and just everything.” She slammed her suitcases shut, grabbed her purse, and picked up her suitcases.

“Farah, you’re overreacting.”

“Please get out of my way, Kevin.” Kevin looked at her a moment then stepped aside and watched, as she got off the bus and he followed behind her. “Don’t even try to stop me either. I’m going home and that’s the final word.”

“Let’s talk please. I want to know where this behavior is coming from.” Farah stopped and glared at him, as he noticed the others standing there.

After a few minutes of shocked silence, Rachel asked, “Farah, what are you doing? Where are you going?”

“I’m going home,” Farah replied and stepping in front of Nickolas and Valondra. “By the way, Nick, your skanky little girlfriend is sleeping with your best friend.” She looked at Kevin and Valondra punched her in the face. Farah almost fell backwards, but caught herself and looked at Valondra. “Ya should’ve known he would find out sooner or later.” Valondra started towards her, but Nickolas held her back. Farah turned and walked away without looking back.

“Whatever that was all about,” Antoinette said, as Nickolas left Valondra go and just looked at her then at Kevin and then back to Valondra.

Howard and Lillie joined them and without thinking, Lillie said, “I have something to say to your remark, Valondra, you’re just jealous because you ain’t getting anything.”

“Who says you are?” Howard joked, as they began to laugh, but the others stayed serious.

“How could you do this to me, Loni?” Nickolas asked taking his gaze off her and putting it on Kevin.

“I didn’t do anything,” Valondra rebutted. “So don’t you even start with me.”

“So what Farah said was just a lie and you’re denying it?” Nickolas questioned. “There’s nothing going on between you and Kevin?”

“Nothing,” Valondra answered his question. “I have no clue of what Farah was talking about just now.”

“Kevin, what is she talking about?” Rachel asked.

“Wait, what’d we miss?” Howard asked, as Nickolas’ sister, Bobbie joined them.

“Um…sorry to interrupt, but Denise and I are going to get something to eat,” Bobbie began, “do you guys want anything?”

“We’re fine, BJ,” Nickolas replied, as Bobbie nodded her head and walked away.

“What’d we miss?” Lillie demanded an explanation.

“The Reader’s Digest version,” Alexander began, “Farah left, Loni and Kev are having an affair, Farah called Lon a skank, Lon decked her, and did I leave anything out?”

“I think you got it all, Bone,” Brian replied.

“Loni and I are not having an affair,” Kevin stated.

“Then why’d Farah say you were?” Antoinette asked.

“She saw Loni and I on stage with my arm around her watching Toni and Alex,” Kevin stated. “So automatically she assumed the worse.”

“I was standing with you,” Lillie pointed out. “And you were talking about Toni and Alex.”

“Did you think there was something strange about our smiles?” Kevin asked.

“No,” Lillie replied. “It was just a smile between friends and nothing that looked like you were shacking it up.”

“Thank you,” Valondra and Kevin said in unison.

“You’re welcome,” Lillie said.

“Now do you believe us?” Valondra questioned Nickolas. Nickolas stood there not saying a word and just looking at his girlfriend.

They all waited a moment for a reply and then Rachel asked, “Nick, do you believe them?” Nickolas just continued standing there with his hands in his pockets still not saying a word to anyone with his gaze on Valondra.

“I see,” Valondra said, as her tears slid down her cheeks. “I don’t know what happens after this, but that’s for you to decide.”

“Why me?” Nickolas asked. “You’re the one that betrayed me, both of you, and not vice versa.”

“Almost fifteen months together and now I know how much you trust me,” Valondra said. “When you find it in your heart to trust me let me know, I might be waiting.” She nudged him out of the way and walked by him. A few feet from him she stopped and took something from her pocket and turned around. “Hey, Carter.” He turned and looked at her. “Catch.” She threw the object at him and walked away, as he caught it, but didn’t look at it.

They all stood there a few moments and then one by one they all started walking away besides Nickolas. He just stood there and stuffed his hands in his pockets again, as Brian rejoined him. Nickolas looked at him, but neither said a word and continued standing there for a few minutes more.

After a couple more minutes of complete silence Nickolas asked, “Do you think she’s telling the truth, Brian?”

“Yeah I do,” Brian replied without even thinking. “I don’t know Loni as well as you, but I do know her to tell you that she’s totally crazy about you. I see the way she looks at you when she thinks no one is looking. It’s like you’re the only one around when there is a room full of people. It’s the same way when you two are alone and when you think no one is spying on you.” Nickolas looked at him. “She only has eyes for you, Bro, and no one else. I can tell you that much. She loves you, man.” Nickolas grinned. “So what’d she give you?” Nickolas looked at Brian and then waited a moment before taking his hands back out of his pockets. He pulled out the gold necklace and looked at the 16th musical note. He sighed and turned it over and saw the engraved message: I’ll love you for eternity. Loni D. Nickolas closed his hand over the charm and quickly wiped his eyes. “Go to her, Nick. She loves you and I know you love her. The things you do for Loni you never did for a girl.”

“That’s what makes this hard, Brian.”

“Then quit being…”

“Quit being an ass,” Rachel said interrupting Brian and they looked. “I’m sorry, but Loni is sitting inside crying her eyes out, because she thinks you don’t trust her or love her.”

“Not exactly what I was going to say,” Brian said. “But right to the point. Well done.”

“Nick, come look at her,” Rachel said grabbing his arm and pulling him inside. She pulled him to where he could see Valondra and pointed. “I never seen her like this over a guy before, Nick. She is heartbroken and she needs you to trust her and believe in her.”

“Go to her, Nick,” Brian repeated. “If she wasn’t telling the truth, do you think she’d be so upset right now?”

“I guess not,” Nickolas replied, as Valondra looked up and they made eye contact.

“She wants to be an actress, but this she ain’t faking,” Rachel stated. “This is real and I will not stand here and let you break her heart.”

Nickolas sighed and said, “I’m going to go talk to her.”

“Then go,” Rachel said, pushing him again. “Don’t just stand here and look cute.”

“I’m going,” Nickolas said walking away while Rachel and Brian watched.