*~The Dream Of A Lifetime~*

Charisma stood in the kitchen by herself; making supper for her and the girls. She stood at the sink looking out the window when the back door opened. She turned around and saw Howard standing there. They looked at each other and smiled.

They stayed where they were for a moment and Howard said, “I came to see Lillie. Is she around?”

“No; she’s at work.”

“Oh; that’s right.”

“I’m the only one here.” He didn’t say anything and just looked at her. “Sit down. Would you like a drink?”

“Got any ice tea?” He walked over to the sink.

“Just made some.” She got a glass from the cupboard.

“I got it.” He took the glass from Charisma and touching her in the process. They just stared at each other for a minute the Howard asked, “What’s for supper? It smells good.”

“Steak.” They walked away from each other. “We each have a night to make supper and mine’s Thursday.”

“Today’s only Wednesday.”

“Lon’s day is Wednesday, but ever since this thing with Nick, she really doesn’t do anything. So who is ever home earlier on Wednesday’s they get the job of supper.” Howard just looked at her. “I mean Lon does her share once in a while, but when she’s not working she’s either hanging with Trace or sitting in her room dwelling on the past. She basically keeps to herself anymore.” She walked over to the stove.

“So Loni’s dating Trace now?” At that same moment, Nickolas walked in the house and just stopped, as they looked.

“When were you going to tell me?” Nickolas questioned totally upset. “When I seen them together myself?”

He turned to go out, as Charisma said, “Nick, wait a minute.” He stopped and she continued, “I don’t know for sure if Lon and Trace are dating, but they’ve been hanging out a lot. That doesn’t mean they’re boyfriend/girlfriend.” Nickolas just looked at her. “I don’t really talk to Lon anymore since this whole mess with you. Perhaps Trace gives her some kind of leverage. Maybe he gives her the strength she needs right now until she decides what to do with you. I’m hoping she takes you back.”

“Nobody knows for sure, Nicky,” Howard added. “When and if she’s ready for you she’ll let ya know.”

“I can’t stay away from her forever,” Nickolas said sitting at the table. “I haven’t seen her since Sunday and it’s killing me.”

“You have her picture,” Charisma reminded him.

“That’s not good enough,” Nickolas stated. “I need to see her, feel her, kiss her, hold her, and know she’s all right. I want to let her know I’m not giving up and I still love her.”

“She knows,” Charisma said. “She received that box of stuff and the second one is on the steps waiting to be opened.”

“I don’t know how long I can continue this,” Nickolas said. “It’s going to be a month and I’m just…”

“We understand, Nick,” Howard said. “You know Lon loves you, right?” Nickolas nodded. “And she still has her engagement ring, right?” Nickolas looked at him.

“Well…not exactly,” Nickolas replied.

“What?” Charisma asked. “She gave it back?”

“The other day,” Nickolas said. “But it’s laying up on her bed with the roses I put in her room.” They just looked at him. “She has to know I would never do anything to hurt her deliberately, ya know. I love her too much to do anything to hurt her.”

“We know,” Howard said.

“Fox tried talking to her the other day, but she just wouldn’t listen to him,” Charisma said. “She told him that her mind was made up and that she didn’t want to be with you. We all know that’s a lie though. I mean you still have a house key and a key to her bedroom. She still has a key to your place and her room is still devoted to the two of you. She wants to be with you, Nick, so be happy you know that much. I mean, I know it’s not all you want, but you shouldn’t push her and just be happy you know she still loves you and wants to be with you.”

“But it’s not enough and never will be enough,” Nickolas said. “I need to be with her. That’s all I want. I don’t care what I have to do to make that happen.” They just looked at him. “Is she here?”

“No,” Charisma said.

“When she gets home will you tell her I was here?” Nickolas asked getting up.

“Definitely,” Charisma said. “That’ll be the first thing I tell her.”

“Thank you,” Nickolas said going out the door.

“I feel so sorry for him.” She started to peel the potatoes. “He’s so in love with her as much as I am in love with Alex.”

“I’ve never seen him like this before,” Howard pointed out.

Charisma just looked at Howard and asked, “There’s another reason you’re here, what is it? I’m guessing it’s the thing between us.”

“Actually what is between us, Charisma? Ever since we kissed it feels like you’re deliberately trying to ignore me. Didn’t that kiss mean anything to you? Because it meant something to me.”

“It did mean something to me, Howie!” She stabbed the knife into the cutting board. “That’s why I’m trying to stay away from you. My feelings have grown for you and I don’t want to hurt Alex…or Lillie. I love Alex very much, but I’m betraying him by having feelings for his best friend.”

“I know where you’re coming from. I love Lillie, but I don’t think I can hide my feelings for you any longer.”

“You have to. Me and Alex will be together for two years and he is totally in love with me. He wants to marry me someday and I’d be honored to marry him, he’s a wonderful guy.” They were now standing face to face. “This is all your fault getting us into this situation!” Her voice was five times louder than normal.

“How’s it my fault?” His voice was the same tone.

“By kissing me when you shouldn’t have.”

“You’re as much to blame, because you kissed me in return.”

“Did not.”

“Did to. You’re the one that wanted to meet me and then told me you’re in love with me when we both have someone else.”

“Whatever. Why do guys always have to blame the girl?”

“Why do girls have to have that pigheadedness and think they’re always right?”

“I am not pigheaded and you know I’m right.”

“You’re totally wrong, Sweetheart. You got us into this mess.”

“Why are you blaming me? I told you I had a problem with Alex.”

“Then told me you were in love with me instead.”

“You’re so cute when you’re mad.” She smiled.

“Change the subject, because you know I’m right.”

“I’m just stating a fact, Howie.”

“I should go.” They continued looking at each other. “Tell Lillie I was here.” He started walking away and Charisma grabbed his hand. “What?”

“Only if you kiss me before you leave.” She moved closer to him and they kissed. After the kiss they just smiled and Howard went out the door. Charisma was in a better mood and forgot all about Nickolas’ visit.

“I should go,” Alyssa said to Kevin. “No one’s probably home to make supper so I’ll get stuck with it…again.”

“I thought today is Lon’s day?” Kevin asked.

“She hasn’t made supper since her and Nick broke up so we do it by whoever’s home first.”

“I don’t think Lon and Nick are broken up completely. I think it’s just a trial separation like married couples have.”

“I love your positive attitude about this whole thing.” She kissed him. “I’d invite you to join us, but it’s just going to be us girls. We actually talked Lon into joining us.”

“That’s good.”

“We had to tell her there’d be no guys…not even Fox. It took all day to convince her.”

“At least it worked.”

“Hopefully it’s a start into getting her back to her old self.” Bridgett approached them and they looked. “Just when I think the day is going great it gets worse.”

“Hello to you too,” Bridgett said.

“Bridgett, what are you doing here?” Kevin questioned. “How’d you get pass the gate?”

“It was open,” Bridgett said and Kevin rolled his eyes. “I was taking a walk and saw the gate open so I stopped by. Is that illegal now?”

“Yeah,” Alyssa said. “It’s called trespassing.”

“Whatever,” Bridgett said smiling.

“I see you’re still gloating over your ‘victory’ of breaking up Lon and Nick,” Alyssa pointed out. “I must hand it to ya though, it was very well thought of.”

“It was spur of the moment actually,” Bridgett stated. “When I got there I didn’t know what was going to happen. When I saw Nick in a towel it all started coming to me.”

Kevin and Alyssa looked at her not believing a single word and Kevin questioned. “So you had no intentions of getting Nick into bed when you got there?”

“Of course not,” Bridgett lied. “I wasn’t even going to kiss him. I just wanted to show him what he was missing. When Valondra showed up it seemed right and it actually worked. I didn’t think it would.”

“Not to burst your bubble,” Alyssa began, “but it didn’t. Nick and Lon are still together.”

“Happy as ever,” Kevin added.

“Then why did I see her kissing that one waiter from NYPD?” Bridgett asked crossing her arms. “I believe his name is Trace.”

“They’re just friends,” Kevin answered. “She’d never do that to Nick just like Nick would never do that to her.”

“Just ask her yourself,” Bridgett said walking away. “Pay attention to the way she acts and shit.”

“She needs a new hobby,” Alyssa said.

“Yeah. But it doesn’t hurt to ask Loni anyway,” Kevin said.

“You actually think she would do something like that?”

“She is mad at Nick.”

“But she wouldn’t kiss Trace or anyone else. She’s not like that; no matter how upset she is.”

“Are you sure though? Just ask her please.”

“I can’t believe you’d even think of something like this, Kevin. Actually I can’t believe you’d believe anything that girl says especially after what she tried to do to you guys.”

“Alyssa, ya can’t help but wonder. You’ve seen the way she’s been acting.”

“It doesn’t mean she’ll go and kiss another guy knowing Nick never kissed another girl.”

“Alyssa…”

“I’m not going to have this conversation with you, Kevin.” She opened up her car door. “I’ll call you.”

She got in the car without giving Kevin a kiss and he watched her drive off.