* -* The Road to Take*-*

A hot sun rose early the next morning, disturbing CJ from her beauty sleep. Howie was already up and showered and lacing up his shoes when she finally rolled over and opened her eyes.

“Good morning sleepy head,” he said with a smile. She smiled back and stretched while she tossed the sheets off her, then without warning, she leapt up out of bed and started to dance around the room. Howie finished tying his shoes and grabbed her and pulled her tight to him. “What’s the matter, sweetie?” he asked as he kissed her neck gently. “It wasn’t a dream, was it? It was real! Oh, my God! Oh, my God, the house was real!!!!” She started to wring her hands together and pace around like Lady Macbeth.

“It’s okay, we’re not there anymore. It’s okay, you’re here with me,” Howie tried to soothe her. He looked her in the eye and smiled. That was all the reassurance she needed, she smiled crazily and realized that she was being silly. “I’ll just jump in the shower and then we’ll go downstairs for breakfast, okay?” she said as she pulled away and leapt toward the bathroom door. Howie winked at her and sat down on the end of the bed to wait.........wait for his beauty.

CJ and Howie had just sat down in the dining room when Alex strolled in, sporting the biggest grin on his face. He pulled up a chair next to Howie and began to sip on a cup of coffee. “So what happened to you two last nite?” Alex asked as he leaned back in his chair. “You missed some crazy party!!!” “We did? Damn, where was it?” CJ asked. “What do you mean ‘where was it?’ You were there...it was at that historic house! It was a BLAST!!!” The mere mention of that house sent a shiver down CJ’s spine. She lost focus for a moment and then quickly tried to change the subject. “So who was that lady you were with in the hall last nite?” CJ pried. “Oh, that’s Jamie, she’s my soulmate!!!! I know I’ve only known her for like 12 hours, but she’s the one....I just know it!” Alex beamed. “From what I could see of her, she looked lovely,” Howie teased. Alex smacked him in the arm and then jumped out of his chair when he saw Jamie enter the dining room. He called to her and she came and sat down beside him. Alex quickly introduced her to his other traveling companions as the waitress brought them a pitcher of orange juice.

They were in the middle of the debate of ordering vs. waiting for the others to come when the rest of their little posse straggled in. Nick’s eyes were bearly open as he plopped himself down into the chair. “How’s everyone this morning?” Meg asked cheerily. Everyone answered her, whether it be with a smile or a grunt, they all acknowledged the question. The coffee pot was passed around and the breakfast orders were taken as Jamie stood up from her seat and asked for everyone’s attention.

“Okay you guys, it’s all set. I’ve already been on the phone with my uncle and it’s all set that you 5 are going to sing on a float in tonite’s parade.” she smiled as everyone at the table began to squirm. “What? C’mon! You guys said that you would do this!” she urged. “The only problem is that you have to do a specific song....they’re faxing the music over this morning...so you’ll have to spend the morning learning it. I’ll go check and see if it’s come yet!” she smiled perkily and made her way towards the front desk, leaving the 5 men at the table speechless. “When did we agree to do this?” Brian asked, breaking the silence. “Come on guys! It’ll be fun...it means a lot to her if we do it!” Alex coaxed. “Wait a minute......what 5 guys? There’s only 4 of you!” Nick asked confused. “I think Jamie’s assuming that you can carry a tune!” Alex laughed. “Oh!” Nick said shyly. “So what was her name, Nick?” Nat asked, trying to dig out of the awkwardness that had engulfed the table. “Her name? Who’s name?” Nick asked with a puzzled _expression.

“The girl that you were all over last nite!!” Brian said really loudly so that the entire dining room heard. Nick blushed and just dropped his eyes to the floor and began to fiddle with his pant legs. “Oooo! Nicky got some action last nite? Good for you!!” CJ smiled. “So what DID happen to you and Howie last nite?” Alex steered the conversation away from poor Nick for a moment. “Why didn’t you stay at the party?”

“We were lost in that house for hours. It was awful! We kept passing through the same room over and over again!!” Howie explained as CJ began to fiddle with her napkin. Everyone at the table looked at him like he was crazy. “What, it’s true! It was terrible!” “You guys must have hit a bad trip or something!” Alex said, causing everyone at the table to laugh.

“HERE it is!!!” Jamie burst out as she came flying back into the dining room carrying a handful of papers, relieving Howie from his torture. She sat down just in time for their breakfast to arrive and as the waitress served their food, Jamie distributed the music around the table. “I don’t know this song....how are we ever gonna learn it in such a short amount of time....we’re not singers.” Kevin protested. “You’ll be fine...you have to be....all of our future’s will be riding along on that float with you.” Jamie said with a shy smile as she broke the yoke of her egg with her fork.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent bickering. The girls stayed with the boys at their rehearsal for about 15 minutes before they realized that they couldn’t take it any longer and decided to go shopping. Kevin was in such a knot about learning the song that he didn’t even realize what was happening when Brian handed him back his credit card. All of the girls thought that was hilarious and made a run for it before Kevin caught on.

By early evening, Jamie had the boys assembled and was in the process of her pep talk, when her uncle came in and said that it was time for them to go. The girls had bought new outfits, everything was glittering and shining. The boys refused to ‘dress up’ and so they each just wore their jeans and shirts. Kevin wore his now signature flip-flops. The float rolled through the streets of New Orleans slowly and strategically. Everyone began to have such a good time, laughing and dancing and throwing beads, that they almost forgot their purpose there - to sing. Just as the float approached the French Quarter, Jamie gave the signal that it was time.

The music started and each of them spread out around the float. Alex cleared his throat into his sleeve and then began to sing, calmly and strongly. “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans, and miss her each nite and day. I know I’m not wrong because the feelings getting stronger the longer I stay away.” The crowd applauded like crazy as Brian put the mic to his mouth and began to sing. “Miss them moss covered vines, tall sugar pines..... now I’d love to see, that old lazy Mississippi......” the crowd began to follow the float as rolled through the streets. “Moonlight on the Bayou, Creole tunes fill the air,” sang Nick shyly, yet with a strong voice.

“I dream about magnolias in June and I’m wishing I was there....” sang Kevin in perfect pitch, then Howie sang, “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans, when that’s where you left your heart.... “ The crowd was beginning to cheer and holler so loudly that they were drowning out the sound of the organ music. Brian had relaxed and was waving and throwing beads as he waited for their big finish...and then it came. “Oh, moonlight on the Bayou, Creole tunes fill the air, and I dream about magnolias in June, you know I’m wishing right now I was there. Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans, when that’s where you left your heart. And that’s one thing more I miss than the one I care for, more than I miss New Orleans. More than I miss New Orleans.....” they held their final note like professionals and when it was over and the music had stopped, first a wild rush ripped through their bodies and then sadness that it was over. Never in Alex’s life, after coming to Mardi Gras year after year as a child, did he ever have as much fun as he did that year. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think that he would be singing on a float and tossing beads out to naked women. Never in his life did he ever think he would know what it means to miss New Orleans.

“I have something I need to say...” Alex stated at the breakfast table the following morning, interrupting Nick and Brian’s argument over which was invented first, salt or pepper.

“I just want to let each and every one of you know what a wonderful time I have had with you. Fellas, I want to thank you for ‘rescuing’ me from my bad situation and for taking me under your wing, so to speak.” He chuckled to himself and then cleared his throat. “I don’t know what y’all have planned for your immediate future, but I was just wondering what you’d say if I was to leave?” he held his breath and smiled at Jamie. “I know that New Orleans has always kinda been our destination and that we all came here because of me, but I’ve been thinking about heading a little further down the road, so to speak. I wanna go home with Jamie to Florida. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone...I might be back and I might not, but I just want you to know that I can make arrangements for y’all here for as long as you want to stay, or if you wanna go....” He trailed off and gazed around at the stunned table. Jamie reached up and took his hand and squeezed it. He bent down and kissed her cheek and then smiled shyly, waiting for someone to say something,...anything. “So, I hope that you’re all okay with that!....Say something, PLEASE!” he begged and then sat down. “Well....are you telling us that you’re going, or are you asking us if you can go? Kevin asked. “Ya, I mean, what if we don’t wanna stay here? What if we wanna come with you?” Nick asked while dumping a load of pepper on Brian’s omelette. “Oh, of course, you can come with us!” Jamie answered enthusiastically. “Wow! I didn’t really imagine that you would want to come, but that would be super!” Alex answered. “All I know, is that I ain’t going back home, not now, so I’m more than willing to drive you two in my car...” Kevin said.

“You mean that I can drive us in YOUR car!” Alex laughed. Kevin rolled his eyes then smiled. Nat sat quietly next to Kevin, she was having mixed emotions about this conversation. She knew that they were living on borrowed time and that at some point she and Meg would have to face the fact that they had to go home. She looked across the table at Meg, who just smiled and shrugged her shoulder. “Well, I think I need to go home,” Brian started to say as he took a bite of his omelette. He hadn’t noticed the abundance of pepper and began to gag while frantically reaching for a glass of water. Nick sat back and began to laugh hysterically at his little joke as Brian’s face turned bright red. Meg’s body seized as the words left Brian’s lips. “I have a few unresolved issues at home and I don’t think that I should avoid them any longer. I’m just hiding out here.” he said as he doused his tongue with more water and gave Nick a friendly punch. “I have no intentions of going home, not yet. Unresolved issues be damned!” Kevin smiled as he stirred a third packet of sugar into his strong coffee.

“Okay, well some are nay and some are yay! What about you two?” Alex asked of CJ and Howie. Simultaneously, CJ said she wanted to go and Howie said that he needed to go home. After speaking their minds they both choked on their words and stared at each other in disbelief. “What? You wanna go home? Why?” CJ asked Howie. “I think that we need to. I think that we need to resolve things with Morgan before we can be happy together.” “Settling things with Morgan is the last thing I wanna do, but if you wanna go back to Phoenix, then I’m afraid that you’ll be doing it alone. So, I guess you have a choice to make.” CJ said sternly. “I guess I do,” Howie said coolly and got up from the table and went up to his room. “I have something I need to do too, “ Kevin said as he excused himself from the table. “Shall we meet here for lunch, a final celebratory meal before we split?” Everyone agreed as Kevin took Nat’s hand and asked her to come with him.

“I need to call my mom,” Kevin said as he set his hotel room key down on top of the TV. Nat sat down in the chair by the window, curious as to why Kevin didn’t want to do that in private. Kevin picked up the phone and sat anxiously as he listened to it ring. “Mom? It’s Kevin. I’m alright.” Nat heard him say as he rubbed his forehead with his thumb. “I’m sorry, mom. I’m sorry for everything.”

“Kevin, where have you been? We expected you to come back to the house that night? What have you been doing?” his mom asked. “I’m in New Orleans. I’ve been on this wild roller coaster where I’ve met all of these wonderful people and have been to all of these amazing places!” Kevin said, trying to sound less excited than he really was. “Kevin, we’ve been worried sick.....what were you thinking?” “I’m sorry mom.....I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through this past week. I’m sorry for making you worry, but you knew that I couldn’t do it. We both knew that we were making a mistake. I just had to get away...” “Well where are you now? Is there a number where I can reach you?”

“We’re leaving here later today for Florida. I’ll call you when I get settled there.....Mom, I just can’t come back right now....I just can’t. I just can’t face her. I won’t.” “She understands y’know. She knew it was a mistake too. But you hurt her, Kevin. You hurt her bad. I just thought you should know that.” “I love you mama. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just needed to tell you that I never intended to make you feel embarrassed.....I was just being selfish. I’ll come back, Ma. I promise. I just don’t know when.”

He hung up the phone and looked up for the first time at Nat. She was still sitting in the chair by the window with her knees up under her chin and tears were streaming down her face. “What’s wrong, honey?” Kevin asked as he stood up and walked over to her. “You’re just such a beautiful person.....the way you spoke to your mother....it broke my heart,” she said dropping her head so that her tears fell down onto her jeans. Kevin knelt down beside her and rubbed his hand along her calf. “I didn’t mean to make you feel sad....I..” he started. “You didn’t,” she mumbled into her knee. “It just reminded me of something that my mother used to say.....” she trailed off as more tears fell. “What was that?” Kevin asked gently.

“That ‘the way a man treats his mother will be the way he treats his wife’. It’s silly I know, it’s just......it’s just.....” she choked. The words were caught in her throat and her face was turning bright red. She couldn’t look at him and for the first time, his eyes on her were making her feel very uncomfortable. “It’s just that I think I’m falling in love with you,” she whispered and then quickly buried her head in her knees. Kevin smiled and blushed himself. Such beautiful words to come from such a beautiful girl. He lifted her chin with his hand and looked deeply into her eyes. The twinkle in his eye couldn’t help but set Nat’s mind at ease, knowing that she hadn’t said anything wrong. “I don’t know what I’d ever do without you,” Kevin whispered and then kissed her lips softly. “Hopefully, you’ll never have to find out,” she whispered as their lips released and she hugged him tightly.

“Howie! Howie! I know that you’re in there! Let me in I don’t have my key!” CJ said through the hotel room door. She stood in silence, alone in the hallway, for what felt like an eternity when finally there was a ‘click’ and the door opened a crack. She pushed it the rest of the way to see Howie folding up his pants and laying them gingerly in his suitcase. “Are you really going back?” CJ asked as she closed the door behind her. “I think that I need to, don’t you?” “Are you going back to her?” CJ asked sharply as she sat down on the end of the bed.

“NO! But you know as well as I do that things with Morgan aren’t closed. She doesn’t even know that you’re here with me! I thought she was your best friend? How can you continue to live this lie?” Howie said as his face began to flush. “Morgan is my best friend, but.....she’ll understand. I think that she always knew that I had a thing for you anyway. It won’t be a surprise to her.” “That’s beside the point and you know it. I can’t be happy with you until I know that I’ve squared things with Morgan. She was a big part of my life for a very long time....” he trailed off and picked up his bag. “I want this to work between us CJ, so either you come with me now...or..” “Or what?” CJ injected. “Or I might not come back.” “Just like that!” CJ yelled. “I don’t wanna go back! I have no need! I won’t!” “Alright then,” Howie said as headed for the door. “Good bye, CJ. Take care of yourself. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

“Howie! Wait! What are you doing? You’re acting like a child!” she said as she sprung off the bed and ran after him. He stopped before opening the door and looked her straight in the eye. “No, CJ, it’s you who’s acting like a child....”he said and opened the door and left. “I AM NOT!” she screamed as she slammed the door shut and threw an ashtray at it.

Meg and Brian were walking hand in hand down the hall to their room when Meg was suddenly grabbed and pulled into Kevin’s room. The door shut and as she turned around, stunned all she could see was her twin jumping up and down and giggling like a school girl.

“Kevin and I had a moment!” she screamed as she began to jump up and down on the bed. Nat told Meg all about Kevin telling her that he wouldn’t know what to do without her, and by the time she was done, both girls were screaming and crying while jumping up and down on the bed. Meg was thrilled for her sister, but then pangs of jealously hit her and she jumped down off the bed and sat down on the floor. “What’s wrong?” Nat asked as she flopped down beside her. “I don’t know what to do. Brian and I are close, but I don’t know how close. He said that he’s going back to California. What if I never see him again?” Meg said.

“Have you told him how you feel? He might surprise you...” Nat suggested. Meg began to chew her fingernail, knowing that she could never have to courage to tell him how she felt. If he didn’t feel the same way she would just die of embarrassment. “Well, I guess if he comes back to meet us in Florida, then I’ll know that it was meant to be, right?”

Brian heard all of the squealing coming from Kevin’s room after Meg was snatched from his clutch. He smiled and kept going down to his room. He opened the door to find Kevin waiting for him on the balcony. Brian, confused of how he got in, went out and joined him, standing silently as they gazed across the city. “You’re coming with us, aren’t you, Brian?” Kevin asked directly.

“I don’t know. The closer I get to Meg, the more I’ve been thinking about Audrey. I just feel like I need to give her a piece of my mind and......” he trailed off as his face turned bright red. “I don’t wanna leave her though, Kevin.” “Who? Audrey?” “NO! Meg! She’s like no one I’ve ever known before! She’s incredible!” Brian said with a huge smile. “Have you told her?” Kevin asked. Brian shook his head. “Well I think that you should.”

CJ sat alone in her room, crying. In a way, she always knew that Morgan would come back and bite her in the butt, but she always hoped that her relationship with Howie would be too strong for the bite to leave a mark. Morgan had always had a strong hold on Howie, he was hopelessly in love with her and devoted to her, all that fairy tale stuff that CJ couldn’t understand. Not until she had Howie for herself. It had taken years for her to convince Howie that she was the girl for him, but now in the blink of an eye, he was gone. He was going home to her. A knock at the door interrupted CJ’s bout of self-pity. “CJ, are you alright in there? I heard a crash?” Nick’s voice penetrated the door. She dried her eyes and got up to open the door. “Are you okay?” he asked with kind eyes as she opened the door. “I’m fine. I just threw an ashtray,” she forced a smile. “Why are you crying? Are you sad?” he asked. “I’m sad and I’m alone,” she said.

“Alone?” he repeated. “Is there something I can do?” he asked naively. A wicked smile washed across her face as she held out her hand for him to take. He did and she led him out onto the balcony. “You like me Nick, don’t you? she asked in a breathy voice. “You had quite a show the last time we were out here. Do you remember?” she asked, smiling cunningly. Flashes of skin ripped through his mind as his body seized. She let her hair down from its ponytail and let it drape down over her shoulders. “It’s a hot day today, isn’t it Nick?” she asked as she slowly unbuttoned the third and fourth button on her shirt. He stood there, immobile as he watched her calculating hands work. She shook out the collar on her shirt, so that a deep ‘V’ formed at the breast. His eyes were transfixed on her creamy skin as he licked his lips and lifted a hand to touch. “You wanna touch them?” she said coyly. “Go ahead.” He didn’t move a muscle. His eyes didn’t even blink. She took a step towards him and grabbed his hand. She raised his hand and placed it on her breast. She smiled and he closed his eyes and his trembling hand began to explore. She sighed and stood up on her tip-toes, pressing her lips against his. Instantaneously the spell which was keeping him immobile was broken and he picked her up off the ground and lifted her up onto his hips. His tongue did a wild dance inside of her mouth as his exploring hand slid down and untucked her shirt.

The hot sun beat down on them as they stood in their torrid embrace on the balcony. Her lips did things Nick didn’t even know were possible, causing him to rip her shirt right off her body. He tossed it aside, and once realizing that it went over the balcony, he thought it better if he took his little party inside. He carried CJ over to the bed where he sat down on the edge and let out a great sigh. She pushed him down and straddled over him as she removed his clothes in a very clinical manner. He lay there like a hostage, a victim of her touch as she made him feel things that he had never felt before. “I’ve never done this before,” he whispered. “I-I don’t know what to do.” “I don’t either,” she smiled. “So we’ll just have to learn together.”

Meg and Nat interrupted Kevin’s little pep-talk with Brian when they came galloping in to pack up Meg’s stuff. Everyone was still traveling considerably light, but still, they each had their own unique way of spreading around what they had. “Watcha doin’ Meg?” Brian asked as he watched her pick up her clothes off the floor. “Packing up my stuff. I hope that you’re okay with me going to Florida with Nat and everyone....” she said timidly without looking up.

“Of course I am, I’m glad you’re coming. How else can I fall in love with you if you’re not there?” he smiled. It took a moment for his words to register and then Meg dropped what she had been doing and looked up at Brian in disbelief. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and all of the words she had been dying to tell him were caught in her throat. “You mean you’re coming with us?” Nat finally broke the awkward silence. Brian knelt down beside Meg and helped her pick up her clothes. “Of course, if you want me to.....” he smiled.

Howie had packed up all of his things and was heading down to hail a cab when he stopped himself in his tracks. Was he being foolish to leave? Should he ask her one more time to come back with him? He stood for a moment in the lobby as partiers passed by him. He set his bag down on the floor and checked his watch. He had the time and she was important enough to him that he would make the time. He picked up his bag and ran for the elevator.

He stepped off the elevator and began to make his way down to his room. The pangs of guilt for walking out on CJ were too much for him to bear. Even if he did leave without her, he needed for her to know how he felt. He needed for her to know that he was coming back, no matter what. As he walked, he dug the room key out of his pocket and rubbed his thumb back and forth along the teeth. He stopped outside the door and listened. He knew that he had upset her and he could still hear her muffled cries through the door. He quietly slipped his key in the lock and turned it. He opened the door and took a step in. Her cries became louder and his heart went out to her. He had no idea that he had caused her this much pain.

He took one more step inside and was about to call out to her and let her know that he was sorry and that he had come back for her, but before he could make a sound, the words were stopped cold in his throat as his heart dropped to his shoes. CJ was in bed, among a tangled web of sheets and legs.....four legs. Two of the legs belonged to a man with very blonde hair. Tears welled up in Howie’s eyes as he forced himself to look away. Without making a noise, he turned and left the room, managing to close the door behind him without making a sound. He paused for a moment in the hallway as he leaned against the wall for support. He sank down onto his knees as his tears began to flow. He ran his hands through his hair, but quickly wiped his face with his sleeve as he heard a door unlock and open. It was Alex, who was carrying his ice bucket. Howie quickly sprung to his feet and grabbed his bag, trying to pretend as if nothing was wrong, but it was too late. His red eyes were a dead give away. “Hey! Howie, man are you alright?” Alex said as he approached. “What? Oh, I’m fine!” Howie said, trying to act cool. Alex raised an eyebrow, knowing that everything wasn’t fine. He looked down at Howie’s hand which was holding the bag and then at the other one, which was holding the key. “You leaving already? Is everything alright with you and CJ?” Alex probed. Howie looked down and began to rub his thumb along the teeth of the key again. He began to rub so hard this time that he began to bleed. “Howie! You’re BLEEDING!” Alex exclaimed. “C’mon man, let me fix that up for you.”

Howie followed Alex to his room where he sat down on the end of the bed and desperately tried to stifle his tears. Alex went in the bathroom to get a cloth and a bandaide for Howie’s thumb. “Now are you going to tell me what’s bothering you or am I gonna have to beat it out of you?” Alex teased as he cleaned up Howie’s wound. Howie flinched at the antiseptic’s sting and then began to tell Alex what he had just witnessed. When he was done, Alex’s jaw was on the floor in disbelief, not so much over CJ, but more so over Nick. “Are you sure it was Nick?” Alex said, still amazed. “Oh yeah! It was him alright. I should have known something was going on between them. She told me before that she had kissed him, but she just brushed it off saying that she was just trying to bring him out of his shell a little. I believed her, Alex.....” Howie began to fade.

“Well she brought him out of his shell alright!” Alex laughed. “All the way out!” he laughed again and then looked at the pain in Howie’s eyes. “Sorry.” he said wiping the smile from his face. “Maybe it’s for the best...that you found out now rather than later, right?” “But I love her, Alex. I’ve known her for a long time and I know that she can be a little wild. But I’ve always liked her. I know what’s she’s capable of....just about anything to get what she wants, but........” his eyes fell and so did tears. Alex sat uncomfortably, staring at Howie, wishing that Jamie was there to help him with all of this emotional stuff.

“Thanks, Alex,” Howie said, standing up and grabbing his bag again. “I’ve gotta go though, now more than ever.” he trailed off and took a deep breath. “Take care of yourself and the others. I hope that everything works out for you and Jamie.” He handed Alex his number and told him to stay in touch. He headed for the door and opened it. “Hey Howie, promise me that this isn’t good-bye” Alex said, just before Howie was all the way into the hallway. “I won’t make promises that I can’t keep,” he replied and then closed the door.

Meg and Kevin sat talking over Caesar salad as they waited for the rest to arrive. Meg figured that if her sister was so taken with this man, that she better get to know him. They sat at one end of the table as Brian and Nat did the same thing at the other end. Jamie arrived and sat down beside Kevin, feeling a little awkward since Alex wasn’t there yet. Kevin smiled at her kindly and offered her some salad. “No thanks,” she said as she covered her plate with her hands. “I’ll leave the lettuce for the rabbits!” Kevin raised an eyebrow and smiled as Meg threw her head back and laughed out loud. Her laughter caught Brian’s attention and he looked up from his plate in her direction. He smiled to himself as he noted that it was her laugh, he thought, that he liked the best about her. It was so infectious and so beautiful, that he couldn’t help but join her, even though he didn’t know what he was laughing at.

Alex sat down and apologized for his tardiness and made apologies for Howie. Alex explained that the only flight back to Phoenix today, was this afternoon. The discussion shifted to CJ’s whereabouts and Alex explained that she was quite distraught over Howie leaving. “Should someone go and check on her?” Jamie asked. “I think that Nick was going to do that,” Alex said innocently, just as Nick straggled into the dining room. He sat down sporting a huge grin on his face, noticing that Alex was staring deeply at him. “What?” he said backwardly. “Nothing,” Alex said with a suspicious grin as he chewed on his salad. “How’s CJ?”

“CJ?” Nick said, shocked to hear her name. “Why are you asking me about CJ?” “Well Alex said that you were going to check on her after Howie left,” Nat said. As the words left Nat’s lips, CJ approached the table and sat down in the empty chair beside Jamie. “Good afternoon everyone! I’m starved!” she said as she helped herself to some salad. “You must be after that work-out this morning,” Alex said coolly under his breath. “Work-out? What are you talking about?” she replied. “Oh,....didn’t you go to the gym this morning? I thought that Howie told me that he saw you and Nick working out? Did I misunderstand him?” Alex said, not looking up from his plate. “Howie told me that you worked up quite a sweat!”

The tension at the table had suddenly rose to an immeasurable level as CJ set her fork down and looked down the table toward Alex. She hadn’t noticed until she heard his name, but he was missing. “Where IS Howie?” she asked reluctantly. “I thought that he was staying for lunch.” “Oh, he was going to.....but then he saw you and Nick working-out and he said that he lost his appetite.” Alex replied. “What are you TALKING about? I WASN’T at the GYM!” she said in a haughty voice. Alex took a deep breath and set down his fork calmly.

“Hey Alex, if you’re trying to say something, than just say it man!” Brian said as he pushed his empty plate away from him. “HE SAW YOU, CJ! He saw YOU and NICK!” Alex said sternly and then picked his fork back up and began to eat as the others sat around the table, completely in the dark as to what the hell was going on. CJ knew though and so did Nick. Nick just smiled, feeling quite proud of himself as CJ slumped down in her chair and for the first time, the consequences of her actions seemed too real. What had she done?

CJ wiggled in her chair as 14 eyes bore down on her. Nervously she licked her lips and for the first time, she didn’t feel in control. She began to take laboured breaths as she struggled for the words to say. Then she felt comfort as Jamie’s hand found her shoulder and offered a comforting squeeze. She rubbed her hand along her cheek as everyone seemed to be waiting for her to explain, even Nick. She swallowed hard and opened her mouth to say something, but all she felt was that she was going to be sick. She quickly covered her mouth and dashed off towards the washroom. She rested her flushed face on the cold basin as she heard the bathroom door open and footsteps approach her stall. “CJ? Honey, are you okay?” the friendly voice of Jamie broke the awkward silence. CJ didn’t lift her head, instead she just mumbled into the porcelain that she was alright and that she was embarrassed. For the first time in her life, she was embarrassed.

The door of her stall squeaked open and CJ emerged, dabbing her mouth with toilet paper. She rinsed her mouth out with water at the sink and then paused to take a good look at herself in the mirror. “I’m a horrible person.....what have I become?” she asked as she brushed her sweaty hair away from her eyes. “A human being,” Jamie replied as she leaned against the counter. “CJ, I don’t know you...at all, but I can tell that you’re not a horrible person. You seem to me to be the kind of person who knows what she wants and who is used to getting what she wants, but that doesn’t make you a bad person.” She smiled kindly and hopped up on the counter. “How can I go back out there? Everyone is going to hate me now. Everyone is going to judge me...that I’m a user.....I’m a user and a cheater....How will I ever be able to face them again?” Tears began to fall and for the first time in years, she felt like she had tapped into the little girl inside of her. “You know these guys a hell of a lot better than I do, but I can guarantee you that they will not hate you. You’re a big girl and you are free to make your own decisions to be with who you want, when you want. The problems that you face aren’t between you and the people waiting at that table, they are between you and Howie.” Jamie jumped down off the counter and opened the door. CJ splashed her face one last time with water and dried it off. Jamie motioned for her to put on a smile and she did. “Come on now, you’re a big girl...you can do this. I’ll be right beside you if you need me.”

CJ tucked her hair behind her ear and put her shoulders back proudly as she walked back to the table. Jamie led the way and sat down beside Alex, giving him a peck on the cheek as she repositioned her napkin on her knee. “So...shall we order?” Jamie asked casually as if nothing unusual had just happened. Everyone was still caught in the moment, watching CJ closely as she returned to the table. Jamie smiled at her and CJ forced a smile and took a sip of her water. Jamie poked Alex in the ribs, wanting him to say something. “Oh,....a...ya...I’m starved....I think I’m gonna have the chicken salad sandwich,” Alex said, rubbing his side where Jamie’s elbow had made contact. “Mmmm, that sounds good,” Meg said, trying to act normal. CJ couldn’t take it, the awkwardness at the table was too much for her. The urge to run over came her and she threw her napkin on the table and was just about to bolt when she felt Jamie’s hand on her knee. She paused and looked at Jamie who had an sympathetic look on her face. “You can do this.....they won’t hate you,” CJ told herself as she relaxed back into her chair. “In light of things....I think that I should go,” CJ suddenly blurted out before she could stop herself. “In light of what things?” Meg asked naively. “In light of my...er... bad behaviour?....I mean, I’m pretty sure that Howie would be here right now if it wasn’t for me......I’m also sure that the last thing you want right now is for someone like me to be tagging along with you to Florida.” CJ took a deep breath and looked around the table with pleading eyes.

“CJ, what you do is your business. I’m just sorry that Howie left you. I couldn’t help but notice how cute you two were together. I hope that maybe we can help you find your way back to each other,” Nat said with a smile. Brian nodded his head in agreement and before CJ knew it, the awkwardness that had once engulfed the table had disappeared, leaving only a feeling of friendship and security. These people didn’t want her to leave; they hadn’t judged her. They wanted to be there for her and help her, no matter how awful her behaviour had been. These people were in it with her for the long haul. Without her even knowing it, or without her even asking for it, all of these people had become her friends.

“Before we leave, I have an errand to run,” Alex said as he pushed his empty plate away from him and leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. “I was hoping that you could come with me,” he said looking over at Kevin. Kevin wiped his mouth with his napkin and took a sip of his coffee. “You want me to go?” Kevin asked, surprised, knowing that he and Alex weren’t exactly the best of friends. “It’s kinda weird...and I think that I may need your help,” Alex said with sad eyes. Kevin nodded and left his credit card on the table as he kissed Nat goodbye and got up to go. “Two hours.....we’ll be back in two hours, so everyone be ready,” Alex said as he followed Kevin outside.

“So where are we going?” Kevin asked as he pulled his car out of the parking lot. “To the police station,” Alex answered quietly, knowing those words would rattle him. “The POLICE STATION?” Kevin repeated. “Alex, I’ll ask you again, are you in some kinda trouble?” “NO! But I do have something that I need to do.....and I thought that you would be the best one to help me with it.” Alex said as he fidgeted with his keys, which he continued to do the rest of the way to the station.

Alex went up to the desk and told them who he was and an officer quickly escorted them back to an interrogation room. Kevin began to get a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, but Alex just sat down casually in one of the chairs and waited. Before too long, the door opened and an officer came in and escorted her to the seat across the table from Alex. “Alex, baby, what are you doing?.......We can work this out,” Ireland smiled her brilliant smile as she slid her cuffed hands across the table, trying to reach for Alex. “There’s nothing more to work out.......I’ve taken all that I can of you. This has to end.....NOW,” he said sternly as Kevin watched, proud of Alex for not succumbing to her charms. “You over-reacted the other nite, this is just a big misunderstanding!” she smiled again. “Tell the officer Alex, tell him that this is all a misunderstanding.” “I’m sorry Ireland, but I can’t do this anymore,” he said to her and then stood up and walked over to the officer. “I would like to make a proper statement and then take out a restraining order on her.” The smile disappeared from Irelands face as Alex made his request. Hate washed across her face, and for a brief moment, Kevin thought that she was going to lunge across the room and strangle Alex with her bare hands, but in the blink of an eye, she regained her composure and sat back in her chair, smiling radiantly as if she wouldn’t harm a fly.

Within the hour, the paper work was done and Alex had signed his name a dozen times all in hopes that this would finally free him from Ireland’s grasp. As they walked out of the police station Alex breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I’m proud of you, y’know,” Kevin said as they got into the car. “It took a lot of guts to stand up to her and do something like that.” “I don’t know about standing up to her, but I at least stood up for myself.”

Brian was chasing Nick around the parking lot of the hotel as the girls sat on the curb watching when Kevin and Alex returned from the police station. “You better get all that running out of your systems now,” Kevin said as he approached, “cuz it’s gonna be a long way to Florida.” He smiled as Nat jumped to her feet and gave him a huge hug. “So where were you two?” Meg asked. Kevin and Alex exchanged glances and then smiles.

“I just had some unfinished business I needed to take care of,” Alex replied as he looked around for Jamie. “Where’s Jamie? Isn’t she ready?” “Oh, well...we already checked out of our rooms, that’s why all of our luggage is here, but Jamie said that she was hot, so she’s taking a last minute dip in the pool,” CJ said with a smile, feeling more comfortable with the group since they had watched her be stripped of all her dignity and didn’t turn on her. A smile popped up on Alex’s face as the image of Jamie soaking wet swam through his mind. “Well,..I guess I better go and get her...right?” he smiled. “It’s a dirty job, man, but someone’s gotta do it!” Brian said as he stopped chasing Nick just long enough for Nick to let his guard down and then Brian tackled him onto the grass, yelling at him to say ‘uncle.’

Alex made his way along the lush path towards the courtyard and the pool as the bright sun shone down on him strongly. Surprisingly, for that time of day, the pool area was deserted, except for an elderly lady who had fallen asleep in her lawn chair with a tattered copy of a Harlequin romance novel clutched in her wrinkled hand. At second glance, Alex thought that the elderly lady was the only one there until he saw a dark figure moving at the bottom of the pool. He kicked off his shoes and sat down at the edge of the pool and dangled his feet in as the figure made its way towards him. If he had had his bathing suit on, he would have jumped right in after her, but he contained himself, praying that she would hurry up and surface soon. She made her way towards him, her powder blue bikini shimmering in the sunlight as she slinked through the water like a fish. When she surfaced, just feet away from him, her beautiful green eyes were shocked to see him watching over her. For a brief moment, embarrassment flashed through her mind; she was a bit self-conscious about being seen in a bikini, and then she remembered that he had seen her in a lot less. She smiled at him and swam up to him and grabbed onto his ankles for support. “How long have you been here?” she asked as she smoothed down her hair. “Not long. Just long enough to witness how long you can hold your breath. I should have know,” he smiled. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she laughed and splashed him with water. “NOTHING!!!” he laughed back and kicked some water back at her with his foot. “OH NO! YOU don’t wanna play like THAT!” she laughed and splashed even more water on him, completely soaking his shorts. “You’re right,” he smiled. “TRUCE!!! Come here, baby,” he said holding his hand out to her. Thoughts of taking that hand and pulling him into the water with her crossed her mind, but she thought that she would play nice, just this once. She took his hand and he told her to hang on as he pulled her up out of the water and sat her down on his knee.

“Oh, my God, I can’t believe that you just did that!” she said, marveling at his strength. “What can I say, you make me feel strong,” he said quietly to her and then rubbed her nose in an Eskimo kiss. Her eyes scanned his, seeing nothing but kindness and admiration for her. She leaned in close and pressed her wet lips against his. If they had been in the pool, the water would have started to boil. She pulled back from him and released a great sigh. “Wow! What was that for?” she asked, breathless. “Just because you’re you and you make me happy.” She didn’t know how to respond to that exactly, making someone happy was a big responsibility, one that she wasn’t sure that she was capable of or ready for. “Well, look at you.....I’m dripping all over you.....you’re soaking wet!” she said nervously, trying to change the subject. His eyes were locked on her, making her feel, again, self conscious. She was just about to get up and grab her towel when he cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her so deeply and so passionately, that she thought that she was going to explode. The desire to have him right there and right now overwhelmed her and without even thinking, she tipped backwards into the pool, taking Alex with her. They sunk to the bottom, touched their feet and pushed their way back to the surface without even releasing lips. Once above water, they unlocked their lips and took a huge gasp of air. With a provocative smile, she wrapped her legs around him and kissed him again. He was just about to submerge them again when she pulled back, realizing that the elderly lady had awoken. She sat wide-eyed in her lawn chair as scenes from her romance novel unfolded before her eyes.

“Maybe we better finish this another time,” Jamie said as he pointed out their audience. “Or we could give her the thrill she’s looking for,” he replied as he untied the string on her bikini top. Jamie’s hand leapt up and stopped him, kissing him on the cheek as a distraction. She tied it back up and splashed her way towards the ladder. “C’mon, honey, I’ll make it up to you later, I promise,” she smiled as she wrapped herself in a towel. Alex climbed out and picked up his shoes. “I’ll meet you at the car...I’m just gonna go and change,” she said as she shuffled off towards the change rooms. Alex made his way back to the parking lot where the group was still waiting.

“Sorry that took so long, she’ll just be minute,” he said as he started to put his shoes back on. “What the hell happened to you?” Kevin asked, flabbergasted that Alex was standing before him dripping wet. “You’re not getting in my car like that!” “Everything’s fine.....”Alex smiled as he searched around for his change of clothes. “Jamie just needed a little mouth to mouth.”

Tunes blared heavily on Kevin’s radio as Alex drove over the State-Line from Louisiana into Florida. It was early evening and the bright orange sun was beginning to set in the western sky. Nat, who was in the backseat with Kevin, rummaged through her purse frantically, trying to find her sunglasses. The bright sun in the rearview mirror was blinding her and she was beginning to see dark spots everywhere she looked. The cell phone rang and Jamie answered it. The conversation was short and when she was done, she leaned over and whispered something in Alex’s ear. He nodded and turned his head quickly, kissing her lips before she turned away. “What’s up?” Kevin asked from the backseat. “That was Brian. We’re stopping.”

Alex followed Brian’s car into a deserted parking lot and watched as Nick and CJ climbed out of the backseat. Nick stretched his long legs as he kicked the gravel on the dusty parking lot. “So, why are we stopping? There’s nothing here,” Nat said as she climbed out of the backseat. “What do you mean there’s nothing here? It’s beautiful....can’t you see? I thought it would be wonderful to watch the sunset.....”CJ said as she stood in awe of the brilliant fireball in the sky. They had stopped at a state park which happened to be elevated above the populated city below. CJ ran to the other side of the parking lot and across the lawn until she came to the edge of the embankment. She stopped there and raised her hands up to praise the sun.

“OH!! Isn’t it GLORIOUS????” she yelled as the others made their way towards her. They all stood in a perfect line, mesmerized by the western sky. Kevin took Nat by the hand and led her a few feet away from the group, where he motioned for them to sit down. Nat leaned up against him as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. “This is one of the most profound moments of my life,” she said. He held her tighter as he felt her begin to shiver. “Are you cold?” he asked. “No, it’s just all too fantastic....it’s just getting to me right here,” she said laying her hand over her heart as an overwhelming sense of her existence loomed around her. She shuffled over to the other side of the rock and straightened her legs out in front of her and began to knock her shoes together nervously. The sun had almost set completely and it was growing more and more difficult for Alex to see the _expression on her face. “I know that you never met her, but I’M the reason that Howie broke up with his girlfriend, Morgan,” she said as silence fell upon them. CJ sat waiting for his reaction, but instead she heard silence, she couldn’t even hear him breathing. Finally he spoke. “You what? Oh, CJ, how could you?” he started to say in a defeated tone. “How did you accomplish that?” “I told him that Morgan cheated on him...which she DID!!! I didn’t LIE!” “But you also didn’t mind your own business did you?” Alex said in a stern whisper so that the others wouldn’t hear as he rubbed his hair strongly with his hand. “No,” she answered meekly. “I was being selfish, I know that......” she thought for a moment. “At least I didn’t tell him WHO she cheated with...that information would have changed everything...... Do you wanna know?” she asked eagerly. Alex covered his ears with his hands.

“Don’t tell me!!! I DON’T WANNA KNOW!!!! I know too much as it is!!!!” he yelled in a low whisper. CJ laughed and gave him a little push on the rock. He uncovered his ears and tried to make out her profile in the dark. “I don’t know what to say to you, CJ, you’re making it very difficult for me.” “I don’t know what I was thinking. I like to have fun and I like getting my own way....,but this time I went too far and it cost me, and now I’m no different than she is....He’s gone back to her....hasn’t he?.” “Unfortunately, you Are different than her. Cheating is still cheating, but she cheated because of temptation, where you cheated out of vengence.”A single tear ran down her cheek as Alex’s truthful words stung her heart. “I love him Alex....I really do....I....I have for years....will you help me get him back?” He took a deep breath and rubbed her shoulder awkwardly. He couldn’t see her face, but he knew that she was crying. “I don’t know if I can......”