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10,000 Kisses
A few days later, the girls had a little get together during the day just by
themselves. Suz extended an invitation to Lyndsay. In all there was Suz,
Kat, Joy, Val, Tracy, Rachel, Chrissy and Lyndsay. The girls had a good time
joking around, swimming, playing games, and watching movies. It was
something that they all needed.
Suddenly, Suz heard the front door open and the sound of Kevin's and Nick's
voices. She looked over at Lyndsay who had frozen in fright. Nick wasn't
supposed to see Lyndsay until the night of the party.
"Quick, hide," Kat said pushing Lyndsay towards the back stairs that went
upstairs to the bedrooms.
Nick walked into the kitchen just as Kat and Lyndsay disappeared from sight.
"Where's Kat going in such a hurry?" Nick asked.
"Bathroom," the girls answered in unison while they tried not to laugh.
"So, Nicky Boy, your birthday is coming up. What do you want?" Suz asked.
"I don't know," Nick said shrugging his shoulders.
"A stripper?" Joy asked watching as he blushed.
"A girlfriend?" Val asked even more amused.
"Lyndsay?" Tracy said. Suz smacked her lightly in the arm.
"Like she'd ever want to go out with me. What she said in that article
probably isn't true," Nick said getting up, "Anyways, I'm gonna head home for
a bit and leave you girls to talk about whatever you talk about."
They watched as Nick walked out of the room saying goodbye to Kevin as he was
heading into the kitchen.
"Hi, babies," Kevin said wrapping his arms around Suz and her stomach, "How
are you doing today?"
"Better now that you're here," Suz said smiling up at him.
"So," Joy said, "Where's my man at?"
"I believe I saw him at the basketball court," Kevin answered.
"Well, I'm off to join him, but not for basketball," Joy said wiggling her
eyebrows as she exited the kitchen.
Kat watched as her friend walked away, "Where's..."
"Howie's at the house, working on a song, I believe," Kevin said having
anticipated her question.
Kat said goodbye to the rest of the gang and went to join Howie.
Kevin said down with the rest of them and they discussed the party for AJ and
Nick.
~A Week Later~
"How are you getting AJ and Nick to the place tomorrow?" Brian asked Kevin
and Suz.
"We are just going to tell him that we are going clubbing. They just don't
know it is a party for them," Suz said.
"We are going to say that you guys are going to meet up with us later while
we take them out for their birthday for dinner," Kevin said.
"Good idea," Donnie said.
Donnie left a few minutes later because it had to meet Val for dinner.
"Kev?" Suz said worried as they sat there cuddled together watching TV.
"Yes, honey?"
"Uh, there's something I wanted to tell you about Lyndsay"
Kevin leaned up concerned, "What's the matter?"
"Well, last week, when the girls and I got together, Lyndsay was here with us"
"Uh huh and?"
"And she told us about her last relationship and it wasn't pretty," Suz said
barely looking up at him.
"Honey, what's the matter?" Kevin said lifting her chin and seeing the
shimmer of faint tears. He gradually wiped them away.
"What happened to her last boyfriend?" he continued.
"He died," Suz said flatly.
"Oh my god," Kevin started, "I'm sorr..."
Suz held her hand up, "Don't be. He was an abusive drug user who often beat
her up until he OD'd on some combination of bad, tainted drugs."
"Oh jesus christ," Kevin said raking his hands through his hair.
"She landed in the hosptial many of times and often tried to leave him but
always managed to force her to stay...literally...with guns...shooting her
with crack or heroin...beating her more so that she couldn't move," Suz
offered.
Kevin pulled Suz close to him, "She seems to have everything together now."
"She does. She is just so scared of falling in love, but she already
has...with Nick. You can see it in her eyes, Kevin. But she is very scared
even though she won't admit it," Suz said.
"Nick will never hurt her. He might not have been through what she has but
he has been scared and hurt himself," Kevin said.
"I know...I know...and I told her that. I just hoped she believed me," Suz
said, "It is just that her old boyfriend was also a celebrity, like Nick."
"Who?" Kevin said looking as Suz surprised.
"River Phoenix"
"River Phoenix?" Kevin repeated in disbelief, "Holy shit!"
"Holy shit is right," Suz, "No one ever knew...all these years...no one ever
knew how he was."
Suz could only hoped that Nick could repair what damage River had left
Lyndsay with.
Chapter 66
10,000 Kisses
It was finally the day of the party and Lyndsay had called Suz several times
saying that she hoped Nick wouldn't be mad at Suz or Kevin for inviting her.
She reassured her several times that Nick wouldn't be angry.
"Kevin, are you almost ready? We have to go soon or we will be late for the
club," Suz said as she finished applying her light coat of makeup.
"I'm ready," Kevin murmured in her hair as he wrapped his arms around her
pulling her close, "I love the smell of your hair."
"Thank you," Suz said tilting her lips to meet his. As their passion started
heating up, Kevin reluctantly pulled away, "We have to go or like you said,
we will be late."
Five minutes later, they were on the road with AJ and Nick heading towards
the Olive Garden.
"Think we will get the same waitress again?" Nick said chuckling. Just as he
said that, a familiar face walked up to them. "Oh god, it is you two again,"
she said rolling her eyes. "What?" Nick said innocently. "Nevermind him,"
Suz said to the waitress glancing at her name tag, "Keri."
After a few minutes of fighting over who sits where, AJ gave up and let Nick
sit next to Suz.
"Big baby," AJ mumbled.
"No, I'm not!" Nick huffed.
"Boys," Suz said laying her hands on theirs, "Be good. This is your
birthday, not mine."
"Suz, we're only playing," AJ said noting the tired look on her face. She
seemed very cheerful and excited but was very tired. 'I'll have to ask Kevin
about her and her pregnancy. I hope she is ok,' AJ thought to himself.
~After Dinner~
"So, what are we doing after this?" Nick asked.
"Going clubbing," Suz said with a hint of a smile.
"OOOHHHH...someone loves to go dancing now," AJ teased.
"Shut up," Suz giggled.
"Which club," Nick asked again.
"Pier69," Kevin said.
"Really?" Nick said surprised.
"Really!" Suz said laughing.
"I wonder why you are so eager," AJ teased.
"Shut up, Bone!" Nick said slapping him on the shoulder, "Are you guys ready
yet?"
Kevin and Suz looked at each other and laughed. This was going to be quite a
night.
~An Hour Later~
"Ok, here we are," Suz said getting out of the car. She stretched her back
slightly wincing as she felt some pain. She really hoped that she could
avoid any back pain during her pregnancy but that was like asking for another
miracle.
"Suz, you ok?" AJ asked coming up to her.
"I'm fine, AJ. But thanks for caring," Suz said smiling, "Now lets go
inside."
Suz and Kevin followed as AJ and Nick walked ahead.
They allowed them to open the doors and greet the bouncer who was standing
there, "Hi Eric."
"Hi everyone," Eric said, "go right on in."
The four of them looked around.
"Over there," Eric pointed to the door that was closed. The owners had
agreed to close the club for about 2 hours then let the regular customers
come in.
Nick opened the door as AJ followed him and Suz behind him with Kevin
bringing up the rear.
There were no lights on.
"Suz, there's no..." Nick started but was interrupted by everyone yelling
surprise and throwing the lights on.
The two men stood there in shock.
AJ and Nick stood there speechless.
"Ha ha," Suz said laughing, "I told you that they'd be surprised" as she
looked at Howie and Brian.
"I am," Nick said hugging her, "Thank you."
"Anything for my sweeties," Suz said kissing AJ and Nick on the cheek then
pushing them towards the horde of people waiting for them.
Suz and Kevin went to go join the rest of the gang over in the corner.
"Hi guys," Suz said in a cheery mood.
"Hey, Suz, Kevin," Donnie said.
Everyone chorused hello then went their separate ways dancing and partying.
"You want to go dance?" Kevin asked Suz.
Suz nodded smiling.
She followed him to the dance floor nodding briefly at Brian as she rested
her head on Kevin's chest. His arms closed around her enveloping her in a
deep warmth as "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill started. Kevin
started to slowly sing along in her ear:
Yea, yea
Dancin' in the dark, middle of the night
Takin' your heart and holdin' it tight
Emotional touch, touchin' my skin
And asking you to do what you've been doin' all over again
Oh it's a beautiful thing, don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know what it is that won't let me go
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
Suz looked up at Kevin as she watched his green eyes twinkle from the emotion
in his voice and face. She brought her hand up caressing the side of his
face as his lips moved spilling forth the beautiful words:
Better than I was, more than I am
And all of this happened by taking your hand
And who I am now is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together,
I'm stronger than ever
I'm happy and free
Oh it's a beautiful thing,
Don't think I can keep it all in
If you asked me why I've changed,
All I gotta do is say your sweet name
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh, it's your love
Suz moved her thumb over his lips as she felt his hot breath with each
syllable that he spoke. Gradually, she joined in with him:
Baby, Oh oh, oh,
Oh it's a beautiful thing,
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you konw what it is that won't let me go
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under,
Oh it's your love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
The song drifted off and turned into the upbeat tempo of Jordan Knight's
"Give it to You."
Kevin lowered his face to Suz and teasingly grazed his lips against hers.
She whimpered in response then licked her lips.
"Oh, you are so bad," Kevin teased as his nose brushed hers back and forth.
They could both feel the electricity in the air around them.
Just as Kevin was about to smash his lips againt Suz's, she grimaced
slightly.
"Baby? Are you ok?" he asked rubbing her back gently.
"I'm ok. My back is just killing me," Suz said.
"Come on. You're going to sit down," Kevin commanded steering her towards
the table.
As she sat down, he offered to get her a drink.
"Just some water, please," she said smiling over at Joy and Kat.
"You ok?" they asked in unison.
"I'm fine. My back just hurts a little bit," Suz said.
Kat and Joy nodded slowly as their eyes wondered back to their men on the
dance floor...making utter fools of themselves trying to breakdance
Chapter 68
10,000 Kisses
Kevin had since returned with her drink and was sitting there, caressing her
lower back gently, as they talked with various people who periodically sat at
their table.
"When is Lyndsay getting here?" Kevin whispered into Suz's ear as he watched
Nick dance with some people on the dancefloor.
Suz checked her watch, "Any moment. I told her to come in and send Eric for
me."
"You don't want Nick to know?" Joy whispered.
Suz nodded her head no.
Not yet 5 minutes later, Eric tapped on her shoulder and pointed to his
right. She could see Lynds standing in the shadows of the dark club. By
this point, the club had been opened to admit regular customers.
Suz got up approaching Lyndsay. The plan was to have Lyndsay go up to Nick
as a slow song started and ask him to dance. They all knew that he would be
startled.
Suz walked back to the table where now AJ, Kat, Howie, Val, Tracy, and Jon
were sitting at along with Kevin.
"Can someone go up and request "Love Tried To Welcome Me" by Madonna?" Suz
asked.
"Sure," AJ said smirking as he approached the DJ's booth. After a quick few
words, Chuck, the DJ, gave a thumbs up sign to Suz and nodded.
Within a few minutes, after the ending chords of the last song faded, "Love
Tried To Welcome Me" started. Nick was left standing on the dance floor as
couples paired off. He was ready to exit the floor when he felt a tap on his
shoulder and turned around.
"Hi Nick," Lyndsay said shyly.
"Hi Lyndsay," Nick said after finding his voice.
"Do you want to dance?" she asked cautiously.
"Sure," he replied pulling her gently into his arms and resting his chin on
her head. Gradually, they began to sway together letting the music overtake
their bodies. The words of the song floated over them:
these are my hands
but what can they give me
these are my eyes
but they cannot see
these are my arms
but they dont know tenderness
and i must confess
that i am usually drawn to sadness
and loneliness has never been a stranger
to me
love tried to welcome me
but my soul drew back
guilty of lust and sin
love tried to take me in
these are my lips
but they whisper sorrow
this is my voice
but its telling lies
i know how to laugh
but i dont know happiness
and i must confess
instead of spring
its always winter
and my heart has always been
a lonely hunter
love tried to welcome me
but my soul drew back
covered w/dust and sin
love tried to take me in
love tried to break me
With a sigh of satisifaction, Suz leaned against Kevin hoping that those two
would find the way to each others' hearts. She closed her eyes basking in the
feel of Kevin's strong arms around her, cradling her. She had almost drifted
off into sleep when she heard Nick's and Lyndsay's voices slowly approaching
their table.
"Hi guys," Suz said opening her eyes then smiled.
"You knew about this?" Nick said laughing.
"My lips are sealed," Suz said then looked at Kevin who promptly kissed her
rendering her the inability to speak at the moment.
"Funny, Funny," Nick said, "What does AJ get?"
"I think AJ has gotten what he wanted," Joe said laughing as they all turned
to look at AJ surrounded by a horde of females. He looked up briefly at them
with a helpless look. Brian made a motion to go rescue him.
"Leave him," Kat said, "you know the man enjoys it."
"That he does," Suz said chuckling.
AJ saw Brian sit back down and briefly glared at Brian but it was quickly
replaced by a laugh.
Suz watched as Lyndsay and Nick got comfortable with their drinks at the
table.
Suz started daydreaming but was startled when someone said hello her...or
actually screamed hello to her, "Hello Suz!!"
Suz jumped up in a panic as everyone watched.
10,000 Kisses
Chapter 69
"HOLY FUCK! You practically gave me a freakin' heart attack," Suz said as
Lyndsay laughed hysterically. Suz turned giving Lyndsay a strange look but
then it dawned on her...Lyndsay knew Keanu. He had been best friends with
River.
Keanu held his sides in laughter as he struggled to hold himself up.
"You don't do that to a pregnant woman!" Suz said.
"Preg...preg...pregnant?" Keanu asked in disbelief.
"I think someone's had one too many kicks to the head," Suz said laughing.
"Funny...funny," Keanu said as he looked at the people around the table who
were staring at him wide eyed. He recognized most of the men sitting there
but didn't say anything.
"Suz, uh, you gonna introduce him or hold a conversation with him by yourself
all night?" Howie asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, guys. Guys, this is Keanu Reeves. Keanu, these are my
friends," Suz said.
Kevin cleared his throat.
"Oops, sorry honey," Suz said grabbing Kevin's hand and pulling him up,
"Keanu, this is my fiancee, Kevin."
"Nice to meet you, Kevin," Keanu said shaking his hand.
"This is Joy, Kat, Val, Chrissy, and Rachel," Suz said.
"Please to meet you all," Keanu said as his gaze shifted over to Lyndsay,
"Hello, Lyndsay."
"Hi, Keanu," Lyndsay said softly averting her eyes.
Suz looked up at Keanu seeing the pained look in his eyes. She figured that
he was thinking about what River had done to Lyndsay. Suz knew in the few
years that she has known Keanu, who she met after River's death, he had never
told her about Lyndsay and River. I guess along with the drug abuse it was
something Keanu didn't want to think about.
Nick looked between the Lyndsay and Keanu figuring Keanu was the one that
had caused Lyndsay the heartache she was feeling.
Suz looked up seeing River's brother, Joaquin, approach Keanu and tap him on
the shoulder.
"Keanu, they are almost ready for..." Joaquin started but stopped when he
spotted Suz.
"Suz!" he said hugging her.
"Oof, Joaquin, I can't breath," Suz said laughing.
"Oops, sorry, Suz. I'm just so glad to see you. How ya doing?" Joaquin said
in a rush.
"A little pregnant," Suz said flashing a wide smile.
"Who's the lucky man?" Joaquin asked.
"Me," Kevin said glancing around Suz with amusement. He just loved all the
attention Suz was getting. It seemed that she just ate it up!
"Kevin Richardson," Joaquin said in surprise holding out his hand,
"Congratulations."
Kevin was surprised that Joaquin knew who he was and he guessed it showed on
his face when Joaquin said, "You didn't think I knew who the Backstreet Boys
were?"
"Uh..." Kevin stuttered. He couldn't believe it. It was the only time he
couldn't think of anything to say.
"Here, meet the rest of the guys," Suz said introducing Howie, AJ, Brian, and
finally, Nick.
Joaquin's eyes skimmed over the woman sitting next to Nick then snapped back.
Lyndsay froze then quickly bolted from the table.
"Oh shit...oh shit," Joaquin said slapping his forehead.
"Shh, Joaquin, she'll be fine," Suz said as she turned to Nick, "Go after
her, Nick, NOW!"
Jumping up in fright at the tone of Suz's voice, Nick raced after Lyndsay
calling after her.
Suz turned to Keanu but then stopped as she felt a more severe sharp pain
shot up her back. She stumbled falling into the vacant chair that Nick had
exited.
"Suz!" Kevin said.
"I'm ok, I think I did too much dancing," Suz said half convinced.
"Suz," Keanu said bending down, "You're bleeding."
The three of them looked down noticing the blood seeping slowly down Suz's
inner calf.
With a cry, Suz fainted in fear.
10,000 Kisses
Chapter 70
"Oh my god," Kevin shouted in a daze. Thinking fast, Keanu picked Suz up
asking Kevin where his car was. Since Kevin was in no shape to answer, Brian
and Joy directed him where to go while AJ rounded up the rest of the group.
Joaquin sat down to wait for Nick and Lyndsay. There was something that he
still wanted to say to her.
Meanwhile...
Lyndsay has snuck out the back door of the club leaning against the faintly
hot red brick of the building. She laid her head back as she watched her
years with River flash in her mind...reminding her of the horror she had
endored at his hands.
She remembered when she had first met him. She was quite young...about
16...and had an internship with a local magazine during the summer between
her junior and senior year of high school. Her first assignment was to
interview River about his acting career as a teenager in the 1990s. She had
become smitten with him right off the bat. He didn't seem considered with
what society or Hollywood thought of him. He did what he wanted as an actor.
Unfortunately, after waiting 2 years, until she was 18, to date, she found
out...the hard way...why River was just so laid back.
She was shocked the first time she stumbled upon River smoking a joint. He
promised her that he wouldn't do it again. She had threatened to leave him
the time she found his stash of drugs. That is when the hitting started.
Here and there...nothing life threatening until the night she found him
snorting cocaine. It was then that she realized for her sanity...if he
wasn't going to change...that she had to leave him.
She had screamed and yelled at him and finally stormed out of the
house...only to be stopped by him grabbing her hair and slamming her up
against the living room wall. She had felt the effects of this motion
vibrate through out her whole body almost shaking her internal organs. She
started to cry...but then he slapped her across the face causing her to stop.
She continuely endured his hitting and punching for the next year not letting
anyone know about it. His drug habit got even worse...and Hollywood was
blind to it.
She could still remember the look of fear and horror in Joaquin's eyes when
he saw his brother slumped outside on the pavement of the Viper Room. It was
like a deer in a car's headlights. He didn't know what to do first. Even
worse was the look on Johnny Depp's face when he realized what was happening.
It killed him that he had never realized what was going on with River.
Lyndsay let out a whimper and dropped to her knees.
~Back at the Hospital~
Kevin was still in a daze, so Keanu rushed Suz into the ER, surprising the
nurse when they looked up and saw who the people were approaching them. The
head nurse recovered quickly as the team of emergency personnel ran over,
"What's the problem?"
"She's pregnant and started bleeding...then she fainted," Keanu said as he
placed Suz on the gurney they had placed in front of them.
"Are you the father?" another nurse asked thrusting a clipboard in his hand
to fill out.
"No, he is," Keanu said pointing to Kevin behind him.
"Kev?" Brian said softly, "the nurse is talking to you."
He snapped out of his daze and looked over at the nurse, "I'll take them."
He sat down quietly and started to fill out forms as they wheeled Suz into a
room to check her over.
~Back at the Club~
Lyndsay jumped slightly as she felt someone's arms wrap around her petite
frame. She looked up in bewilderment as she watched Nick wipe away the tears
from her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Nick inquired in a soft tone which immediately put her at
ease.
Lyndsay opened her mouth then closed it.
"Lyndsay, you can always tell me what's wrong. I think you know by now that
I care about you," Nick said.
"I'm what is wrong," Joaquin said stepping outside with them into the balmy
Florida air.
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