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10,000 Kisses
Everyone was looking at them bewildered especially Rachel. “Jesus, girl, how
are you?” Tracy asked. “Well, I could be better but now that I saw
you…great!” Suzanne answered. “Why, what’s wrong? Come on, you can tell
your big sis!” Trace said. “Another time,” Suzanne whispered to her, “but
now, everyone is looking at us kinda funny.” Tracy turned and walked over to
Jordan to give him a kiss. Everyone was staring back and forth between
Suzanne and Tracy. “What?” Suzanne said with a laugh. Donnie finally spoke,
“You know Tracy?” “Uh, yes, actually we grow up together until my parents
divorced and I moved away. We lost touch after that. I was about 10 years
old. She used to live behind our house.” “Remember, Trace, how I used to
climb over the fence to your house all the time?” Suzanne said looking over
to Tracy. “Yeah, I remember. My brothers used to bug you all the time.
They would never leave us alone!” Tracy said. “Well,” Kevin said, “that is
just so weird that you to saw each other for the first time here.” “Yeah, I
guess I can thank you for this too, Kev, huh?” Suzanne said. “Oh, it was
nothing,” Kevin said laughing. Just then, all their food arrived. Tracy
took a sit next to Jordan and they started to eat. After a few minutes of
conversation and eating, Kevin leaned over to Suzanne asking if she was
having a good time. “Oh, yes, I am. I can’t believe that I saw Tracy after
all this time. She really was like a sister to me before my parents
divorced,” Suzanne softly whispered, “I was so devastated after we lost
contact with her. She used to baby-sit me a lot even though she is only a few
years older then me.” Kevin noticed how upset Suzanne looked. He wanted her
to have a good time and it seemed that it had helped that she saw Tracy again
after all this time but a look of despair now filled her eyes. “So, Tracy,”
Suzanne said, “what have you been doing since I saw you? God, I think you
were barely in high school because I was only in like 4th grade!” “Well, I
went to Pennsbury High School,” Tracy said. “Where is that?” Howie asked.
“Outside of Philadelphia Pennsylvania,” Tracy replied then continued with her
story, “and I graduated and went to Penn State for journalism. I received a
job at a newspaper in Philadelphia doing reviews for entertainment.” “How
did you end up down here?” Rachel asked. “Well,” she said looking at Jordan,
“I went to do a review for Jordan’s first solo concert in Philadelphia and
was able to meet him that night. We started to date and eventually, he asked
me to move down here with him.” “And now we are engaged,” Jordan added
showing Suzanne and Rachel the engagement ring on Tracy’s finger. “What
about your job?,” Suzanne asked happy that her friend was engaged but wished
it could be her. She didn’t want Jordan…by no means but she just wanted to
spend her life with someone. She knew she was ready for it and it just
seemed all her friends were getting married lately or having children. Both
Brian and Kevin noticed the look in Suzanne’s eyes. It was like she was
longing for something. “Well, I now worked with Jordan on the promotional
end of his management,” Tracy said, “It is quite amazing and exhilarating.”
By this time, they were all done eating and the guys had paid the bill.
“Hey, I think it is time to go,” AJ said. “Ok, we going to stop at the video
store?” Nick asked. “Sure,” Kevin said. Walking out of the restaurant,
Jordan said he was riding with Tracy. Kevin let Brian drive this time and
Nick sat in front while Suzanne and Kevin sat in the back. They all agreed
to meet at Blockbuster in a few minutes. As Brian drove, Nick was trying to
antagonize him. “Yo, Frick, watch out for the dog,” Nick yelled. “DOG?
What dog,” Brian said frantically looking over the street and slamming on his
brakes. Nick busted out laughing. “FRACK!!!!! You moron, someone could
have hit us when I stopped like that!” Brian yelled back. “Sorry, I was only
trying to be funny,” Nick sheepishly replied. “Well, don’t do that anymore!
Please! You almost gave me heart attack,” Frick said smacking Nick over the
head. “Ow…yes, Daddy!” Nick said saluting Brian. “Yo, guys,” Kevin said
from the back, “Can you not do that again? You’ve made Suzanne upset.”
Brian and Nick turned to look at Suzanne. They noticed that she was pale as
a ghost. Nick felt horrible at what he had done. “Suz,” Kevin said, “Are
you ok?” “No,” she said, “See, I was in a car accident a few years ago. It
wasn’t serious at all. None of us went to the hospital, thank god. At the
time, I didn’t drive though I was 16 years old. But everytime I am a
passenger in someone’s car, and it doesn’t matter whose car, so no offense to
you Brian, I get extremely nervous and fidgety.” “Oh, shit, I am so sorry,
Suzanne. I have really done it this time, haven’t I?” Nick said. “Don’t
worry about it, Nick. That was just one of the many things that you don’t
know about me,” she said smiling. “Well, hopefully, we can all find out more
about you,” Kevin said looking deep into her eyes. Nick and Brian looked at
each other seeing the intense look on Kevin’s face. Brian turned around and
continued driving to the video store. When they got there, Brian parked and
got out of the car. Nick followed. Both of them glanced at the backseat
thinking Kevin and Suzanne were going to follow them. They realized that
Suzanne was asleep with her head leaning on Kevin’s shoulder. He had his arm
around her to pull her close to him. Kevin looked at them and softly said,
“You guys go in and pick 2 or 3 movies out, ok? I don’t want to wake her up.
I’ll wait until we get home. She needs a little rest after what happened
today.” “Ok,” they replied walking into the video store. “Hey, where is Suz
and Kev?” Rachel asked. “Oh, Suz feel asleep on the way over and Kevin is
staying the car with her,” Brian said. “Oh, ok,” Rachel said going back to
the wall to look at the movies. After 10 minutes, everyone got to their cars
and left to go home. Arriving back at the house, Kevin gently tried waking
Suzanne up. Everyone had already gone into the house. “Suz,” Kevin said
softly while shaking her slightly. Suzanne stirred and pushed herself closer
to Kevin. Kevin looked down and wanted to run his hands through her hair.
She looked so beautiful sleeping. Kevin lowered his lips to hers hoping his
kiss would wake her up. Gradually, her eyes opened. She realized that Kevin
was staring at her. Raising her fingers to touch her lips, she looked over
at him. Embarrassed to ask, she didn’t know if she had been dreaming or if
Kevin HAD kissed her. Seeing the look on her face, Kevin realized she was
confused. “Oh, you fell asleep on the way to the video store. I tried
waking you up but you wouldn’t so I figured if I kissed you that you might
wake up. And I was right,” he said. A blush began to creep Suzanne’s face.
Just as she was going to ask him something, AJ yelled out the door, “Yo guys,
what the hell are you doing in there? Come on!” Jumping out of the car,
Suzanne raced to the door. Kevin could kick himself for the way that he woke
her up. Jesus, I embarrassed her, he thought. I wonder if she has ever even
been kissed? I doubt it from what she told me, he realized. Going to the
house, Kevin asked them what they had rented. “Well, lets see,” Val said,
“Uh, Nothing to Lose, Lethal Weapon 3, Empire Records, and Bean.” “Bean
again?” Howie asked. “Jesus,
B-Rok, don’t you get enough of that movie?” Donnie asked. “Nope, never!”
Brian said. Everyone got comfortable in their spots after they had pulled
out all the ice-cream and junkfood that they could find. Kevin stayed as far
away from Suzanne as he could. He figured that she didn’t want him near her.
Suzanne figured that he didn’t want to be near her! She thought he only
kissed her to wake her up and not really because he had wanted to. What she
didn’t know is that Kevin wanted to do more then kiss her right now. About
an hour into the movie, Suzanne excused herself to go to the bathroom. After
10 minutes and she didn’t come out, Tracy said that she was going after her.
Leaving the room, she found Suzanne in Howie’s room lying on his bed. She
was asleep again. “Suz, wake up,” Tracy said shaking her. Suzanne shot up
in bed a little confused. “What?” Suzanne said. “Uh, you disappeared on us
downstairs and when you didn’t return, we all got worried,” Tra said. “Oh,
my stomach didn’t feel well so I came in here to sit down and I guess I feel
asleep again,” Suzanne said. “What’s wrong?” Tracy asked knowing when
something was bothering Suzanne. “Well, you promise not to tell?” Suz said.
“Sure,” Tracy replied. Suzanne proceeded to tell Tra what had happened today
when Kevin helped her and what happened at the restaurant between Nick,
Brian, and her and what happened in the car when she fell asleep. “Trace, I
am so scared. I know nothing about dating guys especially someone like
Kevin,” Suz said. “What do you mean? Someone like Kevin?” Tra said
wondering if she knew about Kevin and the Backstreet Boys. “Well, someone as
caring and nice as Kevin and as cute. His friends are all nice too but I
can’t imagine that they would want to be around me! No guys ever wanted to
be my friends, let alone date me. Every guy I become interested in turns the
other way. And what scares me the most about this is that in only one day, I
feel like I am falling for Kevin,” Suzanne spit out. “Suzanne, I don’t know
if I should ask you this but do you recognize Kevin and the guys from
anywhere?” Tracy said. Not wanting to really tell Tracy that she did know
but it could have mattered less to her that they were the Backstreet Boys.
Hesitating, Suzanne realized that Tracy knew that she knew who Kevin and the
guys were. Letting out a sign, Suzanne finally answered, “Yes, I know who
they all are. How could you not? But it doesn’t matter to me if they are
famous or not. Just that Kevin was willing to help me today. And that him
and the guys cared enough to try to cheer me up. And they did all this and
barely even know me!” Suzanne didn’t realize that Kevin had come upstairs
looking for Tracy and Suzanne and had overheard Tracy’s question to Suzanne.
He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until Suzanne answered the
question. God, was he glad at the answer Suz gave. In fact he had heard
every thing that Suz had said including possibly falling for him. Walking
into Howie’s bedroom, Kevin looked at Suzanne and Tracy. “Are you ok?” Kevin
said. “Yes, I am better,” Suzanne replied. “Can I talk to Suzanne alone for
a minute?” Kevin asked Tracy. “Sure,” Tracy said squeezing Suzanne’s hand as
she left. “Are you sure you are ok?” Kevin asked again. “No, I’m not really
ok,” Suz answered. “Care to tell me what is wrong?” Kevin said hoping she
would confess what she had told to Tracy. “Well, I-I-I,” she stuttered
glancing down and wishing a hole would open up and swallow her. Kevin
realized that she didn’t want to say anymore so he figured that he might as
well confess what he had to say to her. Lowering his head, he placed his
fingers under her chin to raise her head so that she was looking him in the
eyes. Suzanne could see that he was going to kiss her again. Closing her
eyes, she waited for his touch on her lips even though she didn’t know what
the hell to do. She had never been kissed. Lightly, his lips pressed
against her for a few moments then disappeared. “What was that for?” Suzanne
said figuring she had nothing to lose by asking that. Clearing his throat,
Kevin answered…
10,000 Kisses
Chapter 14
“Uh, that was because I like you, Suzanne,” Kevin said as he watched the
emotions inside her flicker across her face. Not knowing what to say,
Suzanne looked away. Like me? She thought. He doesn’t like me. He is just
trying to be nice to me. Knowing what she was thinking, Kevin reached for
her hand pulling her over to him. “Suzanne, don’t you believe me?” he asked.
Hesitating, Suz answered, “Well, I don’t know what to think. I didn’t
expect this and I have never even been out with anyone. You know that. I
guess I am scared.” “Scared of what?” Kevin asked looking deep into her
eyes. “Of many things, of feeling the way I do, of the way you feel about
me, or I guess the whole ball of wax,” Suz said trying to make light of the
subject. “Suz, I know that you have been hurt and I want to help you get
over that. You know today when Brian and Nick were playing around with you?
Well, I was jealous of what they were doing. I wanted that to be me. But I
always hold back because of how I have been hurt in the past by other women.
But I decided that I wasn’t going to hold back anymore. That is why I kissed
you in the car to wake you up. Actually, I did it because you looked so
beautiful sleeping like that,” Kevin poured out. “So you really did want to
kiss me?” Suz asked. “Yes, just like I want to now,” Kevin said leaning in
and pulling her face towards hers. Feeling her stiffen up at the touch of
lips on hers, Kevin lightly traced the outline of her lips with his tongue.
Not realizing it, Suz moaned deep within her throat opening her lips slightly
allowing Kevin’s tongue to enter. Suz felt his kiss deepen causing panic to
build in her body. Pushing Kevin away, Suz jumped up running out of the
room, past everyone in the living room, and out the front door to her house.
Finally realizing that she had fled the room, Kevin ran after her but was too
late. As he reached his front door, he could hear her front door slam shut.
Everyone looked at him in shock, not knowing what was going on. Running his
hands through his hair, Kevin slumped down on the closest chair he could
find. He felt like crying. After all these years after Beth, he was finally
getting over her and ruined what he thought was the greatest thing to walk
into his life. Tracy walked over to Kevin laying a hand on his shoulder.
Crouching down next to him, she asked him what happened. “Oh, god, Tracy, I
just lost the best thing that has happened to me in years,” Kevin said
surprising everyone in the room, “ I told her how I felt about her and then
when I kissed her, she bolted and ran out of the room. She was so fucking
scared. She didn’t even believe that I really liked her. She thought I was
just trying to be nice to her. Damnit, if only I never kissed her.”
Reaching over, Tracy hugged Kevin tightly. Signaling to Rachel, Tracy told
her to go to Suzanne. “She probably needs you right now, Rachel. See if you
can find out what happened, please,” Kevin mumbled. “Kevin, don’t worry. I
will find out what is going on. I know how much she means to you. I can see
it in your eyes,” Rachel said hugging Kevin. Saying goodnight to everyone,
Rachel walked back home. Entering the house, all the lights were out.
Figuring that Suz was in her room, Rachel walked upstairs. Sure enough, Suz
was lying on the bed sobbing. “Suz?” Rachel said walking over to her and
pulling her into her arms, “Shh, tell me what happened.” “Oh, god, Rach, I
don’t know. I felt a feeling of panic overtake my body and I bolted,” Suz
replied. “Was it because he kissed you?” Rach asked. “No, or at least I
don’t think so, but maybe. I am just so confused right now. I never imagine
Kevin might like me,” Suz said sobbing even harder. “Shh,” Rach said rubbing
her back, “just take your time with this. Believe me, Kevin understands.
And if he really likes you, he will let you take as much time as you want.”
“I guess you are right, but how am I ever going to face him again?” Suzanne
said as she sat in the middle of the bed. “You will, Suz, you will! Believe
me, you have it in you. You just have to let that strength out. You don’t
give yourself enough credit,” Rachel replied. “Call him, and make a time to
meet tomorrow. You HAVE to talk to him about this!” Rachel said handing
Suzanne the phone. Having written down Kevin’s phone number earlier, Suzanne
dug it out of her purse and grabbed the phone. Taking a very deep breath,
Suzanne dialed. Hearing Brian answer the phone, Suzanne asked if she could
speak to Kevin. Over at the guys’ house Brian handed the phone to Kevin
announcing that it was Suzanne. Getting up, Donnie, Val, Jordan, and Tracy
said they were leaving and would see them tomorrow. Brian showed them to the
door as Kevin grabbed the phone. Leaving him in privacy, Nick, AJ, Howie and
Brian retreated to the kitchen. Once they were out of sight, Kevin said
Hello into the phone. Sniffling, Suzanne asked Kevin if he could meet her
tomorrow for lunch so she could explain why she ran out. Agreeing to meet
her at 12noon, Kevin hung up and headed into the kitchen. “She wants to meet
for lunch tomorrow to explain why she ran out,” Kevin said as he plopped into
a chair and laying his head on the table. The four guys looked at each other
hoping that everything would work out for Kevin and Suzanne. Tomorrow would
tell…
10,000 Kisses
Chapter 15
Nervously, Suzanne waited for Kevin to arrive. Rachel had went out with
Larry leaving her and Kevin alone. Suz knew that she wanted to try this with
Kevin but for some reason, she was really frightened. She chalked it up to
her inexperience of dating. Hearing the doorbell ring, she went to answer
it. Looking quite cute in his clothes, Suz invited Kevin inside. Gesturing
towards the couch, she waited until he was seated to start explaining.
“Thank you for coming and hearing me out after walking out on you and your
friends last night,” Suz said sitting next to Kevin. “I don’t know what to
say except that I am sorry and I panicked when you kissed me. I have never
in my life experienced the feelings that were running through my body last
night as you kissed me,” Suzanne continued obviously embarrassed. Silently
starting to sob, Suz dropped her head to her hands. Feeling his arms
encircle her, she allowed Kevin to pull her close. “Shh, I understand, Suz,”
Kevin whispered in her ear. “I just feel so stupid,” she answered, “I don’t
know what I panicked so badly.” “Don’t worry about it. We can take this
slow, ok? I am not going to push you into anything that you don’t want,”
Kevin said. Smiling up at him through her tears, Suz couldn’t believe that
he didn’t hate her. “Ok, enough crying,” Kevin said pulling her up, “Let’s
go do something, ok?” “Alright, what do you want to do?” Suzanne asked.
“Let’s go to Disney World? What do you say?” Kevin said. “Oh, can we!”
Suzanne said jumping up. “YES!” Kevin said laughing at her enthusiasm.
Grabbing some essentials, Kevin and Suzanne were off to Disney World. Having
worked there before, Kevin was able to get free passes and first dibs on all
rides. Arriving, Suzanne looked around in surprise. “Man, it looks so, so,
I don’t know!” Suzanne said. “Have you ever been here before?” Kevin asked.
“Yes, when I was 4 years old with my parents, before they divorced and my
aunt. Then when my parents divorced, my dad brought me down here as an “I’m
sorry” gift,” Suzanne answered. “Well, a lot has happened in the 17 years
since you were last here,” Kev mentioned. Three hours later, they had went
on every ride but the roller coasters. Kevin couldn’t get her to go on one.
Trying to convince her, Kevin told her it wouldn’t be that bad. “Come on,
lets go on one!” Kevin said pulling her. Not being able to resist the look
in those green eyes of his. Wait, green eyes? Weren’t they blue when she
first met him? Opening her mouth, Kevin was surprised by her question. “Did
you have blue eyes when I met you yesterday?” Suzanne asked. “Uh, actually,
yes I did, I had blue contacts in,” Kevin answered. “Ok, I just thought
maybe I was seeing things,” Suz replied. “No, you weren’t, but since I
answered your question, will go you on the ride with me???” Kevin pleaded.
“Ok, Ok…but I warning you…If I barf, it is your fault!” Suzanne said
laughing. Getting on the ride, Suzanne looked over at Kevin. How the hell
did he convince me to do this? Suzanne thought. As the lap bar lowered,
Kevin felt Suzanne grab his hand tightly. Seeing the look of fear in her
eyes, he started to have doubts about making her do this. But it was too
late now as the ride began to move. As the car made its way up the track,
Kevin though Suzanne was going to break his fingers from the pressure of her
hand gripping his. Wrapping his arm around her, Kevin pulled her close. As
the car began to descend, Suzanne buried her face in his shirt as she
screamed. Slowly, she began to open her eyes. As the car rolled up then
down the next hill, Suzanne could feel her stomach drop causing her to
giggle. By the end of the ride, Suzanne had let go of Kevin’s hand. Exiting
the ride, Kevin apologized, “I swore that I wouldn’t make you do anything and
I forced you to go on this ride.” “That is ok, Kev, as long as I am with
you,” Suzanne said leading him over to a bench. Reaching down to caress her
face, he wanted to kiss her but remembered what happened last time. Seeing
his hesitation, Suzanne pulled his head towards hers hoping he would take the
bait. Suzanne sighed when she felt his warm lips touch hers. Wrapping her
arms around his neck, Suzanne didn’t want to let him go. Not wanting to
force her, Kevin outlined her lips with his tongue. Invitingly, Suzanne’s
lips parted allowing him entrance. Gently, his tongue entered her mouth
touching hers. Electric shocks went through Suzanne’s body. He could feel
Suzanne deepening the kiss so he pulled away. “Come on, we better get back
or the others will be worried,” Kevin said pulling her up and walking to the
car. Arriving at the house, Kevin and Suzanne walked up the doorway to
Kevin’s condo. Stopping at the door, Suzanne looked up at Kevin. “Thank you
for today. I had a lot of fun. I would love to go there again with you.
Though I can’t believe that you managed to get me on a roller coaster. Geez,
you must have some special powers,” Suzanne said. “No, you just needed a
little confidence,” Kevin murmured as he bent down to kiss her again.
Running her hands through his hair, neither of them heard the front door open
until someone cleared their throat. Guiltily jumping apart, Kevin and
Suzanne looked at each other in embarrassment and back at the people standing
in the door.
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