Brian fumbled with the keys in the lock. The hot summer air always seemed to cause the lock to stick and take him an extra minute to open the door. Finally, he unstuck the door and opened it. He walked into the apartment, gazed at the floor of the living room and stared in amazement. There, in the middle of their apartment, Nick laid on top of Melanie kissing her uncontrollably. Brian couldn't help himself, he had to laugh. He knew he shouldn't but he didn't know how else to respond.
"Umm...Nick...do you want me to come back later man? Hey Mel." Brian asked, unable to control his noticeable grin.
Nick pulled away from Melanie, and sat up. He looked over at Brian, and then looked back at Mel. Melanie licked the taste of Nick off her lips, savoring every inch. She sat up too, and looked up at Brian. Nick didn't know how to answer Brian. He didn't even know where the evening would have led to, if B-Rok didn't walk right in. He had just broken up with Liz, yet he felt like he was meant to be with Melanie right NOW.
"No, Brian...come in. We were just..." he was stopped by Brian's interruption.
"Getting to know each other better, I imagine." B-rok finished.
"Umm, I guess you could say that." he responded, his eyes now traveling to read Mel's expression.
"Guess you caught us Brian. I...well...I don't know what to say." Melanie confessed, totally torn between her mixed emotions for the man she had just kissed.
"Gee guys...this is none of my business...but I gotta say one thing." Brian commented.
Nick cut in quickly, "Go ahead. Say it. We can handle it." He look hold of Mel's hand as he helped her up. They sat down on the couch, as Brian walked in, put his keys on the table, and took a seat on a nearby chair.
***In Selena's Apartment***
"Oh Howie, how could Nick do that to Liz? They were so in love. That little ass just left her a message on the machine. How could he do that to her. Two years. Damn him. Two years...doesn't that mean anything to him?" Selena said sniffling, fighting back tears for her best friend.
"Oh Sel (Howie's nickname for Selena), come on. Don't cry. It'll be okay. I don't know why Nick chose to do it that way. Who knows what he was thinking? Maybe he thought it would be easier for her, if he just said goodbye..you know...made a clean break."
Selena pulled away from Howie's comforting arms. "Make it easier for her, Howie. Make it easier for her! I know he's your friend, but even you should be able to see that he was damn well making it easier for himself!" Her soft voice rose to a yell. Howie released her from his grip.
Howie didn't know what to think. He knew Liz was Sel's best friend. But Nick was his friend too. He had to have a reason. He had too. It wasn't like Nick to just blow her off. He came from his thoughts and looked at the woman he loved, who was now in tears.
"I'm sorry Sel. I didn't mean it that way. I just don't know. I understand why you're mad, but baby, please believe I wanna be here for you. As Liz's best friend I know you're gonna wanna hate Nick...but can't we listen to his side of the story too. Don't be mad with me just because I want to have an open mind about this whole situation."
She gazed into his deep, dark, latin eyes. She couldn't stay mad at him for long. She never could. It was his eyes...they always told the truth. He just had a way with those eyes...they had always turned her on.
"Baby, please say something. You know I love you."
"Howie...you think your sweet-talking words and your big Latin eyes will always get you out of trouble, don't you."
Howie looked at her, confused. He didn't know what to say. He stumbled for the right words, but they never came. All he could get out was "Huh..No i meant every word of what I said."
Selena's look softened. "Ya know Howie, you're wrong. They will always get you outa trouble... because you always mean every word of what you say. Those sweet lines are anything but lies...you could never lie...because your eyes would give you away. I know you have to have an open mind, and I know you weren't trying to sweet talk me. I was just teasing. I can never stay mad at you for long...its those eyes Howie. They let me into your soul."
Howie's face brightened again, "Whew...baby you got me scared for a second there. Come here, I'm sorry." he said softly as he pulled her closer to him.
They embraced each other as Howie lifted his finger and gently brushed away a stray tear that had formed at the corner of Selena's eye. "I'm sorry too Howie. I got mad at you just because you're Nick's friend. My best friend over protective instincts kicked in. I'm sorry. You know I love you."
With that, Howie scooped her up, brought her into her room, and laid her down on her bed. They both needed a good night's sleep. He pulled the covers down and climbed into the left side of the bed. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, as she shut her eyes, and drifted to sleep..with Howie's strong arms wrapped around her. Howie lay awake restless. He had a feeling the next day would bring trouble between Liz and Nick, which meant there could be trouble between him and Sel.
***Back at Becca's Apartment***
She called him seductively from the bathroom, "Kevin...come in here for a second."
"Ok, I'm on my way."
He got up from his seat on the bed, and slowly walked towards the bathroom. He knocked on the door. "Um..Bec. You want me to come in?"
"Ya sweetheart, that's what I said Kev. Come on, hurry...the candles are melting."
He licked his lips. He had waited for this so long. He just needed to know she was ready. He reached for the doorknob, the familiar sexual feeling of desire welling inside him. He slowly turned the knob, waiting in full anticipation of his surprise. He walked into the dim room, gazed upon his sweet love...a fantasy coming true. Surrounding the bath tub was a ring of sensual smelling candles, each of them eliminating the smile that beamed from Becca's face. She was spread across the bath tub, under a layer of bath bubbles. She motioned for him to come next to her. He knelt down beside the side of the tub. She reached up and kissed him softly at first, her force growing as she slipped a dripping hand back behind his neck. He responded longingly, allowing his hands to wander to her blond hair, which was now tied up seductively in a messy bun. He pulled the hair tie from its place, resulting in a downward tumble of her sweet-smelling hair. She removed her tongue from his minty mouth, licking her way to his ear. She whispered to him softly, "So, you glad you came in?"
The feeling of her tongue along his earlobe was giving him chills, as he was hardly able to control the familiar hot feeling forming all over his body, especially in one particular place. He whispered to her,"Ya, you bet I am."
With those words, she reached for his shirt and began to undo each button of Kev's shirt, revealing an ever-so-sexy body that she had wanted for so long.
***In Brian and Nick's Apartment***
"It's about damn time!"
Mel and Nick looked at each other shocked, and said in unison, "Huh?"
"Well, come on guys. You'd have to be blind not to see it. You guys have been head over heels for each other for so long. It was like you too tried to ignore it or something. The passion was there...trust me. I know you both well enough to see it clearly."
Mel spoke up, "But Brian...it just happened...tonight. We kissed. It just happened. We hadn't been planning it."
Nick added, "Yeah man...it just sorta happened. It felt right."
"Nick...hello? This is your main man B-rok you're talking to. Come on. You've been wild for her a long time. Honestly, I never knew why you were still with Liz. You always seemed so unhappy with her, so out of love. I was just waiting until you finally realized you were with the wrong girl. So it took you a wicked breakup to finally realize, the right girl, Mel, was right in front of you the whole time. Congats you guys!"
"Brian, the truth is, I never knew why I was still with Liz either. I guess I took the easy way out. Her parents are friend's of my parents...the fans had almost come to except her...and I always assumed it would be easiest to stay together. But then Melanie came into our lives. And i realized I didn't love Liz. I couldn't have because I felt a growing desire for Mel. But, we became friends and I've always thought she wouldn't want to be more. I guess i was wrong."
Melanie looked over at Nick lovingly, "Nick, why didn't you tell me you felt this way? For months I've been fighting this feeling of wanting to be more-than-friends, because I knew...well I thought you were happy with Liz. Happy with our friendship. If I only knew. "
She flung herself into his arms as a single tear of relief floated down her cheek. He rested his head on her shoulder, breathed in her sweet smell, and knew he was right where he wanted to be. For the first time that night, he wasn't confused. He knew what he wanted. And what he wanted was in his arms.
Brian spoke up..."What a sentimental moment guys. I thought it would never happen," he teased as he wiped a fake tear form his eye.
"Oh shut up Brian!" Mel and Nick shouted together, as they flung a pillow in his direction.
"I'll guess I'll leave you to alone now." he said, beginning to exit the room.
"Not so fast Bri. Sit back down, and tell us what happened with Michelle tonight." Nick requested...wanting all the details.