Laura sighed as she looked around and took in her surroundings. "You guys, " she said, crying tears of joy, "this is so amazing! Florida... it's so beautiful here. Much more beautiful then I remember." Laura almost skipped up the walkway to the apartment building that was her home, a home she has never seen. "C'mon Buck!" she chirped, and Buck barked, running alongside her. Laura dug her keys out of her purse and looked at them. "Oh God, I don't know which one is for the door," she thought outloud and laughed. She closed her eyes and felt them. Yep, that's the one, she thought, recognizing the key to the building by feel. She then opened her eyes to look at it. "Well, at least I know what it looks like now!" Laura said, smiling at Misty as she opened the door. Misty and Howie walked in, carrying Laura's bags.
As soon as they walked into the apartment, Laura looked around. "Gee, Mis, who'd have thought you had such good taste in interior decorating," she teased with a chuckle.
"Ha, ha! Very funny, bitch! Don't go getting smucky with me just cuz you can see what terrible color coordination I have," Misty said, laughing. Howie laughed too. "Great, I'm glad you said it and I didn't have to," he said, patting Laura on the shoulder. Misty feigned a sad look when Howie said that, trying to hold back the laughing. "Sorry, hon, truth be told... you suck," he said, kissing her cheek. Laura laughed as she strolled down the hallway to seek out her room. "I don't need to know how she... *AHEM* sucks, Howie," she said, laughing hysterically. Howie and Misty just laughed and rolled their eyes as Laura walked out of sight.
Laura walked to the end of the hallway. She opened the door there. Walking in she recognized some of the stuffed animals at the end of her bed that she's had since she was a little girl. "My room," she thought outloud as she looked around and smiled. Laura looked in her dresser drawers and her closet, getting briefly acquainted with the surroundings she only knows by feeling. She then pulled open the blinds and the window to let the sunlight and fresh air in. Outside she saw a little girl riding her bicycle, and a few cars driving by. Laura smiled as she walked away from the window and back down the hallway.
The next door was the bathroom, which didn't take Laura long to get acquainted with. The last door before the kitchen and living room was Misty's room. She opened the door. Laura smiled as she saw her room. "Just as neat as when we were kids," she thought aloud. She smiled as she looked on Misty's desk, and looked at a picture frame with two pictures in it... one of she and Misty when they were little kids and one of them when they graduated high school.
Laura marveled at how many pictures and posters Misty had on her walls also. Although she was surprised at how many there were, she was not surprised that most of the posters and pictures from magazines were of the Backstreet Boys. She knew of course it was them not just because most of them said "Backstreet Boys" on them, but because she recognized Howie from finally meeting him and seeing him, face to face. She studied the other faces in the picture. Laura spotted the "rough looking one" with the tattoos. "Ah! So that's AJ!" she said, smiling. She figured out who Nick was because of how Patti affectionately called him "Blondie" from time to time. He had the blondest hair, so that had to be Nick. That left Brian and Kevin. Just as she was about to look at them, there was a knock on Misty's door. It was Misty.
"Laura? There's, uhh, someone coming here that wants to see you," Misty said with some hesitation. Laura could tell by the quiet tone in her voice and the look on her face that it could only be one person... Kevin. Laura sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Laura," she continued. "Kevin's, umm, gonna be here in about an hour." She paused before continuing. "I had to call him. I promised him I'd let him know when you were home. I told him that you probably didn't want to see him, but--"
"S'ok, Misty. One way or another, sooner or later, we gotta work things out." Laura's voice got shaky as she thought of Kevin. "As happy as I am about having my sight back, it's just not the same without sharing this with him. After all, he's the one that finally convinced me to get the surgery. The least I owe him is a 'thank you.'" Misty really wanted to tell Laura to give him a chance to explain what had happened before her surgery with Linda, but Laura had all but told her to butt-out of it, so she decided not to push it. Maybe it'll happen anyway, maybe she'll change her mind when she sees how much love Kevin has for her, Misty thought hopefully as Laura followed her to the living room to await Kevin's arrival.
Laura sighed as she closed her eyes and listened to the guys' music. No matter what song was playing, she always seemed to relate to it on some level at one time or another. She looked at the clock. Almost 1:30. Forty-five minutes after Misty had called Kevin. This was for sure one of the longest hours Laura remembers ever waiting. She sighed and closed her eyes, listening to more of the music, trying to stay relaxed.
Meanwhile, Misty and Howie were outside playing frisbee with Buck. Howie looked up to see a familiar car pull up. "Hey Kevin," Misty said as Kevin got out of his car and walked up to them. "How are you doing, Kevin?" Howie asked, patting his close friend on the back.
"Ahh, been better, Howie. I know I'll feel better as soon as I talk to Laura," Kevin said anxiously. "How is she? Does she know that I am coming over?" he asked.
"Yeah, I told her. She still seems kinda resistant, but she didn't say that she didn't want to see you, so I think that's a good sign," Misty said, smiling reassuringly at Kevin. "Yeah, and Mis and I are gonna go for a walk with Buck so we aren't hangin' around. You guys are long overdue for this and we don't want any interruptions for you," Howie added, taking hold of Misty's hand. "We'll see you later, bro, OK?" Howie said. Kevin sighed with a half-smile, nodded and walked into the building as Misty and Howie walked down the sidewalk with Buck.
Kevin didn't remember that the hallway down to Misty and Laura's apartment was so long. He sped up his stride and soon (not soon enough) he was at the door. Kevin heard a familiar sound, one that he hadn't realized he missed as much as he did, until now. He heard Laura singing, a Shania Twain CD playing in the background. He knocked, but Laura didn't answer. Kevin tried the doorknob and the door was unlocked, so he let himself in. She *does* know I'm coming, after all, he rationalized, as he walked in.
Kevin followed Laura's voice to the kitchen and saw her looking at the birds in the tree outside the window. He opened his mouth to say her name, when she sensed she wasn't alone, and turned around. There Kevin stood in the doorway, and he smiled for her. She looked even more beautiful then he remembered. It had only been a couple days, but it seemed like an eternity.
Laura walked slowly from the window to where Kevin was standing in the doorway. Her eyes met his as she walked, never breaking from his gaze. Suddenly Laura felt a wave sweep over her as she got closer to Kevin, and all the anger she felt toward him had left her. Kevin reached out his hand and she put her hand in his. "Kevin, come sit with me, please," Laura invited, gently pulling him to the table and sitting down herself.
Kevin sighed heavily. "Laura, I know what you must be thinking, and I just want to tell you that--"
"Shhhh... don't talk, Kevin. Just let me look at you," Laura said, not breaking her stare. He was the most incredible thing she's ever seen. It was obvious that she was right about how handsome he was, but to actually look into the eyes that showed so much love... finally, all seemed right in Laura's life, for the first time in a long time. Laura smiled as she stood up and walked around the table to Kevin. She ran her hands through his hair, and pulled his head toward her in a hug. He wrapped his arms around her tightly as she did the same. Kevin stood up and moved his hands up to Laura's face and cupped it. He moved his lips slowly to hers, kissing her so tenderly, with so much love. Laura responded by pulling herself closer into his firm embrace.
Their lips parted, and Kevin spoke softly. "Have faith in me, Laura, I beg of you. I promise you won't regret it."
"Blind faith?" Laura asked with a smirk and an ironic tone of voice.
"Is there any other kind of faith?" Kevin responded, kissing Laura once again, as they moved from the kitchen down the hallway to Laura's bedroom.
