Almost a week had passed now, and Laura hadn't heard from Kevin all week. It was now Friday night, and she was scheduled to perform once again this weekend at Harmonies. Misty looked in on her as she was sitting quietly in her room, brushing her hair. It saddened Misty to see her so sad. Laura wouldn't admit it, but she was upset because Kevin hadn't called or stopped in. "Great, he's mad at me," Laura said to herself.
"I'm sure he's not, Laura," Misty said, coming further into the room and sitting next to Laura. "I'm sure he's just... confused."
"Misty, when we were talking the other day, you were going to tell me something about Kevin. What were you going to tell me? Maybe if you tell me, I can understand what happened," Laura said, sighing heavily.
Misty sighed too, figuring it was possible to touch on the subject without giving too much away. She really didn't know many of the details anyway, just what Howie had told her. "I guess I could tell you what I know, which isn't much," Misty said. Laura nodded as she continued. She told Laura about Linda, and how Kevin had loved her so much, and just out of the blue, broke things off with him. Then she told her how Kevin had found out shortly after they broke up that she used his fame to further her own career. "She really hurt him, Laura, and he's been afraid to trust anyone but his own family and the guys ever since."
Now everything made sense to Laura. "Now I know why he avoided talking about girlfriends... if I had known, I wouldn't have even asked him, but he asked me first, you know?" Laura put her hairbrush down. "I just wish I knew what to do to help him."
"Laura, you said that you told him he could talk to you about anything anytime... maybe he'll come around yet and take you up on that." Misty's voice picked up a little bit. "He really does like you, Laura. If it's any consolation, Howie said he's been very lonely and miserable all week, and for once he doesn't think it has anything to do with Linda. He's gotta be missing you too. Maybe he'll be there tonight to hear you sing," she said, trying to give Laura some hope.
"Maybe," Laura said, as she stood up and grabbed Buck's harness. "Well, let's go. Dave said it's going to be a busy night tonight, so I want to get there and get warmed up before the crowd gets in."
Misty agreed, and they walked to the car and drove to Harmonies.
Howie had come over to AJ's to pick up Whitney and AJ. Kevin was still staying with AJ. He had been staying there for the past couple months while his house was being remodeled. Howie walked in to see Kevin watching some TV.
"Hey Kev," Howie said, sitting down on the chair. Kevin looked up. "Hey, D." Howie could tell that Kevin was still bummed. "AJ told me that you're not coming to Harmonies tonight." Kevin nodded as he watched the television. Howie grabbed the remote control and shut it off.
"Howard... Christ, what do you want?!" Kevin said, now turning his attention to Howie. I guess negative attention is better then no attention, Howie thought as he spoke. "Kevin, I wish you'd snap out of it. I know you want to go, why are you being so stubborn about this?"
Kevin calmed down. "I'm not being stubborn about anything, Howie. I just don't want to go tonight. I didn't know that I couldn't make my own decisions about where and when I could or couldn't go somewhere."
Howie sighed. "I know you can make your own decisions, Kev. It's just that I can see how bad you feel, and I know that it's because you want to see Laura again. And I'm sure she would like to see you too. I was over by her and Misty's place yesterday and she was just moping around. I can tell she misses you." Howie continued, his voice getting firmer. "And I don't care how much you deny it, Kevin, you like her too, and you like her a LOT."
Kevin just glared at Howie. He hated when someone told him what he should do and how he should feel. But the thing he hated the most was when that someone was right, and he knew that Howie was. What could he do, though? Would Laura really want him there, after he had made no efforts to talk to her all week?
Kevin sighed. "I hate to admit it, but you're right, D. But I still don't feel much like going. I really appreciate what you're trying to do, but I just don't feel up to it tonight. Maybe tomorrow night, OK?"
AJ and Whitney came down the stairs, ready to go, as Howie stood up. "OK, Kev. I understand." With that the 3 of them left and Kevin was alone.
Kevin turned the television back on. Flipping through the channels, he came across a local public access channel. He paused because he recognized the picture on the ad. It was Laura, and it was an advertisement for her appearing at Harmonies that weekend. Kevin closed his eyes, as he remembered her soft touch on his face--his cheeks, chin, forehead, lips. Kevin's eyes flew open and he turned the TV off. "I've gotta get my mind off of her," he said aloud, as he got up and turned on the stereo. One of the Orlando radio stations was on, and he heard a familiar voice with the song as it was finishing. "And that was Laura Preston, the young lady that's become a regular at Harmonies in downtown Orlando! Once again this weekend she's performing so get your butts down there to hear her, she puts on quite a show! In the next half-hour--"
Kevin shut off the stereo. "I get the point already!" he said, as he went off to his room to get ready to go to Harmonies.
Laura forced a smile as she began her last song of her third and final song set of the night. So far everyone had come up to say hi to her--Howie, Nick and Patti, AJ and Whitney, and Brian and Leighanne--everyone, that is, except Kevin. It was all Laura could do to keep from crying as she sang her final song of the night.
Laura was singing Open Arms, by Journey, and it was just as she started that Kevin walked in. Her voice filled the room as Kevin's eyes found her and watched her as she sang. He sat down and Howie saw him. His eyes met Kevin's for a split second as if to tell him that he knew that this is where he really wanted to be tonight. And, Howie was right, this IS where he wanted to be. In fact, Kevin couldn't think of anywhere else he'd rather be, and was glad he came.
Kevin had only seen Laura sing just the 2 nights the previous weekend, but he was surprised to see how passionately she was singing, as she finished up the song...
The room filled with a short burst of applause, then everyone was drowned out by the jukebox. Misty was about to bring Laura her usual glass of water when she spotted Kevin. He came! she thought, as she saw him heading up to the stage. Misty decided to cut him off. She walked right in his path, stopping him. "Give this to her, please," she said, handing the glass to him and looking in Laura's direction, then looking at Kevin one more time before heading back to the bar. Kevin looked at the glass of water and sighed. I guess it'll give me a good reason to go up there, he thought, as he started walking again.
Kevin walked up onto the stage. Laura heard footsteps. "It's about time, girl, I'm parched," she said, thinking it was Misty with her water. Kevin put the glass down on the edge of the piano and when she reached for it, she bumped into Kevin's hand. "Who's here?" she asked, knowing that it sure wasn't Misty.
Kevin sat down next to Laura on the piano bench. "It's me... Kevin," he said, taking her hand. "I think we need to talk..."
