Laura opened her eyes to see Kevin lying next to her, his head propped up by his arm. He was stroking her cheek, smiling. "Good morning, beautiful. Happy Birthday," he said as he kissed her the sweetest kiss yet. "Mmmmmmmm, you got this birthday girl spoiled with those wonderful good-morning kisses," she said as she smiled back at him. They kissed again. Laura so loved to kiss, and kissing Kevin was the closest thing to heaven on earth she ever thought she'd find. Kevin broke their kisses by speaking. "You must have been having some dream! I've never seen someone smiling so much in their sleep as you just were."
Laura then recalled that she indeed was dreaming--THE dream. "Yeah, must have been." Laura paused. "Hey Kevin, do you believe in symbolism in dreams, like, what you dream can pertain to your life?"
Kevin was intrigued. Wow, that REALLY must have been some dream, he thought. "Why? Does this have anything to do with the dream you were having with that beautiful smile on your face?" Laura kissed Kevin before getting up to get dressed. "You're the sweetest man, Kevin. You shower me with such lovely compliments constantly. You really do have my spoiled! I just don't know what--"
Kevin laughed, because he knew she was trying to weasel her way out of telling him about her dream. "Yes, yes, I'm a nice guy, fine. Now tell me about that dream!" he demanded, coming up in back of her and wrapping his arms around her. Just then there was a knock at the door. "A-HA! Saved by the approaching masses!" Laura joked as she headed to the bathroom to finish getting dressed. Kevin chuckled as he walked to the door.
"Hey hey hey! Where's that birthday girl?" Howie said as he entered. AJ, Nick and Brian followed. Nick was carrying a small cake with twenty-four candles on it. Kevin smiled. "Oh, man! You guys are gonna get it! She don't like surprises like this! She said she doesn't want any kind of fuss for her birthday," he said in a hushed voice. Brian mimicked him as he replied in hushed voice, "Well, it's not as big of a fuss as what you're going to do tonight, so you best keep your advice to yourself if you're not gonna follow it yourself!" Brian smiled cockily at his cousin. Kevin laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, ok, fine. You laugh it up. I'll get Laura." Kevin then turned to walk to the bathroom door and preceeded to knock on it.
"Sweetie, you almost done?" Kevin said when Laura acknowledged his knock. "Yeah, I heard the guys come in, I'll be right--" Laura paused for a second to open the bathroom door. "--THERE!" she finished as she stood in the doorway. Kevin kissed her and took her hand as they sat down by the table.
"What is this?!" Laura smiled as she saw the birthday cake. "You guys didn't have to do this! I know I said I didn't want a big fuss, but this isn't a big fuss. I love this! I love you guys!" she said, hugging each of them as they wished her happy birthday. As Laura hugged Brian and her back was to Kevin, Brian just winked at his cousin as if to say, "I told you so." Kevin just rolled his eyes and smiled. "Well, you gotta make a wish now," AJ said. "Yeah, make a wish then blow out those candles!" Nick added with a smirk. Laura grinned ear to ear at everyone and she closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them and blew out the candles. Everyone clapped. "You guys are the best! I really have to admit, I had nothing to wish for, because everything I've wanted is here. A great job, great friends, great love..." Laura paused to kiss Kevin. Howie smiled as he joked, "Oh no! Hey why don't you guys get a room?" AJ followed his lead. "Dude, they DO have a room--we're in it!" Howie laughed. "Oh, yeah, that's right! Ahh hell, let's just cut the cake while we're here then." Everyone laughed as they each took a slice of cake and enjoyed it.
"Well, nothing like a good nutritious breakfast to start the day right!" Brian joked as they all walked to the door. Everyone laughed as they all said goodbye to Kevin and Laura and headed to their rooms to get ready to head to the arena where that evening's concert was going to take place. Kevin and Brian had confirmed the concert plans the night before. Right after Back To Your Heart, one of the wardrobe people were going to lead Laura on stage, as Kevin introduced her and they would sing From This Moment. Kevin was definitely hoping to make this a birthday that Laura would never forget!
Kevin shut the door. He had forgotten about getting details on Laura's dream. She was kind of relieved too. She felt foolish and childish that she dreamed about such things. Laura finished her hair and makeup and Kevin got ready to go as well. They needed to arrive early to test the sound system, warm up, and get dressed and ready for the show. They had been off for almost a week, so everyone felt they needed some extra time to get back into the swing of things. In about an hour Kevin, Laura, and the rest of the guys were on their way to the arena.
It was now about an hour before they were to be onstage. The opening acts had already begun, and Laura had finished everyone's hair and makeup--except for Kevin's. He was nowhere to be found. Laura panicked. Where could that man be? she thought just as Kevin ran into the makeup room. He was already dressed. "Thank God you're here," she said as she hugged him. "I'm not going to ask you where you've been, we don't have time. I gotta get you sittin' pretty!" Kevin smiled as he thought of where he was. He was reminding the band and the dancers of the little "interlude" he had planned for and with Laura. If you only knew, my love, just what I have planned for you, he thought as he sat down and Laura went to work.
Laura's sister Lisa had arrived and walked into the makeup room shortly after Laura had begun Kevin's makeup and hair. "You missed hair number 927," she joked as Laura stopped and hugged her sister. "Hey, happy birthday, Sis! I love you!" Laura said enthusiastically. Lisa returned her excitement, for she knew what Kevin's surprise for Laura was and how and when it was going to happen. "Happy birthday to you too! I love you too! But it looks as though you're pressed for time--I'm just going to head to my seat now. I'll see y'all later," Lisa said with a smile to her sister and a wink at Kevin. Laura noticed that wink. "Uhhhhh, what was that all about? That wink?" Laura asked as she continued her work with a smile. "Is there something going on between you and my sister?" she asked jokingly. Kevin smiled. "Of course not, my love. You're the only one that I'm hooked on. And besides, you'll find out soon enough," he finished with another wink. Laura just rolled her eyes as she finished. "There! MAH-velous, if I do say so myself," Laura chided as Kevin stood up and straightened his clothing. "Thank you, Beautiful! Great job as always!" he replied as he flew out the door. Laura smiled and sighed as she cleaned up her things and headed to the stage door to watch the beginning of the show.
It was almost the end of the night. The guys had just gotten done singing I'll Never Break Your Heart and All I Have To Give. Next was Back To Your Heart. This was by far Laura's favorite song by the guys, and it was so even before she knew Kevin had written it. She smiled with pride as she watched Kevin play this most beautiful love song on the piano. The next song was normally Anywhere For You, and Laura had seen this so many times she knew how many seconds the break was between the end of Back To Your Heart and the beginning of Anywhere For You. Much to her surprise and confusion, though, that song didn't begin. She watched and wondered as Kevin stood up by the piano and began to speak.
"For those of you that were at our Madison concert," Kevin said and paused for the applause. Once it died down a bit, he continued. "If you were at our concert in Madison, you heard me speak of our hair stylist and makeup artist, Laura. She was attacked the day before, and was, needless to say, feeling a bit under the weather. I, for one, am happy to say that she is back to her old self again. And I say old self because today is her birthday--she's 24. Right now, I'd like to bring her out on the stage so all of Milwaukee can wish her a Happy Birthday!" Laura was stunned. What the hell are you doing, Kevin? she thought as she was led onto the stage by Howie. Howie walked her over to Kevin and he took her hand. "Also there has been rumors that I have been seeing someone, and I'd like to confirm those rumors right now." He paused as he kissed her. Not a long kiss, but still a sweet one. "Laura has been such a blessing in my life ever since I met her, not to mention how important she is to the rest of the group too." Kevin then once again turned to Laura. She was so moved by what he was doing and saying that she had tears in her eyes. Never had she loved him as much as she did that very moment. Kevin looked into her eyes. "Laura, this is your night. I would be very honored if you would sing 'our song' with me--here, now," he concluded as he sat back down at the piano and began to play From This Moment. Brian walked up and handed her a microphone. Kevin nodded at her to start singing. She took a deep breath and began to sing the words, never losing her contact with Kevin's eyes.
Applause filled the arena as they finished their song. Kevin stood up from the piano and took Laura in his arms. "Miss Laura Mitchell, everyone! And of course, our very own Kevin Richardson!" Howie said into the microphone. "What a voice that young lady's got, right?!?" Everyone cheered even louder. Kevin gave Laura one last squeeze before releasing her from his hug, and she turned to leave the stage, waving to the crowd. She smiled and turned to meet Kevin's loving gaze one last time before leaving the stage. The guys continued on with the concert as Laura was surprised to see Lisa, along with Ben and Tina and their parents backstage. She didn't know they were going to be there! It seems Kevin thought of everything tonight! Laura thought as she ran to greet her family. This was by far the best birthday she's had yet!
It was after the concert and everyone was backstage celebrating with Laura (and Lisa too) on their birthday. Kevin had arranged an informal get-together with some refreshments and some music. Laura mingled with all the party-goers as Kevin watched her in awe. Brian walked up to where Kevin was and followed his gaze. He smiled to see that he was watching Laura. She caught Kevin's eye and he blew her a kiss. She pretended to catch it with her fingers and then put her fingers to her lips, then smiled ear-to-ear as Kevin chuckled. Laura turned back to the conversation she was in. Kevin sighed. "I can't deny it, Brian. I love her with all my heart. I can't think of what my life would be like without her. I don't know how I made it through each day before I knew her smile."
Brian smiled at his cousin's sentiment. "Kevin, I know what you mean. And I'm glad to see you happy once again, I really am," he said, patting Kevin on the back. "Brian, I'm gonna do it. I know I said I was going to wait, but I can't. Tonight, when we return to the hotel, I'm going to propose to her..."
The party was winding down. Laura hadn't counted on being awake so long that night. She was so exhausted. She said goodbye to everyone, and kissed Kevin, telling him that she'd see him back at the hotel. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Beautiful, and then I can give you your real birthday present," Kevin said with one more kiss before leaving the room to go change clothes. Laura again was left wondering what Kevin had up his sleeve when she followed Lisa out to her car and they drove off heading back to the hotel.
"Laura," Lisa said as she headed down the highway, "Kevin sure loves you. I knew what he had planned. I thought for sure you'd press me for what was going on. Did you have any clue, honestly?" Laura smiled at her twin. "No, I was so shocked. I mean, I suspected that Kevin had something up his sleeve when I saw you wink at him before heading to your seat, and I questioned him about it but he told me I'd find out soon enough. Boy, was he right!" Lisa laughed with her sister, but it wasn't too long before her tone turned serious.
"Oh, man, what the fuck does this guy think he's doing??" Lisa moaned as she observed a driver creeping up closer and closer behind them and swerving. She figured the guy was drunk so she kept her eye on him as she drove carefully. Lisa was getting more and more frustrated, because now he was practically riding her back bumper. "What a nut! I swear, some drivers--you'd think they got their license out of a Cracker Jack box or somethin'," she said again as she tapped her brakes to signal to the driver to back off. But he just inched closer and closer.
Suddenly Laura felt something deep in the pit of her stomach. She turned around to look at the car that was following them. In a flash, Laura turned white as a sheet. She couldn't speak. No, it CAN'T be... She looked again, and recognized the driver. It was Mike!!! She had to tell Lisa, but she didn't know if she'd be able to speak, she was so frightened. Somehow she started to choke out the words. "Lisa, the driver in the car, it's--"
Laura didn't get the chance to finish her statement. Lisa's car was struck by Mike as he caught up along side them and ran them off the road...
Take me back to the first page please.
Tell me I'm crazy.
