Brian nodded, handing her a tissue and staring over at Aj. "Well, what can we do?"
"Keep Kev and Nick far apart for one thing. Steph, if you and Kevin talked maybe you could understand what he was going through trying to find a way to tell you what happened. Are you willing to try to talk to him?" Aj asked, watching her dab her eyes and sigh. She hesitantly nodded, blowing her nose softly.
"Alright, since it’s only eight in the morning, I suggest we go out to breakfast and Brian can head home. We’ll go pick up Theresa and go out to breakfast." Aj suggested, frowning when she shook her head.
"I have to go to the set today, we’re filming for the wedding between Phillip and Janet, I get to go in and stop it. I need to get ready. Don’t worry about me guys. Maybe I’ll meet you for dinner. Okay?" Stephanie explained, rising from the couch.
"You sure you’re gonna be alright?" Brian asked, standing as well.
"I’ll be fine. Maybe we can all get together later. Right now, I have a job to do." Stephanie insisted, watching Aj get up and walk to the door.
"Okay, well give us a call when you want to get together. Good luck with the show Babe." He hugged her softly and left the apartment, leaving Brian with her.
"Stephanie, please give him another chance. I know you may think he doesn’t deserve it, but he needs you. No one really even noticed when he wouldn’t go out clubbing with us, and when those fans would hit on him, he never even gave them notice. He was friendly but never overly-friendly, if you get my point. He’s in love with you, and I know deep down inside you’re in love with him. Every couple goes through a problem like this, please, give him another chance, for yourself." Brian elucidated, taking her hands in his. He noticed she was about to break down, and pulled her to him.
"I’ll try Brian, I’ll try." Stephanie murmured into his sweatshirt. She jerked away abruptly and wiped her eyes. "I’ll see ya later B. I gotta get ready for work."
Brian nodded and walked out of her apartment, hoping everything would work out for the best.
**With Kevin**
"I can’t believe I let this happen." Kevin muttered, swallowing another sip of beer, staring at the beautiful blond in front of him.
"Kevin, this happened last time too. Quit drinking so much. Why didn’t you tell her. I mean it’s understandable, I mean you were upset and needed someone to talk to. And nothing absolutely terrible happened…" She demanded, trying to take the beer bottle from his fingers, but he jerked it just out of her reach.
"Kristen, how can you say that? I cheated on her. I love her so much and I betrayed her. And what I did was terrible." Kevin stated, his words slurred together.
"What is so wrong with seeking comfort from a friend? It’s not like we did anything…" Kristen sighed, then bit her lip.
"Are you saying we didn’t screw?" Kevin looked up at her in surprise.
"Well, I mean that night is so cloudy I’m not sure." She stuttered, gazing anywhere but into his eyes.
"Kristen, you weren’t drunk, I was. What happened! All I remember is drinking, puking, and waking up next to you… What happened?" He demanded, looking straight into her eyes.
"Well…" Kristen started, biting her lower lip softly.
**With Stephanie**
Stephanie stared into the large mirror as Adrienne continued to apply make-up. She barely heard all the noise of busy people around her, she was too far into her own thoughts. She stared at the high-spirited, strong-willed, and beautiful woman the soap opera made her to be. But inside she was scared and weak, her character’s opposite.
"Steph, I said you were done. Good luck." Adrienne smiled again, then noticed her lost expression. "Are you okay?"
"Hmm, oh yeah, I’m fine. Just going over my lines in my head." She replied, hoping her smile didn’t look too fake. It seemed to have worked because Adrienne patted her shoulder and helped her up.
"Don’t worry, you’ll be great." Stephanie smiled appreciatively, and left the room, her lilac bridesmaids gown flowing behind her. She stepped out onto the set of a chapel scene and noticed ‘Phillip’ in his black tux with ‘Janet’ nearby getting her make-up fixed.
"Oh, good, Stephanie’s here. Do we need to rehearse one more time before we film?" The director asked, sipping his café latte. There was a chorus of ‘no’s followed by everyone hustling to get into place. "Good, ready, and action."
**With Kevin**
Kevin drove as fast as the speed limit would allow, smiling with the happiest smile on his face. He pulled into the parking lot of Stephanie’s apartment complex and rushed into the building. He noticed the crowd waiting for the elevator and made a mad dash for the stairs. He ran up all twelve flights of stairs until finally reaching her floor. Out of breath and sweaty, he knocked on her door.
He waited for ten minutes and when no one answered he jerked out his cell phone and dialed up Aj’s number. The phone rang about five times before a breathless voice answered.
"Hello?" Aj’s raspy voice breathed into the receiver.
"Aj, hate to bother you but where is Stephanie? I got really great news." Kevin replied hurriedly, running his hand through his hair.
"Oh, she’s at, umm, the studio thing working on the soap opera thing." He groaned, obviously busy.
"Thanks man. Sorry for interrupting anything." Kevin hung up the phone and headed back for the stairs skipping every few steps to get to the bottom faster.
**With Aj**
"Baby, how many times have I told you not to answer the phone while we’re busy!" Theresa giggled, climbing onto Aj’s bare waist, licking her lips sexually.
"It was Kev, he needed to find Steph. I can’t leave my brother hanging like that!" He grinned up at her, relieved Kevin had good news. He knew what it meant. Aj slowly lifted her hips up and slid her down onto his ever-hard manhood. They rocked back and forth in the large recliner in the living room, their clothes scattered everywhere.
"Oh, baby, yes…" Theresa’s voice trailed off, replaced by a moan. Her fingers held his hair, pulling his head to her exposed breasts, inviting his mouth to taste her skin. He accepted it greedily, sucking on her nipples until she squirmed over him then teasingly drew shapes around them.
Theresa writhed against his body, loving every little movement he could do with his talented tongue. They pushed to each other harder until her climax hit. She nearly shouted in pleasure at the earth-quaking release. He came shortly after, groaning in a deep, sexy voice.
**With Stephanie**
"Oh Phillip, please I love you too much for this to happen." Stephanie stopped the priest from continuing the ceremony.
"Laurel, quiet girl. Don’t ruin this for him. It’s too late…" ‘Rebecca’ stated, also one of the bridesmaids. Stephanie shook out of her grasp and walked to stand before ‘Phillip’.
"Please, you told me you loved me. If you are just doing this because of my son, we both love you and it is clear in your eyes you care about us. He’s your son, please believe me." Stephanie sobbed, against ‘Phillip’s’ strong chest.
"Are you going to believe her over me, Phillip? Laurel is nothing in this town, except a whore, she would shame you and your family." ‘Janet’ declared, until Stephanie spun to face her. Someone stepped up before either could challenge.
"Phillip, it is your life, choose who you love and who clearly loves you…" ‘Airanna’, ‘Phillip’s’ grandmother proclaimed touching his hand.
"Well he wouldn’t propose to me unless he loved me, so Laurel go back to your trailer trash family and find someone of your class." ‘Janet’ said, before a blow from Stephanie’s hand crashed against her face.
"I may have grown up in the streets, but I know how to love someone. And I know how to care about someone without using them for their family’s name or money. I love Phillip with all my soul and I cannot allow you to take advantage of his kind spirit." Stephanie said, feeling more tears course down her face. ‘Phillip’ spun her petite body around to face him and captured her eyes with his.
"I do love you, Laurel, as I do our son. I’m sorry I ever let this happen. Please, be my wife…" ‘Phillip’ knelt down in front of her, kissing her hand softly.
"Yes, yes Phillip, I will." She collapsed to her knees in front of him and caressed his soft dirty blond hair. Their lips met in a perfect TV-kiss.
"Okay and cut!" The director called out, pulling the couple away. Everyone stood and straightened they costumes. "Everyone can take a break. Stephanie I need to speak with you for a moment."
"Okay Robert." She sighed, allowing Adrienne to clean up her make up slightly. She followed her director to a secluded set and brushed her hair back from her face. "What’s up, Bobby?"
"Well, I have heard from a major film director in Italy. He wants you to play lead in a movie of his. As you know we are finally on the same level as ‘Days’ and ‘Passions’ and I know this could be a huge break for you. Would you accept the movie offer?"
"My God! A movie, I don’t know I mean, it’s just so…" Stephanie’s face lit up brightly.
"You better say yes, because I’m not letting you out of here without saying yes. You would always have a spot on this show if you need it. But this could be very big for you. I told them to mail you the script and you would get back to them." Robert smiled at her happy face. He could tell she was just barely containing her excitement and patted her hand.
"Thank you so much Bobby!" She hugged her director tightly, practically ready to jump around cheering like an idiot.
"Congratulations…" Bobby grinned, truly happy for his young star. "Adrienne will probably go with you so go tell her now."
Stephanie nodded and practically ran to her dressing room, unaware someone was following behind her. She burst into her small dressing room to find Adrienne cleaning up the make-up.
"Adrienne! You won’t believe this. A director wants me to be in a movie!" She smiled, receiving an immediate hug from her make-up artist.
"Oh Stephanie, that’s great. Oh my God, I can’t believe this!" Adrienne was no longer talking about the movie. She stared behind Stephanie with a slack jaw.