Chapter 26
It was about one in the morning when AJ and Kristen got checked into the hotel that all the guys were staying at. When the plane landed AJ had got bombarded by some fans and also outside of the hotel. "You know how you said that I should give love a second chance?" Kristen asked AJ on the elevater going up to their rooms.
"Yeah."
"I think you're right. After what happened last night I now realize that Nick would never hurt me like that. That he must really love me and I'm beginning to feel the same way about him."
"I'm glad that you came to realize that. Nick's a good guy he would never hurt someone he loved."
"AJ what room is Nick in?" Kristen asked when they got off the elevator.
"Right across from mine i think, room 412."
"I think I'm going to go talk to him."
"Alright," AJ said handing Kristen her bag and then went into his hotel room. Kristen knocked on Nick's door. It took him a couple of minutes to answer it. When he answered he was in a pair of boxers and a wife beater. He looked surprised to see Kristen standing in front of him but he didn't say anything.
"Hey Nick," Kristen said breaking the silence. Just looking at Nick made Kristen's eyes fill up with tears. Just seeing Kristen standing there about ready to cry made Nick know in his heart that she never cheated on him. He led Kristen into his room and shut the door and held her in his arms while she cried. "I never cheated on you Nick," Kristen said while crying.
"I know you didn't and I'm sorry I assumed that you did. I just don't want to loose you and I got worried. I'm sorry. Why are you here early?" Nick asked.
"Nick, um, a lot happened yesterday and I had to come here. I needed to be with you."
"What happened?"
"Nick I wish I could tell you but I can't. Please don't be upset with me for it. You know that if it was something that I could tell you I would. Don't hold anything against me for not telling you," Kristen begged.
"I won't. If you can't tell me then I completely understand," Nick said continuing to hold Kristen.
"After everything that happened I realized something very important Nick."
"What's that?"
"That I love you. I really do love you and I learned the hard way to find out that I loved you but I still love you," Kristen rambled on and on until Nick pulled Kristen into a kiss.
"I love you too," Nick said when they pulled away. Kristen's tears began to wash some of the make-up away off of her face and began to reveal a little of her bruises. Nick saw them but didn't mention anything about it. He held Kristen tighter and held in tears. He knew something bad had happened to her because of the bruises and that was why she was here early. He knew that her and AJ talked a lot and he knew what was wrong and that was why he left. Kristen changed her clothes and crawled into bed with Nick. He wrapped his arms around her and she instantly fell asleep. When Nick knew for a fact that Kristen was asleep he slid his arms out from around her and went to AJ's room. He banged on the door until a very tired AJ answered the door. Nick went right into the room and AJ closed the door.
"What the hell happened to her AJ?" Nick yelled.
"What do you mean?"
"What happened to Kristen?"
"Nothing happened to her," AJ lied. He remembered his promise to Kristen about not saying anything even though he knew how wrong it was.
"Don't fucking lie to me AJ! I saw the bruises on her face and she said that she had to find out the hard way that she loved me now what the hell happened! I have a right to know!" Nick screamed.
"Nick get out of my room."
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what happened. She talks to you all the time and I know that you went to Orlando to get her now what happened."
"Then stay here, but I'm going to bed," AJ said walking over and getting back in bed. Nick gave up after a couple more minutes and went back to his room. He knew someone hurt Kristen by the bruises and he cried when he looked at her sleeping in the bed.
The next morning the phone rang and Kristen answered it before Nick woke up. "Hello?" Kristen asked tiredly.
"Kristen I need to talk to you about somethingcan you meet me in my room?" AJ asked.
"Can't this wait AJ? I'm want to go back to sleep."
"No it can't. We really need to talk about something."
"Alright, I'll be there in ten minutes." Kristen went and got dressed and put her make-up on to cover the bruises. She went to AJ's room and knocked on the door. AJ opened the door and Kristen stepped inside, AJ shutting the door behind her. "Now what is so important that can't wait?"
"You have to tell Nick."
"Tell Nick what?"
"You have to tell him what happened the other night Kristen."
"No, I don't think so. We both agreed that we wouldn't tell him."
"I only agreed because you didn't want me to say anything."
"Well I still don't want you to say anything."
"Kristen you have to tell him. He knows something happened to you and that I went to Orlando to get you."
"I'm not telling him AJ, that's it."
"Well if you don't tell him I will and that is it. So it's your decision who tells because Nick will find out either way."
"Why are you doing this AJ? He doesn't need to know!" Kristen yelled.
"Yes he does! He has a right to know. You are his girlfriend and he cares a lot about you! He saw the bruises Kristen! What are you going to tell him if he asks you about them?!?" AJ asked yelling back at her.
"I'll just come up with stupid excuse."
"Nick won't believe it."
"Well Nick won't have a choice on whether or not to believe it. It will be the only excuse he will get."
"No it won't because I'm telling him the truth."
"I can't believe you AJ! You're supposed to be my best friend and now you're turning against me!"
"I'm not turning against you! I'm watching out for what is best for you!"
"God AJ, I hate you so much for this!" Kristen yelled crying.
"You can hate me for the rest of both of our lives Kristen but you and I both know that telling Nick is the right thing. I'm only watching out for you."
"Well if you were watching out for me you would keep your damn mouth shut," Kristen said leaving AJ's room. She went back to Nick's room to grab her purse and she called a cab and left the hotel. AJ went into the hall to see Kevin knocking on everyone's doors to get them up to leave. 'Shit I don't need to deal with him now," AJ thought. Kevin saw AJ and walked up to him with an angry expression on his face.
"Where the hell have you been? You missed the past two concerts," Kevin said.
"Kevin lay off okay. If you knew the reason why I left you would have agreed to it all," AJ said walking away. He went into Nick's room and pulled the blankets off of a sleeping Nick. "Nick get up, now."
"AJ what are you doing in here?" Nick turned to look at Kristen and noticed she wasn't there. "Where's Kristen at?"
"That's what we need to talk about. Something bad did happen to Kristen and that was the reason why I went to Orlando." Nick sat up in bed and put his full attention on AJ but spoke before AJ could continue.
"Does Kristen know you are telling me this?"
"Let's just say that that is the reason why Kristen is not here. I told her I was going to tell you because you had a right to know. We got in a huge fight and she left the hotel."
"Well where did she go?" Nick asked getting out of bed and putting his pants and shirt on. He put on his shoes and was about to walk out of the room to look for her when AJ stopped him.
"I don't know Nick but you have to hear this so just stay for a minute. I know Kristen is going to never forgive me for this but oh well. Wednesday night Kristen was going to go hang out with one of her guy friends and no Nick she wasn't cheating on you. They were just friends."
"I know this," Nick said.
"Anyways he attacked her and tried to rape her. She called me on the phone and I guess he took the phone from her when she finished dialing and he never hung up the phone and I heard the whole thing, that's why I left to Orlando. I got to her place and found her in her room in the corner crying. She looked terrible. She couldn't stop crying and shaking. I was there for about ten minutes when the guy came back to her place to finish what he started. Kristen called the police and they got there to break up a fight between me and him."
"I can't believe this," Nick said almost in tears. "How could she not tell me this? I'm going to kill that son of a bitch. How in the hell could some guy hurt Kristen or any other female on this planet!" Nick yelled now showing his tears. "I can't believe this, and she wanted to hide it from me."
"Nick you can't get mad at her."
"I'm not mad at her. She didn't do anything, it was all that jerk off's fault. Why couldn't she tell me? She can't possibly think that I would get mad at her."
"When we were driving back from the police station I asked her how she felt and she said better than she did which I don't believe. The whole day yesterday she acted as if nothing had happened. I'm no physicatrist, far from it actually, and I'm not good at understanding what people are feeling on the inside but I know for a fact that Kristen is breaking down inside and she's trying to hide and forget about it. That's probably why she didn't tell you. She wants to forget about it. She needs you Nick even though she won't admit to needing anyone," AJ explained. Nick got up and walked out of the room followed by AJ.
"I'm going to go find her," Nick said.
"Where are you going?" Kevin asked.
"I'm going to find Kristen, she ran off somewhere."
"When did Kristen get here?"
"With me, last night," AJ said.
"Nick you can't go anywhere the bus is leaving in a couple minutes, we can't be late to the next venue."
"Kevin I promise you I won't be late. I'll find her and we'll get on a plane. We should get there by the time you guys arrive or a little later but I will make it there on time."
"Alright go, you can't leave her here anyways."
"Thanks Kevin," Nick said running off.
"Okay so is someone going to tell me what's going on here?" Kevin asked looking at AJ.
"It's a long story and I'm not about to explain so just know that there is a reason for all this chaos."
"Fine, I'm not going to stress out over it, let's go," Kevin said leaving the hotel.
About two hours later Nick found Kristen sitting in front of a lake in a park. She had her knees up to her chest with her arms wrapped around her legs. She seemed to be staring off into the middle of nowhere as if she were thinking. Nick walked up and stood behind her. She didn't notice he was there. "Mind if I sit down with you?" Nick asked. Kristen turned around to see Nick and he saw that she had been crying. Nick sat down with Kristen between his legs and he wrapped his arms around her. Kristen leaned back against his chest and held onto his hands. "What are you thinking about?" Nick asked her.
"About how much my life really sucks. I suppose AJ talked to you."
"Yeah he did and I'm glad he did too. Why couldn't you tell me?"
"I was afraid you be mad at me for it," Kristen said after a couple of seconds.
"How could I be mad at you? It wasn't your fault."
"That's where you're wrong Carter," Kristen said getting up. The tears were coming out of her eyes more than they were before. "It was my fault."
"How can you say that?" Nick asked also getting up.
"Because I was the one who agreed to go out with him even though it was just as friends and I was the one who allowed him to enter my apartment when I wasn't ready to leave. Then I was the one who didn't lock the door the next day and he came right in. It was just like an invitation for him to enter," Kristen said crying harder.
"You couldn't have possibly known that he would have hurt you and make an attempt to rape you. It is not your fault," Nick said going to hold Kristen. Kristen stepped away from him.
"It is Nick. It could all have been prevented if I hadn't agreed to go out with him that night in the first place therefore it is all of my fault!"
"No Kristen it is not your fault!" Nick yelled. "He is the dumbass who is at complete fault here with the actions that he made towards you!"
"Don't lie to yourself Carter, you know it was my fault."
"No Kristen you are the one who needs to stop lying to yourself." Nick went and wrapped his arms around Kristen. She tried to break free from him but he wouldn't let her go. He knew she needed comforting no matter how hard she tried to resist from him. She finally gave up and cried into Nick's chest holding on to him as if for life.
Chapter 27
