Chapter 27
Nick and Kristen had gotten a plane an hour later to the next city for the concert. When they got there they had to go straight to the venue so Nick wouldn't be late. All the other guys were ready so Nick hurried up to get change and do a quick warm up. Kristen saw AJ and she avoided eye contact with him. She hated him for telling Nick. She thought that Nick had no right to know all of her screw ups. She went into the dressing room when all the guys were about ready to go on stage so she could try and get some sleep. "AJ I have to talk to you," Nick said.
"It's going to have to wait, we're about to go on stage," AJ said.
"Well the concert will have to wait, we need to talk."
"We can talk later."
"The fans can wait another five minutes! We have more important things!" Nick yelled.
"Fine," AJ said and told one of the crew members to give them a few more minutes before going on stage. "What is it? You found Kristen right?"
"Yeah I found her."
"Then what's the problem?"
"AJ she's completely lost it. She won't stop blaming herself for what happened. She says that it's all her fault. I don't know what to do, I don't know how to comfort her or what. It's killing me to know that she is hurting so bad. What am I supposed to do?"
"Why is she blaming herself?"
"I don't know, she said that she could have prevented it all."
"What is going on with Kristen?" Cassie asked interupting.
"Hey you guys you need to get out there!" one of the crew members yelled.
"You still have about ten minutes before you go on stage. She's in the dressing room so go talk to her please," Nick said heading off. Cassie went into the dressing room to find Kristen laying on a couch with tears coming out of her eyes. She went and sat down on the floor in front of her.
"You want to talk about it?" Cassie asked. Kristen just turned and faced the back of the couch ignoring Cassie. "Come on Kristen, you always tell me everything."
"No I don't. There are lots of things that you don't know Cassie."
"Like what?"
"Why the hell should I tell you?"
"What the hell is your problem Kristen? Just because something bad happened does not mean that you have the right to take it out on me! Now what is going on?"
"I am fed up with life Cassie! You have no idea how badly my life sucks! I have put up with so much crap in my life and I came to realize that there is obviously something wrong with me. So just get out and please leave me alone!" Kristen yelled. Cassie didn't say a word but just did as Kristen said.
After the concert all the guys went into the dressing room. Kristen got up and left so that they could change. Nick was the first one to leave the dressing room and he came up to Kristen.
"You feeling okay?" he asked.
"Oh I'm just as good as ever," Kristen said faking a smile.
"Kristen you need to talk to someone about what is going on in your mind," Nick said sympathetically.
"I did tell you."
"No, you didn't. You just blamed yourself for what happened when it's not your fault and you know it."
"Do we have to go through this again? There's no point in arguing about it Nick because we both know the truth in all of this."
"Yeah that it's that guy's fault not yours."
"Just the exact opposite Carter. Now if you don't mind, I'm leaving," Kristen said beginning to walk away.
"Where would you go?" Nick asked blocking Kristen's way.
"What does it matter. It's not like anyone cares in the first place."
"Yes someone does care. I care because I love you." Kristen looked at Nick and allowed him to envelope her in his arms.
In the dressing room AJ's cell phone rang, he said hello and then was silent until he hung up the phone. "Who was that?" Howie asked.
"Oh no one special, just a friend back home." AJ left the dressing room to talk to Nick about the phone call but decided against it when he saw Nick holding Kristen. It broke his heart in two for more than one reason. He hated to see Kristen hurting so bad inside and every time he saw her, whether she was happy or sad, he began to love her more and more. They got to the hotel and Nick checked him and Kristen into some rooms. Kristen wanted a room to herself so that she could be alone. AJ went into Nick's room to talk to him about the call.
"I got a call from the police station in Orlando after the concert tonight," AJ began.
"Yeah what did they say?"
"That Nate guy was released. A friend of his paid his bail so he was let go."
"How can they let him go after what he did to Kristen? That is bull shit!" Nick yelled.
"The only way that they can put him back in jail is if Kristen testify's against him in court as soon as possible."
"That's out of the question AJ. She doesn't need to be more stressed out about a trial and all that."
"Well she needs to. That is the only way she's ever going to get back to her normal self is if he is in jail paying for what he did to her."
"Well maybe she can get some counciling or something. That will help her be herself again. She thinks it's her fault so why would she want to testify against him in the first place?"
"Nick are you on Nate's side here or Kristen's? AJ asked getting angry.
"Kristen's."
"Then why the hell would you want Nate to walk free after what he did to your girlfriend? If you loved her like you say you do you would try and make her do the right thing!"
"Why so she can hate me like she hates you!?!" Nick yelled.
"You know what Nick I know she hates me for telling you but it was the right thing to do! She couldn't keep it a secret from her own boyfriend! Sometimes if you love someone enough Nick you'll do whatever you can to help them even if it means that they will hate and never forgive you for the rest of your life," AJ said softly then left the room. He walked out into the hall and his eyes filled up with tears. He usually hardly ever cried over a girl but it seemed that he cared so much for Kristen that the tears just wouldn't stop flowing.
"You're crying those tears for Kristen aren't you?" Howie asked coming down the hall.
"Huh?" AJ asked surprised.
"There's no point in hiding it. Those tears are for Kristen aren't they?"
"How do you know?" AJ asked.
"Because whenever Nick is close to Kristen and you're around your eyes seem to get all glossy. You love her don't you?" AJ nodded his head yes.
"You know what sucks about it though?"
"What?" Howie asked.
"The fact that she is dating one of my best friends who at times it seems as if he doesn't care for her."
"Why don't you try talking to her about it?"
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"For two reasons. First of all she hates me, I can't tell you why but she just does. Second, she's happy with Nick. Her being happy makes me happy even though I can't be with her."
"Love can suck," Howie said. "It's hard on all of us to find love and it's got to be harder to have found it and can't have it."
"No kidding. By the way did I miss something with Cassie while I was gone?"
"What do you mean?"
"Her and one of the other dancers, Luis, I think."
"Oh yeah, I think they are sort of hitting it off a little too well. Cassie hardly talks to any of us anymore. It doesn't really bother me since I don't know her that well but she should still at least talk to Angela and Kristen. She can work it out though. Well I'm going to go to bed so I'll see you tomorrow and hopefully something works out between you and Kristen," Howie said walking away.
"Thanks D," AJ said getting up from sitting on the floor and walking into this room. He decided he would talk to Kristen the next day about going to court since Nick wouldn't do it. He only hoped Kristen wouldn't get more upset with him even though the only wish he had was to have what was best for her.
Chapter 28
