Chapter 28
The next day Kristen got on the tour bus with the guys while Cassie went on the bus with the other dancers. Everyone was in the back of the bus except for Kristen who was in the front writing a letter. AJ found it a good time that he should go talk to her so he went and sat down next to her. Kristen acted as if he wasn't even there. "You can't hate me forever," AJ said to her. Kristen looked at him for a second before speaking.
"How do you know that?" she asked.
"Because you know I did the right thing about telling Nick and now you're going to do something."
"And what would that be?"
"You're going to court to testify against Nate."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me Kristen."
"I don't think so AJ."
"I do and I will make sure that you do. You can't let him not pay a penalty for hurting you."
"He didn't hurt me," Kristen lied. "He can't hurt me when it was my fault."
"Will you just listen to yourself for a second?" AJ said getting up and trying to keep his voice down so the others couldn't hear him. "Look what this has done to you. The person sitting right in front me is not the Kristen that I know and enjoy spending time with and talking too. Ever since that incident the other night it seems as if you don't even care about your life anymore. You think whatever happens is because of you which is completely false."
"You can think whatever you want to think AJ but I'm not testifying against him."
"Yes you are. I don't care what I have to do to get you to testify."
"Why are you doing this to me AJ? First you go and tell Nick what happened against my wishes and then you are trying to force me to go to court."
"Nate is out of jail Kristen. You have the power to put a stop to him hurting you or any other girl."
"Why would he even come near me again after what I did to him?"
"What the hell did you do to him? Absolutely nothing! He came after you twice and what makes you think he won't come after you again!" AJ yelled. Kevin heard all of the commotion and went to the front of the bus to see what was going on. AJ and Kristen wouldn't say a word to him about what was going on so he gave up and went back to the others. He figured AJ would go to someone for advice on whatever was going on with him and Kristen sooner or later.
"If he comes back then oh well huh?" Kristen said.
"I can't believe you. I can't even face you anymore Kristen. When you feel like talking sensibly I'll be there for you. But right now all I can say is that you're losing it and you need to get control of your life again. I care for you more than anything and I know you're going through hell. I'm trying my best to help you since Nick isn't but you obviously don't want anyone's help." With that said AJ left to the back of the bus pissed off at he didn't know if it was himself or Nate but he couldn't blame Kristen. When Nick saw AJ's face he knew he talked with Kristen so he went to go see how she was. He found her sitting down crying.
"You don't have to go to trial again if you don't want to. You know that don't you?" Nick asked wrapping his arms around Kristen.
"Please just leave me alone Nick," Kristen said softly. Nick did as she said and went to the back of the bus.
"What the hell did you say to my girlfriend!?!" Nick yelled at AJ.
"The truth about her life and she shouldn't let what happened control her."
"She is sitting up there crying because of whatever you said to her! She is already hurting bad enough why are you trying to make it worse?"
"Because someone needs to tell her to start taking action!"
"Okay did I miss something here?" Brian asked.
"I think most of us did. Something happened with Nick, AJ, and Kristen and none of them will say what," Kevin said.
"AJ can't keep a secret, he'll eventually spill," Brian said when his cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hey Brian," Angela said.
"Hey baby how's it going?" Brian asked.
"I'd like to ask you that question since you haven't been bothering to call me."
"I'm sorry things have been kind of hectic."
"Let me guess, with Kristen?"
"Um...sort of, but I don't know anything about it. What do you know?"
"Well I came home from work the other day and there was a note from Kristen saying she left early to be with Nick for reasons she couldn't explain. Then the police showed up at my apartment yesterday looking for her. I didn't know what to say so I just said I didn't know where she was at and they called here today looking for her once again. What did she do?" Angela asked.
"I don't know. I'll talk to the guys and try and see what's up and I'll let you know. Don't worry about it."
"Alright, just let me know please and don't forget."
"I won't, I love you and I'll talk to you later," Brian said hanging up the phone. He looked right over at Nick and AJ.
"What?" they both said in unison.
"What is going on with Kristen?" Brian asked.
"Nothing, she's fine," Nick said.
"Then why are the police looking for her?"
"How should I know?"
"Don't worry about it you guys. Kristen isn't in any trouble," AJ said.
"Then why would the police be looking for her if she's not in trouble?" Kevin asked.
"Just trust me Kev. They are just trying to get a hold of her to tell her some stuff about what she should do about some stuff."
"That just made no sense," Brian said.
"Well it's the only explanation you're going to get," AJ said.
"Do you think we could stop by a post office somewhere so I can mail a letter?" Kristen asked coming into the back up the bus.
"Yeah sure, who is the letter to?" Nick asked.
"My friend Toni, in Tennessee. I haven't written or talked to her in awhile so I thought I should gain some contact back," Kristen went back to the front without saying anything else. Nick followed her.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah I'm fine. I could just really use a friend to talk to right now."
"You've got me, you know."
"I know, but I need a friend not a boyfriend. I can't talk to AJ or Cassie and Angela isn't here."
"This whole thing is really hurting you isn't it?"
"Can we not talk about that!" Kristen yelled. "It seems as if that's all anyone wants to talk about!" Kristen turned away from Nick and started crying without him hearing her crys. She wanted someone to talk to so bad but she couldn't do it. The only person she felt she could talk to was her best friend Toni but she was too far away. Kristen just hoped that all her pain and misery would end as soon as it all came.
~3 days later in Tennessee~
"Toni! You have a letter on the table from Kristen!" Toni's mom yelled at her from downstairs. Toni flew down the stairs and grabbed the letter. She was so happy that Kristen finally took the time to write her. She was thrilled about finding out how Kristen's life had been since she started college. All her happiness turned to saddness when she began reading the letter. "Bad news?" Toni's mom asked.
"Um...no," Toni said running to her room to read the letter:
Dear Toni,
Hey chica so has life been treating you good lately? Hopefully it is
that way one of us could be happy. As you know I went to college in
Orlando. I met a friend and moved in with her and you will never
believe this. She's dating Brian Littrell. I wanted to die when I found
out. So, I got to meet the Backstreet Boys again. I know how
much that you love Nick so I'm sorry when I say this but I'm dating
him now. He's so good to me at times and I really love him. Sorry
if you're mad at me but I can't control my feelings. If you want me
to stop dating him then I will. AJ and I used to be really good
friends until a lot of stuff happened. I don't know how to explain this
so I'll just keep it short. A couple days after Nick and the guys left
to go on tour I was.....well....I was attacked and almost raped. I'm
falling apart inside and don't know what to do. I know it's my fault.
I could have prevented that. Nick and AJ don't understand that and
they want to help me. How can they help me if it was all my fault?
There is nothing they can do. I can't talk to them anymore. Cassie is always away with some guy. She just forgot about me. Like that has never happened before. I really need you Toni. You're the only
one that I feel I can talk to. With all that has happened I'm tearing Nick and AJ's friendship apart. Me and AJ just lost our friendship. I can't trust him anymore. He thinks he knows what is good for me but he doesn't. Oh well, my life can only cause more pain to myself and others. I hope to hear from you soon. I miss you and I need your help. Please.
Love always,
Kristen.
Toni couldn't believe what happened to her best friend. She ran into the kitchen and told her mom to book her a flight. She was going to be on the first flight she could get to Orlando to help her friend out.
Chapter 29
