Chapter 33
Kristen stayed at AJ's apartment that night. Toni decided to stay there instead of Kevin's so she could be there to talk with Kristen. "You know that Nick is up for grabs now don't you?" Kristen asked Toni the next morning.
"Yeah I know but I'm not going after him."
"Just because he screwed up with me doesn't mean he will do the same to you."
"It's not that Kristen."
"Then what is it? I know you like Nick."
"And I know that you still love him. You can't be over him just like that after what happened last night." Kristen didn't say anything. Her eyes started watering and tears came out of her eyes.
"I'm so stupid."
"No you're not. You didn't know what was going to happen in your and Nick's relationship."
"Come on Toni. I should have learned the first time that this happened to me. I've only loved two guys in my life and both guys crapped on me by sleeping with Cassie. I should have never forgave her the first time. If I hadn't have forgiven her then maybe this wouldn't have happened."
"Oh don't you dare tell me that you're blaming yourself for this."
"No. It's not my fault. Yeah I did some things wrong in the relationship but I know that it's Cassie's fault, not mine."
"Well that's good to hear," AJ said coming into the room. "You doing okay Kristen?"
"No I'm not but I'm trying my hardest not to let it get to me."
"Well I hate to say this but Nick is waiting in the living room. He wants to talk to you."
"You can forget it. All he's going to do is apologize and beg for me to go back to him. I've been there before remember. I know how it all works. So all I'm asking is for everyone to leave me alone about this," Kristen said getting up and walking to the room she was staying in.
"AJ what are we going to do about this?" Toni asked.
"Well what did you do when it happened to her with Jesse?"
"She was torn apart but she immediately got on with her life. She wasn't her normal self but she eventually got over it."
"Hopefully that's the case this time too."
"I don't think so. This is the second time that the guy she loved cheated on her with her best friend."
"You're right, I'll go talk to her," AJ said beginning to leave Toni's room.
"No don't. Everyone is always talking to her when she has a problem that she needs to deal with. Maybe we should just let her be alone. Go talk to Nick." AJ gave Toni a really weird look when she said that as if he were meaning to say 'are you crazy?'
"Nevermind. I'll go talk to him. You might get pissed off at him and punch him again."
"Hey he deserved it. Just like Cassie did from you."
"You're right. Good job by the way," Toni said sarcastically leaving the room. She went into the living room and sat down across from Nick. "Nice eye," she said sarcastically.
"Where's Kristen? I need to talk to her," Nick said.
"Forget it Nick."
"I need to apologize and try to explain things to her."
"The only explaining there is is that you fucked Cassie. If you think she'll forgive you and cover you with kisses then you're more stupid than I thought."
"Why are you trashing on me? I didn't do anything to you," Nick said coldly.
"For the same reason AJ punched you last night. I'm sticking up for Kristen." Nick didn't say anything just sat there thinking for a minute or two before he spoke again.
"I remember when we first met Kristen. AJ asked me if things didn't work out for me and Kristen if he could take a stab at her. Sometimes I wonder if I should have just let AJ have her then maybe we could still be at least friends. I love her to much to lose her friendship too."
"Do you think Kristen is just some girl that you can toss around between guys?"
"No, why do you think I would think that?"
"Well listen to what you just told me. About letting AJ have Kristen. She went with you because she loved you, not AJ. You know the girl has a hell of a lot of say in a relationship."
"That's not what I meant. Now may I talk to Kristen?"
"No, you may not. You broke her heart and if you go in there and talk to her and hurt her any more I will have to break you into a million little pieces. So, I'm saving your life."
"Fine, I'm leaving. Just tell her that I said I'm sorry."
"She won't take an apology from me for you. You'll just have to wait until she'll talk to you." Nick didn't say another word to her just stood up and walked out the door. AJ came into the living room and sat down next to Toni and looked at her as if to ask what happened with Nick. Toni understood him and gave him the only response she had. "He's sorry but I'm not sure if he wants her back."
"What the hell? If he loved her he would fight to keep her," AJ stated.
"Okay AJ, I have to say this now since Kristen and Nick obviously aren't a thing anymore," Toni said looking straight at him.
"What?"
"Nick's no longer in the way of you being with Kristen."
"Forget it Toni. Kristen just had her heart broken and I'm not going to go after her as soon as she lost Nick."
"Well duh. I'm not saying to try and make something work between you two right now because it will never work. Give it some time. When things have seemed to calmed down you need to tell her how you feel about her."
"What that I love her? Come on. We both now she would probably slap me in the face. She's only loved two guys and they both cheated on her."
"AJ I really think she loves you. She just hasn't realized it yet. You care about her a lot and I can tell. I know for a fact that you would never hurt her."
"That's cause I wouldn't. I would never be able to do that." Just then Kristen walked into the living room carrying a back pack over one of her shoulders. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle then went back into the living room.
"AJ can I borrow your car for a couple of hours?" Kristen asked.
"Yeah sure. Where are you going?"
"I thought I would just go to the gym and work out for a little while."
"Sounds like a good idea. Want any company?"
"No. I like going by myself. But I'll see you later and I'll have your car back by three o'clock. I should get things situated in two hours. Bye," Kristen said taking AJ's keys and walking out the door.
"What did she mean by get things situated?" AJ asked Toni.
"She likes to go to the gym to clear her head. It helps her not worry about anything." The rest of the afternoon Toni and AJ just sat around the house doing various things. It was seven o'clock and Kristen still hadn't come back yet.
"Where the hell is she?" AJ asked. He was pacing around the living room worried to death about Kristen since she was supposed to be back four hours earlier.
"I don't know the gym closes in an hour so if she's not back by then we'll call up Kevin or someone to go look for her since he's still got his car," Toni said. AJ agreed and about a half hour later there was a knock on the door. AJ answered it to see some strange guy standing there holding Kristen up.
"Oh my God," Toni whispered.
"What happened?" AJ asked the man taking Kristen from him.
"I'm not really sure. I was working out at the gym and I saw her and she looked a little woozy and she got up and left. I followed her to make sure she would be okay and she got in her car where she passed out. She's just now coming to," the guy said.
"Thank you so much. How did you know to take her here?"
"I found the address on the insurance papers in the glove compartment of her car. It was the only address I could find so I hope you don't mind."
"No not at all. Thank you." AJ carried Kristen into bed while Toni thanked the guy again and closed the door.
"What's wrong with her?" Toni asked coming into the room.
"Did she eat anything today?"
"No, I don't think so. I don't think she's eaten since yesterday afternoon. Why?"
"She must have exercised too hard. She had to have been at the gym for about six hours. She was working off energy that she didn't have."
"How do you know that? How do you know something isn't really wrong with her?" Toni asked worried.
"I know because I work out a lot and sometimes I didn't eat. I usually started feeling dizzy and I would stop but she obviously didn't stop."
"AJ this is killing her. She would never do that to herself. She's torn up about Nick. What are we supposed to do? I mean if she keeps going to the gym without eating anything she'll practically kill herself." Tears for Kristen started coming out of her eyes and AJ wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
"That won't happen. She just won't go to the gym any more on an empty stomach and we'll make sure she doesn't stay that long again. Trust me on this. It's not that bad."
"Okay," Toni said softly.
"She's sweating like crazy. Do you think you can help her take a cold shower to cool her down? It'll make her feel better."
"Yeah I can do that."
"Thanks and I'll go make her some soup or something light to eat." AJ said and helped Kristen off the bed and leaned her against Toni who led her into the bathroom. Toni helped her get undressed and placed her in the shower. She had to leave the shower door open so she could help Kristen stand up since she was too weak to stand. Kristen was startled when the cold water started running down her body.
"I can do this by myself," Kristen said softly.
"Are you sure?" Toni asked. Kristen nodded her head. Toni slowly let go off her and Kristen leaned up against the shower wall as support. She took a fast shower since she was beginning to get dizzy and got dressed. She opened the bathroom door and almost ran into AJ.
"Feeling better?" AJ asked.
"Yeah I just need to get some sleep."
"Not until you get something in your stomach," AJ said taking her arm and leading her to the kitchen.
"I'm not hungry. I'm just tired."
"I don't care if you're hungry or not. You're still eating," AJ said setting her down at the table with a bowl of soup in front of her.
"I said that I'm not hungry. You can't force me to eat."
"Trust me I can. You'll sit here until you eat it and if you don't I'll force it down you."
"Gees AJ, you sound like her father or something," Toni commented. AJ just rolled his eyes at her. Kristen got up and began walking towards her room when AJ grabbed her around the waist and carried her back to the table.
"Eat," was all he said to her. Kristen and AJ sat at the table for about an hour with her not touching the food.
"Why are you doing this?" Kristen finally asked.
"Because you are in pain over what happened with Nick and Cassie and you won't start feeling better about it all if you don't take care of yourself."
"I do take care of myself. You've gone a day without eating before and that's what is happening with me. I promise I'll eat in the morning but I'm really tired so please just let me go to bed," Kristen pleaded. AJ agreed since he knew Kristen was right. He knew Kristen needed food in her stomach but also knew she needed to get some sleep and rest. Kristen felt dizzy again when she began walking to her room so she just went into the living room and laid down on the couch and fell asleep. AJ went and picked her up and tucked her into bed. He looked at her then looked up and prayed to God that he would help her through the whole ordeal with Nick.
"I love you," AJ whispered as he kissed Kristen softly goodnight without disturbing her.
Chapter 34
