Krista stumbled out of bed and ran into the bathroom just in time before her stomach heaved again. Ang heard her just as walked in to check on her. “Kris? You okay?”
Krista wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet. “No.”
“It’s not the flu is it?” Ang asked, kneeling down next to her.
Krista shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes. “What am I going to do, Ang? I can’t do this now.”
“Are you positive?” Ang questioned, sympathetically.
Krista nodded. “One hundred percent. I went to the doctor after rehearsal the other day”
“Does Aj know?” Ang frowned.
“No,” Krista shook her head, quickly. “I don’t know how to tell him. I don’t think he’ll take it very well.” Ang didn’t know how to respond so she just pulled Krista into a tight hug. “Well, no matter what happens, we’re all here for you.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Nick pulled his car up to the front of the girls’ house. He put it in park and turned to Katelin. “So, I won’t see you until we’re at the airport tomorrow night.”
“I’ll think you’ll manage, Carter.” She giggled.
“You are one sarcastic little girl, you know that?” He pouted.
“You love it, you know you did,” Katelin grinned. “Now shut up and kiss me.” Nick leaned in and put his lips to hers.
Inside, Alyssa’s eyes grew wide. “Holy shit! Brooke! Ang! Quick!” Both girls came running to the front window where Alyssa was frantically pointing outside.
“Oh my god….” Ang’s hand clamped over her mouth.
“It’s about damn time,” Brooke smiled.
Nick pulled away. “Busted.” He chuckled, pointing to the house.
Kate turned to see what he was looking at and noticed her three friends scramble away from the window. “Well, I gotta go do damage control.” She gave him a quick kiss before climbing out of the car. “Bye!”
“See you tomorrow!” He called out the open car window before driving away.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Katelin quietly opened the door and tried to sneak up the stairs. “Nuh-uh!” Ang called from the foyer. “Turn around, march down those stairs, and then explain why you were just kissing Nick Carter.” Kate shrugged but didn’t offer any explanation. Ang tapped her foot, anxiously. “Well? What happened to Nick being the devil incarnate?”
“People change,” Kate shrugged again. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I didn’t get much sleep last night and I’m going to take a nap before I start packing.”
Ang was about to turn around and walk away when Katelin’s statement hit her. “WHAT?! Katelin Marie Taylor, what do you mean you didn’t get any sleep last night?” Katelin just laughed at her best friend as she continued to walk up the stairs.
Nick pulled his car up in front of Aj’s house where Aj and Brian were hanging out. He walked in grinning. “Hey guys!”
Aj looked up from the tv. “What are you so chipper about?”
“So, I just got off the phone with Ang,” Brian came running in from the kitchen before Nick could answer. “She told me a little interesting story about you and Katelin. Care to elaborate?”
“What interesting story?” An intrigued AJ asked.
Nick was about to tell him to shut the hell up but Brian cut him off. “Just a little something about Nick’s tongue shoved down Kate’s throat when he dropped her off.”
“What?!” AJ gasped.
“Looks like Nicky here won the bet, Aj,” Brian laughed. “Pay up.”
AJ reluctantly reached for his check book. “Damn, I never actually thought you’d win.”
“Don’t. I don’t want your damn money, AJ,” Nick stopped him. “This has nothing to do with the bet. I really like her. And so help me god, AJ, if you ever tell her about this, I’ll fucking kill you.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Howie knocked on Christine’s front door. He heard her footsteps and a minute later, the door flung open.
“Hey baby!” he greeted.
She opened the door wider and he walked in. “You want to go out to eat or are you too busy packing?”
“Actually, honey,” Christine sighed. “I wanted to talk to you about that.”
Howie walked into the kitchen. “What about it?” He opened up the fridge and pulled out something to drink.
Christine sat down at that table. “I’m not going.”
Howie nearly spit the soda out of his mouth. "What do you mean ‘you’re not going?’ Are you crazy Christine?”
“No, Howie, I’m not crazy,” She avoided his glance. “I just think that it would be best if I stayed home this time.”
“Why?” He sat down next to her. “I thought you wanted to be with me.”
“I do,” she sighed. “It’s just that…Howie…where are we going with this? It seems like we’re not moving forward anymore.”
“So that’s what this is about?” He smirked, slightly relieved.
“It’s just that I’m not getting any younger here,” she spit out frantically. “I want a husband, a family, a big house with a white picket fence-“ She was cut off as Howie got down on one knee in front of her. Her eyes widened. “Oh my god…”
He grabbed her hands in his. “Chris, baby, I was going to wait until we were in Paris to do this but your kitchen will do just fine. Will you do me the honor and be my wife?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she threw her arms around his neck. “Of course I’ll be your wife! I love you!”
They shared a kiss before Howie pulled away. “So, does that mean you’re coming on tour?”
“Of course,” she grinned. “Did you really think I could stand being away from you for two months?”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“So, Kate, tell me,” Ang began, handing Kate a soda and sitting down on the couch next to her. “When did this thing with you and Nick start?”
“I don’t know, Ang,” Katelin shrugged. “It just kind of happened.” She grinned cheekily. “I really like him though.”
“I’m glad,” Ang smiled. She paused before asking her next question. “So how did Nick react to hearing about your mom?”
“What?” Katelin’s head shot up.
“You heard me,” Ang replied. “Brian told me you told him about her. Why you decided to talk to him about it and not your best friend is beyond me.”
“You’re picking a fight with me over this?” Katelin glared at her.
“I’m not trying to pick a fight with you,” Ang sighed. “It’s just that I’ve been trying to get you to open up to me about this for two years and you go and tell a complete stranger the first chance you get.”
Katelin jumped up angrily. “I can’t believe you’re getting mad at me about this! It’s my goddamn life, Ang, not yours. Did it ever fucking occur to you that maybe I didn’t want to talk to you about it? That I wasn’t in the mood for one more ‘Katelin, I promise you it’ll get easier.’ My mother is fucking dead, Ang. Nothing will ever bring her back. They stabbed her and left her to bleed to death on my kitchen floor and you’re sitting here whining because I didn’t feel like talking about it?!”
“I’m sorry,” Ang whispered as they both now had tears falling down their faces. “It’s just that, I feel like I don’t even know you anymore.”
Katelin collapsed on the couch. “Well maybe if you didn’t spend all your fucking time with Brian, you wouldn’t feel that way.”
“Is that what this is about?” Ang wiped her eyes. “You're punishing me because I have a boyfriend?”
“That’s not why I told him,” Katelin mumbled, staring at the ground. “I don’t know why I told him. It felt right. But you…you’re never around anymore anyway. Do you know how many nights I’ve spent alone in this house because you are all off with your boyfriends?”
“Is that why you started this thing with Nick?” The words were out before Ang could stop them and she immediately regretted.
Katelin’s mouth dropped to the ground. “Is that what you think? That I’m with Nick because I need something to do? So I don’t feel as alone? Do you really think I’m that shallow? What the hell happened to you, Ang? I thought you were my best friend.”
“I am your best friend,” Ang pleaded. “At least I thought I was. I love Brian, Kate. I want to spend time with him.”
“So where is lover boy tonight?” Katelin asked, looking over at her. “If I heard Brooke correctly, he’s shacking up with his old girlfriend.”
“He’s not ‘shacking up,” Ang spat, glaring at her so-called best friend. “He’s out to dinner. Are you that bitter that you’ll try and sabotage my relationship because you can’t get one of your own? Brian’s right. You’re still just an immature little girl.” Katelin stared at her a second with tears falling down her face before turning and running out of the room. “Yeah, Kate,” Ang laughed bitterly. “Run away like you always do. That’ll solve everything.”