"AJ?" Sarah called as she walked into her fiancee's house. She saw his car in the driveway but the house was seemingly empty. "AJ?" Not hearing or seeing him, she figured he was in his office. She walked in and noticed that it was empty. She was about to walk back out when a piece of paper on his desk caught her attention:
"What the hell are you doing?" an angry voice growled from the doorway. Sarah spun around and saw AJ glaring at her.
"What's this?" She asked. AJ walked further inside the room and snatched the birth certificate from her hands.
"Nothing," he mumbled, placing the certificate back in a drawer.
"You have a son?" she questioned, quietly
"No," AJ answered, avoiding her eyes.
"But it says-"
"What it doesn't say," AJ interrupted. "Is that he died that same night."
"Oh god," Sarah breathed. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Why would you think you ever had any right to know?" AJ asked in response.
"You have a child, AJ," she stated.
"Had a child," AJ corrected her. "And what does that matter now? He's not alive."
"Maybe not physically," Sarah began. "But he's still there. I can tell. There's always been something a little 'off' with you but I've never been able to put my finger on what it was." AJ just stared at her, open-mouthed. She read him like a book. "Where's the mother?" Sarah asked.
"Huh?" AJ questioned, not entirely hearing her.
"Where's the mother?" Sarah repeated. "Krista, I think her name was?"
"I don't know," AJ muttered, staring at the ground. He really didn't want to get into this right now. Or ever, actually.
"What do you mean, 'you don't know'?" Sarah asked. "You had a child with her. How could you not know where she is?"
"Because I don't!" AJ exploded. "I haven't seen or heard from her in two and a half years. She ran out on me one day and never came back." Sarah could tell by the expression on his face that AJ had unresolved feelings for this girl. How could he profess his love for Sarah and ask her to marry him if he was still clearly in love with someone else? She made a quick move towards the door of the office.
"Where are you goin?" AJ asked, following her to the front hallway.
"I'm leaving," Sarah replied, her hand on the doorknob. "This is a lot to take right now. I just need some time to think." AJ watched as she ran out the front door of his house. She wasn't the first and she certainly wouldn't be the last. He neglected to tell everyone of his girlfriends about Krista and the baby. And when they found out, they usually left and never came back.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Hey," Nick greeted Brian, opening his front door for him.
"What's up, Nicky?" Brian asked, stepping inside.
"Nothing much," Nick answered. "What are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to hang out," Brian replied. "Ang left for New York today and I'm bored. You busy?" Nick shook his head:
"Nope. Come on in." He led Brian into his living room and they both sat down on the couches.
"What time was her flight?" Nick questioned.
"It left about an hour and a half ago," Brian answered. "I drove here after I dropped her off."
"Why didn't you go with her?" Nick asked, nonchalantly.
"I figured I'd be in the way," Brian responded. "I think Ang needs this time with Kate and vice versa. They don't need me there." Brian paused and eyed his best friend carefully. Something was off. He noticed that Lanie was no where around and wondered if something was going on there. "Ang told me she stopped by here yesterday. Why didn't you go to New York with her?"
"That part of my life is over with," Nick replied, not taking his eyes off of the television.
"I don't think it is," Brian stated. "I can tell you still think about her."
"Brian…" Nick began.
"Don't 'Brian' me, Nick," Brian began. "I think that you're denying the way you really feel. There's no one stopping you from seeing her again. Can you honestly sit there and tell me you feel absolutely nothing for the girl?" Nick whipped his head around and stared Brian dead in the eye:
"I feel absolutely nothing for the girl. Now if you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it anymore." Brian closed his mouth and shook his head. Nick wouldn't admit it now. But Brian didn't believe for one second that his best friend had turned off his feelings just like that. He knew Nick still felt something for Katelin. And he wouldn't be able to deny it forever.