Chapter Eight

Blast From The Past-Chapter Eight We were still sitting there when Brian, AJ and Kevin came over. Not wanting them to see me cry, I quickly rubbed my eyes and put my glasses back on. Of course, as soon as they come back over, Nick had to start acting like, well like Nick.

"Hey Kat! I just realized something. I've got a question for ya."

"All right. I'm gonna regret this, but what?"

"When am I gonna see you dance?"

"You dance?" AJ asked, trying not to laugh.

"WHY does everyone find this so amusing? YES, I dance. NO, you're never gonna see me." Maybe I SHOULD show them my dance moves, just so they'll shut up about it.

"Why not?" You're probably a great dancer. Will you pleeease show us?" AJ gave me his puppy-eyed look.

He looked adorable, but I'm a tough cookie. I just snickered. "AJ, that used to work on me, but it doesn't anymore. So don't even try it."

"Damn."

"Ok, people, go away," Brian ordered. "Go back to AJ's, or go inside or whatever. Kat and I are trying to have a serious conversation here."

"That takes YOU off my Christmas list," Nick grumbled as they all left to go over to AJ's house. That left Brian and me sitting down outside my house. He looked like the cat that ate the canary.

"Guess what?" he asked smugly.

I sighed. "What?"

"I think that AJ still likes you."

Oh, brother. "And why do you think that?"

"I have good reasoning. And I think that you still like him, too."

"Ok, Brian. I really would like to know your reasoning."

"It's actually pretty easy. You and AJ used to be totally right for each other. Then you moved away, and that flame that each of you guys had burned out, but not completely. Your personalities have basically stayed the same, so I think that last spark never totally went out. And now that you've found each other again, that spark is lighting back up. Trust me, you and AJ are far from over." Wow. Talk about insightful. "So, do you like my reasoning?"

"Yeah, but I hope it's not true."

"Why?"

I stood up and walked into the house, with Brian close behind me. "I can't fall for AJ again. It was fine the first time, because we were just kids. And as much as I would love hooking up with him again, it just wouldn't work."

"Again I ask, why?"

"Come on, Brian. You guys are constantly wrapped up in Backstreet World, and I'd be in school, and..."

"Well, you dance, right? Just audition and come on the road."

"I'm not THAT good a dancer, and even if I was, say we break up. That would be an awkward tour."

"Kat, you don't need to be so scared. It's like you're on the Empire State Building, and if you would just open your eyes, you could see so much. But you're too scared, so you keep them shut. And you're missing out on a fantastic view."

"I know, I know. But I've only ever been in two relationships, and one of them was with AJ! And in both of those, I wound up getting hurt. I am determined to not let that happen again."

"Yeah, but does not kill us makes us stronger," Erin said as she walked over.

"Why is everyone so interested in my life? It's my life, and I should be able to make decisions about it by myself, without people interfering. And if that's true Erin, then I should be strong enough now to know when not to get involved." I stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me.



As soon as I got inside, the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, baby. How are you?"

"Dad! I could be better, but it's great to be home again."

"That's good, sweetie. Where's your brother?"

"Oh, he's at Aaron's house."

"Hmmmm....good. So, have you talked to any of your old friends?"

"Yeah, I have. I was so happy to see everyone."

"That's nice. Have you talked to that McLean boy next door yet?"

"Yeah. Let's just say that things could have gone better."

"Oh, that's too bad. Well, I better go. This call is costing me a fortune, and I just called to make sure that everything is going smoothly there without me."

"All right. Bye dad, I love you."

"I love you too, Katrina. Bye."


After I hung up, I wandered around the house. Hey, I'm nostalgic, and this was the first time that I had been alone in the house for six years. I ended up in the room where Dad still kept the black grand piano. I can't believe he still has it, since neither he nor my brother can play it. Oh, well.
My eyes came upon the framed pictures on the piano. They were just canded shots of Mike and me as kids. But one picture in particular caught my eye. It was taken about a week before AJ went to Europe. It's the cutest picture. Aj, Nick, Mike, Aaron, and I were all at Disney World, and we werer all making funny faces at the camera. That picture pretty much tells the story of my childhood. Me and the guys. I hung around with Liz a lot, but her parents seriously strict, so she couldn't go very many places with me. So, I was stuck hanging out with the boys. Oh, well. Too late now. I can't change the past.


I sat down at the piano and uncovered the keys. I used to take lessons, and I've been playing since I was six years old. I haven't really played since I left for college, though. I played a few scales, then launched into my own funky version of "Chopsticks." Great song, especially my version. Suddenly, I got a great idea. I got my shoes on, grabbed my keys, and was out the door faster then you can say, "Kat is a genius." Chapter Nine coming soon!
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