<seven>

 

Back at the hotel room Kevin and Leslie were watching "The Wiz." Leslie grabbed the remote. "Mind if I change the channel?"

Kevin nodded. "Good idea."

She flipped through the stations. They settled on 'That Thing You Do.' Kevin glanced at the teen. "Why don't you go lay down? You look pale."

Leslie groaned. "Kevin, please, I'll be fine by tonight. I probably have the flu."

"Well, if you have the flu you should definitely be lying down."

Leslie clutched her stomach as she stood up. Then fell to the ground. Kevin rushed to her side. "Leslie, hon, what is it?"

"My side," she moaned.

Kevin wrapped her arms around his neck. "Come on, I'll help you up."

Standing put Leslie in too much pain, so, Kevin lifted her onto the sofa. He placed his hand on her forehead. "You are burning up!"

Leslie lie still. "Kev, my side is throbbing."

"Your side?"

"Uh-huh."

Kev knelt down beside her. "Okay, Leslie, I'm gonna' press on your stomach and you tell me where it hurts the most."

He gently pressed the left side of her adomen. She didn't flinch. He moved to the right. "Ah!" she hollered.

Kevin took her hand. "Sweetie, I"m not trying to scare you, but I need to take you to the emergency room."

"No!"

"Hon, it could be your appendix," he whispered.

"Oh," she took a deep breath. "Can you help me to the car? I don't wanna' go in an ambulance."

"I'll do better than that," he said as he lifted her into his arms.

At the hospital the doctors concluded that it was indeed her apppendix.

Luckily, Kevin was able to stay by her side the whole time before her mother arrived. A half hour later after Leslie was emitted her mother was able to be with her. Kevin stepped into the hall. "I already paged Nick, he'll be here soon, Mrs. Carter."

"Kevin, please don't leave," Leslie begged.

Mrs.Carter wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, Kevin, thank you so much for taking care of her."

"It wasn't a problem."

Nick rushed in with Karen behide him. He handed Leslie a giant teddy bear. "How are you, sis?"

"I'm okay, but my appendix isn't." Leslie fought tears. "This whole thing sucks as--"

"Leslie!" Mrs.Carter hissed.

"Sorry, Mom."

Kevin noticed Karen hiding in the back. "Karen, you don't have to hide."

She looked at the ground. "Uh-- why don't I go get everyone some coffee."

With that she hurried off.

When she returned she found Leslie in tears. "What happened?"

The young teen cotrolled her tears. "I have to have sugery tomorrow."

"I'm sorry," Karen whispered.

"Can you guys do the show without me?" Nick asked Kev.

"Sure, Kaos."

"No, Nick, Do the show, besides it's not until tomorrow. And Karen can be your opening act. Right, Karen?"

"No, I just--- couldn't."

"Come on. You know my old songs from Europe. The ones that aren't on the album, but we still perform live. You'll be great."

"Please, Karen," Nick pleaded.

"I guess," she replied uneasily.

Kevin patted her shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

"I hope so."

Leslie hugged her teddy bear. "Well, at least something good happened today. You'll be outstanding, Karen."

Karen took Leslie's hand. "Cheer up. I"ve gat an idea. Think of it this way: when Kevin carried you to the car, I bet there were tons of chicks envying you. Wishing that Kevin was their knight in shining armor."

"Really?"

"Sure, you were probably envied by chicks ages 8-80."

"Well, I never thought of it that way," Leslie smiled.

Kevin whispered to Nick. "Karen is one amazing girl. That's the first time I've seen Leslie smile all day."

 

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