Chapter 75
“AJ, what the hell is your problem?” Dee asked with a serious tone. She had come to his hotel room after the party to see why AJ had been acting so weird lately.
“You don’t want to know what my problem is.” AJ sad rudely back at her.
“Yes, I do. You seem to have decided that I am the biggest bitch on the planet, and I want to know why. This little attitude of yours is getting REALLY old.” Dee stated.
“Fine, you want to know what my problem is? My problem is YOU. You were the love of my life, but because I wasn’t ready to settle down, you decided I wasn’t good enough anymore!” AJ yelled back.
Dee was quite taken aback by what AJ said. She never knew how much he really loved her. “AJ, you and I were just a physical relationship...nothing more. I wanted someone who was willing to spend the rest of his life with me. And to be honest, you never showed that.” She replied, feeling bad.
“You never gave me the chance. Whenever we were together, it was all physical. You never seemed to want anything else. I am sorry.” He said sadly.
“Well, AJ, there is much more to life than sex. And you just weren’t giving it to me.” She replied roughly.
“Well, screw you! I have taken as much as I can from you! I tried to give you everything you ever wanted...and when I wasn’t good enough, you threw me out. And then suddenly, Kevin comes along and sweeps you off your feet. I don’t know what you see in that guy!” AJ remarked, feeling very hurt by all that Dee had said.
“I see a man who cares about me, my needs, and respects me. Is that what you could offer me?!” Dee yelled back.
AJ was about ready to leave and get away from it all, when he finally said, “Dee, you never ever understood. I loved you like there was no tomorrow. I gave you my heart, and all you did was rip it apart. I don’t think you will ever understand what you did to me, and for me. You gave me a reason to live each day to the fullest, you gave me happiness and put excitement into my life. But you know what? You can have Kevin, if that is what makes you happy, then so be it.” He finished as got up to leave.
“AJ, wait.” Dee tried to say as he walked to the door.
He turned around to face her, and tried to hold a tear back. “What?”
“Alexander, you know I loved you. I still love you, but only as a friend. I am sorry things didn’t work out like you wanted. We just became two different people and our lives went separate ways. Your singing was making it big, and my store and my designs were becoming known worldwide. You and I would never have made it, not with the way the relationship was going.” She explained.
“And, so you and Kevin really think you are going to make it? Hell, the careers are still the same. What makes you think that you two are going to survive?” AJ snapped back.
“I know we will because we are there for each other in every way possible. We love each other and we are each other’s perfect match. Nothing will change that. Alex, I want us to be friends and to quit fighting like this. If we can’t be friends, then I will leave...even if it means leaving Kevin. As much as I love him, I don’t want to ruin your friendship with him. I don’t want you to ever have to make a decision to leave the group because of me. So, if you and I can’t be friends, then, I will leave and never look back.” She finished, then said goodbye and walked out.
AJ stood quietly in his room, listening as Dee walked down the hallway to her and Kevin’s room. He knew that he had to let go of her and to wish Kevin and her best wishes. He knew that it would kill Kevin if she left, and he didn’t want to be the reason that they couldn’t make it together. After a short time, he walked down the hallway to Kevin’s room and knocked.
“AJ.” Kevin said shortly as he opened the door. “Come in.”
As AJ stepped through the doorway, he could see Dee sitting in a corner chair, tears streaming down her face. He walked over to her and kneeled down next to her.
“Denise, I am sorry that things couldn’t have been different for us. I want you to know, we will always be friends, you and I. I will never let go of the friendship we have because of my selfishness. Just know that I am always here for you, when you need me.” He said as he gave her a gentle hug.
“And Kevin, congratulations man. Take good care of her. She loves you more than you will ever know. Treat her right, or I will have something to say about it. I love you both, don’t ever forget that.” He said as he gave a slight hug to Kevin and then left the room quietly.
*** *** ***
“Heather honey, wake up. I need to talk to you.” Nick said quietly.
“What do you want Nick?” I said groggily.
“I need to talk.” He repeated.
“You didn’t want to talk last night, so what is so important this morning?” I said angrily and then rolled back over to go back to sleep.
“Heather, I know that I haven’t been really supportive lately. I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through, but I need to know.” He explained.
“You need to know what?” I questioned.
“I need to know that you love me and understand that I am doing the very best I can. I don’t know how to feel or what to say anymore. And after last night, that girl made me think.” He answered.
I turned over and looked into his eyes, which were filled with hurt. “Nick, I love with all my heart. There is nothing that will change that. I am sorry that I am sick, and honestly, I wish I could make it all disappear. But I can’t. But, Nick, you need to talk to me. Be honest with me, what did that girl say to you last night that made you so upset?” I asked curiously.
“She told me...well, she was trying to flirt with me, and well, when I told her to stop, she...she...” Nick said as he turned away.
“Nick, it’s okay...don’t worry. I am not mad at you. You can tell me.” I explained.
“She told me that I might as well forget about you, because you were going to die anyways, so what did it matter if I cheated. You wouldn’t be around long enough to care.” He said as he ran to bathroom.
Needless to say, I was shocked. How could someone be so heartless? It was the fact that she was so cruel about me, it was the fact that she has hurt Nick so badly. I got up and walked to the bathroom. As I approached the door, I could hear Nick getting sick. After a few minutes, I knocked and tried to go in. When I opened the door, I soon found Nick laying on the floor asleep. His cheeks were tear-stained and his eyes swollen. I felt so horrible that all of his pain was my fault.
I left him there and went to call Brian. He was the only one I could trust to come and help me with this. While Nick was best friends and family with the others, Brian was very close to Nick and the two of them were like brothers.
“Brian, I need you to come to my room, please. Don’t tell anyone you are coming. I need your help. Please.” I begged into the phone.
“Heather, are you okay? Is something wrong?” he asked fearfully.
“I just need you, please hurry.” I answered and then hung up the phone.
Brian panicked and hurried out of his room and ran down the hallway. Leighanne was startled by the commotion and followed him. When they arrived at our room, Brian threw the door open and saw me crying.
“Heather, sweetheart, what is the matter? Where is Nick?” he asked, trying to calm me. I looked up and saw Leighanne looking at me with sympathy.
“He is in the bathroom, on the floor. Can you please help me get him into bed? I can’t do it myself...” I said starting to cry.
Brian was confused. He didn’t recall Nick drinking the night before. And he knew that I wouldn’t allow him to drink once back at the room. “Heather, what is going on here? Why did you all leave the party so suddenly last night?”
I explained what had happened to Brian and Leighanne. The two were stunned by the events and soon understood why Nick was in the state he was in. “Heather, Nick doesn’t want to face the possibility that you may die. That’s all. Everyone deals with this differently. When Howie’s sister died two years ago, he took it very hard. It took awhile for him to get better. When Kevin’s dad died, it was tough, especially for him. Now, don’t you worry, Nick will be fine. I will get him and help him into bed. We have a long day tomorrow...so, we will just let him rest today.” Brian said as he went to get Nick.
Leighanne just sat there and let me cry as Brian helped Nick back to
bed. I walked over to Nick, kissed him on the forehead and he went
to sleep. For the rest of the day, I went to hang out in Leighanne
and Brian’s room. Nick needed some much deserved rest, and the only
way he was going to get it was to let him be. Nick slept for hours,
until it was time to start packing and head to the airport to catch the
flight back to the east coast. They still had several weeks left
of touring, so, everything was to be non-stop until about mid-March.