*~*Chapter 7*~*
A few days later,Brian called Karen after putting it off.He was just
getting over a relationship and didn't want to jump right into another one.He
and his grilfriend,Lisa,who he'd been with for almost two years,had just
recently broken up because his feelings for her had changed.He wasn't really
looking for anything serious at the moment,just someone to hang out with.
He dialed her number and was surprised when a male voice answered.A
moment later,Karen came on the line.
"Hey Brian," she greeted him.
He sat down in a chair."How you doing?," he asked her,and she was quiet
before answering.
"I could be better.David's here and he won't leave," she told him.
Brian stood up."Has he hurt you at all?Are you OK?," he asked her.
She beagn to cry then,and Brian felt completely helpless."Oh Brian.I have
to do something.He came over last night and began hitting me,then he forced
himself on me.I hate him so much I could kill him," she sobbed into the phone.
Before he could say anything,he heard a loud crash,then the phone went
dead.
"Hello? Karen?," he exclaimed,his heart hammering in his chest.
Suddenly an idea hit him:he opened the phone book,and found just one
listing for a Karen Peterson.
"I hope this is her," he said to himself as he grabbed his car keys and
ran out of his apartment.
*~Chapter 8~*
Kevin walked into the house he shared with his girlfriend Kelly .
"Kel?You here?," he called out.
She popped her head out of the bedroom."I'm in here," she answered.
He went into the bedroom and found her cleaning.He kissed her,then tossed
her a huge grin.
"What?," she asked,her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
He removed an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.She opened
it,and a second later gasped.
"What is this?," she gasped.
Kevin wrapped his arms around her."These are tickets on Carnival Cruise
Lines for a two week trip to the Bahamas," he told her.
She screamed and threw her arms around him."Oh Kevin! I love it!," she
exclaimed.She kissed him."And I love you."
He grinned at her again."The whole gang is going,not just us," he told
her."We've been talking about surprising you all with tickets."
She kissed him again."I can't wait.When do we leave?," she asked,glancing
at the tickets.
"Three days," he answered."We leave from Orlando."
She looked up at him."I can't wait," she said,as he leaned over and
kissed her again.
*~Chapter 9~*
Erica screamed when AJ presented her with the cruise tickets.
"Oh my God!The Bahamas!That's one place I've always wanted to go.And it's
so cool that everyone's going~there won't be a dull moment," she stated.
He wrapped his arms around her."And my mom already said she'd watch
Taylor while we're gone," he replied.
Erica was quiet.Finally,she said,"I don't know if I can go two whole
weeks without being with Taylor,AJ."
AJ smiled at her."Baby,we both need some time away.This trip will be good
for both of us.And I know being away from Taylor will be hard,but we'll have
phones we can call and check up on her."
Erica sighed,and wrapped her arms around his neck."I guess you're
right.It's just I haven't been away from her since she was born,and I guess
I'm just worried something will happen," she told him.
He leaned over and kissed her."Nothing is going to happen.She'll be in
good hands," he reassured her.
She nodded."I know.It's just..," she began,but he cut her off.
"But nothing," he said,as he leaned over and kissed her again.
She sighed happily as the kiss grew deeper.
"I can't wait to get away from here," he said,as he pulled her down in
his lap on the couch.
She snuggled against his chest."Me either," she said.
*~Chapter 10~*
Blane and Howie's girlfriend,Kari,walked through the door of the beach
house after a day of shopping.
"Nicky?Are you home?," she called out,setting her bags on the
table."Howie?" The guys had told them that they'd meet them back here at
5,and it was 10 minutes till.
Kari grinned."I think it's so cute you call him Nicky," she said.
Blane laughed."Oh,I call him all sorts of names," she told her."He gets
embarrassed easily,and it's so adorable."
They both laughed,and just then the door opened and in walked Nick and
Howie.
Nick smiled at them."How was your day of shopping?," he asked,as Blane
gave him a quick kiss.
Howie gave Kari a kiss,and Kari looked at him."Good.What have you two
been doing?Getting into trouble as usual?," she joked.
Nick and Howie glanced at each other,and finally Nick reached into his
back pocket and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Blane.Howie did the
same for Kari.
They opened the envelopes at the same time,and a second later screamed so
loud that both Nick and Howie covered their ears.
"Oh my GOD! The Bahamas!," Kari exclaimed,jumping up and down with
excitement.Blane was doing the same thing,and she and Kari hugged.
Nick smiled."No need to ask whether they like their surprise or not," he
said to Howie,and they both laughed.
Blane kissed Nick,long and hard.She smiled up at him seductively."I guess
I'll have to thank you in my own way," she said.
Nick grinned."I think I like that idea," he said,and leaned over and
kissed her.
Howie cleared his throat and took Kari's hand."We'll leave you two
alone," he said.
They all said goodbye,and a few minutes later,Howie and Kari left,leaving
Nick and Blane some time together.
*~Chapter 11~*
Brian knocked on the door of Karen's apartment.A second later,she
answered.When he saw her,his heart sank.She looked terrible~her hair was a
mess,and her eye was black,her lip swollen.
"Oh Brian," she cried,falling into his arms and sobbing.
He held her,and slowly led her over to the couch,where she laid her head
in his lap.She looked up at him.
"He got mad when he heard me talking to you.He grabbed the phone and
threw it into the wall.Then he started beating me up.I tried to stop him,but
I couldn't,Brian.It was horrible," she choked out.
He looked down at her."How long has he been doing this to you Karen?," he
asked.
She sighed."About a year now.I try to break free of him,but he won't let
me go.He says if I leave him,he'll kill himself.I don't know what to do," she
remarked,tears falling down her face.
He ran his fingers through her hair."You can't stay here,that's for
sure.You need to get rid of him before it's too late,Karen," he told her.
She sighed."What am I supposed to do?I've done everything I can think of
and nothing works," she remarked.
He took her hand and gazed at her."I have a suggestion.And I know it may
sound crazy,considering we just met and all.But I have an extra ticket for a
cruise I'm going on with the guys and their girlfriends,to the Bahamas.It's a
two week trip,and I'd like for you to come along.That way you can get away
from everything,leave it all behind," he replied.
Karen's mouth fell open."You mean the other members of Backstreet
Boys?WOW!," she breathed.
Brian laughed."Yeah," he answered.He gazed at her."So how about it?"
She smiled."Sounds great to me.Thanks for inviting me," she replied.
"No problem.I'm going to protect you from this jerk," he said."Go pack
some of your stuff.You're staying with me until we leave,in case he decides
to come back."
She gazed at him."Thank you so much for doing this for me Brian.I really
appreciate it," she told him.
He wrapped her into a hug.She rested her head on his shoulder,feeling
totally safe in his arms.
Chapters 12~13
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