Angry Night

 

Chapter 9:  One Sweet Day

 

He led me over to the couch and we sat down in each others arms.
    

“Alex, why are you here?” I asked softly as I leaned my head against his shoulder.
    

“For two reasons.  The first one is to apologize.”
    

“Apologize?” I repeated lifting my head.
    

“That day at the cabin I didn’t exactly treat you the way that I should have.  I mean it was our last day together and I was a total jerk.  You don’t know how much I regret that,” he replied looking so sad.
    

“A.J., don’t worry about it.  I hadn’t even thought of it.  I forgave you for that a long time ago.”
    

“Good,” he said looking relieved.
    

Then he smirked that classic A.J. smirk.
    

“And the second is about that little rendezvous you had with Kevin.”
    

I recoiled a little, panic running through my body.
    

“Um, A.J., how did you know?” I squeaked.
    

He laughed lightly.  Well at least he didn’t seem angry.
    

“I’m an angel.  I know everything,” he said simply.  “But I’m glad it happened.”
    

“You’re WHAT?” I gasped.
    

That was not what I’d expected.
    

“Kevin loves you,” he shrugged, “And he always has.”
    

“He has?!” I asked.
    

Man was I confused.
    

A.J. nodded.
    

“You got it.  You know the entire time we were going out I always thought he might have had a little crush on you.  I guess I was right.  But Kev is such the gentleman and was such a good friend he just never did anything about it.”
    

“Wow,” I murmured.
    

Now when I thought about it I could see how A.J. was right.  Just little incidents came to mind that I never would have given a second thought, until now.
    

“And Anita I know that you have feelings for him too.  No matter how hard you have been trying to deny them.”
    

At that moment I felt so guilty.
    

“I’m so sorry.”
    

“Don’t be.  I don’t want you to sit around and mope about me your entire life.  You have got to move on.  And I can’t think of a person I’d rather you be with than Kevin.  So I guess in a way you could say I’m giving you my blessing.”
    

He smiled gently stroking my cheek.
    

“A.J., why can’t you just stay.  It would be so much easier.  Kevin or no Kevin I still love you so much.”
    

“I know, Anita.  I love you too and I always will,” he said holding me tight.
    

I cried into his shoulder for awhile.  How could I not?  He was going to go again.  And once again I’d be without him.
    

“Please don’t go,” I pleaded through the tears.
    

He stood up and offered his hand.  I took it and stood up too.
    

“As much as I’d love to we both know that I can’t.  I’m in enough trouble already.  I wasn’t exactly supposed to cure your blindness.  But consider it my going away present to you.”
    

“Thank you,” I choked out.
    

I knew the time was coming to a close.  He gently cupped my face in his hands and kissed me one last time.  The kiss ended and he held me.  As we embraced a song I hadn’t heard for a long time floated into my head.  Without even really realizing it I began to sing it under my breath.
    

“And I know you’re shining down on me from heaven.  Like so many friends we’ve lost along the way.  And I know eventually we’ll be together . . . One Sweet Day.”
    

As the last words escaped my lips he pulled away and smiled.
    

“See you later,” he said and faded into nothing.
    

“See you later,” I repeated.
    

And I knew I would, one sweet day.
    

“Anita!!” a voice called from behind me.
    

Kevin came hurtling into the room.
    

“Thank God you’re okay,” he gasped pulling me into his arms.  “We heard you screaming and I thought something might have happened to you.”
    

“I’m all right,” I replied.
    

And for once I spoke those words in truth.  For the first time since the kidnapping I was all right.  I was going to be okay.
    

“Yo, Kevin, did you find her?” Howie raced into the doorway.
    

“Hey, Howie!” I peeked over Kevin’s shoulder.
    

He chuckled.
    

“Well looks like you did.  I’ll head back to the desk then.”
    

Howie turned around and left.  I looked at Kevin.
    

“Are those tears?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
    

“No . . . well, I mean . . . I guess,” he stuttered.
    

I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. He brought a hand up to that cheek where I’d kissed him looking a little surprised.
    

“Don’t cry, Kev, there have been enough tears already,” I said placing my hand in his and leading him out the doorway.
    

“Anita . . . I . . . what?” he was stuttering again looking alternately from our hands to the place I’d kissed him.
    

“Kevin, no words.  For once don’t look for an explanation or any logic.  Just go with it,” I said making my way back to the nurse’s desk.  And for once he didn’t say a thing.

 

***

 

 

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