Chapter 25

Howie sighed when he got off the phone with Kevin.  Poor guy, he thought sympathetically, still no luck with Rachel.  He wished there was something more he could do, but other than pretend that Rachel was welcome into their circle of friends, he couldn't think of anything else that could be of benefit to his friend.  A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and he went to answer it.  Surprise registered on his face immediately.  "A.J?!"

He grinned at him.  "Hey buddy!"

Laughing, they shared a hug and Howie ushered him in.  "When did you and Sarah come back from your honeymoon?"

"A few days ago," A.J replied cheerily and Howie was envious of the smitten look on his face.

"I'm guessing it was everything you hoped it would be?"

"And more!" A.J grin was brighter than the Florida Sunshine and Howie was delighted for him.  "But we'll talk about it later.  I just flew in to see how you're doin'."

Howie shrugged.  "I'm fine.  I got back from Mexico the day before yesterday with Polly and Lisa."

"Lisa?!  Who's Lisa?!"

"A girl I've been seeing."

"What?!" A.J exclaimed.  "Are you serious?!"

Howie nodded and shrugged again.  "What's the big deal?"

A.J raised an eyebrow.  "Hello?  I can think of a real big deal.  A big deal that starts with B and ends with E..."

"A.J don't start."

"Why the hell are you going out with someone you don't even like?!"

"I never said that!"

"It's written all over your face dude.  And you know you can't play dumb with me so don't even try it."

"A.J!  Billie's ENGAGED!!"

"So?  That didn't stop you from...well..."

Howie turned a light shade of red.  "That was just a moment of weakness."

"Hah!  Moment of weakness my ass!" A.J followed him into the living room, "ten bucks says you don't regret your little rendezvous with Billie one bit."

He didn't respond.

A.J grinned in satisfaction.  "I knew it!"

"Does it really matter whether I do or not man?  It changes nothing.  She's already made a life for herself.  A life that doesn't include me."

"Only because you guys were stupid enough to make that pact of yours."

"It was the right thing to do."

A.J sighed.  "You don't always have to do everything by the book D!  Especially if it costs you your happiness."

"As long as she's happy then it doesn't matter how I feel."

"And if she isn't?"

Howie looked away from his friend's stare.  "I don't know."

***

"I'm going shopping with Sarah for a few hours," Kristin said, her voice distant.

Kevin rubbed his eyes in worry.  "Oh.  Okay.  Will I see you...later?"

"Maybe.  Depends on how I'm feeling."

He took that as a no and distressed, he said good bye and hung up the phone.  He was losing her.  With each passing day, she grew more and more distant...and until Kevin found his proof, there was nothing he could do to stop her from permanently separating herself from him.  That frightened him beyond words.  Shit, he cursed as he dialed Brian's number, what am I going to do?!

"Hello?"

"Bri?  It's Kevin."

"Hey Cuz!  Any luck yet?"

"I wish."

"Oh man, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Kevin sat on the couch in his living room and closed his eyes.  "It's not your fault that Kristin doesn't believe me.  There's no one to blame but myself.  Maybe I'm not trying hard enough."

"Don't lose hope yet Kev.  You just need to be a little more patient, that's all."

"So, how've you been?" he asked, in dire need of changing the subject.

"Okay.  Leigh and I have been workin' our butts off for our production company.  Aaron came by the studio and I produced a song for his new album.  It's scary how much he reminds me of Nick."

"Yeah, when I saw him in January, I'd swear I was looking at Nick himself when he was that age."

"I...I'm worried about him."

"About Aaron?"

"No...about Nick."

Oh no.  Kevin groaned inwardly.  He can't be doing this again.  "Bri..."

"I'm serious Kevin.  Something's wrong."

"Brian I thought you were passed this."

"I am...it's just that..." he sighed, "I don't know how to explain it to you Cuz.  I just have this really bad feeling...

***

"You have to help me."

Katarina stared at his worried frown and felt her frustration building.  "I don't know how!!"

"Rina please...you're the only one who can help me...I need you!"

"But don't you see?!  There's nothing I can do...he won't let me help you!!"

She watched as his figure became more translucent.  "Wait...where are you going?!?"

"Rina..."

"No, don't go yet!  Please!" She reached out for him and grabbed nothing but the fog that surrounded them.  "Nick wait!!  Nick!!!"

"NICK!!!!"  She screamed and sat up in bed, dripping with cold sweat, her heart beating wildly against her chest.

Her bedroom door opened and Billie rushed into the room.  "Rina?  Are you all right?"

That was the last straw.  "NO!  I'm NOT ALL RIGHT!!  I'LL NEVER BE ALL RIGHT UNTIL I HELP HIM DAMMIT!"

Billie's eyes widened.  "Rina!"

She put her head in her hands and desperately tried to calm down.  "I...I'm sorry Billie.  I didn't mean to yell.  I'm just...I'm just so scared for him..."  She felt her sister sit next to her and wrap her arms around her.

"Why?  Is Nick in some kind of danger?"

"Not the criminal kind of danger," she murmured softly.

"Huh?"

Katarina pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the heavy necklace and closed her eyes.

"I bought it for myself before...well, you know, and I want you to have it.  It used to be my most cherished possession, until you came along."

She was losing him.  The Nick that she knew and loved with every fiber of her being was being consumed by the hurt and anger that had ruled over him once before.

Anger and hurt that was directed at her.

I have to do something!  But how could I possibly help him without Kris finding out?!  At the moment, nothing came to mind.  But she would think of something.  She had to. 

She would not let Nick destroy himself.

***

Howie hid behind the bushes in front of Billie's apartment complex and wondered what the hell had possessed him to drive to Tampa and see her after all this time.  He smiled ruefully.  A.J.  Who else could convince him to do something spontaneous and possibly stupid?

"I'm not through with you Kris!"

"So what?!"

Alarmed, Howie peered over the bushes and saw Billie racing after Kris who was heading toward one of the cars parked in the front.  Her arms were flailing everywhere and her cheeks were bright red.

She was downright pissed.

"You didn't answer me Kris!  Why do you keep looking at Rina like you want to eat her alive!  She's 19 YEARS OLD!!!"

"I don't have time for your atrocities Billie.  Call me when you decide to grow up."

Howie clenched his fists.  How dare he talk to her that way?!  He moved to give him a piece of his mind, but he was already in his car and speeding away from the scene.  Billie stared after him, trembling from the force of her anger.  Cautiously, he stepped out of the bushes and moved toward her.  He cleared his throat.

Billie whirled around and her jaw dropped in shock.  "Howie?!"

"Uh," he shoved his hands in his pockets.  "hi."

She closed her mouth and blinked in disbelief...and then she rushed toward him and pulled him into a tight embrace.  "Oh Howie..."

He closed his eyes and returned her embrace, letting her cry on his shoulder.  He stroked her hair, trying to calm her.  "It's all right Billie.  I'm here now."

"I...I'm so...glad."

So am I, he thought as he replayed what he'd just witnessed.  What kind of guy talked to a woman that way?  What kind of guy was Kris Reid?  Why on Earth was a girl like Billie marrying him?!

After a few more moments of wonderful closeness, she drew back and wiped her eyes.  "Do you want to come in?" she asked shakily.

He nodded and held back a smile when she took his hand and lead him to her apartment.  It just felt so good to see her and feel her again after so many months apart.  She opened the door and he followed her in.  It still looked exactly the same, except for a few new items like books on interior design that sat on the coffee table.  He picked one up and flipped through it.  "Are you studying something new?"

"No, I love my job and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  They're my sister's.  She goes to the International Academy of Design and Technology."

"Oh I see.  I didn't know your sister was back in town."

Billie sat on the couch.  "She came back in January...Howie, why are you here?"

He gulped and took the seat across from her.  "I came...to see you."

"But I thought..."

"We were wrong Billie...I know that now.  We shouldn't have made that stupid pact...  It only made things worse."

"Worse?" she murmured and held his gaze.

"Worse.  Because I missed you so much."

Her eyes glimmered with fresh tears.  "I missed you too Howie...but..."

His heart stopped.  "But what?"

"But what about your girlfriend..."

He could've smacked himself silly right now.  He'd forgotten how news spread easily about his relationships since he was still considered a celebrity.  She must've read or seen something about him and Lisa.  "We're not together anymore."

Hope flickered in her eyes.  "Really?"

He nodded.  "We broke up last week after someone opened my eyes to the fact that I was helplessly in love with someone else."

Billie's hand flew to her mouth.  "What?!" she exclaimed.

Before he could respond the door opened and a pretty but exhausted looking young woman strolled in with groceries in her hands. 

"Billie, could you he--"  She stopped in stunned silence when her eyes fell on Howie.

He stood and grabbed the bags from her hands.  "I'll help you."  As he set the bags of food down on the table, he could hear Billie and who he assumed was her sister whispering at a mile a minute about his visit.  He smiled and shook his head. 

Women.

He walked back into the living room and was not at all surprised when the whispering came to an abrupt halt.  Billie's sister was now seated beside her, curiosity blatantly obvious in her eyes.

"Howie," Billie stood, "I'd like to introduce you to my sister, Katarina Clark.  Katarina, this is Howie Dorough."

A shy smile turned Katarina's lips and she extended her hand.  "Hello."

"Hi," he shook her hand before taking a seat again.  "It's nice to finally meet you Katarina.  Billie's told me a lot about you."

"Call me Rina and I've heard a lot about you too."

He smiled.  "Good things I hope."

She returned his smile.  "Of course."

Howie marveled at how pretty these two women were.  It was almost intimidating.  And he was still positive that if Nick were alive, she would definitely catch his interest.  "So I guess you know about my previous career."

"Well to be honest I never followed your career as much as Billie did...and still does," she shot her a little smile, "but I've learned a few things about all of you now."

"Oh?"

"Yeah..."

Howie expected her to elaborate but she didn't.

"Would any of you like some Iced Tea or something?" Billie asked cheerily.

Howie was glad to see her smiling again.  "I'd like a glass if you don't mind."

"None for me Billie, thank you."

She disappeared into the kitchen and Howie noticed a determined look on Katarina's face suddenly.  He wondered why.

"Howie, do all of you live here in Florida?"

He laughed.  "Now I do believe that you didn't follow my Backstreet Boys career."

She smiled sheepishly.  "Sorry."

"No, it's okay.  In a way it's kind of refreshing to have someone not know every little detail of my life.  Uh, I live in Orlando.  A.J recently married, but he's been living in Malibu with his wife for a while now.  Kevin lives in L.A...with his wife...  and Brian lives in Atlanta with his wife as well."

"Atlanta...Georgia."

Howie laughed.  "I see you know your geography."

Katarina blushed.  "I must seem like a real nut case to you."

"Nah, you're just as charming as your sister."  His smiled died down.  "Nick lived here in Tampa before he passed away.  Well, actually he lived in Ruskin."

"...The small town outside of Tampa..." she replied, her voice suddenly somber.

"Yeah," Howie sighed, "he was a great guy and awesome friend."

"Yes he is...I mean," Katarina cleared her throat, "I'm sure he must've been."

Howie didn't pay much attention to her suddenly odd mood because Billie had returned to the room with a cool pitcher of Iced Tea.  She looked at him and immediately frowned.  "Nick."

He nodded, but put a smile on his face.  "I was just telling Rina about him."

"Well, it was nice to meet you Howie," Katarina stood, "I've got to do some studying now."

Howie stood as well and smiled.  "It was nice to meet you too."

She returned his smile and then turned to Billie.  "I'll be in my room if you need me for anything."

Billie nodded and after Katarina was out of earshot, she let out a worried sigh.

Howie frowned.  "What's wrong?"

"She's sad again."

"Why?"

"Well, her ex-boyfriend...his name was Nick as well.  The name probably brought back the memories again."

"Oh no," Howie groaned, "I had no idea!  I should apologize..."

"It's okay.  I'm sure she knows you didn't do it intentionally."

"What happened?"

Billie filled the two glasses and set down the pitcher before responding.  "I don't know.  Nick lives in Canada actually, so I never even met the guy.  She was...is very much in love with him, but obviously something happened that totally changed their relationship and she refuses to do anything about it."

Howie nodded.  "That's too bad."

"I know."

He smiled.  "You know?  I was just thinking that if Nick were still alive, he'd totally be into Rina."

Billie laughed.  "You really think so?"

"Sure!"

"But I thought Nick only like brunettes or something."

Howie shrugged.  "There's always the occasional exception..."

***

 

 

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