Howie made his way through the tables to the Men's room. Passing by the tables in the back of the room, he thought he seen a familiar face among the crowded rooms. Shaking his head, thinking he was seeing things, he continued to the rest room. "How would he even know we were here?" Howie asked softly, walking through the door.
He walked back out a few minutes later, glancing back at the table. "It IS him," he said looking at AJ. Their eyes met and AJ's widened as he looked over at Kyndall and then back at Howie. Howie walked slowly over to the table. "How did you know we were coming here?"
"I…I heard you talking to Catlyn today when we were at practice," AJ admitted.
"What do you think you're doing? She doesn't want to see you," Howie stated, his expression cold and unfriendly.
AJ sighed. "I know," he said glancing in Kyndall's direction, his eyes full of pain. "She looks happy. That's good to know."
"No thanks to you," Howie said.
"Look D. I know I fucked up. But can't you get her to talk to me? Please?" he begged.
Howie shook his head. "No. I refuse to help you mess with her head or heart anymore. My advice to you is to stay as far away from her as possible."
"Thanks for being such a pal."
"What's that suppose to mean? I believe it was me that was the one that helped you hook up with her in the first place. And what did you do? You stabbed me in the back by breaking her heart when you broke the promise to me. Don't think I'm going to be the one to give you the chance to do that again," he said as he walked off.
AJ sighed and sank down into his seat watching Howie walk over to the table and sit down. He cringed as Kyndall leaned over and kissed Howie on the cheek. She laughed at something he said and turned back towards the stage. As they waited for the next show to start, she glanced around the room, checking out the people around them. He tried to hide so she wouldn't see him, as her gaze swept the crowd. But when her eyes locked with his, he knew there was nothing he could do. Her eyes registered his presence as a look of shock crossed her face. That was quickly replaced by a look of pain and then one of anger. Turning back to Howie, AJ watched her as she said something and stood up quickly, walking towards the back of the room. AJ slipped quickly out of his seat, following close behind.
AJ followed her outside to the parking lot. She was leaning against Howie's Corvette crying softly. He walked up next to her. "Hey," he said softly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked not looking at him.
"I had to see you."
"Why? What purpose is it going to serve except bringing back all the things I'm trying to forget?" she looked up at him. He was surprised at the emotions raging in her eyes. The one that he thought wouldn't be there was the one that he most desperately prayed would be. The love that he had once seen when she looked at him was there, battling with the anger, hurt and pain that she also felt.
"I love you. And I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I felt until after you had gone. I didn't realize that Miranda meant nothing to me until you had left. I'm not even with her now," he said.
"And that's suppose to make me forgive you? That's supposed to make me forget the hell you've put me through?" she asked him.
"No. It's suppose to show you that I'm serious about how I feel. That I'm not even bothering going after Miranda and begging her to come back," AJ said softly moving towards her.
"Don't," Kyndall said stepping away from him. "I don't care that you didn't go after her. You didn't come after me either. I think you need more time to decide what you want. And that's what I'm giving you. Please don't bother me anymore until you know for absolute certain what it is that you want," she said as she turned to walk back inside the club.
"But I do know what I want," AJ called after her. She didn't turn around or acknowledge in anyway that she had heard him. "I want you," he whispered as he watched her disappear inside. Knowing that it was going to be a long time before she'd be ready to listen to him, he walked to his car and drove home.
Kyndall walked towards the table. "You knew he was here, didn't you?" she asked looking at Howie.
He shook his head. "I didn't know he was coming, no. I found him a few minutes ago. He overheard me talking to Catlyn. I'm sorry, Kyn," he said reaching out and touching her hand.
She shrugged. "It's not your fault," she said softly. "I just wonder if it will ever stop hurting."
"Aww sweetheart. You'll get over him and move on. I promise. I'll even help you start looking," he said sitting up straight and looking around the room. "Let's see…" he said.
She laughed quietly. "Funny D. I don't want to look right now. I think I'm going to take Catlyn's view on dating for a while," she murmured.
"Oh? Twisting and bending a dude until he'll do anything for her and then walk away at the first sign that it might become serious? Real emotionally responsible," Howie commented.
Kyndall shrugged. "It works. Keeps you from hurting."
"Also keeps you lonely," Howie pointed out.
"What am I now?" she asked softly, looking up at him.
