"So let me get this straight. You don't know AJ, but somehow he makes your life hell?" Howie asked confused. "This wouldn't be some strange star-struck fascination with him is it?"
Kyndall looked at Howie, her eyes burning holes of hatred into him. "Not everyone worships the ground you guys walk on," she said through clenched teeth, walking away from him and sitting down on the curb.
"Hey, I'm sorry," he said walking over and sitting next to her. "I didn't mean that. I guess I just don't understand how he could bother you so much if you didn't know him. I guess if I kept my mouth shut and wasn't so mean to you, you might tell me and we'd see if we could fix it."
Kyndall looked at him and smiled sadly. "I'm afraid there really isn't much you could do to fix it. And you weren't being mean to me. I was the one being a bitch."
"Nah. It's okay. I kind of deserved it," he winked at her.
"No. No you didn't. It's just," she sighed and looked away from him. When she looked back her eyes were bright with unshed tears. "It's just that I have spent the last few months trying to get past him. To quit thinking about him…to quit talking about him. Yes, I was obsessed with him. But not because of who he was. The only reason I cared anything about any of ya'll was because you are what brought him to me. No offense," she said with a dry laugh.
"None taken," He said quietly watching her.
"And so it was that Catlyn helped me get over him. To move on and actually find the WILL to go out and look for a REAL guy to date. And that was how we ended up here. We hooked up with two guys at the movie theatre and decided to go clubbing with them."
"So…how did you run into J?"
Kyndall sighed. "Catlyn did actually. I ran into her dancing with him," she said softly. "I was sitting at the bar with Chase, one of the guys from the movie, when Dylan, the other one, walked up with some girl - NOT Catlyn. Anyway, it turned out her name was Miranda. I asked her if she was Miranda, AJ McLean's girlfriend. And she got all huffy and said yes and left. Well, of course, that kind of threw me over the edge. I was shaking and stuff, thrown back into the chaotic world of AJ McLean worship and any mention of Miranda twisted that knife that was lodged deep in my heart. So I went to find Catlyn, who I found out was dancing with none other than AJ himself. Which caused that knife to get pushed in a little deeper. So I ran out of the club and you know the rest."
"Wow," he said softly. "Can I…can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Kyndall said looking out in front of her.
"What is it about AJ that makes you so…upset? I mean what is it about him that causes such chaotic emotions in you?" Howie asked.
Kyndall shrugged. "If I knew that don't ya think I'd be able to fix my problem? One day I woke up and couldn't get him out of my head. Like I said, I could care less if he was famous. That was only fates tool for introducing him to me. And I know that I can't believe all I read, even if it "comes from his mouth"," she said making the quote symbols with her fingers. "But there is so much to him that I would love to learn. That I would love to know. There is just something in his eyes that makes me want to look deeper. Something in his smile makes me want to know what he feels and thinks. I would love to be the one he talks to, he confides in," she shook her head. "But I know that he has Miranda and I'll never be given the chance. And even if he DIDN'T have Miranda, there are so many women out there willing to love him, I STILL wouldn't have a chance." She looked at Howie, "You probably think I'm a lunatic, don't you."
"No. No I don't. It just amazes me. Not once have you mentioned how sexy he is, how gorgeous he is, how his voice and his singing is so beautiful and sexy. It was all about his heart and mind," he smiled and shook his head. "That definitely has to be a first."
"So, what are you going to do? She didn't look happy when she left here," AJ said looking at Catlyn.
"I don't know. I think she feels I betrayed her by dancing with you," Catlyn sighed. "I guess I can understand why she'd think that," he shrugged. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. She'll get over it," Catlyn said standing up. "I guess I should be going. Find her and take her home."
"Let me walk you outside," he said standing up and following her to the door.
"It was great meeting you," Catlyn smiled over at him.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, too," AJ grinned. Opening the door, he stood to the side holding it as Catlyn walked out first. They looked both directions before spotting Kyndall down the block a ways sitting on the curb talking to someone. "Is that her?" AJ asked pointing.
"Umm," Catlyn squinted into the darkness. "Yeah. That's her. Who's that with her though?"
"Hmm…looks like Howie. That's not fair," AJ grumbled.
"What's not fair?" Catlyn asked as they started towards the couple.
"She won't talk to me, but she'll talk to him?" "She wasn't obsessed with him," Catlyn pointed out.
"Oh. Yeah," he chuckled. Stopping suddenly, he grabbed Catlyn's arm. "She hates me doesn't she?" he asked looking over towards Kyndall and then at Catlyn.
Catlyn shrugged. "No, I don't think she hates you. She…cares too much to hate you. She's just…confused. And it hurts knowing she'll never get a chance to let you know how she feels."
"She doesn't know me. How could she FEEL ANYthing for me?" he asked confused.
Catlyn smiled sadly. "She can feel a lot without having ever actually met you. Besides, you have Miranda, right? She just needs to learn to move on," she said softly.
"Yeah," AJ mumbled. "I have Miranda."
Catlyn looked at him funny as they walked up to the couple. "Here's my cell number. In case you ever need to talk about anything," Howie was saying as he handed Kyndall a slip of paper.
"Thanks Howie. Not that I could bother you with my problems. It's nice to know that there's at least one of ya'll worth liking," she smiled. Looking up, she noticed Catlyn. "Hmm," she said looking at her.
"So, you ready to go?" Catlyn asked looking from her to Howie and back.
"I guess," Kyndall said standing up. "I was-what is HE doing here?" she said noticing AJ.
"I just wanted to apologize," he said stepping forward.
"I have nothing to say to you," Kyndall said walking away.
Catlyn sighed and looked down at the ground. AJ watched as Kyndall walked off. Howie looked from Catlyn to AJ to Kyndall and then ran off after her. "Kyndall, wait," he called.
"That went well," AJ sighed. "I guess you were right. I'm the last person she wants to talk to."
"I'm sorry AJ. I really am," Catlyn said reaching over and hugging him. "I guess I should go find them."
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm gonna…go back inside," he said softly, waving and walking off.
Catlyn watched him and sighed. "He really is so much better in real life. Too bad Kyndall is too torn up to notice," she mumbled as she headed off in the direction Kyndall had walked.
