Chapter Seven    "How'd the weekend go? AJ asked Howie as he entered the studio. Howie took a moment to fix a cup of hot tea before answering his friend. "It was great" he finally said, though his smile didn't quiet reach his eyes. AJ noticed and being his usual blunt self asked, "What aren't you telling me?"   Howie sighed and plopped down on the black leather couch beside AJ. "I like her... alot Bone. I always have. And we've decided to.... God why do I suddenly feel like a teenager with his first crush?" he groaned as he ran his hand over his face in frustration.    "Maybe its because you like her more than you're admitting. So what did you decide?" AJ asked, determined to keep Howie on track. "We decided to be a couple" he answered.  AJ grinned and slapped Howie on the back. "That's great! I knew she must be something special with the way you preened in front of the mirror the other night" AJ said as he let loose a loud cackle. "I always preen, at least to hear you and the guys tell it I do" Howie returned. "Yeah, but you were really nervous about your looks, and as I said that night, that can only mean one thing....a woman!" AJ said with a knowing smirk. "There's more you're not telling me. Spill it" AJ demanded.     "I just can't help but wonder if we will be able to make it work. I mean, there's so much we don't know about each other, and then there's the time we'll have to be apart. I just don't know if it'll work" he answered with a sigh.   "D, you keep talking like that and it won't. You gotta have faith and trust, and love wouldn't hurt either." At Howie's look at that word AJ quickly said, "I know you two haven't been reaquainted that long, and I for sure don't expect your feelings to be that deep, but if you give it time they'll grow...if you want them to."     "How do you know that J? I mean look at the relationships I've had in the past. None of them have worked out because I've never been around. I've always been on the road working. I've not had the time to devote to a woman, so what makes you think that it will this time?" Howie asked, his fears eating at him.   "You just haven't met the right woman D. When you do, you'll know it and while I can't promise you a smooth road, if you both love each other and work on the relationship, it'll make it. The others didn't want to make the sacrifices that needed to be made"  AJ said with such conviction that the knot of nerves in Howie's stomach eased a little.     Howie knew that what AJ had said was true. His past relationships hadn't wanted to make the sacrifices that needed to be made. They had wanted him with them all the time, along with the benifits of his stardom. He wanted someone who wanted him for him, not his career, money or the so called prestige they thought his life in the spot light could or would bring them.      "You're right AJ as always" Howie said with a smirk, lightening the tense conversation. "Of course I am" AJ said as he blew on his fingernails and rubbed them on his shirt in a mock superior attitude. Howie laughed and playfully shoved his friend.     Howie and the guys worked long into the day, writing music for their future album and practicing the dance moves for the next leg of the Black and Blue tour. They called it a day at six o'clock and promised to be there bright and early the following day to do it all over again.     On impulse, Howie stopped at a small florist shop and picked up a bouquet of flowers and drove straight over to see Kat. Feeling more nervous than he had on Saturday night he rang the doorbell. "Hey Howie, Kat's in the living room. We were just about ready to have dinner, go pracitce your kissing while I finish up in the kitchen" Kelly teased.    Howie ducked his head to hide his smile and followed the hall into the living room. Kat sat on the couch with her back to the hall watching the news. Howie quietly crossed the few feet seperating them and leaned over the back of the couch to kiss her cheek.  Kat smiled softly, his scent wrapping itself around her, making her feel warm and fuzzy inside. "I didn't think you were going to be able to come by tonight" she said as he walked around the couch to sit beside her.   "I didn't think so either. But work went faster than we originally planned so we quit early. These are for you" he said, handing her the bouquet of flowers. Kat inhaled their fragrance and smiled. "They're beautiful. Thank you" she said.   They talked quietly, holding hands until Kel called that dinner was ready. They ate dinner, laughing and talking and enjoying the evening.    "I'll leave you two alone. See ya later Howie" Kel said as she excused herself for the night. "Alone at last" Kat said, as she moved to sit closer to Howie. Howie wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her even closer, his lips meeting hers in a tender brush. He buried his hand deep in her hair, tethering her to him.   Kat sighed dreamily as they deepened the kiss, their tongues dueling, tasting, feeding off of each other. Her hands reached up and toyed with his hair as she playfully nipped at his lower lip.   They broke apart, breathing heavily. He pressed her head to his shoulder and held her tightly. He wasn't sure what he would do if things didn't work out with Kat. His feelings already ran deeper than he had ever imagined they would.     "When do you have to leave?" he whispered, dreading the answer, but needing to know. Kat exhaled and sat up. "My plane leaves on Wensday at two." Howie nodded and frantically tried to come up with a way to spend more time with her before she left.   "I have to work again tomorrow, but how about I take you to dinner. Just the two of us. Some place quiet, secluded" he suggested as he placed a gentle kiss on her forhead. "That sounds wonderful" she answered as she allowed her lips to find his.   An hour later Howie said good night and promised to call her with the details in the afternoon. Back to Main Page                       Back to Index                                    Onto chapter 8