Chapter 26

"So how are the wedding plans coming?" Jessica asked casually as she sat down next to Vanessa in her hotel room.

"Good so far; they're just a lot of work," Vanessa answered with a tired smile.

"But I'll bet it's fun," Jessica replied. "I can't wait to plan my wedding."

"I've been meaning to ask you," Vanessa began. "When are you getting married? Brian's taking his time isn't he?"

"I'm worried about him," Jessica admitted. "He's been acting really distant lately. We've hardly spent any time together since… well, I guess since Mom and Dad's anniversary party. I know he's kind of been avoiding me since the tour's resumed."

"Maybe he's feeling pressured to propose," she guessed.

"I don't know what it is," Jessica mused. "It kinda seems like ever since you and Nick got engaged, we've been growing farther apart instead of closer together. I'm scared; I don't know where we're going."

"He's scared, Jess. Everyone expected you two to get married before us. He knows he's expected to propose but he's nervous about it."

"What if he doesn't want to marry me," Jessica said softly as fear appeared on her face. "He wants to break up."

"Jess, I think you're jumping to conclusions. Brian loves you," Vanessa reasoned.

"But what if he doesn't anymore," Jessica whispered as she stared off into space. "And even if he does, what if he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life with me. He's just playing with me now. Trying to let me down easy. We've hardly spent any time together lately…"

"Jess-" Vanessa started to say but Jessica was already running out of the room in tears. As soon as she was out the door, Jessica ran into Brian's strong chest. She looked up at him fearfully.

"Hey," he said in surprise. "We need to talk."

"Go away, Brian," she called as she stalked toward her room. "I don’t want to hear it." He looked at her in amazement as she slammed the door to her room in his face.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked Vanessa who had just walked up.

"She's upset with the way you've been acting lately. She thinks that you don't love her because you haven't proposed yet."

"Why would she think that?" Brian demanded.

"Well, you haven't spent much time with her lately," Vanessa suggested. "But you didn't hear anything from me; I don't want her mad at me." She patted Brian on the back and walked off.

"Jessica," he said softly as he knocked on her door. "Let me in. I need to talk to you."

"Go away," she said angrily.

"I'm not going to talk to you through this door. Please open it. Or are you going to make me sit here all night?"

"I don’t care what you do, but I'm not opening the door," she said through her tears.

"Fine," he said. He sat down with his back up against her door. A few minutes later AJ walked by.

"What's up, Frick? You guys having a fight?"

"Yeah, she's mad at me for something that she won't let me explain. She won't listen to me," Brian said as he hung his head.

"Cheer up, Rok. You've got a way with words; make her listen," AJ smirked as he walked off. Brian chuckled cynically. The only way he could ever make anyone listen is when he sang. A light bulb went off over his head and he ran to his room to get his guitar.

~ 1 hour later ~

Brian smiled as he looked down at the lyrics. He had been working on this song for a while but it had taken his almost and hour to get it sounding the way he had wanted it to. He grabbed his guitar and headed for Jessica's room. He knew it was really late, but he was desperate. He sat down outside her door and began softly.

"Beautiful you are. Compassionate is she," he crooned. He thought he heard her moving around in her room but he continued. "You have made me what I am. She's all I hope to be." He felt the door open behind him and saw Jessica standing next to him. Her eyes were red from crying, but she smiled as she wiped fresh tears from her eyes.

"Can I come in?" he asked softly.

"Not until you finish the song," she managed a laugh.

"Since we're going to be in Lexington tomorrow night, I want to do it for you then; on stage in front of my family to show them how much I love you." He shyly leaned over and kissed her lightly. She pulled away quickly.

"We have to talk," she insisted.

"I know," Brian said. He picked her up and carried her in the room, laying her on the bed. He lay down beside her and looked into her irresistible eyes.

"I love you, Jess. I don't know what made you think that I didn't." He reached out to touch her long blond hair, but she pulled away.

"How do you explain the way you've been acting?"

"Oh that. I love you, baby, but I thought you might want to help Vanessa plan the wedding and I didn't want to get in the way. Besides I was jealous of Nick and the way I was feeling was so confusing."

"What about now?" she asked, the fear creeping back into her eyes.

"I love you. I want to be with you forever," he whispered.

"I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

"I understand, but do you see why we can't be married yet? We still have so much to learn." He stroked her cheek. She nodded in agreement and then kissed him lightly.

"Is that all I get?" he asked, pretending to be hurt.

"Oh, a bad boy," she teased.

"I'm your bad boy," he whispered the same way Nick had in "If You Want It To Be Good Girl".

"Great, ya just ruined the mood. Now I've got a picture of Nick in my head." She wrinkled her nose in mock disgust.

"I'll fix that," he said. He remedied her problem by giving her a sensual kiss. Jessica couldn't help smiling as she fell asleep in his strong arms.