Chapter Fifteen

Meanwhile, in the hallway, Maggie and AJ stood staring at each other when she asked of him, "Do you think it'll work?"

"Sad thing is, I know it will."

"Why is that a sad thing? This is great!" Maggie was excited for her friend.

"He'll begin to question and torment himself over Kristin, not being able to break any news to her. Then he'll distance himself from Nicole because he'll develop more feelings."

"I thought you were trying to help Nicole here?"

"I am."

"How is this going to help her if he'll wind up staying with Kristin?"

AJ laid a hand out in the space between them. "No, See. You're looking at this all wrong. He already likes Nicole. He is in there, isn't he? But, he loves Kristin. We can't break that up."

"Why not?"

"First of all, it's not right. Second, I'm not that conniving. We just have to let everything go from here on out. All we can do is help guide Nicole."

"This better work out, or else I hold you personally accountable for tonight."

He laughed realizing Maggie was finally understanding. "So, what now?" Maggie began to think of what else the night could take on when they heard a burst of laughter coming from a room down the hall. She looked towards the noise, then back at AJ and saw anticipation in his face. He presented his arm for Maggie, "Shall we?" She rang her arm through his as they ventured for fun.

The two came upon a room filled with the other three guys and their girlfriends. AJ introduced Maggie to Marie, Jackie and Howie's girlfriend, Melissa. Brian inquired, "Joining us?"

"Of course. It wouldn't be fun without me."

They all sat around watching a movie when Maggie discovered they were watching a horrendous B-horror film. "What is this crap?" she asked with a shrill in her voice.

Nick replied defensively, "Don't underestimate this great piece of art." They all laughed at Nick, and also at the movie.

Maggie and AJ were still in wonder of the film when Jackie answered the original question, "Evil Dead. It's a prequel to 'Army of Darkness.'"

When an absurd scene came in the movie where a young woman was following noises into an empty forest, Marie yelled at the screen. "What is she doing? Yeah, go ahead out there and find that voice. Get yourself killed." The crowd laughed at, not only the events of the movie, but the remarks everyone made about the film. AJ asked the guys, "Was it Brian's choice for movie night?"

"We had a momentary lapse of judgement and sent Nick and Brian together for this," Melissa responded.

Maggie was dumbfounded; "This was the best you could find?"

Once again defending himself, Nick spoke, "This is the best!" The movie continued as the group laughed at the scenes not necessarily intended to be funny.

Maggie recognized some scenes and lines that Nicole used to talk about. "That's where they get it from." Melissa asked what she meant. Maggie explained, "Nicole had a few jokes with our friend Joy from school. They would spontaneously spit out these lines, 'Her eyes, what's happening to her eyes.' Or they would rock back and forth like that girl on the floor and do the hideous laugh."

The group laughed as they watched the screen where another young woman was sitting Indian style on the ground giggling with a shrill in her voice.

Marie broke in asking Maggie where Nicole was tonight. AJ looked at Maggie while she answered, "She went to bed early." Jackie then asked where Kevin was. Everyone looked at each other knowing that question was on their minds also.

This time, AJ responded. "He went to bed."

Nick asked another question the room was wondering, "Together?" The group tried to suppress laughter.

AJ and Maggie looked at each other, again remaining silent. Howie broke their silence; "You seem to be awfully silent. What do you know?" asking AJ.

Maggie shrugged her shoulders while AJ responded; "We don't know what you're talking about."

"We? We? Spill it AJ. I've known you too long for you to not want to spill some gossip."

Nick followed Howie in the interrogation, "We know they're shacking up."

"What?!" Maggie was outraged.

Nick chuckled, "Come on, just tell us so we cant talk about it freely with you two."

AJ defended Nicole and Kevin; "Nothing's going on. They're just sleeping together." And he meant only sleeping.

Marie laughed and said, "Sleeping together. Oh yeah, that's nothing going on."

Once again, Nicole and Kevin were being defended. This time by Maggie. "They've just spent the last few nights together. Nothing has happened in that kind of way. Seriously, nothing has happened." Nick shot a 'yeah right' look in Maggie's direction. "I'm serious. Nicole's not like that. And, besides, she's terrified of Kristin and wouldn't go against her."

The group laughed in unison. Nick agreed with Nicole's feelings, "Yeah, I'm scared of Kristin too."

Nicole awoke and felt Kevin's arms wrapped around her as they both laid in her bed. She smiled sweetly at his peaceful face until she felt another presence in the room. She looked around and saw a figure approaching the bed from the darkness. Kristin grabbed Nicole's hair and spat, "I told you to stay away." She brought her arm up swinging down at Nicole's face. Just before the arm reached her head, Nicole jumped. With the sudden movement on the bed, Kevin awoke staring at a frantic Nicole. They two were in the same position as Nicole's dream. "You ok?"

Nicole glanced around the room, feeling deja vu, checking for any one in the room besides her and Kevin. She realized no one else was there and answered softly, "Mmm hmm." She nestled back onto the bed and against him. "Just a dream."

She smiled warmly at Kevin as he rubbed her arm and humoring her in a baby voice, "You gonna be ok?"

She chuckled, "Yeah, I just need a drink."

"I'll get you a glass of water."

She chuckled again, "No, I need a real drink."

"It couldn't have been that bad of a dream."

"If you only knew. So are you gonna get me that drink."

"I'll get you a drink if you tell me what's with this depressing act you’ve been having all night."

"Ok, forget the drink, how about that glass of water."

He swept away a few stray strands of hair from her eyes, "Is it your brother?"

"It's a lot of things. But that started the evening." She sighed deeply, not wanting to talk about it.

"You don't want to talk, or you just don't want to tell me?"

She felt an unnecessary pressure and had a bother in her voice, "Kev-"

He heard her voice sound upset. "What did I do now?" he asked playfully. He knew she wasn’t mad at him, but he was just going with her because she was at least talking more than two or three words a sentence.

Sighing, "Nothing. You did nothing."

"Then why won't you tell me."

"You don't understand. I want to tell you." She stressed the statement because she did want to tell him. "I just don't want to talk about it right now. Please, just understand this." She was pleading with him.

He continued stroking her hair and sighed. With a slight smile he responded, "Ok. I'll understand. I just want you to know that I am here for you."

Her only answer was a smile.