Confessions

“Aww...I miss you too! You have no idea...” Howie traced a finger over a photo of him and Holly as he held the phone in the cradle of his neck.
“You’d better be Mr. Dorough...” Holly laughed, making Howie smile.
“How’s school?” Howie asked.
“Oh it’s great! I had a new little boy join the choir today and he is just the most adorable little thing you have ever seen in your life!” Holly gushed.
“Really...that’s so sweet...” Howie replied thinking how Holly would be the best mom.
“He has the voice of an angel! And you’ll never believe what his name is..” Holly said.
“What’s his name??” Howie asked intrigued.
“Howard Junior...” She giggled.
“Wow! Really? See...all of us Howard’s are cute and talented...” Howie joked.
“Oh yeah! And oh so modest too!” Holly laughed.
“I wish you were here with me right now..” Howie sighed.
“I know...’ Holly replied sadly.
“this is a lot harder than I thought it’d be..” Howie admitted.
“We’ll get there...absence makes the heart grow fonder...but the absence part really sucks...” Holly said struggling to keep her voice steady as tears began to sting her eyes.
“Hey baby I’m really sorry but I’ve gotta go now ok?” Howie said as Kevin peeked his head in the door and pointed to his watch.
“Oh, ok...well can I call you later?” Holly asked.
“Baby, you’ve got my cell, you can call me anytime you need me alright?? day, night...I’ll be here ok??” Howie replied sweetly.
“Ok..” Holly said quietly.
“Ok take care sweetheart...” Howie said before they hung up.

“So you’ve got a show tonight...but you’re just meeting up with the dancers today..” Kirstie asked confused as she blow-dried her hair and AJ laid on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.
“We’ve already rehearsed it and all...it’s just putting it all together with costumes and stuff..” AJ replied.
“Oh ok....well I’m done...” Kirstie grinned, doing a little turn.
“Uhh...” AJ’s eyes bugged out of his head, Kirstie was wearing tight, dark denim jeans and a blue and white V-neck sweater.
“What? Is this not good?’ Kirstie looked down at what she was wearing.
“You look great, come on...” AJ grinned taking her hand.

“Awesome bus!!” Cassidy looked up a the silver tour bus in awe.
Nick laughed. “Home sweet home..”
“Come on guys, jump on we’ve gotta go!” Denise said getting into a nearby car.
“Where’s Denise going?” Becca asked confused.
“She and the other ‘grownups’ never go on the bus...they get hire cars..” AJ rolled his eyes.
“That’s right...so lets get on the bus kiddies!” A guy in a green suit called from the drivers seat.
“Hey Mavis! What’s up?” Kevin grinned and entered the bus giving the driver a friendly pat on the back.
“Not much man...still driving your sorry asses around..” The driver replied drying.
“You know you love your boys Mavis..” Howie smiled.
Mavis raised his eyebrows as the girls entered the bus.
“And who might these three lovely ladies be??” He smiled charmingly shaking their hands as Kevin introduced them.
“Uhh...this is Cassidy, Becca and Kirstie...girls, this is Mavis the bus driver..”
“Hi...” The girls smiled sweetly.
“Ok well we’d better get moving..you know what Denise is like..” Mavis said shifting the gears and slowly pulling away from the curb.
“Ok...watch it now Mavis..” AJ laughed patting the driver on the back and heading into the body of the bus with the others.

“Oh my...” Kirstie gasped as she saw the buses... ‘living room’ and ‘kitchen’.”
“Nice huh?” AJ grinned.
“Ahhh!! This is sooo cool!” Cassidy exclaimed climbing on a couch, jumping up and down.
“I can’t believe you have a kitchen!” Becca laughed looking through the bar fridge.
“I’ll show you the entertainment room?” AJ offered.
“Ok!!” Becca and Kirstie replied excitedly.
“Hey Nick, you still got that 64 hooked up in there man??” Howie asked.
Nick was staring out the window with almost a worried expression on his face.
“Nick??” Brian said a little louder.
“Huh?” Nick looked at them blankly.
“What planet were you on...” Kevin laughed and Nick just shrugged.
“Is the 64 still hooked up in the entertainment room??” AJ asked.
“Umm..yep..an all the games are in the cupboard..” Nick replied.
“Cool man...” Kirstie grinned following AJ, Howie and Kevin into the entertainment room.

“You’re not gonna play Nick?” Becca asked surprised.
“Mmm...nah..” Nick sat beside Cassidy on the couch.
“Omigod...some one call the doctor! Nickolas is delirious! He has not appetite for Nintendo!” Becca said in mock shock.
“Everyone’s a comedian...” Nick rolled his eyes.
“Hmmm...let’s leave Mr grumpy here...you want me to show you the bunks and stuff?” Brian asked Becca.
“Yeah sure...” Becca smiled and grabbed the back of Brian’s shirt as she followed him down the corridor.

Cassidy leaned her head on Nick’s shoulder.
“Penny for your thoughts..?” Cassidy smiled.
Nick ran his hand through Cassidy’s hair and sighed.
“Can we talk...” Nick asked seriously.
“Yeah sure...you wanna...” Cassidy pointed to the kitchen.
Nick nodded, taking Cassidy’s hand.
“Ok...what’s up...?” Cassidy asked taking a seat in the kitchen.
“Cassidy....I need to tell you something, and I want you to hear this from me...” Nick started softly.
“Nick....”
“Shh....I don’t want to hurt you and...”
“Nick you can tell me anything...” Cassidy gave a little half smile, although her heart was racing at what Nick had to say to her.
“Ok....well today you’re going to meet a girl named Amber....”
“Yeah....she’s your wardrobe mistress...” Cassidy answered, getting a little more worried.
“Ok well....uhh....when we were in Canada....me and Amber....uhh..” Nick started, looking at Cassidy.
“Ohh....you don’t have to say any more....” Cassidy said softly, looking down at her hands.
“Cassidy...” Nick lifted her head so he was looking straight into her eyes.
“I love you....Amber meant nothing to me...”
“You two had a thing going in Canada right?” Cassidy asked gently pulling herself away from Nick.
“Yeah....” Nick admitted quietly, trying to desperately see what Cassidy was thinking or feeling.
“Did you two....have sex?” Cassidy asked even quieter, although she knew deep in her heart what the answer would be.
Nick felt heat rising in his cheeks and his already knotted stomach churning. He looked at Cassidy, who’s beautiful eyes were wide in anticipation.
“Yes....” He replied, his voice no louder than a whisper.
Cassidy took a deep breath, avoiding Nick’s eyes as she tried to soak in what he had just told her.
Nick closed his eyes momentarily, dreading what Cassidy’s reaction would be.
After a few minutes of silence, Nick was extremely concerned.
“Cass....are we ok here...?” Nick asked.
She slowly looked up.
“I’m just thinking about some stuff...”
She looked Nick who had small sweat beads forming on his forehead.
Cassidy gave a small smile.
“I’m really glad you told me....instead of finding out from someone else’s gossip...” She started.
“Noone else knows...” Nick answered quietly.
“And we weren’t going out then....so it wasn’t like you were cheating....” She took a deep breath and looked at Nick.
“We’re ok Nick...” She smiled.
Nick let out the breath he had been holding and pulled Cassidy close.
“I love you so much....” He whispered.
Cassidy laid her head in the crook of Nick’s neck, she gave a little sigh. “I love you too Nick..” As they stood in each other’s arms.....music floated from the radio and into their thoughts....the song was so fitting.

“Baby now and forever...until the time is through,
I’ll be standing here..
Waiting and never, give up my faith in you...trying to make it clear..
Without your love I’d be half a man.
Maybe one day you will understand..
Now and forever...until the time is through
I’ll be waiting..”

AJ, Kevin, Howie and Kirstie all walked into he kitchen laughing loudly. Nick and Cassidy slowly broke away.
“Are we interrupting something?” Howie asked, suddenly becoming quiet.
“No, everything’s fine...” Cassidy smiled. Nick wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly.

“Ok kiddies we’re here...” Mavis laughed pulling up at a large arena.
AJ went to the bunks and drew back the curtains to find Brian and Becca busy making out.
AJ cleared his throat loudly.
“Ooo shit...” Brian quickly rolled of the top of Becca looking up at AJ sheepishly.
“Hey AJ...” Becca giggled slightly.
“We’re here...although I doubt you would have noticed the lack of motion...” AJ added dryly.
“Whatever..” Brian rolled over Becca again and got out of the bunk, helping Becca up also.
“Ok, lets go guys!” Kevin called from the front of the bus.
“Where were Becca and Brian?” Howie asked AJ when he walked out of the bunks area.
“Making out in the Bunks...” AJ grinned.
“Ooo...go Bri..” Howie winked.
“Uhh...your bunk too..” AJ laughed.
Howie’s face dropped.
“That’s gross man...”
“Yeah...you don’t know where they’ve been...” AJ teased.
“I heard that!” Brian called from the back of the bus.
“Let’s move!’ Kevin called for the final time as they all jumped off the bus and walked in the huge arena.