Divided

“Howie??” She asked confused.
"Holly please......" Howie said pleadingly.
"So that's why she hated me....she wanted you??" Holly said in complete disbelief.
"Honestly...I didn't mean to cause trouble....but I can't deny my feelings..." Nadine said apologetically.
"You!" Holly looked at Nadine coldly.
"I..I...Holly..." Nadine said, her tears returning.
"Holly, please....just leave it..." Howie ran his fingers nervously through his hair.
"You are seriously not taking her side on this are you?!" Holly said in disbelief.
"I'm not taking anyone's side! I didn't ask for this!" Howie said frustratedly.
"Well you got it! So tell her there's nothing there...she's got to move on..." Holly motioned to a now hysterical Nadine.

Becca took Brian's hand and buried her head against his shoulder as the group watched this display with a terrible feeling in their stomachs. Brian squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Howie looked at Nadine's tear stained face and his face writhed in agony. He looked at Holly, and at Nadine once more.
"Howie?!" Holly asked quieter.
"Howie..." Nadine looked at him with sad eyes. She has taken the gamble of telling the angel of her heart how she felt and was now reeling in the consequences. When all she wanted was for Howie to hold her.
"Holly...." Howie began.
"Don't....." Holly cut him off and stormed out of the room.

"Holly..." Howie reached for her but it was too late.
"I'll go after her..." Becca said and Kirstie followed quickly behind her.

"Omigod..." Nadine covered her mouth with her hands. Her legs buckled underneath her and she collapsed on the floor her shoulders shaking with silent tears.

"I think its time we make an exit don't you..." Kevin looked at Brian worriedly. They looked around, people were starting to notice the group huddled in the corner.
"I think so...I'll tell Q to bring the limo round the back....Can you go find the girls?" Brian asked Kevin as he began to dial his cell.
"Howie, go wait for the limo...." Brian said softly as Howie stood there looking at an absolutely crushed Nadine in shock.
"Uhhh..." Howie began dazedly, but did as he was told and headed for the back entrance of the hall.

"Ok Naddie....come on baby..." Cassidy said soothingly kneeling down beside Nadine, gently rubbing her back.
"I love him....I love him..." She sobbed quietly.
"Come on Nadine...we know you do sweetheart..." Brian kneeled also.
"Why doesn't he love me??" She looked at Cassidy desperatley. Cassidy looked at her sympathetically and took one of her hands, which were cold as ice and shaking like a leaf.
"Come on....we don't know that yet...." Cassidy rubbed her hands in an attempt to warm them slightly.
"Ok we've gotta go guys...the limo's waiting..." Brian said getting up and beginning to walk across the crowded room.
"Come on Nadine..." Cassidy urged and tried to pull her up.
"Leave me....." Nadine cried.
"Nick?" Cassidy looked at Nick desperately for help.
"Come on Naddie..." He said gently.
Nick kneeled down and placed one of her shaking arms around his strong shoulders. Then in one swift movement, he picked her up, cradling her gently, like a child in his arms.
"Lets go..." Cassidy said as they pushed their way through the crowd.
"You'll be ok Nadine..." Nick whispered as Nadine proceeded to cry gently on his shirt.

*Back at the Hotel*

Everyone was divided, even though it was the last thing they wanted to be. Noone had taken anyone's side, but that's the way it looked.

*Nadine's Hotel room*

"Nadine, please...don't cry...." Nick begged as he handed her yet another kleenex.
"I'm such an idiot..." She sniffled.
"You're not an idiot....you just did what your heart told you to! That's never a bad thing, no matter what you may feel at the time..." Brian soothed.
"Come on Nadine, it'll be better in the morning you'll see...." Cassidy smiled and pulled back the covers on her bed invitingly.
"I hope so....." Nadine dried her eyes and slowly lowered herself into her bed.
"It will be....you'll see, tomorrow, everything will be better...." Brian smiled.

*Holly's Hotel room*

"I can't believe this..." Holly said, her face pale as she sat on the edge of her bed.
"I honestly don't think that Nadine would ever purposely want to hurt you...." Becca said carefully.
"Then why did she do it??" Holly looked up, tears in her eyes.
"What? Why did she fall in love?? Come on Holly, this isn't a vicious planned move here..." AJ said from the couch.
"Howie didn't mean to lie to you....if the truth be known he had no idea that Nadine had feelings for him until this afternoon....he just didn't want to hurt you..." Kirstie said trying to comfort her new friend.
"Yeah, well that part didn't really work out did it...." Holly said deflated.
"Holly...." Becca started, but Holly shook her head defiantly.
"I can't do this...I can't stay here, I need to think.." She pulled her legs in close to her, hugging them and rocking slightly.
"What?? Holly you just got here!" AJ said confused.
"No...I can't stay..." She shook her head.
"Holly..." Kirstie started but Holly had made up her mind.

Nick, Cassidy and Brian walked out of Nadine's room wearily. It was almost 2am and they were absolutley beat.

Just then they saw Becca, Kirstie and AJ walking down the hall from Holly's room.

"Hey..." They said quietly.
"How's Holly?" Brian asked, wrapping his arms tight around Becca.
"Mmm...not good, she's going back home..." Becca said quietly.
"Shit..." Nick shook his head.
"What about Nadine??" Kirstie asked.
"She just wants Howie....." Cassidy said sadly.
"I never thought the latin lover would have ever gotten into a pickle like this..." AJ shook his head laughing softly.

"Well this is our stop..." Becca yawned as they group came to the door of Becca and Cassidy's room.
"Night..." Brian waved as he and Becca went inside.

"Us too guys...." Nick said as Cassidy dragged him wearily inside the door of his and Brian's room.
Cassidy then poked her head back outside the door.
"Where the hell is Kevin??" She asked Kirstie and AJ.
They looked at each other.
"I have no idea....probably asleep..." AJ shrugged.
"Probably..." Cassidy nodded and shut the door again.

"You look tired..." AJ said concerned, gently taking Kirstie's hand.
"I'm okkkk...." Kirstie said drowsily leaning her head on AJ's shoulder.
"Nooo....you're sleepwalking..." AJ laughed and wrapped his arms around her. He then stopped and picked her up into his arms, Kirstie giggling slightly.
"Come on princess..." He whispered. Kirstie yawned and leaned her head against AJ's chest wearily.
AJ opened the door to Kirstie's room and pushed it open quietly. Leighanne was asleep in her bed so he walked in as quietly as he could.
He layed her on her bed and she snuggled under the covers.
"See you in the morning..." He whispered.
"Mmm...night AJ..." She whispered back as he brushed her lips in a gentle kiss. He looked at her once more and then walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.