allmyheart1

all my heart
by unique
chapter 1

    Kevin Richardson sighed deeply as he opened the door to his house. He stepped inside and
    switched on the light. His answering machine light blinked and he headed for it and pressed
    play. As the endless amount of messages played, Kevin sorted through the mail that had
    piled up on the foyer table in his absence. Was it his fault that he and the rest of the
    BackStreet Boys were gone for months at a time?
    “Bill… bill… oh look, coupons…” Kevin said softly as he went through the mail, “and
    another bill… what a surprise… bill… b -- ” He stopped short as he saw a light lilac colored
    envelope sitting on the pile. It simply had his name on it, so he assumed that whoever had
    sent it had simply slipped it into his mailbox for the housekeeper to pick up when she came
    every morning.
    “Now what could this be?” Kevin wondered. He picked up the delicate envelope and
    carefully opened it. A letter slid out of it and Kevin moved to the living room so he could
    sit down and read it. The words shocked him into silence…
    Dear Kevin,
    I know that it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen each other, and you’ll probably
    think I’m crazy for coming back to you. The trouble is, I have nowhere else to go. I
    really need to see you Kevin. There are some things that we need to talk about… some things
    that I should have told you before I left. I just want you to know that I did it for your
    own good, Kevin. You didn’t need me around to make your dreams come true, so I left. I
    realize now that I’ve made a lot of mistakes… but I have to admit, you were probably the
    only thing I did right, Kevin.
    I never meant to hurt you, Kevin, and I hope that you can forgive me. You’re my only
    chance to right everything I did wrong now… you have to meet me. Call me whenever you get
    this letter. I’m staying at the Holiday Inn on Rose St. Please call, Kevin… I know I don’t
    deserve your help after what I did… but I need you now more than I ever needed you before.
    Love Always,
    Cassandra “Cassie” James
    Kevin blinked once or twice before leaning back into the soft cushions and closing his
    eyes. Cassie was back? His Cassie? The girl that had made him fall head over heels in
    love with her, then left in a heartbeat a year later? What was she doing back in his life?
    Kevin opened his eyes and frowned slightly. Cassie had hurt him terribly… why should he
    help her? He sighed. Because he just had to, that was all.
    Slowly, Kevin got up and picked up the phone. After dialing information and getting the
    number to her hotel, he called the hotel and asked to be connected to Cassandra James’
    room. He realized he was nervous as the phone began to ring. Sweat broke out on his palms
    and he gripped the phone tighter, not knowing what to say all of a sudden.
    “Hello?” Cassandra’s smooth tone came over the line and Kevin was tongue-tied.
    “C-Cassie? Is it really you?” Kevin asked finally, almost breathless.
    Silence met his ears, then he heard a soft muffled sound, as if she was covering her
    mouth.
    “Kevin? You called… you actually called… I…” Cassandra took in a deep breath then let it
    out slowly, “I didn’t think you would call. It’s already been a week. I thought…”
    “I was out of town.” Kevin told her.
    “Oh… of course you were. What was I thinking?” Cassandra gave a shaky laugh. “I… I heard
    about your group. Your mom must be really proud.”
    Kevin smiled slightly. “Yeah… she is.”
    “Your dad would be too, Kevin… I know he would.” Cassandra said softly.
    Kevin felt emotion choke him slightly. “Yeah… he would be too.”
    For the next few minutes, both of them were quiet. Kevin wondered what could have
    brought Cassie back to him, while Cassie wondered what Kevin thought of her. They were both
    caught up in old memories though… a time when love filled them both, and everything was okay
    with the world.
    “Um… Kevin?” Cassandra said softly. “There’s something I need to tell you…”
    “What is it?”
    “I can’t tell you over the phone…” Cassandra said firmly, “This is really important.”
    Kevin made a quick decision. “Come here then.”
    “W-what?” Cassie asked in surprise.
    “I want you to come here… so you can tell me.” Kevin said. For seven years, he had
    wondered why a girl that he had loved so much could leave him so easily. He intended to
    find out… tonight!
    “Right now?” Cassie asked in a half-whisper.
    “Yes…” Kevin said.
    “B-but… I can’t.” She replied weakly.
    “Why not?” Kevin wondered.
    “Because… I… just can’t.” Cassandra whispered. “Kevin… I know it sounds weird, but
    believe me… you’ll understand when you find out what I have to tell you.”
    “Dammit, Cassie!” Kevin burst out suddenly with all the anger he had held in check for
    seven years. “You left me seven years ago, without even a clue that you didn’t love me
    anymore! Now you come blowing back into my life and you expect me to just accept it?! I’m
    tired of playing your games, Cassie, because I can never win. This time you do it my way…
    now are you coming over here or do you really want me to come and get you?”
    “I never said… I didn’t love you…” Cassie mumbled mournfully. “I… never said that…”
    “But you left…” Kevin said more softly this time. He could tell she was crying. “And I
    want to know why.”
    “Okay…” Cassie said softly.
    “Okay?” Kevin repeated questioningly.
    “I’ll be there… soon.” Cassandra promised quietly. “I have to get my things together and…
    then I’ll be over.”
    Kevin felt a tightening in his chest… Cassie was actually coming. There was so much he
    wanted to say… so much he wanted to do… but he didn’t know where to start! Finally, he just
    told her he would be waiting. They hung up soon after that and Kevin sat in the dim light,
    wondering why, after all these years, Cassandra decided to come back to him…