Chapter 35

Outside, everyone was cleaning up and ready to leave. Dawn, Leigh Anne and Amanda were chatting away. "God, girls, quit your chatting and help us out." A.J. commented. "Then I can get out of here and get some sleep."

Amanda laughed, "You won't be getting any sleep tonight, baby! Keep cleaning and I'll give you a reward." she joked.

"Go Amanda." Leigh Anne cheered. And the other guys just laughed as A.J. immediately got back to work. He wanted to claim his reward.

As they finished up the cleaning, Aaron walked over to Dawn and sat next to her, A.J. put his arms around Amanda, "Now what's my reward...?"

"You'll get it when we get home!!" she laughed.

Again everyone laughed. As Leigh Anne got up to leave. "Hey, Kev can you tell Brian to call me."

"Yeah sure, I'm glad you guys are still friends.. Leigh Anne, to have you disappear would hurt us all." Kevin said.

"Don't worry, Kev I'll be back, I'd never leave my brothers like that." Leigh Anne relieved she was still welcome there.

A chorus of "byes" went around leaving only Kevin and Howie left. "Gee, everytime there's a barbeque something wrong happens, but this time, it turned out to be pretty fun in the end." Kevin said.

"Yeah, we do have a weird bunch of friends. But we love them." Howie said.

"I just don't understand why Brian never told us about him and Leigh Anne." Kevin said scratching his head. "I knew something was bothering him, but I never thought..."

"Kev, Brian's a big boy, he can handle things in any way he wants." Howie said.

"I know Howie, but I can't stand to see my cousin hurt like that."

"I know you care about him, but he needs his space too."

"I guess you're right." Kevin agreed as they went in and went straight to bed.

Meanwhile, Karen got out of the shower and as she headed to her room, she saw that Brian's door was still open. She looked in and saw him laying in his bed peacefully. As she turned to leave she heard Brian mumble in his sleep, "Karen...please..". She turned around and looked at him, he was still sleeping, she wondered why Brian had called out her name in his sleep.

'I don't understand...maybe he was dreaming about the day we met when he begged me to stay with him. That's it.' She walked out of Brian's room and headed for her own room. When she walked in she saw that Nick had fallen fast asleep on her bed. She went over to him and gave him a kiss on the forehead. A grin appeared on Nick's face but he stayed asleep. 'He looks like a baby! How cute.' she grinned. She pulled the covers over Nick, 'I guess he's staying here tonight.' She changed into her pajamas and crawled under her covers next to Nick. She looked around her dark room, the thought of Nick beside her made her happy because now she knew someone loved her and wanted her to be with him.

All of a sudden, she felt Nick's huge arms wrap around her. "I love you..." he whispered.

'Loves me?' Karen worried. 'We only started going out today? I don't even know if I like him like that yet..' Karen turned around and looked at Nick's droopy eyes. "Go back to sleep, you're tired."

"Do I get a good night kiss?" Nick pleaded. He pulled her in closer to him and they shared a kiss that was more meaningful than all the others. It felt like warmth and protection.

"Good night, Nick. Sweet dreams." Karen whispered as she saw him doze off into deep sleep. With his arms around her, she too, fell asleep.

In Brian's room, Brian was having a dream. He was dreaming about Karen. In his dream he was standing face to face with Karen, 'Karen...please.. I love you... I'll do anything to have you in my arms...' She replied, 'No Brian, I'm with Nick now, we're like siblings remember? We're best friends.' Brian would say, 'No, I want you to be more than just a friend... please, we belong together.' All of a sudden, Nick would show up and say to Brian, 'B-Rok, I thought you were my best friend. I love you like a brother and here you are hitting on my girl. I don't want you to come near me or Karen ever again.' They would leave and leave Brian standing there all alone. It kept repeating over and over again in his head.

Back at the Grand Floridian, Theresa was in Travis' room. "Why did you leave me? I had an awful time when you left." she said laying on his lap.

"Theresa, you knew my parents said I had to be home early. I have to be up early tomorrow, remember? It's my brother's birthday....."

"I'm sorry, I forgot." Theresa said. In honest truth though the whole time she was thinking about Nick. She couldn't believe that Nick had asked Karen out in front of everyone. "Don't ever leave me again."

"I won't. I promise." Travis said. he said giving her a hug. "Let's watch some TV."

"Alright." Theresa agreed as they turned on the TV.

They turned it MTV and "God Must've Spent A Little More Time On You" by 'N Sync was on. "Theresa," Travis said, "Whenever I hear this song play I think of you, you're perfect in every way and I'm glad that I am the lucky one to have you in my arms."

"Oh, Travis, that's so sweet." Theresa smiled. "Come here. You deserve a kiss for that one." She pulled him in and kissed him. The two kissed passionately as the TV was left on. The two deepened their kiss and started to let their lips wander. Theresa sat on Travis as she lifted his shirt up a bit. She let her lips wandered down to his stomach. She slowly kissed around his belly button and slowly licking up his chest which lead to his lips. They massaged each others tongues as Travis rolled on top of her and started kissing her neck and down her arm. As they were starting to get out of control, Theresa froze. "What's wrong?" Travis asked.

Theresa looked at the TV and surely, there was "I'll Never Break Your Heart". She saw Nick's gorgeous face and looked at Travis, 'He does remind me of Nick. His eyes, his hair, his smile, his personality, everything, how come I never aw this before. I only liked him because he reminded me of Nick, how low am i?' she started to cry.

"What's wrong, Theresa? Did I do something wrong?" Travis asked worried.

"I can't.... I can't see you anymore..." she trembled.

"What? We were just... You told me you loved me today.. Why all of a sudden this... Theresa...?" Travis said confused.

"Travis, you're truly a sweet guy, but I... I feel that you deserve more... I'm scum..." Theresa started.

"Scum? What are you talking about?" Travis said, "I deserve you and no one else." he begged.

"Travis, you never knew this but I love someone else."

His mouth dropped. "What do you mean you love someone else? Do you have someone back home you never told me about?"

"No, I love.... Travis, please I just want us to be friends. You made me feel special and loved, but what's going to happen when I go back to Wisconsin and you too Milwaukee."

"Look, we only live a couple of hours away, it's not hard for us too visit."

"Long distance relationships don't work."

"We have three weeks to figure something out."

"No, it won't work." Theresa forced herself to say. "Please don't be mad but I was very vulnerable that day we met and my mind jumped to conclusions that day. You were there for me and you cared for me that's why I fell for you immediately."

"But, I can make you happy and I really do care for you."

"I know you do, but..." she said feeling bad. "We just can't.... I can't be with you..." And she left his room and started crying heavily. She couldn't face Dawn or her family so she decided to go for a walk.

Travis sat on his bed. He started to cry. 'Again? I have been dumped. What's wrong with me? I can never keep a girl. She was perfect for me and I just lost her like that.' He laid down in his bed and fell asleep.

Aaron walked Dawn up to her room. "We sure did have fun didn't we?" he said.

"Yeah, at first I thought 'oh no another disaster' but everything turned out alright.' Dawn smiled as she opened her door.

"I don't think Nick is going to be coming home tonight..." Aaron said. "Whenever he gets a girlfriend he always spends with her, wither at her place or ours, he never wants to leave her."

"Does he?" Dawn said surprised.

"No, they don't have sex or anything. They just fall asleep in each other's arms, I know because I've seen them. They watch TV and just fall asleep." Aaron explained.

"That's so sweet of him." Dawn said.

"Yeah... he's devoted like that."

"Aaron, how come you never do that?" Dawn said.

"You're my first girlfriend, my first kiss.." Aaron told her. "I don't want to do anything to ruin this. Plus, I'm 11 so my mom tends to worry about me."

"Oh, I understand completely." Dawn said.

"Hey Dawn," her mom interrupted her.

"Oh hi mom...This is Aaron."

"So you're the boy who makes my little girl smile. Nice to meet you."

"Same here." Aaron said shyly.

"Yes, mom..." Dawn blushed.

"I have some news to tell you..."

"What? What is it?" Dawn asked worried.

"We're going to be staying here for awhile longer."

"We are?"

"Yeah, your father got offered a job here and we might be moving down here."

Dawn looked at Aaron happy. They hugged each other and Aaron said, "See I told you things will work out."

"What about Theresa?" Dawn asked her mother.

"She'll be moving here too."

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it."

"Honey, don't tell her yet, I think her parents want to share the news with her."

"I love you mom." Dawn said as she gave her mother a hug.

"Well,don't stay up to late, good night honey and good night Aaron." she said. "You two better behave."

"Don't worry we will." Dawn laughed. "Oh my God, Aaron can you believe this...I'm moving here..to Orlando, Florida.... We'll be together always." She said as she hugged him again.

"I have to go Dawn, my mom gave me a curfew. She thinks an 11 year old shouldn't be out so late every night. We'll celebrate tomorrow alright?" Aaron said as he kissed her.

"Okay, call me..." she yelled out. She walked into her room with joy. 'I can't believe we're moving down here.' She got dressed and went straight to bed.

Meanwhile, Theresa was walking in the park. She sat down on the bench. 'Why did I do that? Travis was perfect, but he reminded me so much of Nick, is that why I went out with him in the first place.' she cried silently. 'What am I suppose to do. Travis was the best thing that's happened to me and I broke it off. Now, Nick has a girlfriend and I have no one.' She laid down on the bench and drifted off into a deep sleep.