Chapter 31

Knock! Knock!

"Janel, are you awake?" Nick called through the door.

He waited for answer, but there was none. So he quietly turned the doorknob and walked in. He walked over to Janel who was still sleeping. He gently shook her to wake up.

I opened my eyes and there was Nick. "Morning Nick," I said as I wiped my eyes.

"Good afternoon is more like it," Nick said.

"What time is it?" I asked while sitting up.

"It's noon and we're going to arrive at the hotel in about ten minutes," Nick said.

"Oh my gosh! I better get dressed," I said while getting out of bed.

Nick walked out to the guys. "She's up now. She's racing around trying to find clothes," Nick said.

I threw a pair of warm up pants on and a big T-Shirt. I brushed my hair and then put it into a bun. Then I went into the kitchen where the guys were. I grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and sat down. I sat on a chair across from them.

"Morning guys or good afternoon, whatever," I said.

"Hi Janel," Howie said.

"Sleep well?" A.J. asked.

"Yep, just fine," I said.

"So what do you guys have to do today?" I asked.

"Nothing really. Today is like a day off since the concert is tomorrow," Howie said.

"Maybe we can play some basketball later," Nick suggested.

"Sounds like fun. But right now I'm starving," I said.

"Oh, let's pick up some Mickey D's," A.J. said happily.

"Okay. I'll tell Andy," I said.

I walked up to the front of the bus and sat down. "Hi Andy," I said.

"Hi Janel," he said.

"The guys and I are starving. Could you perhaps swing by McDonald's first?" I asked.

"Sure thing," he said.

"Thank you," I said.

"Go get the orders, so once we get there I can get down and get the food," he said.

"Okay," I said.

I walked back to the guys. I asked for their orders and wrote them down on a piece of paper. Then I gave the paper to Andy.

Andy parked in the back of the parking lot. Then he got down and got our food. Once he came back with our food we put it in the microwave to keep it warm. We were going to eat at the hotel since it was only five minutes away.

We arrived at the hotel and grabbed our things and got down. Denise checked us in and we went to our rooms. The guys decided we would eat in my room. So I put my things in my room and sat down, then the guys came knocking. I opened the door and let them in. A.J. set the food on the table. We all sat down and devoured the food.

Once we were through we sat down to watch a movie. We watched Liar Liar. All four of us were laughing the entire time. After the movie was over my stomach hurt from laughing so much. Then my cell phone rang. I grabbed my purse and found it.

"Hello," I said.

"Hi Pumpkin," Kevin said.

"Hi Kevin," I said happily.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Oh the guys and I just finished watching Liar Liar. What are you doing?" I asked.

"Well Brian and I are just taking a break to eat," he said.

"I miss you," I said.

"I miss you too," he said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just missing you. Don't worry though. The guys and I are going to go play some basketball now," I said.

"Oh okay. Well have fun and kick their butt for me," Kevin said.

"Of course," I said.

"Bye baby. I love you," Kevin said.

"Love you too. Bye," I said.

I hung up the phone and placed it back in my purse.

"Are we ready?" I asked.

"Yep, let's go," Nick said.

We walked out of the room and got the bodyguards. Once we were with them we left for a basketball court. We got into a gym and locked the doors. Then we got into two teams and began to play. Nick and I were a team against A.J. and Howie.

Lexington, Kentucky

"So how is she?" Brian asked after Kevin had hung up.

"She sounds fine," Kevin said.

"What? Do you doubt it?" Brian asked.

"No, not really. Just worried about her. But she sounds like she's having fun with the guys though. They watched Liar Liar and now they're going to play basketball," Kevin said.

"See. I knew the guys would take care of her," Brian said.

"I knew they would. It's just that I worry about her because of things that have happened to her. I love her," Kevin said.

"I know you do, cuz," Brian said.

"No, but I want to marry her," Kevin said.

"Wow, the M word already. Don't you think it's a little early for that? She's just come back into your life," Brian said.

"I know, and that's why. I don't want to lose her again. I want to be with her for the rest of my life," Kevin said.

"But. . .," Brian began, but he was cut off by Kevin.

"It's not like I'm going to marry her tomorrow. I just want you to help me pick out a ring for her," Kevin said.

"Me?" Brian asked.

"Yeah. I figure now is the best time got get it. Once we get back I'll be spending all of my time with her. So now is the perfect time," Kevin said.

"Sure, I'll go with you. So when do you plan on proposing?" Brian asked.

"Not for a while," Kevin said. "So when do you plan on marrying Ashley? Or do you plan on marrying her?"

"You know I want to. It's just finding the right time," Brian said.

"How about Thanksgiving?" Kevin suggested.

"That's only three weeks away," Brian said.

"So? You two have been together forever. You deserve to be happy," Kevin said. "You can buy a ring when I go."

"I don't know. I'll have to think about it," Brian said.

"Well you have until tomorrow morning," Kevin said.

"I'll sleep on it," Brian said.

The guys finished eating. Then they met up with the director of the program.

The gym

It was 6 o'clock and the guys and I were beginning to get tired.

"Okay, this is the last game. I think we're all really tired," I said.

"Yeah, last game," Howie said.

We played our last game and Nick and I won. Actually, we won all of the games, but only by a couple of points. We got into the van and headed back to the hotel.

"What are we going to eat?" asked Nick.

"I'm not sure. What does everybody want?" Howie asked.

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"You're not?" A.J. asked.

"No, I think I'm just going to go to bed now," I said.

"But we haven't eaten since about 12:30," Nick said.

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"Okay," Howie said.

Then they walked me to my room.

"If you need anything, we'll be in Nick's room," A.J. said. "Right next door."

"Okay. Thanks for keeping me busy. I had lots of fun," I said. "I'll see you guys in the morning. Night."

"Night Janel," they said.

I walked in my room and collapsed on to the couch. I hadn't been exercising in a long time. I was starting to gain weight and I felt disgusted with myself. That's why I had decided not to eat dinner. I didn't want to become fatter than I already was. Then Kevin would be embarrassed of me and I never wanted that to happen.

I got up and took a shower. Then I went to bed. I fell asleep very quickly because I was exhausted. But I still woke up from a nightmare.

It was pitch black in my room. I felt as though I was being watched. I was terrified of the darkness. Then I heard a light tap on my door and I burst into tears. I grabbed the blankets and threw them over my head. I couldn't grab onto Kevin to hold me. I couldn't even move I was so frightened, so I laid there and cried.

Nick was lying in his bed staring at the ceiling. Then he heard a noise. He couldn't tell what it was. It sounded like his t.v., but he knew he had shut if off. So he got up and went to check the t.v.. Then he stood next to the wall that was A.J.'s room and the window, but not a sound. Then he went by the door that connected his room to Janel's. He listened and heard something. He couldn't tell exactly what it was, but it kind of sounded like crying. He slowly turned the doorknob.

I heard the doorknob turn and I froze. I continued to cry, but quietly.

Nick walked in to the dark room. Light leaked in from his room so he could see the bed. He went over to the side and pulled the covers back.

"Aaahh!" I screamed.

Nick jumped back at her reaction. "Janel! It's me, Nick," he said quickly.

"I'm sorry," I said as I continued to cry.

"It's okay," Nick said as he sat down next to me.

I sat up and cried into my hands.

"Come here," Nick said.

He scooted up to me and then wrapped his arms around me. Then I grabbed him and cried on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said as I continued to cry.

"Are you sure? It might help you to discuss it," Nick suggested.

"No," I said.

"Janel, please. I just want to help you," Nick said softly. "You're part of our family now."

I looked up at him. I decided to tell him. I couldn't stand it any longer.

"I had a nightmare and Jerry was in it," I said.

"Who's Jerry?" Nick asked.

"Jerry's my father," I said.

"What does he have to do with it?" Nick asked.

"When I was a teenager Jerry used to. . .beat and rape me. He did this for two years until I left," I said while crying.

Then Nick began to cry. "I'm so sorry Janel. I had no idea."

"That's why I woke up crying. I had been fine until that thing at the club happened," I said.

"So what's why Kevin's been so protective you," Nick said.

"Yeah. I've become a burden to him," I said.

"Shh, don't say that. He loves you," Nick said.

"I guess," I said.

"Why don't you go back to sleep?" Nick suggested.

"I can't. I'm afraid to," I said.

"Well I'll stay here until you fall asleep," Nick said.

"No, I can't sleep in this room," I said.

"How about we go in my room? You can sleep in my bed and I'll sleep on the couch. Okay?" he asked.

"Okay," I said.

He got up and waited for me. I grabbed my Cozy Bear and then went with him. We walked through the door and he closed it behind me. I stood there while he turned the t.v. on.

"Go ahead and lie down," he said.

Then he grabbed a pillow and blanket. He took them out and placed them on the couch. He came back in and I was still standing.

"I'm sorry Nick. I can just go sleep in my room. I'm already becoming a burden to you," I said heading towards the connecting door.

Nick grabbed my arm. "It's okay, you're not a burden. We're family now and we help each other," Nick said. "Now lie down and we'll watch late night t.v.."

He went and sat down on the bed. "Come on," he said.

I slowly walked over to the bed and sat down. "Thank you Nick," I said.

"You're welcome," he said. "Now lay down and relax."

"You won't tell anyone. Will you?" I asked.

"No, your secret is safe with me," he said.

"Thanks," I said.

I laid down in the bed. I covered myself with the blankets and held my bear. Then I watched t.v. with Nick. After a while my eyes began to get heavy so I closed them and fell asleep.

Once Nick saw that Janel was asleep he got up. He turned the t.v. off and left the door open. He fixed his bed on the couch and went to sleep. He couldn't believe what Janel had told him. He knew something serious had made her leave Kevin, but he would have never guessed that. He felt so bad for her.