Chapter 48

We continued to party through out the night. After a while Stacey's friends began to leave. Once they had left we all crashed in the living room. No one wanted to see the mess that had been left.

"So did you have fun baby?" A.J. asked.

"Yes, it was wonderful. Thank you guys," Stacey said.

"You're welcome," we said.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm unbelievably tired," Lauren said.

"Oh yeah," I said.

"How about we all camp out here?" Kevin suggested.

"Yeah, we'll just move some of this trash out of the way," Howie said.

We all sat there staring at everything. No one wanted to get up and move anything.

"Come on," Stacey said as she began to move.

We all got up and began to throw the trash away. Then we put everything else to one side. The guys grabbed some pillows and blankets. We all changed and then laid down. We were all out in a matter of minutes.

Ring! Ring!

"Hello," Stacey said as she answered the phone still half sleep.

"Um, Stacey?" he asked.

"Yeah. Who's this?" she asked.

"Rick. Is Janel there?" he asked.

"Yeah, she's sleeping, but I'll get her up," Stacey said.

"Okay, thanks," Rick said.

Stacey threw the phone over to Janel and hit her in the back.

I quickly sat up as I felt something hit my back.

"Phone. Rick," Stacey said. Then she rolled over and snuggled up to A.J..

"Thanks. You could have perhaps handed me the phone," I said, annoyed that she had thrown the phone at me.

"Sorry," she said.

I picked up the phone and went to my room.

"Hi Rick," I said.

"Hi Janel. Were you sleeping?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"It's one o'clock. What are you doing still sleeping?" he asked.

"Stacey's lovely friends didn't leave until about two this morning," I said. "So what's up?"

"Well I was wondering if you would like to go to a movie with me?" Rick asked.

"Just me and you?" I questioned.

"Yeah. Is that a problem? Will Kevin get angry?" he asked.

"No, Kevin won't get angry. He knows we're friends and he won't mind," I said.

"Are you sure? You don't have to get permission from him?" he asked rudely.

"Rick, what's your problem? I told you he's fine with it. If you're implying that he's controlling, you're wrong. He loves me," I said.

"So do I," Rick said quietly.

"Excuse me. What did you just say, Rick?" I asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," he said.

"I think we need to talk right away. I'm going to get dressed and then I'll be over. Okay?" I asked.

"Okay, good bye," Rick said.

"Bye," I said.

Then I hung up the phone. I quickly grabbed some clothes and changed. I put on a little make-up and did my hair. Then I went out to the living room where everyone was.

"Where are you going Pumpkin?" Kevin asked as he saw me dressed.

I sat down next to him and kissed him.

"I'm just going to a movie with Rick," I said.

"Oh okay," he said. "When do you think you'll be back?"

"Probably in about 3 hours," I said.

"Okay good," he said.

"What do you mean good?" I asked.

"Three more hours of sleep," he said, smiling.

"Kevin Scott Richardson!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry! I just love to sleep," he said. Then he pulled me close to him and began to kiss my neck. "I'm going to miss you though."

"I'll miss you too," I said. Then I kissed him on the lips and got up. "Be back in a few hours. Love ya."

"Love you too," he said. "Be careful."

"I will," I said as I headed out the door.

I got in my car and drove to Rick's house. I had to explain to him that I didn't like him like that. I was only in love with Kevin. I just wanted Rick and I to be good friends.

I pulled into his driveway and got out. Just as I was about to knock, Rick opened the door.

"Hey beautiful," Rick said as he let me in.

"Hi Rick," I said.

We walked in and sat down on his couch.

"So are you ready to go to the movies?" he asked.

"Not before we talk," I said.

"About what?" he asked.

"About you and me," I said.

"Okay Janel, before you go any further, I have a few things to say," he said.

"Okay, go ahead," I said.

"Janel, I love you. I've loved you since our first date," he said.

"Rick. . .," I began.

"Let me finish, okay. I just need you to listen right now," he said.

"Okay," I said.

"I've always regretted never giving us another try when I had the chance. I knew you weren't ready for a relationship at the time, but I still wanted to be with you. Over these past four years I've thought about asking you out again, but I backed out of it every time always thinking there would always be a next time. And now, you're with Kevin Richardson, Backstreet Boy. I can never live up to him. I don't even know why I agreed to let you go on tour with him. It's supposed to be me and you spending all of our time together," he said bitterly.

"I'm sorry Rick. I never knew you felt this way," I said. "I love you too," I said as he smiled, "But as a brother or a best friend." His smile faded.

"But we can work on it. I mean we both love each other," he said.

"No, we can't Rick. I'm with Kevin," I said.

"What about us?" he asked.

"Rick, there is no us," I said.

"There's only Mr. Backstreet Boy," he said.

"You know I don't love him for his fame and money. That's just his career, not him," I said.

"Those things don't hurt though," he said.

"They don't matter. As long as we're with each other, then we're happy," I said.

"Can't you just give me another chance?" he asked. "I know we could make it work."

"I'm sorry, but we can't," I said. "Our time has passed. If it were meant to be, things wouldn't have been like this."

"How do you know that?" he asked as he moved closer to me.

"Because I feel it in my heart," I said. "Rick, there's someone out there waiting to be with you.""I don't want someone. I want you," he said. Then he grabbed me and kissed me.

I immediately jerked away from him and stood up.

"I'm sorry Janel, I shouldn't have done that," he said, apologizing.

"Yeah, you shouldn't have," I said angrily. "I told you that I love Kevin."

"I had to know," he said.

"Know what?" I asked.

"If there was something between us, some magical spark," he said.

"Was there?" I asked.

"Yes for me, but not for you," he said sadly.

"I'm sorry Rick. But that's the way I feel," I said as I sat back down on the couch.

"Don't apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing," he said. "I don't even know why I brought all of this up. Probably because I saw you with Kevin and I realized what I had missed out on."

"Rick, the right girl for you is out there. You just haven't found her yet," I said.

"She better be," he said.

"What about April?" I asked.

"Oh, her," he said. "Well she's a friend of a friend's. I just asked her to come along so you wouldn't think, oh there's poor Rick again without a girlfriend."

"I wouldn't think that Rick," I said.

"Yeah, well I do," he said.

"Well if you weren't such a workaholic maybe you could find someone. You just have to go out and have a life instead of going to work and going home," I said.

"Yeah, I guess that would help," he said, smiling.

"You're just not looking hard enough," I said.

"I guess I've been looking in the wrong place," he said.

"Yeah, you have," I said.

"Okay, well I'm glad that we talked. Now I really know there is no chance for us," he said.

"I'm really sorry Rick," I said as I hugged him.

"It's okay. As long as you're happy," he said.

"I am," I said as I let go of him.

"Okay good," he said. "So are we ready to go to the movies now?"

"I think I should tell you something before we leave," I said.

"What's that?" he asked.

"I'm moving to Orlando to be with Kevin," I said.

"Oh," he said.

"I came back to New York for Stacey's graduation and to pack up my things," I said.

"So you're leaving this coming Friday with your things?" he asked.

"Yeah, Kevin and I are going to rent a truck and drive back to Orlando," I said.

"Aren't you guys moving a little fast? I mean you've only been together for about a month," he said.

"Rick, are you hearing me? We love each other. We know this is the right thing to do," I said.

"Okay, okay. I understand, so I'm just going to say that I'm happy for you," he said.

"Thank you," I said.

"Everyone is going to miss you at work," he said.

"I know, and I'll miss them," I said.

"Do you want me to get you a job in Orlando? I know some companies that would love a great secretary," Rick said.

"Thanks, but I think I'll look for a job myself," I said.

"Sure, I understand," he said. "So do you have anything else you must spring up on me?"

"No, I think that's it," I said.

"Good because I think that's all I can handle," he said.

"We're okay though, right?" I questioned.

"Yeah, we're good. Best friends here for one another," he said.

"Exactly," I said. Then I gave him a tight hug.

"Okay, let's see if we can make that movie," he said.

"Sure," I said as we got up.

We quickly got in my car and drove to the movie theater. Rick parked the car while I got the tickets. We walked in and I stocked up on candy while he got the popcorn with butter on top. Then we went into the theater and sat down at the very top.