Chapter 67

A week later

Kevin grabbed his last bag and walked out to the tour bus. Everyone was standing outside the bus telling each other good bye.

All the girls ignored Kevin as he came up to them. Kevin just looked at them, then he got onto the tour bus.

"Oh this should be a fun tour," Brian said sarcastically.

"Especially since Kevin's not talking to me," Nick said.

"Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault," A.J. said.

"I know," Nick said. "But I hate the silent treatment. I'd almost rather have Kevin yell at me."

"I don't know about that," Howie said.

"Keyword, almost," Nick said.

"I think it's best if we just leave Kevin alone right now," Brian said.

"Yeah, he looks like he's been through hell," A.J. said as they headed to the bus.

All four of them walked onto the bus to find Kevin staring out the window.

Nick felt so bad for Kevin. He slowly walked over to him.

"Look Kevin, I'm really sorry. . .," Nick began.

"Don't," Kevin said.

"But. . .," Nick tried to continue.

"Just don't," Kevin said as he walked away. He climbed into his bunk and placed his headphones on.

"Well that was good," A.J. said.

Everyone looked at A.J..

"I mean, that he didn't yell," A.J. said.

"The only good thing," Nick said as he sat down.

New York

I walked outside and got the paper. Then I sat down on the floor in the living room looking through it.

"What are you doing?" Rick asked as he got ready for work.

"Looking for a place to stay," I replied.

"Why? You have my place," Rick said.

"I can't live here," I said.

"Of course you can," he said.

"That's really sweet of you Rick, but I need my own place," I said.

"I understand," he said. "Oh wait, I have a townhouse that you can rent."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "I'll show you after work today."

"Okay, that'd be great. Thanks," I said.

He came over and kissed the top of my head. "Bye. I'll see you later."

'"Bye. Have a good day," I said.

Once he left I got dressed and ate a bagel. Then I grabbed my purse and the keys he had left me. I went to Target and Wal-Mart to apply for a job. I knew that Rick could get me a job in a matter of seconds, but I didn't want him to. Right now I just needed money. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do yet.

About 1 o'clock I stopped by Rick's office.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi. I just stopped by to see if you wanted to go out for lunch," I said.

"Sure, just give me ten minutes," he said.

"All right," I said as I sat down in a chair.

He quickly finished his work and then we left.

He drove us to a fancy restaurant where we were seated.

"And you miss, what would you like?" the waiter asked.

"I think I'll have the chicken salad," I said.

"All right," he said as he wrote it down. "I'll be right back with your drinks," he said as he collected our menus.

"Just a salad?" questioned Rick, knowing that I loved to eat a good meal.

"Yeah," I said.

"Have you still been getting sick in the morning?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

"I think you should go to a doctor," he said. "It's already been a week."

"Yeah, I know," I said.

"We'll take you to a doctor tomorrow," he said.

"No, I don't think. . .," I began, but Rick cut me off.

"Don't argue with me Janel. I'm taking you to the doctor, no matter what you say," Rick said.

"Fine," I said as the waiter came back with our drinks.

The next morning I woke up and again I threw up. I walked out of the bathroom to see Rick standing there.

"Go get dressed. We're going to see a doctor," he said.

I shook my head okay and then quickly got dressed.

We got into the doctor's office and waited for an hour. Finally they called me in. Then I waited a little while longer until the doctor came in.

He asked me a lot of questions and checked me over. He said I was fine, but he wanted to do a few tests. After the tests I was able to go. He told me to come back in a few days and he would have the results.

I walked out and there was Rick waiting for me. It was good to know that he was there for me.

Rick got up and walked towards me.

"Are you okay?" he asked as we walked back to the car.

"Yeah. The doctor said that he couldn't find anything wrong, but he did do a few tests," I said.

"And?" Rick asked.

"He'll have the results in a few days," I said.

On Tour

Kevin walked off the stage thanking God that their first show was over with.

It had been the longest show he had ever had to do. All he wanted to do was lay down and go to sleep.

The guys took their showers and got onto the tour bus. As soon as Kevin got to the hotel he went straight to his room.

He sat down on the bed and called Lauren.

"Hello."

"Hi Lauren. It's me Kevin."

"What do you want?"

"Have you heard from Janel?"

"No, none of us have."

Then there was silence on both ends of the line.

"Is that all you wanted?"

"Yes."

"Good bye then."

Kevin hung up the phone.

It killed him not knowing whether Janel was safe or not. Right now he just wanted to hear that she was okay somewhere.

He laid down on the uncomfortable hotel bed trying to fall asleep. But his mind wouldn't let him. All he wanted to do was be in his own bed holding Janel close to him. He needed her by his side so that way he would know she was safe. But instead he couldn't even hear her voice.

During the concert he would be fine, he could make it for a while without remembering until he had to sing Back To Your Heart. When he was playing the piano for Back To Your Heart he felt as though she was there listening. It tore him up inside knowing that every word was true, and it was his fault.

He laid there for the longest time thinking. He finally fell asleep about 5 o'clock after he had tossed and turned for a while.