Chapter 68

Brian opened his door to see A.J., Nick, and Howie standing there. They walked in and he closed the door.

"You get to wake the grump up," A.J. said.

"Me?" questioned Brian.

"Yeah, we all agreed," Nick said.

"Thanks for asking me," Brian said.

"He's your cousin. You know him the best and you're the closest to him," Howie said.

"So I automatically get to wake him up?" Brian asked.

"Um, yeah," A.J. said.

"Fine," Brian said.

"We'll be waiting on the bus," Nick said.

"Chickens," Brian muttered as the guys walked out.

The guys had an interview to do in about half an hour, so they had to leave now.

Brian walked up to Kevin's door and knocked on it. He stood there for a while repeatedly knocking. Finally he gave up and walked into his room. He opened the door that connected his to Kevin's and walked in.

Kevin had his head under two pillows and blankets scattered all over the bed. Brian walked over to his cousin and lightly shook him.

"Hey Kevin," Brian said. "Kevin, wake up."

Kevin didn't respond.

Brian shook him harder. "Wake up, Kev."

"Huh, what?" he asked as he made his way out from underneath the pillows.

"We have an interview," Brian said.

"Now?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah," Brian said.

"Fine, get out," Kevin said as he sat up.

Brian walked out and closed the door. Kevin walked into the bathroom and splashed water on his face. He felt like he was half dead.

He quickly got dressed and walked out to find Brian waiting for him. They walked together to the bus. Then Kevin got on and sat in the back.

"He looks terrible," A.J. whispered.

"Yeah, I know," Brian said.

"Poor guy," Howie said.

"Maybe we can just tell them that he's sick, so he can stay on here and get some rest," Nick said.

"No. I'm not staying here," Kevin said as he walked up behind them.

"But Kev," Brian said.

"If I stay here then all I'll do is think about Janel. I need to keep myself busy," Kevin said.

"But you're exhausted," Nick said.

"I'll survive," Kevin said.

"It's not good to work yourself too hard," Howie said.

"Look, I said that I'll be fine," Kevin said.

The guys just shook their heads disagreeing with Kevin.

"Well if you're going with us, at least act like you're somewhat happy," A.J. said.

"I'm not an idiot," Kevin said annoyed.

"Yeah, well sometimes you act like one," A.J. said under his breath.

"What'd you just say?" Kevin asked angrily.

"I said that you're an idiot all right! You're going around acting like it's our fault that Janel left you! And poor Nick over here blames himself for taking her, when it wasn't even his fault. You know damn well that it wasn't his fault, it was yours. You just had to ruin your life by screwing another woman when you had the perfect woman at home waiting for you. That poor girl has been through hell and back and now you do this to her!" A.J. yelled at Kevin.

Kevin became enraged and lunged at A.J. trying to hit him. Nick stepped in between them holding Kevin back. A.J. slowly moved farther away.

"Let go of me!" roared Kevin.

"No. You need to calm down," Nick said while restraining Kevin.

Kevin continued struggle with Nick. Nick kept him away from A.J., but then Kevin began swinging. Then all of a sudden Kevin swung and hit Nick in the jaw.

The rest of the guys stood there shocked. They were all waiting for Nick to hit Kevin back.

"Oh god Nick. I didn't mean to hit you," Kevin said as he backed away from him.

Nick just stared at him.

Kevin fell back onto the chair and rested his hands on his head.

"I never meant to," Kevin kept repeating as he shook his head.

Nick sat down next to him and placed his hand on Kevin's shoulder.

"It's okay Kev. I know you didn't mean to," Nick said.

Kevin looked up at him with tears in his eyes. Then he hugged Nick.

"I'm so sorry," Kevin apologized.

He let go of Nick as his tears began to fall.

"I don't know what I'm doing. I just feel so lost. I'm just sticking to the schedule so I can make it through the day," Kevin said. "I've just screwed my whole life up and I don't know how to fix it."

"Don't worry Kev, the guys and I will help you find her," Brian said as he sat next to his cousin.

"Yeah, we promise," Nick said.

"Thank you so much," Kevin said. "And I'm sorry for not talking to you. I know it's not your fault that Janel left. She would have left me no matter what. You were just kind of put in an awkward situation."

"I didn't want her to leave. I was just going to take her to my house so you guys could work things out, but she wouldn't let me," Nick said.

"It's okay. I understand," Kevin said.

"Uh, Kevin," A.J. said.

"Yeah," Kevin said.

"Sorry about what I said, but. . .," A.J. said.

"I know. I was being an ass hole and I deserved it," Kevin said. "It's okay Bone."

"Aww! Group hug!" yelled Howie.

The guys all gathered and gave Kevin a hug.

"I don't know what I'd do without guys," Kevin said.

"Oh shucks, I feel so loved," A.J. said.

Kevin just smiled. Then the guys walked off their bus to do their interview.

New York

Rick and I walked into the doctor's office and sat down to wait.

"Janel Evans," the nurse called.

"I'll be here waiting for you," Rick said as I stood up.

"Okay," I said as I walked back.

I walked into the room and sat down on the chair. Soon the doctor walked in.

"Hello," he said.

"Hi," I said.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Right now, just fine. But in the morning's I still get sick," I said.

He shook his head agreeing with me.

"Well we have the test results," he said.

"And?" I questioned.

"It seems as though you're just fine," he said.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"But I do have some other news for you," he said.

I looked at him worriedly.

"Oh, don't worry nothing's wrong," he said.

"Oh okay," I said. "So what is it?"

"Well it looks as though. . .you're pregnant," he said.

"Excuse me?" I questioned. "Can you repeat that?"

"You're pregnant," he said simply.

I just sat back in my chair, taking in what he had just said.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine," I said.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I said as I stood up.

"Okay, if you have any other problems you make sure to come in," he said.

"I will," I said. "Thanks."

I walked out of the room and back into the waiting room. Rick stood up as he saw me. I grabbed his hand and we walked out.

"So? What happened? What did the doctor say?" he asked.

"Not much," I said.

"Well, what's wrong? Why are you getting sick in the mornings?" he asked as we got into the car.

"Can we not talk about this right now? I just want to go home and take a nap," I said.

"But I want to know if you're okay," he said.

"I'm fine," I said as I kissed him on the cheek.

"All right, but we'll talk about this later," he said as we drove off.

"Later," I repeated.

As soon as we walked into the house I went to my room. I closed my door and then fell onto my bed. I hugged the pillow as I began to cry.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be with Kevin. It was supposed to be that I would share this wonderful news with him. And he would be happy and take care of me. Instead I was by myself while he was somewhere on tour. It wouldn't have mattered where he was because I didn't care. I didn't want to be near him or talk to him.

I eventually fell asleep as I laid there.

After a couple of hours Rick decided to check in on Janel. He quietly walked in and sat on the bed. He gently rubbed her back as she slept. After a while she began to wake up.

"Hey," he said as I looked up at him.

"Hi," I said. I sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed. Rick leaned back so he could sit next to me.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine," I said.

"That's good," he said. "But do you want to tell me what's really going on."

I rested my head on his shoulder. He leaned forward and kissed the top of my head.

"The doctor said that I was just fine and nothing was wrong," I said.

"So what's bothering you?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant," I said quietly.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm going to have Kevin's child," I said as I began to cry.

He hugged me tightly.

"Well isn't that wonderful news? Aren't you happy?" he asked. "Or you don't want a child?"

"Oh no, I do," I said as I looked up at him. "But it wasn't supposed happen like this. My child is supposed to have a father."

"So you're not going to tell Kevin?" Rick asked.

"No," I said.

"But don't you think. . . ," Rick began.

"No. He's not a part of my life, so he's not a part of my child's," I said. "I can raise it by myself. As long as my child has love from me then we'll be fine."

"You know that you're not alone," he said as he held my hand. "I'll always be here for you."

He took my face into his hands and made me look him in the eyes.

He leaned forward lightly pressing his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and began kissing him.

As we became more passionate I realized it wasn't Kevin that I was kissing.

I pulled away from Rick shaking my head no.

"I can't do this. It's not right," I said. "I don't want to complicate things more than they already are."

"I understand," he said. "But I can be the child's father if you want."

"I just need you to be my friend right now," I said.

"I can do that," he said as he held my hand.

"Thank you," I said as I kissed him on the cheek.