| Chapter Eleven |
| Kyle walked down the hotel steps, avoiding the elevator at all costs. The last thing he needed was for one of the girls to see him leaving Veronica's floor. He stepped cautiously into the lobby, and started toward the elevator. He was about to step inside, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and sneered at the man standing in front of him. "Can I help you?" "Kyle! Just the man I wanted to see!" JC stepped into the elevator, with a small grin on his face. "Listen man, everyone knows you're the king of evil." Kyle stared at him, dumbstruck, but JC continued. "And we all know your absolutely clever plan of breaking Mandy's heart indirectly, yet again. I just want to know... how do you do it? Normally, I would stay away from your type, but I think I'm in just your position." He stared at Kyle, trying to hide the eager look on his face, and became nearly elated when Kyle smiled. "So you wanna know the tricks of the trade, do you? Well, JC, what can I help you with my man?" "See, its Nikki. I want to get through to her, but I have this Ryan character in my way. I thought you would be the right man to tell me how to... dispose of him." "You have come to the right place. Come in here and let me teach you what you need to know." ~~~~~~~ "So all you do is just get the guy against her? And that's it? It seems so... so..." "Simple? It is. Really very easy if you ask me. Then again, I've been planning this ever since my breakup with Mandy. She's not the easiest person to fool, mind you.But once I pulled Matt into it... it was too easy. It all fell right into my hands." "And you think that I could pull this off with Nikki? I mean, she is gullible enough." "Just get the boyfriend involved, and victory is yours." "Ok, JC? The gullible comment was not neccessary there." JC ducked his head, and lightly kissed the top of her head, "Sorry, but you said to make it believable." Matt said nothing. He just sat on the bed, staring at Mandy in utter silence as she looked at the tape. Her eyes wandered to the tv where she had just seen the video. Glancing upward, she began to speak in a wavering voice. "Why... why didn't you just tell me?" Nikki stared at JC and jerked her head toward the door. They quietly made their exit, as Mandy continued to stare at Matt. "I didn't even want to see you. I couldn't look you in the eye. I don't even know why I believed him. I was weak, I was stupid.... I can't believe it. Mandy... please forgive me. You know how this guy works..." Mandy silenced him with one finger and gently pressed her lips against his. She closed her eyes and savored the moment. Pulling away, she glanced at the bedside table and her eyes flew open. "Matt... look at that newspaper. Who... who does that look like to you?" Matt gasped and snatched the tabloid up in his hands. "Do you think she's seen it?" ~~~~~~~ "JC, talk to me! You have to tell me what's wrong!" Nikki pleaded with JC and stared into his eyes. They were full of anger and hate. She could feel her heart start to break as he threw a piece of paper at her and stomped out of the room. Drying her eyes and looking down at the paper, Nikki let out a cry. "Oh no.... Oh my God, who... how did... JOEY!!" He came running into the room to find her in complete hysterics. He gathered her in his arms as she handed him the clipping. His jaw fell open as he looked at the picture and his eyes scanned the article, his mind drifting back. Joey and Nikki stepped out of the elevator, and continued laughing as they made their way to the cafeteria, "Good God Joe, you're a klutz!" "I know, I..." he tripped over the hallway rug, and Nikki was dragged down on top of him. "Oomph! You were saying Joey?" "You get the point." As they fell over each other, trying to get up, neither one saw the flashes, and they went on with their hysterics "Oh my God Nikki... I.. I can't believe... KYLE." Nikki thought back to Kyles't threats to ruin her life, and they only made her cry harder. "He's going to destroy us Joey, and there's nothing I can do to stop him." |