So, my other thread did that stupid locky-thingy that threads do sometimes. So I waited for it to come back, and it didn't, so here's the new one. I'm posting ALL the previous chapters here, then posting the new one. So this first post = uber-long.

The night was cold, wet, and dark. February weather had brought a veil of chill fog over the roads and the moon had shrouded itself behind a bank of dark clouds that promised another rain soon. It was almost midnight as the Jonas Brothers’ tour bus thundered down the highway, so it was quiet inside the bus. Nick lay in his bunk, Switchfoot thrumming through his headphones, while Joe typed lyrics into his laptop and Kevin tried to sleep. All three were in zones of tired relaxation.
    Suddenly, the world exploded. A huge impact slammed Joe and Kevin into the wall and threw Nick out of his bunk, sending him crashing to the floor. The hushed atmosphere was shattered by the sounds of squealing brakes, the crunch and screech of metal hitting metal with great force, and the screams of three terrified boys.
    In the blink of an eye, the night settled again. The quiet was deafening.

When Nick opened his eyes, all he saw was blackness. Slowly, it lightened to gray, and he realized he was staring at the carpet on the floor of the tour bus. Groaning, he tried to push himself up, but cried out as pain jolted through his left arm and throbbed.
    Someone said faintly, “Nick?”
    He knew the voice. “Yeah, Kev.”
    Kevin moaned. “Something hit us. Are you OK?”
    “I don’t know. My arm hurts bad.” His lip was split and swollen, too, he realized as he spoke. “You?”
    “My head is bleeding.” He paused. “Joe?”
    No answer.
    “Joe!”
    Slowly, Joe’s voice mumbled, “Wha-what happened?”
    “Something hit the bus,” Kevin answered in a voice tight with pain. “Tore a hole in the side, broke the windows.”
    Nick looked up and saw what Kevin was describing. The side of the tour bus was ripped open, mangled metal and cracked plastic sticking every which way. All the windows on that side of the bus were shattered, letting in the cloud-muffled light of the moon and stars.
    Shouts and sirens filled their ears suddenly. Nick heard a woman’s panicked voice, “Boys, are you OK? Boys, please answer me.”
    Mom! His parents had been in a car a little way behind them and would have seen the crash. Nick rolled over, shielding his left arm, and called hoarsely, “Mom? We’re here.”
    “Oh, thank God! Are you OK?”
    Nick was about to answer, but Joe’s voice came from the other side of the bus. “Mommy? Help me.” His voice quivered with desperation/
    A sense of dread filled Nick. Joe never acted like this. Something was really wrong with him. “Joe, where are you? I’ll come get you.”
    An unfamiliar man’s voice said, “No, son, stay right where you are. We’ll get you all out of there in just a minute.”
    The noise swelled. More sirens, engines rumbling, people shouting to each other, and the ruckus of men moving wreckage. Nick lay back and listened, trying to ignore the dull hum of pain in his arm. Kevin was quiet, but Nick heard him breathing. Joe was crying somewhere on the other side of the bus. All Nick wanted to do was get over there, hold his brother, help him. But he was thinking clearly enough to know the rescue worker was right. He could do more damage than help if he wasn’t careful.
    Finally, after what felt like hours, five rescue workers clambered through the hole in the tour bus and dropped to the floor near Nick. One stopped to talk to him while the others looked for Joe and Kevin in the dim light. “Hey, son, are you OK?”
    Nick said, “My arm hurts, but other than that I think I’m OK.” The man extended a hand and Nick stretched out his right arm to grab it. The motion underlined the fact that his muscles were battered and aching. He got to his feet with a  groan and steadied himself as his body adjusted to standing again. The rescuer looked him over. “Looks like you’re OK except the lip and your arm. The arm could be broken, so try not to move it. Here, let’s get you out of here.”
    “My brothers--”
    “Right there. They’re on their way out.” Nick looked over his shoulder as the worker helped him climb out of the wreckage of the bus. Another man was holding Kevin’s arm and leading him along. Kevin’s head was inclined to the ground, but Nick could see that there was blood--a lot of blood--on his face and shirt. He tried to remind himself that head wounds bled a lot but usually weren’t as serious as they looked.
    It was Joe that scared him. A burly rescue worker was carrying him, cradled in his arms like a baby. Eighteen-year-old, energetic Joe would never let someone carry him like that, never. As Nick’s feet hit the pavement, he said, “Joe! Joe, are you OK?”
    The rescue worker carrying him looked up and said, “He’s unconscious. But he’s breathing.”
    Nick felt tears burning his eyes. Just moments after the workers led him away from the bus, he was engulfed in a strong, protective hug as only a mother could give. He wrapped one arm around Denise but said in a tense voice, “Mom, careful, my left arm.”
    His mom pulled away and studied it. “Oh, honey. It’s broken, for sure.”
    Nick smiled, trying to put a light face on the situation. “Good thing I don’t need my hands to do aerials.” Then his smile faded. “Hey, Joe’s really hurt.”
    Denise’s eyes flicked around the scene until she saw Joe. Patting Nick on the shoulder, she took off running to her son, who was laid out on a stretcher. “What happened to him?”
    “Head trauma, possible neck injuries, various lacerations and burns. We need to get him to the hospital, ma’am.” By this time, a paramedic was examining Kevin’s injuries and Nick was being inspected while looking around, trying to figure out exactly what had happened.
    Several yards away, obviously dragged to where it sat, was a white cargo van with the entire front end destroyed. The damage meshed perfectly with the crater in the side of the tour bus. The van had hit them. From where? Nick saw a small road threading off the main one, just a hundred yards from them. The van must have come from there to hit them from the side--going way too fast.
    Then it occurred to him: what about the driver of the van? He looked around, then asked the paramedic working on bracing his arm. “Is the driver of the van OK?”
    All the man could tell him was, “He’s somewhere around here. Bad shape.”
    Nick felt sick, and not only from the wave of light-headedness the pain in his arm was sending through him. The EMT was putting his arm in a sling, which meant he had to move it around, and it didn’t feel good. Finally, the man stopped working and said, “You’re good for now. The arm’s broken and you’ll have to go to the hospital to get it permanently set, but we’ll wait until we can get another ambulance out here.” Nick looked up and saw Joe being loaded into the ambulance, his dad with him. Denise was hugging Kevin, who looked as if he was in better condition than it had originally appeared.
    A flash of bright white caught Nick’s eye and he looked up curiously. On the shoulder of the road, well removed from the frenzied activity going on around the bus and van, a girl in a long white dress was kneeling on the asphalt. Her hair was long and brilliant red, even in the dark, and she was huddled miserably, her arms wrapped around herself.
    Nick thanked the EMT and jogged towards the girl. When he was still several paces away, he heard her sobbing. He knelt beside her and hesitantly touched her arm. “Hey, are you OK?”
    Her head jerked up and he was met with the most intense pair of green eyes he had ever seen, set off into brilliance by the sparkle of tears and the contrast of her fiery hair. She stared at him wide-eyed, looking terrified, her face pale and blotched red from crying and her lips trembling.
    When she didn’t answer, he asked softly, “Were you in that van?”
    A hiccupping sob escaped her. “My dad… my dad…”
    Nick’s eyes widened as he realized. “Your dad was the driver?”
    She buried her face in her hands. “Oh, no, Daddy…”
    She looked so helpless, so alone and hurting, that Nick leaned forward and pulled her head against his shoulder, holding her awkwardly with his good arm. “Hey, it’s OK, it’s OK. Are you hurt?” She shook her head against his shoulder. “Good.” He didn’t know what to say to her. He had no idea if her dad was OK, or what was going to happen. He was still trying to process the fact that Joe was on the way to the emergency room and their tour bus lay battered on the side of the road.
    Instead of talking, he sat in silence, the cold seeping through the ground and numbing his legs, holding a girl whose name he didn’t even know, but who looked like a weeping goddess. She had to be freezing. Her dress was a halter with an open back, made of a light, silky material that the cold wind must have been gusting right through. He tried to shield her from the wind, putting his body against the it, and rubbed her back as she cried.
    After a few minutes, Kevin walked over. He shot a glance at the girl, looking confused, and said to Nick, “Hey, Mom said we need to get to the hospital in her car. You need your arm set, and they want to mess with my head, and Joe--I don’t know about Joe.”
    Nick glanced down at the girl still huddled against his chest. “Do you know anything about the driver of the van? His daughter.” He nodded at the girl.
    Kevin’s face froze into a grim look. “I--I don’t know. They’re putting him on an ambulance right now.” He looked at Nick, shook his head and mouthed, Not good.
    Nick bit his lip. “Can she come with us to the hospital? I don’t think she needs to be on the ambulance. It might be too tough on her.”
    Kevin nodded. “I’m sure Mom would be OK with that. Come on, though. We have to go now.”
    Nick bent his head to whisper to the girl leaning on his chest, “Hey, why don’t we go to the hospital now? They’re taking your dad there now.”
    She nodded. Kevin helped Nick to his feet, then took the girl’s hand. Nick watched him take in the fancy dress quizzically, but he didn’t say anything. Nick, too, was dying to find out why a girl who looked like a flame in an angel’s dress had been in a speeding cargo van at midnight.
    Mrs. Jonas acquiesced immediately to Nick’s request to take the girl with them. It was Denise who finally thought to ask, “What’s your name, honey?” The girl mumbled something. “Jenna?”
    “Kenna.” Nick filed that away. Unusual, pretty name. Kind of like the girl. Nick realized that in any other situation, he would be head over heels for this red headed beauty. But now… Joe was hurt, and who knew what was going on with her dad.
    They all piled into Mrs. Jonas’ car and made for the hospital as fast as they could.

At the hospital, things went by in a blur for Nick. His mom took care of everything, and he ended up in a hospital room with a doctor setting his broken arm in a very painful way. Kevin was somewhere down the hall with someone checking his head injury, but Nick had no idea where Kenna was, if her dad was OK, or if he would see her again. He didn’t even know where Joe was or how he was doing, although he knew his mom and dad were with him. He tried to think about what had happened, but his thoughts were repeatedly interrupted by the fact that the doctor kept doing things that made pain jolt through him. He felt like telling him to cut it out, but thought better of it. He was trying to help--but it sure didn’t feel like it.
    Eventually the doctor released him with strict instructions on how to care for his arm. “Your mom said to meet her in your brother’s room. It’s down the hall, to the left, room 705.”
    Nick hurried down the hall. Kevin was already there, a bandage on his forehead and a wrap on his wrist, standing next to his parents. They were all standing over Joe, who had his eyes closed and was laying in the bed, terribly still. Nick rushed to their sides and said, “How is he?”
    “Dead as a doornail,” said someone that, given the situation, should not have been speaking. “I am so dead.”
    Nick did a double take and looked down at Joe. His eyes were still closed, but he was grinning. One eye slit open slightly, then clenched shut when he saw Nick staring right at him. “Joe--I’m confused.”
    Joe laughed and opened his eyes, sitting up slowly. “I’m fine. Well, fine’s not the word. I’m… alive. And really sore.”
    Denise took pity on Nick. “He has a fractured skull and obviously a concussion, but it’s not too serious. They’re going to keep him overnight for observation, but you can tell how he’s feeling.”
    Joe grinned. “Eh, little spill never hurt anybody. Wait… I guess it did. But it never killed anybody. Hold on… yes, it did. Um… it never killed me. But it did hurt me.” He looked up at everyone standing around. “What? I missed out on talking while I was unconscious. I’m making up for it now by rambling. Besides, everybody looks all glum. I hate glum.”
    Nick had to laugh, then turned to see a nurse standing in the doorway, smiling. “Good to see you’re doing well, Joseph. Take it easy, though. That was quite a wreck you all had.”
    Nick had to ask, “How is the driver of the other vehicle?”
    The nurse’s lips tightened. “I--I’m not permitted to reveal patient information. But his daughter’s down the hall and could use a friend.” She gave him directions.
    Nick hurried there, leaving his family behind. He couldn’t get Kenna out of his head: her shocked tears, her brilliant eyes, that dress. He saw her the moment he turned the corner; her hair was like a beacon. But this was a different Kenna than the one crying on the side of the road. This girl sat stone-faced, green eyes blank, knuckles white from clutching the armrest of the chair.
    Nick sat down quietly beside her. “Hey. How’s your dad?”
    Kenna didn’t look at him, didn’t even move except to say, flatly, “Dead.”
    Nick’s planned words of comfort caught in his throat and tangled. “What?”
    “Dead. Too much alcohol in his system to handle his injuries. Three times the legal limit.” Though her face remained expressionless, her voice cold, a single tear wound down her pale cheek, over the curves of her lips, and down her chin.
    Nick gently brushed away the teardrop with his fingertip. “Kenna, I’m so sorry.”
    She made a sound somewhere between a wail and a groan and turned into his chest, her tough façade crumbling. Nick wrapped his right arm around her and rested his cheek on her silky red hair. Her hand gripped his arm as if she was holding on for her own life. He looked down and saw she wore a black leather bracelet with a silver charm. It looked familiar. If he was right… he tilted his head to see better. Yep. Engraved on the charm was a single word: JONAS.
    Official Jonas Brothers fan merchandise. As if this night could get any more interesting.
    Kenna fell asleep in Nick’s arms, worn out from crying. It was amazing how tragedy could throw complete strangers into such comfortably intimate moments, erasing awkwardness. Eventually, his family found him and he told them the grim news: the night had left them without a tour bus--and a young woman without a father.

They stayed at the hospital overnight with Joe, which made sense, since it was two in the morning by the time they could have left. By four AM, Nick fell asleep, Kenna in his embrace. By 6:30, the police wanted to speak to Kenna. Nick offered to leave her with them, but she said, “You can stay,“ the look in her eyes changing the statement to a plea. So he sat with her as the police questioned her.
    Did she remember the accident? “Yes, mostly.” Her haunted expression said she remembered in detail too vivid for her liking. Where had they been coming from? “From my best friend Madison’s birthday party, a couple minutes down the road.” She gave them the address and Madison’s parents’ names.
    Was she aware her father had been intoxicated? “Not when he picked me up. Once I got in--” her voice broke. “He wouldn’t stop and let me out.” She began crying, and Nick took her hand, his heart breaking for her. “He was going way too fast.”
    The police asked about the accident itself. What did she remember? “We were coming off the side road. We were probably going a hundred miles an hour, maybe faster. I was screaming at him to slow down. I saw headlights flash by, our lights hit something big in front of us, and there was a huge crash, like an explosion.” She flinched, remembering. “I think I might have blacked out for a second. I opened my eyes thinking the van was going to explode because the engine was hissing.  I called Dad but he didn’t answer and it was too dark to see him. I was afraid to move since I couldn’t see anything around me, so I just sat there thinking about what to do.” Nick could see that she had entered shock state, where nothing could affect her emotionally. “The rescue workers pulled me out after what felt like forever. When they could tell I wasn’t hurt, they left me alone. I saw them pull Dad out of the van--he was covered in blood.” The look on her face was flat and numb. “I just went over to the side of the road to get out of their way. Then Nick came along and we came here.”
    Nick knew he hadn’t told her his name, so she had certainly recognized him. Apparently, he still looked like himself in sweatpants and a UCLA hoodie.
    The police asked her a few more questions, then asked for next-of-kin information. Her face tightened and closed. “I don’t know. My grandmother’s phone number is in my computer and cell phone. My phone was in my purse and I think that’s in the van. I have an older brother somewhere but I don’t know where he is or how to get a hold of him. I’ve never met any other family.”
    The officer asked, “And your mo--”
    “Mom died six years ago.” In a low voice, she added, “Therefore, Dad was drunk.” She sighed. “Look, I’ll call my friend Mads and stay with her. I’ll get my grandmother’s number when I can get by my house. Her name is Emma O’Steen.”
    The officer said, “We’ll have to place you in a foster home. You’re only 15.”
    Kenna looked deadpan. “My friends’ parents are a licensed foster family. They have room and they’ll take me. They’ve done it before, they’ll do it again.”
    The officers had little choice but to agree. Nick, however, had other options. When the officers had left to file paperwork and contact Madison’s parents about taking Kenna, Nick said, “You’ve been in foster care before?”
    Kenna didn’t meet his eyes. “No. I just holed up with them for a few months while my dad was on his various rehab trips.”
    “Oh.” He changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood. “So, must have been some birthday party for you to be dressed up like that, huh?”
    It worked. Her expression lifted and she looked at him. “Yeah. It was Madison’s quinceañera. I was one of her damas.”
    Nick wasn’t sure what she had just said, but he was fairly certain she had just cursed at him. “Um--huh?”
    She actually laughed, though the sound was dull. “Quinceañera is a Spanish 15th birthday party. It’s a huge celebration. The girl gets to be a princess for the day and she has these seven damas--they’re kind of like ladies in waiting. Damas means ladies in Spanish.”
    “Oh. Cool.”
    “Yeah, she had this big dance.”
    Nick grinned and said, “So… did they play any of my songs?”
    She darted a quick, playful look at him. “Actually, we kind of played both your albums straight through, then a couple other CD’s, then some of yours again.”
    Nick laughed, flattered. “Nice. Big fans, huh?”
    She blushed. “If Mads saw you, she’d faint.”
    “But you’re as obsessed but more laid back.”
    She gave him a skeptical look and scoffed. “I’m a redhead. Laid-back is not the word.”
    “Less dramatic, then.”
    “Don’t count on it. I just wasn’t in the position to be star-struck when I met you.”
    He felt the heavy truth of those words. He was saved from answering when his phone, miraculously still in his pants pocket, vibrated. He slipped it out and glanced at the caller ID. “Ooh. Ex-girlfriend. Better take it.”
    “Bad thing?”
    “Well…” he considered. “No, but she’s probably terrified. This is probably all over the news by now.” He stood. “I’ll be right back. Hello?”
    Nick! Thank God! Are you OK? Your bus--”
    “Keiko, I’m fine. I broke my arm, but I’ll survive.”
    “Are you sure? They said you were taken by ambulance--”
    “Keiko, please breathe!” Her voice was remarkably calm, but she was like that. Her sheer panic was another girl’s slight anxiousness. “That wasn’t me in the ambulance; it was Joe, but he’s fine, too.” His call wait beeped. “Look, I have to go. I have another call.”
    “Nick, I love you. I love you so much. I want to be with you; I don’t care what happened. Ugh, when I saw the news…”
    “Stop, Keiko, please. I have to go.”
    She was in tears, so he knew she was terribly upset. It made his heart ache to hear her like that. “Promise we can talk later.”
    Unable to say no without betraying his conscience, he answered, “Fine. When this blows over. Bye.”
    “I love you. Bye.”
    He switched over to his other call. “Hello?”
    “Please tell me this is Nick and Kevin’s OK.”
    “Yes on both counts. Karlie?”
    There were tears shaking her voice. “Please--please tell Kevin I made a mistake. I never should have broken up with him.”
    “Um, you didn’t break up with him, Karlie, you cheated on him.”
    “And it was a mistake. Please. I need him. I thought I would die when I saw--oh, the footage they showed--please tell him I’m sorry.”
    Call wait beeped again. “I have another call. I’ll tell him, but don’t expect much.” Nick groaned as he hit the button to answer the other call. “Hello?”
    A frantic female voice came over the other line. “Nick! Oh, Nick, is Joe OK? He won’t answer his phone. Please, please tell me he’s OK!”
    Nick said, “Yeah, Niki, he’s OK. He has a fractured skull but he’s doing well. He probably lost his cell in the tour bus. We haven’t gotten our stuff off it yet. I can have him call you later.”
    “Yeah, please do. I’m so glad you answered.”
    “No problem. Actually, thank you for calling.”
    “Why?”
    “My last calls--never mind. It’s just nice to speak to someone’s current girlfriend.”
    He said goodbye to Niki, hung up, and told Kenna, “I have to get back to my family. Joe’s girlfriend called and I have to let him know he should call her. You can come with me with you want.” She nodded and got up.

    They walked to Joe’s room, where his family was all gathered. Joe was on the hospital phone. “No, Frankie, I’m not a zombie. Just Frankenstein. No, I’m fine. Tell Grandma I said I love her. Have a good day. I love you too, Tank man. Love you.” He hung up and looked at Nick. “Hey, wassup?”
    Nick raised his eyebrows. “Let’s see. My ex won’t stop saying she loves me.” He pointed at Kevin. “Your cheating girl is using me to tell you she’s sorry and needs you bad.” Kevin rolled his eyes and groaned, but Nick smiled. “But on the upside, Joe, your girlfriend knows you’re OK and really wants to talk to you.”
    “Sweet!” He snatched up the phone on his bedside table and punched in her number. “Niki? It’s me. Yeah. I love you.”
    Kenna, at Nick’s side, said, Is he the only one without annoying ex-girlfriends?”
    Nick scoffed. “Right. He’s got more exes than me and Kevin combined. His phone’s probably been buzzing all morning.” Then his face softened. “Keiko--my ex--she’s not really annoying. She’s just… hurt. And still in love. It wasn’t the easiest split. I kind of blew choosing a moment.”
    “Really? How bad?”
    Nick grimaced. “Picture this: New Year’s Eve, almost midnight, two days before her birthday, at a party she was hosting.”
    “Ouch.”
    “Oh, it gets better! She’d just given me this necklace with a key charm. It was supposed to be the key to her heart and she had a matching heart necklace. I’d been planning to break it off but didn’t know when to do it. Then I realized I couldn’t let it go any farther because she was moving way too fast with it. I barely had the necklace in my hands before I ended it.”
    “Yikes, double ouch.”
    “Did I mention all her friends were eavesdropping, so every one of them heard it?”
    Her jaw dropped and she laughed. “Triple ouch! But that part wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know they were there.”
    No, but it felt like my fault. Seriously, if you were her, would you blame me?”
    She considered. “Yeah. I’d pretty much hate you. But looking at it from this side, it was almost the merciful thing to do, instead of letting her get more attached to you.”
    “Well, thanks. So, any awkward exes for you?”
    She ticked them off on her fingers. “When I was four, I got caught kissing the pastor’s son behind the pulpit by the most gossipy lady in the church. He wasn’t exactly my boyfriend, but we still see some of each other, so it’s a little weird, in a funny way.” Nick laughed. “Oh, then there was the guy I married in the 3rd grade. Some random kid performed the ceremony, he kissed my cheek, we tied pieces of grass around our fingers for rings. Pretty awesome--and he’s my good friend now.” Ticking off the third finger, she said, “But the guy three years ago, when I was twelve… he takes the prize. We only ever talked on the phone, but he decided he was my boyfriend and he was in love with me, even though I barely knew him. He was the most hyper, insane guy--and so loud! He would just randomly scream things, blast your eardrum out. I could have an hour long conversation and contribute about ten words. Major chatterbox with attachment issues. When I ‘broke up’ with him, even though we had never officially dated, he called every day for a month, so I stopped answering when he called. He still calls every couple months.”
    “Whoa.” Nick was very much enjoying seeing her happy and talking. “He’s either really desperate or he realizes what I good thing he had.” He winked, tossing his curls out of his eyes. “I’m guessing the latter.”
    She flushed red, the blush obvious against the creamy paleness of her skin. “Thanks.” She sobered. “Hey, I should call Mads. The police probably already talked to her parents, but I should call her. Can I use your brother’s bedside phone when he’s done?”
    Nick whipped out his iPhone. “Use mine.”
    Kenna grinned. “I’m using Nick J’s iPhone.”
    Nick groaned playfully. “Don’t go gaga fan girl on me, now!” He joked, but he was serious. He really needed to not deal with fans right now. He needed to process what had happened, he needed to be with his family and with Joe, and he needed to support Kenna, not sign autographs.
    She winked at him as she dialed. “Hey, Mads? I--oh, you heard.” Her eyes welled up with tears and her face instantly turned down. “Yeah. Thanks. I love you, too. So, can your parents--good. Thanks. I need a ride, though. And I need to go by my house and get my stuff.” She blinked back her tears. “I’m still in my dress from last night. I’m filthy and I look like I just crawled out from under a rock.”
    Nick couldn’t help but snicker. If this was her after crawling from under a rock, he wasn’t sure he could handle her when she was looking decent. As she hung up, he asked, “So, they’re taking you?”
    “Yeah,” she smiled, with tears in her eyes. “They’ll take me. And her mom’s on the way to pick me up.”
    “Oh.” He felt his heart sink. He didn’t want her to go. He enjoyed her company, and, he realized, he felt like she needed him. He had spent the last twelve hours by her side, being there for her, holding her, supporting her. It had helped him subdue the weakness he felt in himself throughout the ordeal, and made him put things in perspective. Sure, his arm was broken, and it would affect his performances. Sure, Kevin had stitches, and sure, Joe had cracked his head. But they were breathing, recovering, thriving. They still had each other. They still had family. Here was Kenna, so beautiful, so lively, but so tortured. Her mother was long gone. This brother she didn’t even know just baffled him. It was obvious her issues with her father had plagued her for years. Now he was gone--practically the only family Kenna had. His heart was breaking for her.
    On impulse, he hugged her close.  “I’m so sorry,” he said, not knowing what else to say.
    She let him hug her, but as soon as he let her go, she stepped back. With an awkward smile, she said, “It’s OK. I’ve always handled myself. I lost a parent already. I can take this.” He heard the lie so clearly, but it was even more clear in those amazing eyes that he had better not call her out on it.
    She walked out of the room, and he didn’t follow. He could feel the closeness the last night and morning had built between them fading away. He sighed and settled in a seat by the door. Was I kidding myself? I did it again--threw my heart into something before I could see out the other side. Heck, before I even knew what I was throwing it into! I know nothing about this girl except--except something that draws me to her like crazy. I wouldn’t even ask her for more than friendship, but she’s pushing me away before I can even ask for that.
    Nick didn’t realize his head was in his hands until he heard someone settle down in front of him and had to look up to see who it was. Kevin knelt directly in front of him, looking straight in his eyes with a worried expression. “You OK, little bro?”
    Nick smiled sadly. “Yeah. Overwhelmed. Stupid.”
    Kevin shook his head, returning the smile. “Look, that girl needs you whether she wants to admit it or not. And I think you need her. I’ve never seen your face light up like that just by talking to someone, and usually you’re in a much less stressful situation. So don’t let her go. You would both regret it later.”
    Nick stared at Kevin. Then he huffed a laugh. “Do you just, like, read my mind? Did you implant a chip when I was born that just lets you catch everything I’m thinking?”
    Kevin grinned and mussed Nick’s already unruly curls. “No, dude. I’m five years older. I’ve lived it all already. Every expression on your face--I remember that look on my own face, so I know what it means. Every phrase--said it. Every emotion--felt it. Not in the same ways, but enough to catch the drift and know what to say. It’s called the older brother gift.”
    Nick laughed even though he could tell what Kevin was saying was serious. “So what do you younger brothers get?”
    “I’m beginning to think it’s procrastination. Are you going to go after her?”
    “And say what?” Nick asked incredulously.
    Kevin made a duh face. “Your phone number! Or something else that lets her know you don’t want to lose her. But don’t freak her out, dude. Stick with friendship right now. Now go!”
    Nick jumped out of his seat and saluted. “Aye-aye, Cap’n!” He dashed out of the room, wondering where Kenna would have gone.
    He didn’t need to look far. As usual, a flash of red caught his eye. There she was, huddled in a corner just a few yards away, her dress blending with the walls, her hair standing out, her shoulders shaking. He could hear her sobs and he instinctively went to her and rubbed her back.
    She spun away from him and stared at him, green eyes flashing. She opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it shut again. After hesitating a moment, she said tightly, “Nick, please just leave me alone.”
    Nick actually took a step back, her words hit him so hard. “Kenna, why? What--what did I do?”
    “Do? Nothing. Nick, I don’t even know you. You don’t know me. I could fill a page with facts about you, but I don’t really know you. And you hardly know anything about me at all. Why do you assume I should share everything with you?” Maybe she saw how much she hurt him. Her face softened slightly. “Nick, I just have to deal with this on my own. Sharing pain--it’s just not something I do. Maybe you’re used to pouring out your emotions in front of millions of people, but I’m not. I need to deal on my own.”
    Nick felt so sad for her at that moment. He pitied her desperately. “Kenna… that’s no way to live, hiding everything you feel.”
    “No way for you to live. For me, it works just fine. I’ve lived my whole life like that. It‘s an acquired skill.”
    “Kenna…”
    “No, Nick. Please--” her voice broke, and he realized she was desperately attempting to keep from crying in front of him. “Please, not right now. Talk to me later. Madison’s number is in your phone now, and I’ll be staying with her. Call me there sometime if you really want to talk to me. But right now, please, just leave me alone!” She turned into the corner again and he heard her gasping sobs.
    He so desperately wanted to reach out to her, take her in his arms, comfort her. But he knew, even though he was so sure it was what she needed, that she would reject him. It wasn’t what she wanted right now. So, with an agonized heart, he forced himself to turn and walk away.
    When he reentered Joe’s room, dejected, Kevin looked up. “What happened?”
    Nick shrugged, “Deep seated emotional issues, that’s all I can figure out.”
    “Well, imagine that,” Kevin said sarcastically. “Her dad just died. It’s unbelievable that she would be struggling emotionally at the moment.” He gave Nick a pointed look. “Were you expecting something else?”
    Nick growled in frustration. “Kevin, if mom or dad died, you’d cry, right?” Kevin nodded. “And wouldn’t you want someone to cry with? Someone to share your grief with?” Kevin nodded again. “I can’t imagine handling something like this on my own--but that’s how she wants it. She’s going to cry it all out on her own and probably tear herself apart doing it.”
    Kevin considered his words carefully, then said, “If that’s the way she’s used to dealing, maybe it’s best for her.”
    Nick only shot him a skeptical look and sighed, leaning back in his chair. “She told me I could call her with her friend’s number in a few days if I really wanted to talk to her. I think that was just a way to make me go away.” Then he glanced at Kevin. “You’re got girl problems, too, apparently. You should have heard Karlie.”
    Kevin groaned. “Did we have to bring this up?”
    Nick defended himself. “She keeps calling my phone! This isn’t the first time. When you don’t answer yours, she calls mine. I’d say it has become my problem.”
    “Look, I’m done with her. She just has to figure that out.”
    Nick rolled his eyes. “She doesn’t seem to get that. She’s still begging you to forgive her.”
    “I did forgive her. I just can’t be with her. She doesn’t understand that.”
    “Then call her. Talk to her.”
    Kevin shook his head violently. “Karlie cheated on me. With one of my closest friends. I’ve forgiven her, but that doesn’t stop the hurt. I don’t want to talk to her.” Then he pointed at Nick and stared intently at him. “And stop bringing up my girl issues to block out yours.” Nick only smiled guiltily.
   

By the time Nick wandered out of the hospital room an hour later, Kenna was gone. He could only assume she had been picked up by her friend and was on her way to her new home. He sighed, disappointed by the lack of bright red hair in his view. But he pulled out his phone and pulled up his outgoing calls. There was the number. He added it to his contacts under her name, even though it wasn‘t her phone.
    Later that day, just past lunchtime, Joe was released from the hospital. Their managers had arranged a temporary bus for them, not as nice as the first, much more cramped, but functional. They piled in an went to the yard where their tour bus had been taken after the accident. They spent several hours fishing their belongings out of the bus. The screen to Joe’s laptop was cracked, but otherwise undamaged, which was a good thing. There were a lot of lyrics and music notation on it. Actually, most of their possessions were jumbled and scattered, but unharmed. Their instruments, stored in the big carriers below the floor of the bus,  had been protected by their hard travel cases and the way they were packed in closely.
    Looking at the bus, a gaping hole ripped in the side of it, Nick realized how blessed they were to be here. Just a few feet closer to their bunks, and they could all have been dead. A few feet in the other direction, and their instruments could have been destroyed. He breathed a silent prayer of thanks, then tacked onto the end, And help me get close to Kenna. Help me figure out what I can do to heal her heart.
    His phone buzzed for the millionth time that day. He checked the ID, grinned, and picked up. “Hey, Corrine!”
    “Hey, Nick. You sound OK--does that mean none of you are dead?”
    Nick laughed. “Something tells me you wouldn’t phrase it that way if you hadn’t already heard that we’re all OK.”
    “Yeah. The news is reporting you’re OK. I just thought I would check. I’m worried about you guys.”
    “I’m fine, baby.” It was a nickname he, Joe, and Kevin had for Corinne, who had been one of their best friends for years. “We’re all OK. We’re working on getting our stuff out of the tour bus. I don’t think they’re going to be able to fix it.”
    A week went by.  All the Jonases, especially the three boys, did major damage control. Fan girls everywhere were panicking, so it took several television appearances and countless interviews to calm the frenzy. It was funny that Nick had the least serious injury, a broken arm as compared to Joe’s fractured skull and Kevin’s cut head and twisted wrist, yet he got the most attention. His injury was the most obvious. Joe’s wasn’t visible at all, and Kevin’s was a small bandage and a thin wrist wrap. Nick’s was a full-blown hard cast and a sling. And every fan wanted to sign it. It was the first time Nick got more autographs than he gave, and the first time fans had been remotely gentle while mobbing him. By the time things had calmed down somewhat, his formerly blue cast had become a mass of various colors of Sharpie. Girls’ names, phone numbers, and cute little hearts covered his arm. It was pretty flattering, actually.
    But a week and a half after the accident, Nick sat down, pulled out his iPhone, and flipped through the numbers until he came to one that said Kenna. His finger hovered over the Send button. If he made that call, what would happen? He was halfway across the country from her now, and well removed from the brief hours of closeness they had shared that night in the hospital. Still, he wanted to know how she was doing. After only a few more seconds of fighting with himself, he let his finger press the button.

Kenna was in Mads’ room with five other girls. It was sleepover night! The girls had organized the slumber party to get Kenna’s mind off everything that was happening. Year 3000 was pumping from Mads’ stereo and the girls were dancing around, head banging, their hair flying. Mads’ cell phone rang and she picked it up off the dresser. One of the girls, Pili, said, “If it’s that freaky guy from school, ignore it!”
    Mads shot her a playfully scolding look. “He’s not that freaky. But it’s a restricted number. Hey, Lindsey, can you pause the music?”
    Lindsey obeyed and Mads answered the phone. “Hello?”
    A guy’s deep voice said hesitantly, “Um, hi. Who is this?”
    “Uh… this is Madison. Who’s this?” She threw a look at the other girls that said, This is weird.
    “Oh, Madison, Kenna’s friend, right? I called to speak to her. This is the number she gave me. Um, sorry, this is Nick. Is she there?”
    Madison covered the receiver and said incredulously to Kenna, “Did you give some guy my cell number to get a hold of you? Somebody named Nick?”
    Kenna’s eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. There was a moment of silence as the room digested the information. Guy… calling Kenna… she’d just met the Jonas Brothers… guy’s name is Nick… They all came to the same conclusion at one. Madison screamed, “I’m on the phone with Nick Jonas!”
    “Ow!” Nick yelped reflexively as an earth-shattering scream reverberated in his ear. “Um, yeah. Hi. Is Kenna there?”
    The other girls were freaking out, but Kenna sat in stunned silence. He had really called her! She nodded. “I’ll take it, Mads.”
    Madison reluctantly handed over the phone. Kenna took it gingerly and said, “Hi?”
    Nick recognized her voice. “Hey, Kenna. This is Nick--as if you didn’t know that yet.”
    Kenna smiled. “Yeah. How’s everybody doing?”
    “We’re fine. I was more worried about you. Are you OK?”
    “Well, I’m still sore and I have some bruises, but--”
    “I meant… I meant are you dealing.”
    “Yeah. I always deal.” She felt her face close up along with her heart, and she motioned to Mads that she was going to take the call out of the room.
    As she closed the door behind her, Nick said, “Yeah, but… have you been sharing it with anybody?”
    Kenna sighed. “Are you still stuck on this? Look, I’m just fine with handling myself. I don’t need anybody’s support.”
    “Every building needs support beams.”
    “And I am my own support beams, OK?”
    His voice never changed in intensity, just stayed calm and cool, gentle. “Self-supporting structures don’t often stand for long.”
    It was his calmness that made it so irritating. “I’m no architect, Nick! But I know myself. I know I’m strong enough to handle this.”
    He sighed. “I just want to help you, Kenna.”
    She struggled to keep her heart from melting at the sound of her name off his lips. “Thanks for the offer. But no need. I appreciate your concern, I really do. But I have to do this on my own.”
    He was quiet for a moment, then seemed to make a decision. “OK. Fine. How is that going? The dealing?”
    Trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, she said, “It’s going.”
    “I’m sorry, Kenna. If there’s anything I can do, ever…”
    “I’m fine, Nick. But…” she smirked, thinking. “Actually--are your brothers there?”
    Nick hesitated, there was some noise from his end, then, “Yeah. Well, available. They’re in the next room.”
    “Do you think I could put you on speaker and have the three of you say hi to my friends? There’s, like, six of them in the other room and they’re all huge fans.”
    “Sure! Sure, no problem, for you.” Kenna heard him say, “Guys, come here. Kenna’s friends want to say hi.”
    Kenna walked back into the room, covered the receiver, and said to her excited friends, “Are you all sure you love me?” They all agreed enthusiastically. “Good, because that means… how would you like to talk to the Jonas Brothers on the phone?” Everyone squealed, shrieked, and practically fainted. She hit the phone’s speaker button. “Nick, are you there?”
    Nick’s cool voice said, “Yep, all three of us are.”
    The girls screamed, and Joe laughed. “Wow, you guys are louder than a bull sitting on a thumbtack!”
    Kevin said, “Uh, Joe, what? You’re such a loser.” Ever the one in charge, Kevin asked, “So girls, can we hear your names?” As the room exploded with noise, he said, “One at a time, ladies! We love you all.”
    Slowly, the girls went around the room. “I’m Mads.”
    “I’m Pili!”
    “Lindsey.”
    “Bri.”
    “Mandy.”
    “Rebecca!”
    Kenna added, “You know me.”
    “Nice to meet you all,” Joe said. “Who loves JB? Let me hear the love!”
    The girls cheered and when it calmed down, Kenna said, “You sure know how to work a crowd, even over the phone.”
    “I’m just awesome that way.”
    The guys talked to all the girls for a few more minutes, leaving every one of them starry-eyed. Lindsey, Pili, and Mads were the worst of them all. Lindsey had tears in her eyes.
    Kenna was calm, laughing at her friends. As she switched the phone off speaker and went back to Nick, she realized that it wasn’t as remarkable for her as it was for them. Something about the situation, the way she had seen their human vulnerability so clearly, made her realize they were just people. Sure, they were awesome, amazing people with wild skills and the best hair on the planet, but they were people all the same. She said to Nick, “Thanks for that.”
    “Anything. Hey, you know we’re doing a concert in your city in a week and a half, right?”
    “You’re still doing your shows? No breaks?”
    “Well, we had to cancel one, and guitar’s kind of off limits for me right now, but we’re still doing shows. So we’re going to be there--are you?”
    “I can’t afford tickets, and it‘s sold out anyway--”
    “Uh-uh. No way that’s stopping you. Hold on.” He hollered something, listened for an answer, then said, “I’ve got tickets for all your friends if you want them. Tell me how many you need. Oh, and backstage p*CENSORED*.”
    “Are you serious?” OK, strike the just human thing. He was a god. “No way.”
    “Serious. How many would you need? You and your friends.”
    “Well there are two girls who couldn’t make it tonight. So…nine? That’s a lot, maybe--”
    “It’s fine. I’ll have them left at the box office in your name. Kenna O’Steen, right?”
    “Yeah. Nick--thank you so much. Seriously.”
    She could hear how pleased he was with himself. “No problem. Let me give you my number, since it’ll just come up as restricted on the phone.” He gave her the number. “Call me if you need anything, OK?”
    “OK. Thanks for calling, Nick.”
    “My pleasure. Talk to you later.”
    She hung up, looked around at her friends, and said, “Cancel your plans for next Friday night.”

The next Friday, the girls got together right after school to get ready for the concert. There were a lot of them to pack into one bathroom, so they spread out and set up stations in Kenna’s and Mads’ rooms. Kenna’s room had the clothes station, where they went to change into their concert outfits. Mads’ room was hair, with a full-length mirror on the wall and curlers, straighteners, and crimping irons sprouting from outlets all over the room. The bathroom was the makeup room. So the house was filled with the sounds of nine primping girls: Kenna, Mads, Lindsey, Pili, Rebecca, Mandy, and Bri, plus the two girls who hadn’t been at the sleepover, Krista and Adri.
    Finally, after an hour and a half of frenzy, the girls were ready to go. They lined up and Mads’ mom took a picture of all of them together. Then they piled into Mandy’s little car and the minivan Pili had commandeered from her mom, Jonas Brothers CD’s pounding in both vehicles.
    At the concert hall, they joined the throngs of hyper and breathless fan girls and Kenna picked up the tickets and backstage p*CENSORED*. Rubber banded to them was a note: Hey Kenna, so glad you’re here. Come backstage right after the show. --NickJ
    The girls were excited about the concert, period. But their giddiness exploded when they saw that their seats were in a private box right off the stage! As the concert got started, the boys rose up through trapdoors in the stage. The first place Nick looked was the box where they sat. He saw them, waved, and blew a kiss before shaking his curly hair and exploding into the first words of “SOS”. He had a mic on a headset, hovering just in front of his mouth, since he only had one good arm and needed that for his acrobatics.
    It took barely half a song for Kenna to forget everything but being at this concert. She jumped, she cheered, she sang. Nick threw grins and winks her way and she screamed like any other fan girl. For those few minutes, Kenna didn’t feel her pain. She was whole and happy, not a single hurt in her soul.
    Until Nick, in the middle of “Burning Up”, ran to the box, looked directly into her eyes, and stretched out his hand to her. Suddenly Kenna was solidly back on earth, and she could see the emotion in his liquid chocolate eyes. She could see the way he pitied her, the way he wanted to help her, wanted her to share her heart.
    Her smile disappeared and she stepped back, putting her hands behind her back. Madison stretched her arm out and Nick clasped her hand instead, grinning and singing, “Burning up for you, baby.” Then he let go and darted a glance back at Kenna as he moved away. His eyes screamed sadness. She looked away and concentrated on watching Joe goof around as he sang the verse.
    Nick, as he unbuttoned his suit jacket to deafening screams, couldn’t keep his eyes off Kenna. She was gorgeous, completely stunning. Her red hair fell in loose, shining ringlets around her face, her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled green as new leaves. She wore a soft gray tunic dress and black leggings, plain colors that only emphasized her natural vivid coloring. She looked truly happy and so beautiful, and he couldn’t resist the urge to reach for her hand and sing straight to her.
    But when she didn’t take it--not only that, but backed away--his confidence shattered. He took another girl’s hand and sang, flirting, trying not to show the way his soul was reeling from Kenna’s blatant rejection. He hadn’t even pursued her as more than a friend, yet every attempt to get close to her was brutally shoved away. What was he doing wrong?
    After the concert, the girls all rushed backstage, past a guard who looked shocked to see so many backstage p*CENSORED* at once. Kenna had put the awkward moment during the concert out of her mind, so she was just as excited as the other girls. A stage hand pointed them to the boys’ dressing room, where Kenna knocked. The door burst open and Joe stood in the doorway, striking a macho pose. “Hel-lo ladies,” he said slowly, wiggling his eyebrows. “Come on in.”
    Surprisingly, no one screamed, only laughed. They had all managed to contain themselves. Joe hugged each of the girls as they came through, asking their names. Kevin caught them immediately after him, smiling brightly and thanking them for coming. Nick, beside Kevin, hugged everyone, saving Kenna for last. When he got to her, he didn’t meet her eyes and he was very hesitant. When Kenna reached out for a hug, he responded eagerly, smiling his beautiful smile, holding her as closely as he could with a cast. He seemed surprised, but she wasn’t going to refuse a hug from her all time favorite musician, even if his closeness intimidated her.
    They all sat on various surfaces around the dressing room--chairs, couches, tables, floors--and talked for a while. Pili glued herself to Kevin’s side, Lindsey to Joe’s, and Mads got as close as she could to Nick, who was trying to get close to Kenna. They discussed the show, outfits, ages, favorite bands (that was a flattering subject for the boys), and favorite foods.
    Finally, Nick asked, “So, where are you all headed after this?”
    Mads, glowing and hanging on Nick’s arm, answered, “Everybody’s coming home with me and Kenna. We’re getting pizza and hanging out. Some girls are sleeping over, a couple are just staying way late.”
    The boys exchanged glances, unspoken communication passing between them lightning-fast. Then Joe said, “What if we, like, came and hung with you? We’ll chip in on the pizza.”
    All nine girls stared. Then Mads breathed, “To my house?”
    “Yep,” said Kevin, “we’ll hang for a couple hours. You want to go now?”
    Nick glanced at Kenna at the same moment she looked up at him. Their gazes locked, hers troubled, his questioning. Kenna stood abruptly. “Excuse me, I’m going to the bathroom.”
    As she left, Nick rose just as quickly. “Gotta to make sure it’s OK with Dad.” Kevin started to argue, but Nick silenced him with a stern look.
    Kenna was just a few yards down the hallway, hand fisted, eyes glimmering with unshed tears, staring at the ceiling with her jaw set tightly. Quietly, Nick leaned against the wall beside her and said in a low voice, “What did I do?”
    Kenna whirled on him. “Why are you so intent on being in my life? OK, you’re a rock star and the tickets were awesome. But inviting yourself into my house? How many times do I have to tell you I don’t want your pity before you figure out I mean it? That it’s not just something to say?” She swallowed hard. “It’s not some terrible thing for me to shoulder my own pain. I’m strong enough. Girls can be tough, too, you know. I’ll recover.”
    Nick bowed his head and let her onslaught of words flow over him, eroding the defenses around his heart. When she finished, he paused, letting the silence linger, hearing her heavy breathing. Then, softly, he said, “I know you’ll heal, Kenna.” He looked up, locking eyes with her. “But I hate seeing you hurt.” He brushed his knuckles across her cheek in a feather light touch.
    Kenna’s eyes burned as her tears threatened to overflow. Her heart tightened, aching, crying out to let it all go, fall into him and let him hold her and comfort her like the night in the hospital two weeks before. But something in her froze in terror at that thought. Instead, she choked on a sob, lurched away from his touch and turned her back on him. She took a long, slow breath. Mentally, she locked all her frustrated and confused emotions towards Nick in the same iron cage where she put all her distressing feelings. They were entrapped with her anger and grief towards her father, the devastation of her mother’s death, the desperation of feeling alone.
    Then, calm and composed, she turned back to Nick. “If you want to come to Mads’ house tonight, fine. I’ll have fun. But if you’re doing it for me, don’t bother.” She sighed. “I’m not a mean or cold person. But when I saw I can do something, I can. When I want a subject left alone, I really mean it. I like you, Nick. You’re a great guy and a great friend. Respect my boundaries and I’ll be a good friend. That’s how everybody handles me. OK?”
    “OK,” Nick said, and hugged her. Inside, he screamed in frustration. He could see her need, but she wouldn’t let him near enough to do anything about it. She was like an injured dog, who needs help but snaps at the person who tries to help her. Usually there was a way to win the dog’s trust and get her to let you help her--but Nick had no idea what way that would be. As he held her, his face shrouded in her silky hair, he determined not to give up until he found it.

    As Kenna and Nick let each other go, the dressing room door opened and Kevin, Joe and all the girls poured out together. Nick immediately said, “Dad’s fine with it.”
    “Oh, no joke?” said Kevin, with just the faintest hint of sarcasm They had already okayed going out with the girls, even though they weren’t sure where it would be, before the concert. Nick glared.
    Between Kevin’s mom’s car, Pili’s commandeered minivan, and Mandy’s car, they got all twelve people into vehicles and drove the short distance to Madison’s house. Once there, they all crashed around the living room while Joe ordered pizza. “Yeah, we’ll take four extra large cheese pizzas, three extra large pepperoni, and two veggie. Hey, Mads, what’s your address?”
    Lindsey, still attached to his arm, gaped at him. “Nine? We usually only get four!”
    Joe grinned, repeated the address Mads yelled out, and winked at Lindsey. “Heck, I can eat a pizza and a half myself. It’s our treat; don’t worry about it.” Lindsey hardly heard him. She was too busy blushing and melting from his smile and wink.
    Soon the board games came out. Nick killed his opponents at a game of Sorry, Joe threw craziness into a long game of Monopoly, and Kevin lost Yahtzee terribly but had a good time doing it. Favoritism hummed in the room, even though it was wholly friendly. Nick had Mads, who seemed invisibly tied to him, on one side, and had placed himself next to Kenna on the other side. Adri sat across from them, beaming and talking to Nick.
    It was a good thing Joe had chosen to play Monopoly so there were more playing spots. He was fully surrounded. Lindsey was leaning against him on one side, while Bri joked with him on the other, and Krista and Mandy sat across from him, trying to catch his eye. He was, of course, enjoying the attention, but his mentioned his girlfriend, Niki, loudly and often.
    Kevin, meantime, was being annihilated by Pili and Rebecca. Yahtzee was not his game, and they were pros. After yet another bad turn, he groaned and put his head in his hands. “Oh, this is hopeless…”
    Pili put on a pouty face. “Aw, poor Kevy. He’s losing. I’m so sorry.” She put her arm around him.
    He leaned into her and said in a teary voice, “Thanks, Pili. Nice to know somebody feels sorry for me.”
    Pili sat up quickly, scoffed, and exclaimed, “Feel sorry for you? Hah! I just don’t want you to hate me when I crush you.” She squealed as he tickled her in revenge.
    There was a knock on the door and Adri jumped up. “That’s probably Tina--my older sister,” she explained. “She was going to come hang for a little bit, then take me home. I have an early morning tomorrow.” She went to answer the door. From the other room, she said, “Hey, Tina! Guess who’s in the other room?”
    A new voice said, “Hmm… Santa! No, wait… your friends!”
    Adri scoffed. “Well, new friends, sure.”
    There was a silence, a whisper, then the new voice--Tina--said in disbelief, “No way. Prove it!”
    Kevin grinned, jumped up, and slipped out of the room. From the living room, sprawled around the board games and grinning, the girls and remaining two listened as Kevin said, “Hey, you must be Tina, Adri’s sister! I’m Kevin Jonas--from the band, Jonas Brothers.”
    A moment later, Adri bounced back into the living room, followed by her sister and Kevin. Kenna and Mads shot each other wide-eyed glances over Nick, who looked back and forth between them. “You see--” Kenna started.
    “--what you see. Yeah.”
    Nick wrinkled his forehead and said, “See what?”
    Mads grinned. “What an absolutely amazing couple they make.”
    Nick looked up at the two standing in the doorway talking and did a double take. The two girls were right. Tina’s curly brown hair, slight stature, and big grin complemented Kevin so perfectly that they looked like a couple already. Then again, that might have had something to do with the sparkle in Kevin’s eyes that Nick knew very well. That was the I’m talking to an awesome girl and LOVING it look. Glancing at Kenna, he said, “You know, I think you’re right. We should look into this further.”
    Adri returned to the Sorry game quickly, but Tina headed over to Yahtzee with Kevin. They were in the middle of the game, so she didn’t jump in. Instead, the quartet at the Sorry game--Nick, Kenna, Mads, and now Adri, who had noticed the chemistry also--watched with interest as Tina sat cross-legged beside Kevin and took to leaning over his shoulder to give him advice on his game. They all noticed how, every time Tina leaned towards him, Kevin’s focus snapped completely off the game and onto her. His scores would have sunk even lower had Tina not given him some good tips.
    Finally, just past midnight, Joe stood up, unearthing himself from the pile of girls. “You know, we need to go. Dad will kill us if we’re not back to the bus soon. It was amazing hanging out with you.”
    Kevin, from the floor where he was reclining, head tilted in Tina’s direction, said, “Whoa, Joe, being all responsible. I don’t know, I’m liking it here.” He shot a glance at Tina and she blushed.
    “Adri and I should get going soon, too. I promised Mom by one.”
    Adri made a sad face. “We could stay another twenty minutes, then.” Tina agreed with a smile, then got up as Kevin did. “It was nice to meet you, Kevin. Sweet of you to spend some time with these girls.”
    Kevin grinned. “It was my pleasure, believe me.” He hugged her--a very long hug. “Hey, you mentioned your cell earlier--I never got to see what kind it was. Can I see it?”
    Tina looked confused. “It’s a really cheap, boring Verizon phone. Came with my plan--OK.” She handed it to him.
    He punched a few buttons, flipped the phone closed and tossed it back to her. “Sweet phone. Real quick new contact input option. Nice.” He winked.
    As Kevin flirted like a pro--a star struck pro--Nick debated how to say goodbye to Kenna. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her and end up leaving on a sour note. Then again, he didn’t want to stay distant and miss out on a chance to be close to her. He ended up hugging her close and saying, “Tonight was fun, Kenna. We should do it again.”
    He was thrilled when she nodded, smiling widely. “Definitely. That would be great.”
    Quietly, he said, “Well, I’m not leaving town until Sunday morning. Can I come hang out with you and Mads tomorrow?” He knew the two girls were very close and lived together, so you sort of got one with the other. Besides that, what better way to shoot down date status than to include her best friend in the deal?
    Kenna nodded again. “I think so. I have a meeting tomorrow night, but we could hang out during the day.”
    Nick smiled, his heart pounding wildly in excitement. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll come by about ten.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. To his delight, she leaned into it, then kissed his cheek in return.
    “Sure, ten. See you then.”
    He hugged Mads goodbye, and she kissed his cheek, so he felt compelled to do the same. She was a sweet girl, and he was so happy she was there for Kenna. If there was one person in the world Kenna was likely to have shared her heart with, it was Mads. The two were obviously very close.
    The Jonas boys headed out. As soon as the door shut behind them, every girl in the room was gathered around Tina. “Oh my gosh!” exclaimed Adri. “Kevin has the biggest crush on you!”
    Someone sang, “Awesome, amazing, crazy kind of crush on you…”
    Tina was blushing like crazy. “Look, girls,” she said, trying to sound controlled and mature, “he was just talking--”
    “And flirting like crazy, and you were flirting right back,” corrected Adri. “Little sis knows best.”
    Tina sighed and her eyes went starry. “He’s amazing, isn’t he?”
    As the girls gushed over that budding romance, Kenna pulled Mads off into the kitchen. “So… you and Nick,” she said casually.
    “What me and Nick?” Mads asked, looking confused, but blushing at the same time.
    “You’re head over heels for him.”
    Madison got suddenly serious. “Yeah, of course I like him, but, Kenna, he likes you.”
    Kenna, feeling very uncomfortable with that topic, said, “No. He feels guilty about what happened or something, I haven’t quite figured that out, and he tries to be friends with me to make up for it. But you--you’re so perfect for him. You’re so in love already, and I’m sure he likes you. I mean, you were next to him all night long, and he didn’t exactly protest.”
    Mads gave her a stern look. “That’s because he was too busy trying to get you to notice him to pay attention to me. Look, it’s cool with me. He likes you. I’m thrilled just to have met him. Go with it!”
    Kenna shook her head fiercely. “No! Look, Mads, I’m sure he likes you. I’m not interested in him like that. He and I have a hard enough time being friends without him trying to knock down every boundary I have in place. We couldn’t be more.”
    Mads looked away. “That’s just it, Kenna,” she said softly. “They’re not boundaries. They’re walls. And that‘s why he‘s so good for you.”
    Kenna felt herself get angry at Mads for the first time in a long time. “How would you know what I need? I can take care of myself, Madison! I don’t need him or anyone else.” She glared at her. “You like him. Don’t you dare back off because you think I need him--I don’t.” She turned and walked out of the kitchen, escaping to her room, where she tried valiantly to lock away all her emotions and bottle them deep inside. But there were getting to be so many of them--she wasn’t sure she could hold them for much longer.


The next day, Kenna and Mads were OK again. It was something they had learned to do. Kenna got angry, her red hair got the best of her, then they hugged a few hours later and all was forgiven. That was why they were such good friends, because Mads knew when to leave things alone. They said goodbye to the girls who had slept over and hurried to get ready for their time with Nick.
    When Nick arrived at exactly the stroke of ten, Kenna was ready and Mads was not. That was probably because Kenna had thrown on some decent clothes and a little chap stick, and Mads looked like she was getting ready for prom. Kenna answered the door, hugged Nick, and said, “Hey, Mads isn’t ready yet. Can I talk to you?”
    He agreed easily. Something in him trembled with hope. Could she have changed her mind, decided to let him into her soul? His hopes were dashed, however, as she asked plainly, “Do you like Mads?”
    He looked at her, confused, and answered, “Um, yeah, she’s real sweet. A great girl.”
    “So you really like her?”
    “She’s a good friend. What are you asking?”
    She huffed a sigh. “She likes you. Really likes you. You know that, right?”
    Nick remembered how the pretty, dark-haired girl had hung on his arm all night, how he had tried to pay attention to her while his mind was focused on Kenna. “Um--yeah.”
    “So…” Kenna grinned. “Ask her out.”
    Nick’s heart dropped straight out of his chest and down to his feet. His jaw dropped about that far, too, and he stuttered, “Wh-what? Why would--what do you mean?”
    She shrugged. “She likes you like crazy. Seriously, she adores you. You think she’s cool. You’d go well together. You always say you need somebody to lighten you up a little, and Mads is just crazy enough for you. Come on. Do it.” He shook his head in disbelief, and she said, “Please, Nick.”
    The sound of his name spoken by her voice made his heart pound and his stomach flip. Here he was falling more in love with her every day, as she asked him to ask out her best friend. He steeled himself. If this was what she wanted… maybe he could get her to trust him by doing it. Besides, Mads was sweet, amazing. She wasn’t Kenna--but maybe he could like her just as much. He nodded. “OK. OK, Kenna, I will.”
    Kenna squealed and hugged him. “Thank you! I’ll go see if she’s ready to go.” She went flying up the stairs.
    Nick fell back against the nearest wall, leaned his head against it, and groaned loudly.  Of all the things he had ever done--Broadway shows, touring, recording, interviews, dealing with fan girls--gaining this one girl’s trust was the hardest and most infuriating. But he couldn’t bring himself to give up.
    Mads and Kenna bounced down the stairs a few moments later. “So, Nick,” Kenna said, “what do you want to do?”
    He shrugged, his mind anywhere but on planning activities. “No idea. Maybe get some lunch, then hang out somewhere? Um, the mall or something?”
    Kenna and Mads looked at each other. “Well,” said Mads, “lunch sounds good, but aren’t you going to get recognized at the mall? And Ke--we don’t have much money to spend at the mall, anyway.”
    Nick grinned. “Well, I have plenty of money to spend on you two beautiful girls. I might get recognized, but it won’t be that big a deal. Come on, you know you want to.”
    Mads laughed. “Mall shopping with Nick J? Count me in!”
    Kenna said quietly, “I guess that’s good.” Nick shot her a worried look, but there wasn’t much he could do, so he didn’t say anything.
    They headed out, jumping in the cab Nick had held for them. First they picked up an early lunch at an Italian place nearby, which Nick paid for despite the girls’ protests. Then they headed to the mall.
    Nick insisted the girls hit their favorite stores, so they headed to Forever 21 first. Mads had a great time shopping, finding a couple of dresses and some jeans. Kenna helped her shop, but Nick noticed she didn’t pick up a single thing for herself. She glanced at a few things, but didn’t even take them off the rack. He frowned. There were definitely clothes she would like in here. He had seen her wear several similar styles to the ones in the store. Then he realized what the problem was. He had offered to pay, which meant the last thing she wanted to do was choose anything. That would mean using his help, and she hated needing anyone but herself.
    So, slipping into sly mode, he watched her subtly as she went around the store with Mads. He saw her hands drift over a silky black dress with gold accents, before she turned away from it quickly. She wandered around the store again, exclaiming over the shirt Mads was holding, before returning to the dress, holding it against herself, then putting it back guiltily. Another round of the racks, and she was back to it, fingering it gently. She wanted the dress, he could see it, and he knew how stunning it would look on her
    He pulled Mads aside. “Would you convince Kenna to try on that dress she keeps looking at? I mean, tell her it’s just for fun, because--”
    “Because she won’t do it otherwise.” She gave him an impressed look. “Very good, Sherlock. Most guys wouldn’t notice little hints like that, especially since she’s trying to hide it. I’ll try to get her to try it on--no promises.”
    Nick hovered and listened. Kenna was once again looking at the dress, stroking her hands over it, and Mads strolled over to her. “That’s cute. You should try it on!”
    Kenna’s hand withdrew from the dress instantly. She shook her head. “No, it’s OK. I’m not getting it anyway.”
    Mads scoffed. “Since when do you have to buy something because you try it on? Just try it for fun. It’ll look good on you.”
    “No, I--OK.” A look from Mads prompted her to agree. Nick cheered silently.
    “Good. That one’s even your size. Go put it on--and you had better come out and show us!”
    Reluctantly, but carrying the dress fondly, Kenna disappeared into a dressing room. Mads flashed a thumbs up at Nick, who beckoned her over. “Thanks.”
    “No problem.”
    “Hey… can I ask you something?”
    “You just did. No, seriously, sure--anything.”
    Nick took a deep breath and braced himself. “Are you doing anything tonight?”
    “Kenna has a meeting.”
    “No, I meant just you. Do you want to go out to dinner with me?”
    Mads was speechless for several long moments. “Um… as in…”
    Now that Nick had gotten himself into, he just went with it. “On a date with me. Someplace nice.”
    Mads smiled, took a deep, slow breath, and nodded. “OK. Sure. I mean, of course! I would--I would love to.”
    Nick smiled. “Cool. Can I pick you up at, like, seven tonight?”
    The look on Mads’ face changed slightly, and she looked at him carefully. “Uh--uh, yeah, sure.”
    Just then, the dressing room door cracked open and Kenna said, “I tried it.”
    “Well, let me see it, already!” Mads turned to the barely open door, brushing her fingers across the back of Nick’s hand. “Come on out.”
    Kenna stepped out slowly from behind the door. Nick felt the slight tingle left by the touch of Mads’ fingers disappear in light of the fact that it was suddenly hard to breathe. The dress fit like it was made for her. It was even more amazing than he thought it would be. She was even playing around with it. She pulled her hair up on top of her head and did a little dance step. “So…?”
    Mads was staring, mouth open. “Wow! Kenna, it’s beautiful! It’s perfect.”
    Nick nodded, his tongue in knots. “Um--yeah, uh--wow.”
    Kenna, for the first time since stepping out of the dressing room, met Nick’s eyes. Almost instantly, her shoulders drew up defensively, her smile disappeared, and her posture became shy and withdrawn. She stumbled over herself and finally came up with, “I should--I’m going to change. Because I’m a little cold, actually.” She rubbed her bare arms. She turned and disappeared into the dressing room.
    Mads turned around and looked at Nick. Together, they said, “She’s getting it.” After laughing, Nick said, “Yeah, but there’s no way we can tell her that. So don’t say anything; I’ll take care of it.”
    Mads grinned. “Good. She needs it.”
    Nick knew she wasn’t talking about needing a new dress for her wardrobe. Clearing his throat, he asked softly, “How is she? Really. She won’t talk to me.”
    Mads closed her eyes and sighed. “You’re not the only one. She’s… well, I don’t think she’s doing so well. She won’t--”
    “Share. With anybody, right? I thought maybe with you.”
    “No. Maybe a little more than with most, since we kind of live together, but--”
    “You’re her best friend! Doesn’t that mean she trusts you?”
    Mads looked down. “No. Yes, but no. She trusts me to know when to leave her alone. She’s great at being there for other people, but--” Kenna stepped out of the dressing room holding the dress, in her jeans and sweater. Mads snapped her mouth shut, whispered, “We’ll talk tonight,” and looked back at her friend. “Hey, if you’re done here, I thought we should go check out that jewelry store next door.”
    Kenna laughed, hanging the dress on the rejects rack, and agreed, but Nick saw how her hand lingered on the skirt of the dress. He took the shirt and jeans Mads had chosen and said, “Hey, you two go ahead, I’ll get this, and I’ll catch up.”
    They agreed and headed out. Nick waited until they walked out, then slipped the dress off the rack and onto his arm. He headed for the checkout. When he got there, the lady said, “Real sweet. Birthday present for your girlfriend?”
    Nick swallowed hard. “Um, no. Just a friend.”
    “Oh, sorry. You’re cute together, though.” Nick tried to smile. Date that night with Mads, who he really wanted to like. She was sweet, fun, just hyper enough for him to handle, beautiful, and he loved how she was so committed to Kenna.
    And everything, everything, came back to Kenna eventually.
    At the jewelry store, Nick watched Kenna again. Mads wasn’t shy about saying what she wanted, but not being excessive, just choosing a thing or two and asking if it was OK. Kenna, on the other hand, was obviously as shy with jewelry as with clothes. Nick saw exactly the situation here as he had in the clothing joint next door. Her hands and eyes lingered on a gold and onyx necklace and earring set, drifted away, and returned moments later. And once again, Nick played the situation, sending the girls out of the store and on their way to the Starbuck across the hall, then slipping the jewelry in with the things Mads had asked him to get for her. It wasn’t until they were sitting at Starbucks, drinking their lattes, talking, and laughing, that Nick realized he had no way to give the dress and jewelry to her without her freaking out.


    Later that afternoon, Nick took the girls home and reminded Mads that he would be back at seven to pick her up. Kenna heard him and sent him a pleased, thankful look. He smiled at her, his heart trembling with insecurity. He had no idea what to do. He liked Mads, he really did. Under different circumstances, he could have been very interested in her. But Kenna threw a wrench into things--she kept doing that. Still, this was what Kenna wanted, and maybe he could lose himself in Mads‘ company.
    With that thought in mind, he went all out for that night. He hired a car instead of catching a cab, and made last minute reservations at a nice restaurant in town. He dressed up in one of his typical suit jacket with rolled up sleeves looks, despite the fact that his broken arm threw off the picture. When he picked Madison up, he definitely caught his breath. She was beautiful. He helped her into the car, and they went to dinner. She was flattered by everything, mentioning several times how unbelievable it was that she was on a date with Nick Jonas. He grinned and accepted the compliment.
    While at their dinner table, they talked about a variety of things and had a great time. Then, at a lull in the conversation, Mads leaned forward. “Nick, tell me something, and be completely honest.” Nick nodded, his face serious, and she said, “Did Kenna put you up to this?”
    Nick stumbled over his words. “Um--Madison, I--” At a stern look from her, he said, “Yeah. Yeah, she did, but listen, I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t liked you already. You’re amazing.” He saw the angry look on her face and said, “I’m sorry. Forgive me.”
    She glanced at the table and smiled tightly. “I’m not angry with you. This is still cool. I’m mad at Kenna. I told her not to do this. She--ugh.”
    Nick felt guilty. “Look, Kenna just wanted to make you happy.”
    “No, she didn’t,” Mads said quietly. “That was part of it, sure. But she’s just trying to keep you from getting near her.”
    Nick felt the sting of those words in the deepest part of his heart. “Yeah, OK, if you’re not mad about the date, then let’s please talk about this. Why is she so intent on keeping me away?”
    “Because she needs you, Nick. And just like everything else she needs, she‘s terrified of you.”
    Nick was completely confused. “Maybe you should explain yourself a little more.”
    Sighing and sipping at her water, Mads said, “I don’t know how much of this she has told you, but you need to know, so I’m going to go ahead. Look, Kenna is afraid of letting anyone get close to her, and she’s afraid to get close to anyone, because every single person she has loved has let her down or hurt her. Between her dad, her mom, her older brother, her younger brother--”
    “Wait, younger brother? I knew about the older one.”
    “Yeah, this is one of those things I  feel like she should tell you instead of me, but here goes. Her mother died six years ago. She died in childbirth, and so did the baby. Neither one made it. Kenna was nine. She loved that baby. I remember--we were friends even then--how excited she was for the new baby brother she was going to have. Then the baby she loved so much disappeared and took her mother with him. Her dad started to drink after that and her brother, Jamie, left as soon as he turned eighteen, which was a huge blow to Kenna. Then this, with her dad… she’s been shattered over and over again. Bottom line is, she’s scared to love and scared to be loved. She’s scared to need anyone, but she’s doesn’t mind being needed. I hardly know what to do with her anymore.” She looked at Nick pointedly. “That’s why she needs you. I can see how much you care about her. I want to see her happy. I want to see her share her pain with someone other than me. The only reason I know so much is because I grew up with her. She needs to really tell someone everything, let it all go, and trust. You can be that person. I see how you--well, you love her, don’t you?”
    Nick stared at Mads, his heart brimming with emotion, before nodding faintly. “I do.” As he said it, he knew it was true.  He had fallen in love with the broken angel with the fiery hair, and his heart felt empty right now because she wanted nothing to do with him. Oh, but he loved her. “I really do.”
    “Then get her, Nick. Figure it out. Something’s got to work.”
    “Any hints?”
    “Um… don’t move fast. That means you don’t try to be sweet and romantic and surprise her with a kiss, because you’ll probably have a fat lip for a week for your trouble. Don’t tell her you love her, because that will just scare her. Show her instead.” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “And whatever you do, don’t let her down, Nick. If she starts to care for you, which I think she already has, and you run out on her, you could shatter whatever’s left of her heart. Decide now if you’re in or out, and don’t go back on that decision.”
    Nick’s heart made his decision long before his mind could. “I’m in. I am so in.”
    He took Mads home after several long hours. When he dropped her off at the door and decided he should skip seeing Kenna that night, he debated the best way to say goodbye to Mads. A hug seemed so informal, so casual, for the seriousness of the bond they had now. They were united in saving a young woman’s heart from a lifetime of destruction and desolation, and it had made them fast and close friends.
    He leaned in and kissed her cheek, just at the corner of her mouth. “One day, a guy is going to be really lucky to have you, Mads. You love so strong. He’ll be so blessed.” She blushed and he hugged her. “Goodnight.”
    “Night, Nick.”
    He slipped into the car.

Across town, Joe talked to Niki on the phone. “Hey, baby. I miss you so much.”
    “Good. You’d better.”
    “Seriously. I have these rabid fans all over me lately. I miss you being so unpredictable.”
    She laughed. “You mean you miss me being hot and cold. I know how it is.”
    “Really? Explain,” he challenged, knowing full well she knew but wanting her to say it.
    “Well, since I can never make up my mind about stuff, I’m always sending mixed messages. Then you get all confused and have to work hard to get my attention. Some guys would get frustrated, but you--”
    “Love the chase,” Joe continued with a smirk. “Yep. And I know, in the end, you still adore me.”
    “Of course, but unlike fans, I make you work for it!”
    “Well, speaking of the chase, do I have to chase you down to convince you to come to our next show? I have a cross country ticket just waiting for you.”
    “You’d have to chase me to keep me from coming.”
    “No chasing, then. Sweet! I love you, baby. I miss you.”
    “Me, too. Here’s a kiss.” She made a kiss sound, then said, “I have to baby sit, so I have to go. Love you.”
    “Bye, X’s and O’s!” Joe hung up and cheered, sounding completely stupid, but not caring, because he was alone in the tour bus.
    At least he thought he was until he heard someone snicker and Kevin peered out from his bunk. “Ha. You’re a geek.”
    Joe made an indignant face. “For being excited about my girl coming to see me put on a show? That’s not geeky! You don’t even have a girlfriend.”
    Kevin looked offended. “Do too!”
    “Oh, really? Who? And if you say it’s Karlie, I’ll murder you.”
    “No, no! It’s… um… this girl… It’s Tina! That girl from Kenna’s after concert bash.”
    “Right. That’s your girlfriend? Who you haven’t even talked to since?”
    “You don’t know that. I could have called while you weren’t around.”
    “I know it.”
    “How?”
    Joe slid out of his bunk, slipped his shoes on, and walked to the door of the tour bus before declaring loudly, “I snooped on your phone.”
    He had planned well, but even so, he hardly managed to be out the door before Kevin followed close on his tail, roaring, “You touched my phone?”
    Kevin didn’t call Tina that night, but once Joe was sufficiently pummeled, he decided he needed to. Hey, she was sweet, and he really liked her. He just needed to find the courage and the time to ask her out. He prayed she would say yes as he carelessly tossed the fake-sniffling Joe an ice pack for the knot on the back of his head. That was what Joe got for messing with his phone!
   
The next morning, Kevin woke up, stretched, yanked his hands through his hair, and looked over to see Nick and Joe sound asleep in their respective bunks. Joe was still in his clothes, holding a melted ice pack in his hands, his mouth hanging open. Kevin laughed quietly. Nick, since he slept so often and in the weirdest places, had mastered the art of looking angelic and peaceful in his sleep.
    Kevin slipped out of bed and grabbed his phone. He had gotten Tina’s number out of her phone that night after the concert and plugged it into his contacts shortly afterwards. He wanted to call her, but he was sure it was too early. It was just past eight in the morning. For him it was late, one of the few mornings he was able to sleep in. But for normal people… he put his phone in his pocket and sighed. Later.
    Instead, he left a note on the counter and told the other boys he was going out to breakfast somewhere. He threw on a hat, a scarf, and some sungl*CENSORED* and headed out the door. He really didn’t know where he was going, he just felt like having breakfast and getting away from it all for a while. He ended up in a little diner that smelled amazing and wasn’t too crowded. After he was seated, his waitress came over. “What can I get you?”
    Kevin looked up with a smile and froze. “Tina?”
    She wrinkled her brow. “Um, yeah. Do I--” He pulled off his hat and sungl*CENSORED*. “Oh! Kevin!”
    Kevin grinned broadly. How perfect was this? “I didn’t know you worked here.”
    “Yeah, we never talked about that. Nice to see you.”
    He knew the blush creeping up her cheeks wasn’t just his imagination. “So, come here, give me a hug!” He stood up and hugged her, grinning.
    She hugged him, then said, “So, what’s for breakfast?”
    “Orange juice, and I was thinking the French toast. Double order. But only if you’ll go to lunch with me.”
    She quickly masked a shocked look and answered with a flirty grin, “Double order of French toast, coming right up!” He winked at her as she walked away.
    His stomach buzzed with excitement. He pulled out his phone and texted his good friend Corrine. Hey Cor, remember Tina, the grl I met? Just ran in2 her @ breakfast. Fate?
    Seconds later his phone buzzed. U asked her out, rite?
    Yep. She said yes.
    Fate, was the only answer he got back. He grinned and put his phone away as Tina brought his drink. He took it from her hand, purposefully brushing his fingers against hers and aware of the shivers it sent through him.
    He watched her as she walked away, waited other tables, ran back into the kitchen, brought out orders, bussed tables, set out silverware. His eyes followed her all around the restaurant, and she knew he was looking. She kept glancing his way, catching him staring, and going bright red as she hurriedly looked away. He only chuckled when she did, and kept watching.
    Eventually she brought his food. He said simply, “Thank you,” and watched her blush. Yes. He had her wrapped around his little finger. He cheered inwardly, but on the outside smiled at her and winked again. “So, when do you get off?”
    “Eleven thirty,” she answered.
    “Perfect. Lunch it is. What’s your favorite restaurant around here?”
    She thought. “What if I surprise you?”
    Caught off guard, Kevin stammered, “Um--OK. Sure. Whatever.”
    She grinned. “How many different ways are you going to agree?” She leaned forward, brushed a finger along his chin and said, “Eat your breakfast.”
    As she sashayed away, Kevin put a hand to his tingling chin and shook his head in amazement. And he thought he had her wrapped around his finger. It was shaping up to be the other way around.

When Nick woke up, he stumbled out of bed, got something to eat, and sat down thinking about Kenna. He needed a way to get her gifts to her, the dress and jewelry still sitting in a bag at the end of his bed. He didn’t want to scare her away. He certainly couldn’t give them anonymously. She would know Mads hadn’t done it which would leave him as the only culprit. He couldn’t come up with some elaborate scheme because she would know he had put too much effort into it.
    Finally, he decided on the simplest way possible: he was just going to give them to her. He got up and got dressed, realizing he was putting a lot of effort into his appearance. He hardly wanted to step out of the bus until his hair was perfect. Gosh, I feel like Joe, he thought, before grabbing the bag with the dress and jewelry and heading out the door.
    He caught a cab to Kenna’s house. As he started walking up her drive, he realized he was terrified. He didn’t want to push her away. She was already so far away it made his heart ache. He knocked on the door, the bag hanging from the cast on his arm, and waited. Mads’ mom opened the door and told him that Kenna was upstairs with Mads. “Kenna? Someone to see you, hon!” She invited him in.
    “Coming!” A thrill went through Nick just hearing her voice. He stepped through the door and closed it behind him, waiting in the foyer.
    Kenna bounded down the stairs with a  clatter. She was in dark purple pajama pants with white butterflies on them, and a white tank. Her hair was pulled up in loose side ponytail. “Who is it?” She turned and saw Nick, and her face froze. “Oh--Nick! I-I didn’t know you were coming.”
    He smiled, his stomach in knots from how gorgeous she looked without even trying. “I know. I forgot to give you something yesterday. Here.”
    She took the bag from him curiously and peeked inside. She gasped, blushed, and then her face closed. “Nick, why would you do that?”
    “Because you liked them. Mads got stuff, so you should too.” He felt his heart sink. She looked upset.
    She said sternly, “Nick, you--” then she snapped mouth shut, her eyes welled up, and she said, “Thank you. Thank you so much.” And, for one of the first times, she hugged him of her own initiative.
    He hugged her back, his heart pounding, his mind spinning with joy, and his entire body aching to kiss her. He remembered what Mads had said and carefully controlled himself, but it was so tempting. He could smell her, she smelled like strawberries and vanilla.
     Far too soon, she pulled away. “This really means a lot to me, Nick. Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome,” was all he could think to say. Then he added, “You could wear it to our next concert.”
    “But your next concert is four hours from here.”
    He shrugged. “So? We’re leaving tonight, so you could ride with us on the tour bus, stay in a hotel tonight, th