"Yeah, you're just playing games right?" Kevin asked.
Brian looked at his friends. Then at Leigh Anne, "No, guys this isn't a joke."
"But I thought you guys were going to marry each other?" Aaron asked.
"Aaron, what made you think that?" Legih Anne asked. Brian looked at her hurt. Leigh Anne noticed this and quickly replied, "Well, Brian and I decided that we should see other people."
Brian continued to look at her speechless. 'No, YOU wanted to see new people,' was what he was thinking, but he didn't want to make a scene.
"Are you sure you guys think that's best for you?" asked Howie, "I thought you guys were very much in love. With our busy scheduale and touring, Brian, you had the decency to actually keep a girlfriend for two years," he continued, "I'm sure I can speak for all of us, we truly thought you two were going to get married."
"Yeah, Howie's right! It's sad to see you guys break up. When did this happen?" Kevin asked.
"A couple of weeks ago." Leigh Anne piped in.
"And you never told us, Brian?" Nick asked.
"No wonder you've been acting so strange!" Kevin piped in.
"I didn't know how. You guys all treat Leigh Anne like she was your sister and I didn't want to break your hearts with the news, I couldn't bring myself to telling you." Brian looked down to the ground.
Leigh Anne looked at Brian's eyes, he was ready to cry. Leigh Anne knew he was right, it would've been hard for him to tell his friends alone. She was the one who cheated on him, she was the one who pushed him away and she was the one who broke it off when he wanted to work things out. Leigh Anne embraced her ex-boyfriend and she felt a tear roll down her cheek. She whispered into his ear, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
Brian looked at her and returned the hug. "Don't worry Leigh Anne, we're in this together. It takes two to make a relationship work and I guess we're better off as friends." he said regretting his words. He still loved her.
Everyone looked at the two shocked, but happy that they still agreed to be friends. Dawn whispered to Aaron, "Now we can get Brian and Karen together." Aaron just looked at her with doubtful eyes. He couldn't bring himself to tell her what he saw earlier that day. But he had to, soon!
"Wow, what a day this turned out to be," A.J. said to Amanda.
"I didn't know." Amanda still in shock. "Does this mean that Leigh Anne...is leaving?"
Leigh Anne heard her words and she turned to her friend. "No I'm not leaving. I'll still be here, just as Brian's FRIEND! Right, Brian?" she asked weakly hoping he would back her up.
"Yeah, as FRIENDS," he said holding her hand to show everyone he wasn't lying.
"Okay, let's eat!" Kevin said trying to take off some tension.
"Finally!" Nick replied. He walked over to Brian, "Hey are you okay?"
"Yeah, I feel much better now that you guys know."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Nick asked.
"Maybe later." Brian said. "When everyone leaves."
"Okay, promise?"
"Yeah," Brian smiled.
Two hours later, everyone was still talking and enjoying themselves. Karen had gotten up and was in her room looking out the window. She saw everyone having a great time. 'Maybe Theresa's right, maybe I am a burden. Look at them their having such a great time. I just cause trouble whenever I'm around.' A tear rolled down her cheek. 'But I promised Nick I wouldn't leave and Brian.. he's done so much for me, I can't leave him after what he's been through with Leigh Anne, he needs me by his side, like he was by my side at my stage of vulnerability.' She paced around her room and walked towards her closet. 'I musn't be so down. I have to prove to everyone that this isn't getting to me, that I can take criticism, even if it's from that bitch.' she angered. 'God, she just makes me so mad. I can't believe she had the nerve to yell at me in front of everyone like that.' She looked into her closet and pulled out a stunning blue spaghetti strapped dress. 'I'm not going to let her or anyone else get to me.' she thought in confidence.
She put on the dress and sat down in front of her dresser. She pulled up her hair and put in a lovely bun. She put some make up on to cover up her puffy eyes from crying. And she put a dab of Polo Sport on her neck. As she got up to go down to the backyard, Brian was standing at her door.
"Hi..." he said. He was looking her over. 'Wow, she looks gorgeous in that dress.' He smiled. "I DO have good taste don't I?"
Karen just smiled.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, refreshing, I was just about to come downstairs to join you guys." Karen said.
"Are you sure? Theresa's still here."
"I'm positive, I'm not going to let her ruin the rest of my day." she said in confidence. "I'm going to have the best time of my life, like you taught me Brian."
He looked at her in awe. "Well, I'm glad I have such an influence over you," Brian joked. All of a sudden he got a serious look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Karen wondered.
"Leigh Anne and I told everyone else about our break up."
"You did? Did you tell them why?"
"Yeah, we did. We just told them that we agreed to see other people. I didn't want to hurt them by telling them about Jordan. It'll crush their hearts." Brian said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Karen walked over to him and gave him a hug. "I'm here for you." she whispered.
He smelled the scent of Polo Sport on her. "Thanks, Karen. I needed to know that." Brian smiled slowly. He put his hands on her cheeks. "You really are a good friend." he gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you for that. Now let's go join the others." He grabbed her hand and headed downstairs. "I know Nick will flip when he sees you."
"Wait," Karen stopped in her steps. "What do you mean by that?"
Brian turned around and looked at her. "He really likes you, Karen."
"I know he does, but.." she paused.
"But what?"
"Oh nothing, let's go get some food. I'm hungry." she said.
"Alright, let's go!" Brian said.
As the two headed downstairs and into the backyard, Theresa was leaning on Travis as they were sitting under a tree. They had sat there for quite awhile. "Travis?" Theresa said trying to get his attention.
"Yeah." Travis replied.
"Have I told you how much you make me happy?" Theresa asked.
"No, I don't think you have." he joked.
"Well, do you want me to tell you?"
"I'd love that."
"Hmmm...I'll show you instead." Theresa looked up at him and gave him a kiss that made him beg for more. The two sat there making out, forgetting there was other peole around them, but no one seemed to have notice. Except Nick.
Nick was sitting at the picnic table. His mind wasn't thinking about the people around him. He was looking at Theresa and Travis making out. 'God, they're beginning to remind me of A.J. and Amanda.' he said disgusted. He kept telling himself, 'I just don't get her, I know I haven't known her for a long time, but something's bothering her. And I have a feeling she's using Travis to take it off her mind.' He felt this bond to her and he was determined to find out.
He looked over at the deck and he saw Brian and Karen walk in. 'Karen?' he smiled. 'She decided to come down after all.' He got up and walked over to her and gave her a hug. "Hi, I'm glad you decided to join us."
"I am, too." she smiled. She looked over at the tree and she saw Theresa and Travis making out. "God, get a room." she mumbled under her breathe.
"I know what you mean." Nick agreed.
Karen didn't mean for Nick to hear. But she was glad he was on her side. She looked at Brian who was still standing there. "Want to come with me to get something to eat?"
"Sure, you don't mind Nick do you?" he asked his best friend.
"Go ahead, plus I've already eaten." Nick smiled. He trusted his friend with all his heart, he wouldn't trust Karen with anyone except Brian. "I'll be over there." he said pointing to the picnic table. Nick walked back to the picinc table with a huge grin, 'God, she's gorgeous. Now all I have to do is ask her out. But how?' he thought to himself. He watched her every move. 'She's so graceful and oh so sweet.' He then looked at Theresa, 'I do want to know what HER problem is though. She's all of a sudden turned cold on me.'
Aaron and Dawn were sitting down on the swing. "Hey look, there's Karen." Dawn said.
"Yeah, wow... she looks good in that dress." Aaron sighed.
"Excuse me, Mr. Carter." Dawn hit him.
"I mean... she doesn't look as good as you though."
"That's much better." Dawn kissed him. "Do you think I should go talk to her?" she asked. She was scared that Karen hated her now because of what Theresa had done.
"Sure, go ahead. I don't think she has anything against you." Aaron said softly. "She wanted to be your friend, you should go and BE that friend she wanted."
"I'll do that."
"I'm going to talk to the other guys." Aaron suggested. "YOU go talk to Karen. And don't worry about anything. Just be yourself. Everyone loves that in you. You're the sweetest girl alive."
"Thank you. That's why I love you." she grinned.
Aaron got up and walked over to the other guys, as Dawn continued to sit there debating on whether she should go talk to Karen or not.
Sitting on the deck, Brian and Karen were eating. "Wow, you sure have an appetite." Brian laughed.
"Shut up. I've been so worked up today that I haven't exactly eaten anything all day. Now I'm starved."
"Just don't eat too much, you need to fit in all the gorgeous clothes I bought for you." he joked.
Karen gave him a friendly punch in the leg. "Haha, funny!" she said sarcastically.
"Well, if you keep eating like that..."
"Shut up, Brian..." she said as she threw a piece of chicken at him.
"Don't waste your food like that..."
She picked up another piece of chicken and threw it as his head.
As Brian and Karen continued to laugh and kid around. Leigh Anne was watching them sadly, but happily. 'I'm glad Brian is laughing. I feel so bad for hurting him. I just don't feel the same kind of love as I did for him before.' she looked at Karen. 'I'm glad she's there for him right now. He deserves someone like her. I haven't gotten to talk to her yet, but I have made a bad impression on her already.' She continued to watch the two fool around acting like little children.
Theresa and Travis were still making out, they hadn't even noticed Karen out there. Until Dawn interrupted them. "Don't you guys think you should cool it? You've been making out for 45 minutes and out in the open."
"Oh..." Theresa smiled at Travis. "Sorry, we got out of hand."
"Yeah, sorry." Travis apologized.
"Well, I'm going to go over to the others," Dawn said.
"Ok---" Theresa stopped in her words as she saw Karen sitting with Brian laughing and having fun. 'She decided to come down after all. That bitch! If she gets in my face... Why I'll....'
"Theresa, don't even think about it." Dawn mentioned as she saw Theresa's glance.
"Hey Theresa, I'm sorry but I gotta get going." Travis said. "I told my parents I'd be home early. But you can stay if you like... I don't want to pull you away from your friends."
"No, I'm going to come with you." Theresa said.
"Theresa, please stay? With me?" Dawn said. "The guys invited you here and you haven't even made the effort to talk with any of them."
"That's true. Yeah, I'll stay." Theresa said. "I'll walk you out though Travis." she said to him. "I'll be right back Dawn." she said as she got up with Travis and walked him over to the fence. "Thanks for coming, I'll see you tomorrow." As she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Menawhile, Nick was watching Karen and Brian. 'God, Brian makes her laugh so much, I hope she's having a good time. Brian really is a great friend, he knows how to cheer people up when they really need to smile.' He thought. 'He really is a joker.' He decided to talk to his little brother. "Hey Aaron what's up with you and Dawn?" he said. "Did you get any yet?" he joked.
"Nick how can you say that. I'm only 11." Aaron said surprised.
"Sorry, it's just that you're growing up right before my eyes and you seem to be more mature than I am now. Now that you have a girl and all...." he grinned.
"Yeah I am more mature, eh?" Aaron joked. He lowered his voice, "So what's up with you and Karen? Did you ask her out yet?"
"No..."
"Are you planning too? From what I saw today, you guys sure do like each other don't you?"
"I LIKE her alot, but I don't know if she returns the feelings."
"I'm sure she does...she was really into that kiss from what I saw..."
"I hope so."
As Brian and Karen continued their fun, Brian decided to get up and go get a drink. "Do you want anything?"
"No thanks."
"Okay, I'll be right back!"
"Alright!" Karen said as she sat there continuing to eat her dinner.
"Hi," a voice said to her.
She looked up and was surprised to see Dawn standing right in front of her face. "Oh, hi..."
"I'm sorry about Theresa earlier, I feel I should apologize for my friend." Dawn said.
"It's okay..." she surprisedly said.
"Can I sit down?" Dawn asked.
"Sure."
"Look, Karen, I want to be your friend. I just hope you don't have anything against me... I don't know what got into Theresa."
Karen looked at Dawn. "I want to be your friend too." she smiled. "I have nothing against you. You haven't done anything to me, I have no reason to hate you." she continued. "I never disliked Theresa either, but I guess she has a problem with me. But frankly, I don't care because I don't know her.. and I have no right to judge her just because she yelled at me.. I admit I was angry and hurt and sad, but I told myself that she doesn't know, she doesn't know who I really am, she doesn't know my past." Karen looked at Dawn. "I'm sorry if I sound selfish, but you don't know what I've been through before I met you guys. But Brian and Nick and Kevin and Howie and A.J? They've been there for me, they've treated me equally, they've taught me to continue to live my life in a positive attitude. And I'm thankful for that. All I ever wanted was a group of friends and a family to love me and that's what I've gotten all in one."
A tear began to form in Dawn's eyes, what she had just heard was the most touching thng someone has ever said in the longest time. She realized that Karen was harmless, she never wanted to hurt anyone, all she wanted was friends.
"Don't cry Dawn..." Karen soothed. "Please don't cry, I just wanted to tell you what was on my mind, I didn't mean to hurt you in any way."
"You didn't hurt me Karen. You... you just made me realize what the guys have been telling me all along. You are a nice person, you're not out to hurt anyone, and I'm sorry for even believing one negative thing I heard about you. I just feel bad.." Dawn said.
Karen reached out and gave Dawn a hug. "Thank you!" she whispered. "For wanting to be my friend." she laughed.
Brian walked out, "Aww.. isn't this a kodak moment?" he joked.
"Shut up Brian, we're just getting to know each other better." Karen said.
"Well, then I shall leave you two alone." he said.
"No, I'm done." Dawn said leaving them alone. "Karen thank you I hope we can become better friends."
"Same here." Karen replied.
As Dawn left, "Well, well, you're making an impact on people." Brian mentioned.
"Yeah slowly." Karen agreed. "Just Leigh Anne and Theresa left."
"You'll get to them eventually. Honestly I don't know about Theresa though." Brian said.
"Same here."
"Hey guys," Kevin interrupted. "Who wants to play a game of football?"
A chorus of "I do's" rang around the yard.
"I have to go change first." Karen mentioned. "I'll be right back!" As she ran up to her room, she was finally able to enjoy herself with the exceptions of Theresa and Leigh Anne, but she'd have to live with it and just have fun.
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