-->Chapter Nineteen: Everything's.Gone.Hurt.And.Wrong [PART TWO]

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(Nearly midnight April 9th)
    "...You guys are free to go," Christy finished.
    "We...We are?" Chin searched Christy's face for a sign of a joke but there was none.
    "So we can just walk out that door, and you girls won't come after us?" I asked incredulously, pointing to the door.
    "Well, you could do that...or you could wait till morning and we can drive you home," Alice spoke up, popping her head into the doorway.
    "You want to drive us home?" Jenny knitted her eyebrows. Alice walked down the steps and stood beside Christy.
    "Well, after everything we've done...I think it's the least we can do." Katrina showed up, and gave an apologetic smile.
    "But we can't drop you off right in front of it." Alice seemed to have just remembered something.
    "Yeah, Rebecca wants us to drop you off nearby but not too close. She doesn't want us caught," Katrina explained.
    "Uh...thanks," Jenny gave them an unsure smile.
    "Look, we all talked, and decided we should just let you go. We saw how bad-" Alice began but was cut off by Leah, who had just entered the room.
    "How bad everyone at your home looked, felt, acted. We just wanted love like that. I guess we weren't thinking when we swiped it from right underneath you. We learned. The Boys are just boys. Nothing to scare people over...least of all kidnap them for. You girls are real lucky," Leah smiled and looked down, "Take care of them okay?"
    We nodded and gave an effort to digest everything that had happened to us in the last few days.

(April 10th)
    AJ dropped his bag and sat down on Chin's bed. He never would have imagined anything would make him want to leave his tour so badly. He closed his eyes and lay down, taking in her scent from the cloth. He missed her. He wished he could have protected her...he wished none of this had happened. Where was she? Was she okay?...It killed him to think he had lost her. Sprite jumped onto his lap, surprising him.
    "Hey," he smiled softly as he sat up. "Where's Coke?" Sprite looked over at the door and ran out. "Sprite?" AJ ran after her and heard a lot of noise. He looked over the railing from the stairs as he walked down them to see everyone smiling.
    "Alex!"
    AJ froze. That voice...Chin? He looked at the front door and there she stood with a huge relieved smile and Sprite in her arms. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist after carefully placing Sprite on the floor.
    "I missed you SO much..." she spoke, muffled by his shirt.
    "Chin..." AJ breathed, his arms enveloping her into a warm embrace. He looked up at everyone else. "How...?"
    "Don't ask!" Kevin smiled and glanced at me, his arm around my shoulders.
    "Welcome back!" Nick grinned putting an arm around all three of us. Brian took Jenny's hand and pulled her aside.
    "Never leave my side again." H e pulled her toward him and held her tight.
    "Someone's gotten protective. So I can safely guess you missed me?" Jenny joked, pulling away a little to look into his eyes. He studied her a moment and then smiled.
    "Of course..." I never want to lose you...
    "So you and the girls are okay? No bruises or anything?" Kevin took my arm and studied it. I yanked it back.
    "Yes, we are fine..." I shook my head.
    "Did you miss me?" Kevin tilted his head. I smiled.
    "What do you think?" I retorted. Kevin smiled back and hugged me.
    "I think we aren't going anywhere soon!" he exclaimed.
    "No kidding," Brian smiled as he and Jenny returned to our group.
    "Don't forget about us..."Julie smiled, her arm held out for a hug.
    "Of course not!" Chin exclaimed and all six of us girls hugged. The guys pretended to coo and then joined the big group hug.
    Brian wrapped his arms around Jenny's waist and after a few moments, he picked her up.
    "Where are you taking me?!" Jenny demanded to know.
    "Wait, let me get in this too." Kevin grabbed me and picked me up.
    "AHHHH!" I screamed. I watched as Chin ran away from AJ but he caught up with her and picked her up like the rest of us.
    "What kind of welcome home present is this?!" she yelled.
    "One...two...THREE!" Brian counted and the three of us were tossed into the pool. We came to surface, sputtering.
    "We werekidnapped..." Jenny said as she pulled the rubber band out of her hair, making it fall around her shoulders, "and this is what you do to us?"
    "We might as well still be kidnapped!" Chin exclaimed.
    "It was the only thing I could think of to bring things back to normal," Brian shrugged innocently as he held out a hand to Jenny.
    "You are such an idiot," Jenny laughed and placed her hand in his, yanking him in with her.
    "No I'm not!" He swam next to her. "I know you, missy. Why else would I lend a helping hand to someone I just pushed in a pool?"
    "To get wet too!" AJ laughed and jumped in, making a massive splash. Hannah looked confused.
    "You guys are weird," she shook her head, but when Chin splashed her with water, it was on. Everyone got into the pool fully clothed and were enjoying everyone being there.
    "So are you ever gonna tell us what happened?" Kevin asked as he pulled me along.
    "Did you guys see who did it?" AJ asked, giving up on chasing Jenny and Chin around the pool. All of us grew silent. Chin looked at me, then at Jenny.
    "No, we didn't see who did it," she replied.
    "They let us go," Jenny said.
    "That's all that matters." I turned to Kevin and smiled. "Right?"
    "Of course!" He shifted his eyes. "Now...If you don't mind," Kevin began, a mischievous smile creeping across his face. My eyes widened and I began to push away but it was too late. "I want to get a little wet," he said sweetly and pulled both of us under the water.
    "Thank you for the bath," Chin frowned at AJ as they stepped out of the pool.
    "You haven't seen me in over 2 months and you're already mad?" he exclaimed.
    "Well, you haven't seen me in over 2 months and you already attempted drowning me," she shot back.
    "You're not really mad, are you?" AJ pretended to pout.
    "Of course not!" Chin laughed and put an arm around his waist. "I usually don't get mad at babies," she shrugged innocently.
    "You are so gonna get it!" He chased after her around the side of the pool and finally caught her.
    "You know," she began as AJ attempted to throw her in, "I shouldn't even bother running anymore...You always seem to catch me." She looked him in the eyes and he let her go.
    "Alright, you're free to roam," AJ sighed and tilted his head at her.
    "And you...my dear, just made a terrible mistake," Chin grinned evilly and shoved AJ in.
    "Chin!" he yelled, reaching surface.
    "Alex?" she replied innocently and ran into the house. AJ swam to the edge and got out and followed her in.
    "Chin? Where are you?" he yelled into the house as he walked by the family room.
    "BOO!" She jumped up behind a couch and wrapped her arms around his waist. AJ softly smiled at her.
    "Let's talk..."
    "About?..." Chin looped an arm around AJ's as he led them to the downstairs guest room.
    "Stuff..."
    "Very descriptive."
    "I know." AJ closed the door behind him and turned to Chin.
    "Yes?" she asked, looking up at him.
    "I just..."AJ took a deep breath, "... wanted to tell you, I missed you."
    "That's why you brought me here?" Chin lightly smiled. She hugged him. "Alex, I missed you too..."
    They stood there a moment, arms around each other.
    "Hey! No dripping in the house!" Hannah yelled from outside. AJ and Chin stuck their heads out the door.
    "Can you get us some towels since you are already inside?" Nick whined.
    "Will do!" Chin yelled back and AJ and her rushed upstairs for some.

(later)
    "Jenny?" Brian stuck his head into our room. I looked up from writing.
    "She's in the bathroom drying her hair." I pointed at the closed door.
    "Jenny?" Brian knocked on it. He heard the blow-dryer turn off.
    "Yeah?" she asked from the other side.
    "Are you coming out soon?" he whined. She popped her head out.
    "Why? You planning on throwing me in the pool again?" she raised an eyebrow.
    "No!" Brian pushed the door open and squeezed in, closing the door behind him.
    "Yes...? Jenny questioned his actions as she brushed her dry hair
    "I just..." Brian sighed. Jenny looked up at him.
    "Something wrong?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern. It made him smile - he had such a wonderful friend. He held his arms out for her and she smiled.
    "I thought I lost you," he mumbled inaudibly into her hair as he pulled her into his embrace.

(that evening)
     I sat on my bed, hugging my pillow. I had given up on writing. I was still a bit scared, but didn't want to say anything. Jenny and Brian had left to go downstairs a while ago. I said I'd follow soon after. How long ago had that been?
     "Sarah?" Chin stuck her head in our room. I looked up. "What's wrong?" she asked quietly, as she came in and shut the door behind her. When I didn't answer, she came and sat beside me, wrapping her arms around me.
     "Don't worry about it," I mumbled into my pillow. Chin shot me her don't-give-me-that look, and I sighed. "I feel...I don't know. I feel like I'm not acting normal. I'm still scared out of my mind and you and Jenny have been acting like nothing happened. What's wrong with me?" I whispered. Chin tightened her grip around me.
     "We just don't want to get the others upset. You've been doing the same too - you've been acting like nothing happened, for the sake of everyone else, you know?"
     "I guess..."
     "Well, you have been. It's like an involuntary action. We're all scared out of our minds but don't want the others to worry. It's over with, and we don't wanna make it any bigger than it was."
     "How do you know Jenny is scared?"
     "How can you not know?" Chin smiled. "We know each other well enough to see, hon."
     "You're right. I was just too worried about me being the only one...I guess I didn't try and see..." I trailed off.
     "K, now that we've agreed that all three of us are scared out of our minds but can act normally around everyone else, can we go downstairs and have dinner? I'm starved," Chin grinned. I smiled at her and got up.

(30 minutes later)
    "How about we go have a huge dinner!" Nick suggested.
    "No...At least not tonight...I already ate," Chin whined, snuggling into AJ's arms. "And I'm too...tired," she yawned.
    "Yeah, we had...we," I yawned and tried not to fall asleep. Sitting next to me, Kevin laughed as I fell asleep.
    "I'm...exhausted," Jenny mumbled and Brian shifted around so she would be comfortable in his arms. It was silent for awhile, as the rest of the house watched us fall asleep.
    "Thank God they're all right..." Brian said softly as he stroked Jenny's hair once the three of us were all out cold. He looked up and met the agreeing eyes of the others.
    "I don't know what I would've done if we had lost any of them," AJ stated, almost inaudibly as he gazed down at Chin.
    "I know they wanna forget about all of this...but should we talk to them about it? Should we figure out if they really know who did it?" Nick asked. Howie shrugged.
    "Didn't sound like they knew..."
    "Or wanted to tell us," Cathy finished.
    "Like they said...just be glad that it's over with. If they don't wanna mull over it, then don't make them," Lance concluded.
    "They'll tell us anything they want to in their own time, right?" Hannah asked.
    "I guess so," Julie replied.
    "I hoped that this had been the last of the stalkers...or whatever you want to call them," Cathy sighed. Everyone sat thinking for awhile.
    "Alright, I'm gonna take Sleeping Beauty here upstairs," Kevin smiled and picked me up and headed for the stairs.
    "She could have been that for Halloween..." Chin mumbled almost incoherently.
    "I think there will be two more joining you guys soon," Cathy smiled as her two friends were falling fast asleep.
    "That's okay, they've had a rough couple days." Howie placed a hand on Cathy's shoulder. "I'm pretty tired myself...Shall we head upstairs?"
    "Sure," Nick yawned and leaned onto Julie.
    "He wasn't talking to you!" Julie laughed and helped a sleepy Nick to his room. Cathy and Howie leaned on each other as they went upstairs.
    "We should be going, too." Lance took Hannah's hand and they disappeared as well, leaving behind Brian, Jenny, AJ, and Chin.
    "Now what?" Brian asked the air, brushing aside a strand of Jenny's hair that had fallen over her closed eyes.
"I don't know," AJ blankly replied, his eyes staying on a sleeping Chin. Both knew the other didn't want to let go. They were too afraid to right now.  They sat in silence, watching over the girls.

(the next morning)
    "SHHH!" Jenny loudly shushed Cathy and me as we bumbled down the stairs.
    "What?" I loudly whispered. She and Chin pointed to two bodies on the couch.
    "They're still sleeping." Chin smiled, watching AJ.
    "Blankets?" Jenny asked.
    "Yes, blankets sound good." Chin and Jenny ran upstairs.
    "They are hilarious," I laughed.
    "Why?" Cathy asked from the kitchen, pouring herself cereal. I paused, forgetting no one else knew about Chin and Jenny's feeling toward- "Sarah?" Cathy asked looking at me. I snapped out of my thoughts and shook my head slightly. Well, Hannah knew about Chin, but that was it...
    "Nothing." I sat down at the kitchen table. Chin and Jenny ran back into the family room and held blankets in their hands.
    "Okay, why did we run?" Chin gasped, out of breath.
    "I don't know," Jenny laughed and they covered their mouths when they heard Brian stir. They laid blankets down on top of their best friends.
    "Breakfast?" Cathy popped up behind them holding out a bowl of fruit loops. Both Chin and Jenny jumped and shrieked.
    "CATHY!" they both quietly yelped.
    "WHAT?" she yelped back, quietly. I watched as AJ and Brian woke up while Jenny and Chin were arguing with Cathy. They figured out what happened through bits and pieces of the fight, looked at each other, and laughed silently. They glanced at me and Brian put a finger to his lips, telling me not to say anything. I nodded, stifling my laughter.
    "BOO!" AJ and Brian grabbed Jenny and Chin, making them jump.
    "BRIAN!" Jenny swatted him.
    "Aw, were the girls taking care of us?" Brian asked AJ.
    "What's all the commotion?" Kevin demanded, walking into the room. It scared Cathy who nearly dropped her bowl. I burst out laughing.
    "Morning." Julie and Nick walked in. Howie, Lance, and Hannah followed.
    "We on for dinner tonight?" Nick reminded us.
    "What is with you and dinner?" Brian asked walking into the kitchen.
    "Our friends are back!" Nick grabbed Chin and Jenny, who were close by, and squashed them. "It can be a big thing," Nick continued, ignoring Chin and Jenny's complaints of being squished. "A birthday party for Jenny, Brian, and Sarah cuz we missed celebrating those...plus, our girls are home safe and sound, why shouldn't we celebrate?" Nick reasoned with a massive grin on his face. The scene looked like something out o a Disney movie. He glanced at me and noticed he was missing one kidnapped girl in his death hug. "Sarah, would you like to join this hug?" He motioned me to come over.
    "You call this a hug?" Jenny mumbled, still squirming.
    "Hey, you let go of her," Brian threatened, a small smile playing at his lips.
    "Fine." Nick let go of Jenny and lightly pushed her toward Brian.
    "Alex!" Chin whined when Nick didn't drop his arm from her.
    "Yes?" AJ looked up from putting his dishes in the sink and innocently smiled. In the short time, he had already finished a bowl of cereal. She frowned and pouted. "Alright, alright. Nick, can you please let go of Chin?" he asked walking back into the family room. Nick shook his head and laughed. "Nick, come on." AJ turned and gave Nick a look.
    "Geez, alright!" He pushed Chin toward AJ.
    "Thank you, my Knight in Shining Armor," Chin laughed as she lightly punched AJ.
    "Aw, poor Nick." Julie wrapped her arms around him.
    "What about Sarah?" Kevin frowned. "I want to save someone!"
    Nick glanced at me and I shot him a look.
    "No way." Nick backed up. Everyone laughed.
 

Chapter Twenty: I've.Found.I.Just.Can't.Leave.You.Alone
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