After listening to Abigail cry for over half an hour, Howie decided he’d go over and see if Kevin was all right. It was very uncharacteristic for Kevin and Abigail to fight and he sensed this was serious. When Howie knocked on Kevin’s hotel room door he could here movement on the other side but it took several seconds for Kevin to open the door. It was immediately obvious that Kevin was in just as bad shape as Abigail was. “Hey Kevin. I know you probably want to be alone right now, but I wanted to come over and let you know that Abigail’s crashed in my room for the afternoon. I’m not sure what’s going on Kevin and I know it’s none of my business, but I wanted to come over and see if you were ok or if you wanted to talk. 

“Thanks for your concern D, but I really don’t feel like talking right now. But thank-you for letting me know that Abigail’s safe.” Kevin said solemnly, trying to hide the panic he was in. 

“Ok. You know where to find me if you need to talk.” Howie said as he turned to return to his room, totally oblivious to Kevin’s disheveled look. 

“Thanks D.” Kevin said as he closed the door. “You have to leave Jordyn. Abigail’s just down the hall in Howie’s room. I can’t risk her walking in and finding us.” Kevin said. 

“Just let me finish you off Kevin. I know you were so close.” Jordyn said as she dropped to her knees in front of Kevin. “The fact that Abigail could walk through that door any minute now is a very arousing thought.” Jordyn said. 

“GET OUT! This IS where I draw the line.” Kevin said in a raised voice. He’d all ready hurt Abigail enough for one afternoon and he just wanted to be alone. 

“Aw, but Kevin I think you’ve forgotten what my job is. I am here to make Abigail’s life hell.” Jordyn said. 

“You’re little plans working Jordyn. Isn’t that enough? The woman I love is off crying in one of my best friends room. You all ready are making her life hell and I won’t let you hurt her anymore today. Get the fuck out NOW!” Kevin said. 

“Fine Kevin. I’m doing this only because I like you. But don’t think I’m going to stay away for long. You will be in your tour bus at the usual time tomorrow night.” Jordyn said. 

Howie couldn’t help but hear Kevin’s raised voice as he made his way back to his room. He turned around and couldn’t help but over hear that Kevin had another woman in his room. He couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying, but he knew that Kevin was angry. Seconds after he heard Kevin yell ‘Get the fuck out NOW!’ his door flew open and he was standing face to face with Kevin’s company. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he’d seen the woman somewhere before. 

She scowled at him and then laughed as she realized she could use this in her favor. “You’ve got company Kevin.” Jordyn said. 

“Do you always make it a habit to eaves drop?” Kevin asked. He was angry because Jordyn and Frank were winning and he took that anger out on Howie, who he knew would never intentionally invade his privacy. 

Howie stepped into the room and closed the door. There was no need to get into it with Kevin in the hall that would only make the situation worse. “I couldn’t help but over hear you yelling. Who is she Kevin?” Howie said. 

“It’s no one’s business.” Kevin said through clenched teeth. 

“Do I have to remind you that your girlfriend is down the hall balling her eyes out right now? It may not be my business, but I think Abigail deserves a little more respect Kevin. Hasn’t she been through enough?” Howie said. He liked Abigail and he thought she was good for Kevin. He didn’t want to see her get hurt anymore. 

Kevin’s guilt continued to build as he listened to Howie. He desperately wanted to tell Howie what he was up against. But he knew if Jordyn and Frank ever found out that he spilled the beans, Abigail would get hurt much worse. He couldn’t let that happen. So he pushed the guilt aside and his attitude boiled to the surface again. “Mind your own business Howie.” Kevin said. 

“I will walk away for now Kevin, but don’t think I’m going to forget. I will be watching you very closely.” Howie said as he left Kevin’s hotel room. 

*********************** 

Kevin was all ready on his bus when Abigail came out. He felt his heart break when he saw Abigail’s red puffy eyes. It was at that moment that he realized just how much Jordyn and Frank’s plot at revenge was working. She didn’t even look at him as she walked past him to get to her bunk. He prayed that Howie hadn’t told her what he saw earlier that afternoon. 

Carlos sensed that they needed some privacy, so he pulled the divider across the front of the bus and took a seat behind the driver. 

Kevin finally decided to go back and talk to Abigail. He had to try and make it right as best he could. Kevin sat down on the bunk across from Abigail’s and said, “Can we talk about this?” Kevin asked. 

Kevin wasn’t really expecting an answer right away, but he got one. “Only if you tell me what’s going on with you. I don’t like what’s been happening for weeks now Kevin and every time I ask you what’s wrong, you either get annoyed or pissed off with me or you brush it off. I don’t want my concerns swept under the carpet anymore.” Abigail said from inside her bunk. 

Kevin had to come up with something fast. He didn’t want to continue lying, but he didn’t have a choice. “Will you come out here so we can talk face to face?” Kevin asked. 

Abigail crawled out of her bunk and sat down across from Kevin. “Ok, I’m listening.” Abigail said. 

“You know I love you right?” Kevin asked. 

“Most of the time, yeah.” Abigail said as she bowed her head to look at the floor. She knew that comment would hurt Kevin, but she didn’t have the strength to be anything but honest. 

“Abi baby, just because we have a fight, that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Every couple has fights.” Kevin said as he took Abigail’s hands in his own. He needed some kind of contact with her. 

“Don’t try and change the subject Kevin. I want to know what’s wrong. Is it something that I’m doing? Are you not happy with me anymore? I need to know Kevin.” Abigail said on the verge of tears. 

Kevin’s mind kept screaming “No!” She had it all wrong. “Abi, I may not be able to excuse my behavior, but I need you to know that I love you more than you know. There’s just some group things that I’m trying to deal with right now, and I guess I was letting them get to me more than usual.” Kevin said. 

“I want you to know that I’m seriously considering returning to Orlando. I love you Kevin, but I get the feeling that me constantly hanging off you just isn’t healthy.” Abigail said. She knew there was more to this situation and if Kevin wasn’t going to tell her, then she wasn’t going to stick around. She hated conflict and she thought that a little time apart would wake Kevin up. 

Kevin’s heart skipped a beat when Abigail announced she was thinking of going back to Orlando. He didn’t think that was part of the deal with Jordyn, so he had to convince her to stay some how. “I can’t tell you what to do and what not to do. But I do know that I don’t want you to leave. Please give it a little more time Abi.” Kevin pleaded. 

“Give me one good reason to stay Kevin.” Abigail said. 

“Because I love you. Is that not a good enough reason?” Kevin asked. 

“It hasn’t been enough lately.” Abigail replied honestly. 

“I don’t know what I’ll do if you leave Abi.” Kevin said. 

Abigail could see the fear in Kevin’s eyes, so she moved to the bunk across from her and sat down beside him. “I’m not breaking up with you Kevin. I just don’t think being on the road with you is healthy for our relationship right now.” Abigail said. 

“I’ve gotten so used to you always being here though.” Kevin said. He had to find a way to get Abigail to stay. 

“Maybe that’s part of the problem. Maybe we’re just taking advantage of this too much.” Abigail said. 

“Well, if that’s what you have decided, then I’m not going to try and talk you out of it. Just know that I don’t think that’s the problem. I love you and I want you here with me. If that’s not enough then I don’t know what to say.” Kevin said as he stood up and walked towards the front of the bus. He wished they weren’t going to be on the road all night, because he desperately needed to talk to Jordyn. He needed to find a way out of this before he lost Abigail for good. 

Abigail remained on the bunk and was stunned by what Kevin said. Kevin had always fought hard for something he believed in and she wondered what had changed that. She finally followed Kevin up to the front of the bus and sat on his lap. She wanted to have his full attention. “I’ll sleep on it ok. When I made that decision this afternoon, I was upset and hurting.” Abigail said. 

“I’ll support whatever decision you make.” Kevin said as he lifted Abigail onto the couch beside him and stood. “Right now I have to get to bed. I’d love it if you’d come with me, but I’ll understand if you don’t.” Kevin said. 

“Just give me a few minutes to get cleaned up and I’ll be in.” Instead of moving towards the back of the bus, she took a hold of Kevin’s hand and forced him to stay. “Kevin, I love you.” She said sensing Kevin needed to hear the words. 

Kevin stepped forward and pulled Abigail into his arms. “And I love you. I’m not perfect Abigail and I know I’ve been uncooperative and moody for the past couple of weeks, but life on the road isn’t always easy and I just get this way sometimes. I guess some of my faults are finally shining through.” Kevin said. 

“I’ve witnessed first hand how difficult touring is on you guys. Would it make you feel better if I agreed to stay?” Abigail asked. Kevin’s eyes were clear once again and she could see how upset Kevin was. As soon as she said that, a smile started from his mouth and made its way to his eyes. She hadn’t seen him smile like that in weeks. There was still something there bothering him, but she had to believe that Kevin would tell her in time, when he was ready. 

“I’d love it if you’d stay. Having you around makes life on the road bearable. I don’t want to think about what it would be like without you here.” Kevin said. 

“Fine then. The decision is made. I’ll stay. I’ll try to be more understanding to the difficulties of touring if you promise to try and just talk to me when something is bothering you as opposed to running off to the studio to be by yourself or taking it out on me.” Abigail said. 

“Anything for you.” Kevin said, knowing that her promise would be hard to keep, especially when he was expected to meet Jordyn in his bus the following night. This reconciliation wasn’t going to last long Kevin feared.