CHAPTER 5

Kya and Jhon both went back to their work. They only caught glimpses of each other throughout the day. At 11:30, the guys performed one song. Kya, on her break at the time, watched over the railing from the cafe upstairs. Half-way through JC's solo, Jhon looked up and wnked at her. Kya pretended to faint, making Jhon laugh and miss his next entrance.Lipton took a bunch of breaks and by 6 o'clock, the fans were gone and the store was closed. The group was just finishing an interview and Kya was counting the money out of the cash register she had been working at.

Jhon finished and walked towards Kyaat the counter. "So how have you been, Peanut Butter?" he asked.

Kya smiled at him. "Good actually. After leaving Tennessee ten years ago we moved here. It's been fun. I missed you though."

"I missed you too. I thought a lot about you all the time." Jhon said. He and Kya just stared at each other as old, and maybe now unwelcomed, buried feelings started to rise.

Kyaturned uncomfortably back to her counting and Jhon jumped up and over the counter, to her side.

"10...15...20," Kya muttered, as she fingered through the bills, "25...30..."

"54," a voice said from beside her.

"Shut up, Jhon," Kya warned. "35...40..."

"96...23..." Jhon said, grinning.

Kya turned around and grabbed Jhon's ear again, pulling.

"Oww! Quit that," Jhon yelled as she pulled one last time, then let go. "Where'd you learn that from?"

"Well," Kya said. "Without you around to protect me, I had to defend myself. Pretty effective, don't ya think?"

"Yeah." Jhon said.

Kya started counting again. Jhon moved quietly around behind her.

"What are you doing, boy?" Kya asked, without breaking her concentration.

"Nothing," he said, innocently. Then he pulled one of Kya's curls.

Kya threw down the money and turned around. "That's it. Your ear is dead, Dowing." she said.

Jhon ducked before she could grab his ear again. He started tickling Kya. She couldn't stop laughing. She jumped on Jhon, landing on his back. Jhon picked her up and started spinning around in the larger aisles of the music store. Mikah, JC, Fred, Brendon, Lance, and Chris stood nearby, laughing at the younger adults attitudes.

"How much do you weigh, girl?" Jhon asked laughingly.

Kya hit his head. "Don't you know never to ask a girl that?" she said.

Everyone in the store was enjoying themselves, so no one noticed when Lisa let someone new in the front door. The newcomer was a tall and serious looking young man. He had dark, almost black hair, and he wore small wire glasses. He wore a dark-colored business suit, shiny dress shoes, and he looked very professional. He looked like he rarely smiled. That was true in this case. The sight that met this guy's eyes, was making him frown.

"Kya!" he said sharply.

Everyone's head snapped around towards the voice. Jhon stopped his spinning and Kya turned from her spot still on Jhon's shoulder. She gasped and then hopped off Jhon.

"Blake! What are you doing here?" she asked, timidly.

"I should be asking you the same, Kya. My mother wanted me to stop by and see what time you were going over to her house for the dress fitting." he said.

"Oh well. I was going to go right after work." she said, quietly.

Fred and Brendon glared at Blake, but theLipton boys stood shocked. Kya was acting so different! Jhon stared at Kya. He didn't like the way she was acting, almost as if she were a different person.

"Where are your manners, Kya? Aren't you going to introduce me to someone you're obviously on close terms with?" Blake questioned.

Kya paled. "Oh of course. Blake this is my best friend from when I lived in Tennessee, Jhon Randall Dowing. Jhon this is Blake Mathew Kardon III. My fiancee."