[[ Angel Voices ]]

Laura pulled her car in front of AJ's house. When she got there she noticed that all the guys except for Nick were playing football in AJ's front yard. She looked around and noticed that Sarah was sitting on the porch writing in something that looked like a journal. Abby was no where in sight. She hopped out of her car and walked over to the guys. AJ caught the ball and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and ran toward the other end of the yard with the ball in his hands. Howie ran after him but suddenly tripped over something and went flying on to the ground. As AJ was running Howie's hands caught his foot and accidently pulled him down.

AJ fell to the ground with a thump. "Man, D you just tackled me." He turned his head to face Howie. "And you are on my team."

Howie stood up and brushed the dirt off of his clothes. "Sorry, I was just guarding you."

AJ stood up and tossed the ball to him. "Remind me never to ask you to be my bodyguard."

Howie gave him a look. "HA HA really funny."

AJ walked over to Laura. "Hey babe."

She smiled at him. "Hi..I came over because I need to talk to you."

AJ turned to the other guys. "Guys, I'll be right back." He took Laura's hand in his. "Come on we'll go inside."

Laura followed him into the house and they went up to AJ's bedroom. She sat on the bed and watched as he shut the door. He came and sat down next to her but she got up and walked over to the window.

Not looking at him she said, "It seems like either way we always end up in your bedroom."

AJ walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong Laura?" He waited for an answer as Laura continued to stare out the window. He whispered into her ear. "Tell me what you're thinking."

Laura turned around to face him. "I don't know what I'm thinking anymore AJ. I mean, I do not want to hurt you. That's the last thing on this earth that I would want to do. But lately I've been thinking about the relationship that you and I have." She went and sat back down on the bed. "We don't even talk anymore. We had more fun when we were just friends."

AJ sat down next to her. "So what are you saying?"

Laura took a deep breath. "I think we should just be friends." She turned to face him. "You're leaving for your world tour in two days and I don't want you to feel like I'm holding you back."

"But you can come with me." AJ told her.

Laura shook her head. "No, I can't. I knew you would ask me too but I've decided to stay here with your mom. She needs someone here with her while you're gone since she doesn't go on tour anymore."

"To tell you the truth," AJ added. "I've been thinking the same exact thing that you have been thinking about our relationship. I just didn't know what to say and I didn't want to lose your friendship."

"Well, so does this mean we're friends?" Laura asked.

"Of course, best friends." AJ gave her a hug.

MEANWHILE OUT IN THE FRONT YARD....

Brian went up on to the porch and took a drink from his water bottle. He glanced over at Sarah who was staring blankly off into space. He walked over by her and sat down next to her on the porch swing.

"How are things going?" Brian asked her as he caught his breath from playing football.

"Fine." Sarah lied.

Brian shook his head. "You don't look fine to me."

Sarah stood up. "Sorry but I don't feel like talking right now."

Brian didn't listen and followed her back into the house.

From outside they heard Kevin yell, "D! You fell again!" And start to laugh.

Sarah sat down at the kitchen table and didn't look up at Brian.

He sat across from her. "I forgave Nick and Abby. How come you can't?"

"Because! I can't! Not after what they did." Sarah shook her head. "I can't even stand to see those two together." She gave him a dirty look. "As a matter of fact, I can't believe you asked Abby to marry you after all of this."

Brian came up in Abby's defense. "It's my choice on what I do with my relationships Sarah. I love Abby and that's why I forgave her. It was only a kiss."

Sarah laughed. "Sure, you didn't think it was just a kiss the night we caught them."

"I was mad and upset I didn't know what to think."

"And you tell me that it's your choice on what you do in your relationships so I would appreciate it if you respected my choices." Sarah's voice became louder.

"Listen," Brian said softly. "I don't mean to get all up in your face about this but it's just the Nick misses you a lot Sarah. And so does Abby. She came home last night and I held her as she cried herself to sleep because she couldn't handle the pain of knowing that you, her best friend, hates her."

"But you don't understand Brian. I can't just take Nick back. He told me he wouldn't hurt me. I am so damn sick of being hurt." Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "He told me he wasn't going to hurt me."

Brian moved his chair closer to her's. "Sarah, what happened that caused you to get so scared about being hurt?"

Just then Kevin walked into the kitchen.

"What's wrong?" He asked with concern when he saw Sarah almost in tears. "I can leave if you two were in the middle of something."

Sarah shook her head. "No Kevin, I trust you. I should tell you guys why its so hard for me to forgive Nick."

Kevin sat down and Sarah took a deep breath. "My ex-boyfriend Rich hurt me really bad...not just mentally but physically."

"He hit you?!?" Kevin and Brian asked in anger.

Sarah put up her hand. "Let me finish..I have to say this." She took another deep shaky breath. "When the relationship started it was the best thing in my life and I focused on him and him only. I was in college at the time and I started to slip in all my classes and when I didn't give him the time and attention he wanted he would get angry. He started hitting me about 3 months into the relationship and I always thought that it was my fault. My parents," Tears rolled down her cheeks and Brian put his arm around her. "My parents got angry with me because I wouldn't leave him. For 4 months they tried to get me away and save me from him and save me from myself. But I didn't listen. Until one night he came home and I was just sitting there and he tried to kiss me and I told him no." She closed her eyes. "The next thing I knew I felt his hand smack my hard across the face and I was dazed. He got a baseball bat and was hitting me." She sobbed. "I was in the hospital in ICU for about a week. After I got out he tried to get me back with him sending me cards and flowers and telling me that he'd never do it again. About a month later I started to receive threating notes from him saying he'd kill me and my parents if I didn't come back to him. And I didn't go back...and....one night he..he came to my house...he had a shot gun...and he shot my parents." Sarah broke out into uncontrollable sobbing. Kevin moved over and took her in his arms. Brian sat back in his chair not wanting to believe the story.

"He shot them right in front of me..." She sobbed. "They were dead by the time the police got there...and then he shot himself."

Kevin rocked her gently back and forth as she cried. "SSSHH..it's okay."

"I'm sorry Sarah I never knew." Brian told her.

She slowly calmed down and wiped away her tears. "The only one that knew about it was Abby and she helped me through it and gave me a home when I lost them. I've moved on with my life but I haven't forgotten the pain he caused me. That's why I'm scared of being hurt."

Kevin took her hand in his. "But Sarah, Nick isn't like that and you know he isn't. If you tell him what you just told us he'll help you get past the memories and look toward the future."

Sarah stood up. "No! I told you think in confidence and I don't want you to tell anyone! I don't even want you to tell Abby I told you Brian."

"Okay, I promise I won't say anything to anyone." Brian told her.

"I promise too." Kevin told her.

"Thank you." She gave both of them a hug. "I'm going to go lay down for awhile. I'll see you guys later."