Somewhere in another country....

"DAMN!!" Brian yelled, as he slammed the phone down.

Nick took his gaze away from the TV screen and looked at Brian with his eyebrows raised. "She still won't pick up the phone?"

"I've called her everyday since we left the US," Brian yelled. "It's been three weeks and she still won't talk to me!"

"Well, you did accuse her of money-hunting," Kevin said from his place by the window. "I still don't understand why you did that. You knew she was rich, and has probably everything she's ever wanted. It just doesn't seem like you, cuz."

"I don't know why I did it either," Brian said, tiredly. "I was just so angry, I said it without thinking."

"Maybe she'll talk to one of us," AJ suggested.

"No," Brian refused. "I have to do this myself. I don't want you guys to get involved."

"We already are," Howie said. "We see how this is affecting you and it's affecting us indirectly."

"Come on, B-Rok, let us help you," Nick said.

"Alright, alright," Brian gave in. "Bone, you still talking to BJ?"

"Yeah," said AJ.

"Give her a call and ask her to talk to VJ for me. If that doesn't work, you guys can start trying to get through to her."

"No problem, Rok."

"Thanks, fellas."

Nick, Kevin, Howie, and AJ nodded, silently thinking of a way to get VJ to talk to Brian again. They saw how miserable he was without her. Right now, they'd do just about anything to get Brian to his old self again.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

"VJ, this is Brian, calling you once again. Please talk to me. I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it. I just need you to give me a chance to explain. Come on, VJ, I know you're there." A few moments of silence. "Fine, I guess I'll try again later."

VJ tried not to cry. It took all she had not to pick up the phone. As much as she missed Brian, VJ was still angry with him for accusing her of going out with him for his money. It was hard for VJ to just get through the day without crying. The littlest thing could set her off. So, she threw herself into her classes and the rehearsal for the talent show her and BJ had entered.

VJ looked at the clock and saw it was 8:30pm. She had been sitting at home all day, watching MTV non-stop. She wondered what time it was wherever Brian was.

"No, I won't think about him," VJ said out loud. Then there was a knock on the door. She got up to answer it.

"Hey, JJ," VJ greeted her brother. "Come on in."

"What's up with you lately?" JJ asked, getting right to the point.

"Nothing. I've just been really busy," VJ said, irritably. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"Because you haven't been acting like yourself," he said. "You threw yourself into your job, school, your rehearsals. It's like you're trying to forget something or someone." He stressed the word 'someone'.

"I know it's your job to help and protect me from all evil, but there's nothing you can do."

"Tell me what happened and I'll decided if I can."

So VJ told JJ about everything that happened from the day she met Brian to the day they got into their argument to the present day. JJ sat there attentively listening and not interrupting her. He didn't speak until she was done.

"It sounds like you really like this guy," he said.

"I do, but he didn't have to accuse me of money-grabbing," VJ said. "I didn't even know about his career until a few day before he left."

"Why did you follow him? He would've told you sooner or later."

"I know I shouldn't have done that, but I let my curiosity get the better of me." VJ sighed.

"But you were right. There's nothing I can do. It has to be all you," JJ said. "I've never had something like this happen to me. But what I can tell you is to listen to what your heart is telling you. It will never steer you wrong."

JJ got up off the couch. "I have to go. CJ's waiting for me at dad's house. We're supposed to go out to dinner tonight. I just thought I'd stop by and check on you."

"Thanks, big brother." VJ gave him a hug.

"Anytime, little sister," JJ said as he hugged her back. Then he left.

VJ sat on the couch for a few minutes, deep in thought.

"I know what I have to do," she said, firmly.

VJ picked up the phone and dialed BJ's number. BJ picked up on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"BJ, I need your help," VJ said.

"Sure. What's up?" she asked.

"Do you still talk to AJ?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I need you to call him after we hang up. I know what to do about Brian."

"It's about time, girl. I was getting tired of you moping around. So what's the plan?"

"First, I have to get a plane flight to wherever it is they'll be staying for more than a couple of days."

"AJ told me yesterday they're going to be in Sweden for a couple weeks to record some tracks for their first album."

"First album? They haven't recorded one yet?"

"No. They've been touring and making TV appearances and doing photo shoots, magazine interviews, stuff like that. They hadn't had time to record an album."

"Oh. Then I guess I'm going to Sweden...."

VJ and BJ talked for about an hour more, making up a plan to get Brian's and VJ's relationhip back on the right track. As soon as they hung up, BJ called AJ on his cell phone, using the number he gave her to reach him at anytime.

"Who is it?" AJ asked in a sweet voice.

"It's BJ," she said, copying him.

"Hey, girl. What's up?"

"Are any of the guys around?"

"No, they went downstairs to the hotel restauraunt," he told her. "I'm supposed to meet them there in a little bit."

"Oh good. Well, you can fill them in on this later. Except for Brian. He can know nothing about this. Got it?"

"Sure. Now tell me what's up?"

BJ filled him in on the plan her and VJ came up with. AJ tried to offer to pay for the plane ticket to Sweden, but BJ told him VJ had it covered. After about fifteen minutes, they hung up, then AJ went down to the restauraunt to join the rest of the guys.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Hey, cuz, what's up?" Alisha Walker said, as she walked into the apartment. She threw her keys on the small table by the door.

"Not much," VJ said, putting her hand over the phone receiver. "Hold on a sec, Ali." Taking her hand away from the phone, she spoke. "Yes, a flight to Sweden for next Friday.... Uh-huh.... uh-huh.... That would be fine.... Yes.... Thank you.... Bye."

"What are you doing?" Alisha asked again. "Why are you going to Sweden?"

"You remember that guy that keeps calling, but I won't talk to?" VJ asked her.

"Yeah, sure. His name's Brian, right?"

"Yeah. Well, I'm going to go see him in Sweden next week and see if we can't work things out."

"Really? Cool. Can I come?" Alisha looked at her cousin hopefully.

"Sure, why not? I need all the support I can get."

"ALRIGHT!!" Alisha jumped all over the living room. When she calmed down, she turned to her cousin again. "Is BJ going with us?"

"Yes, she going."

"Wicked. Man, I can't 'til next week now."

"Neither can I. I just want to everything to go back to the way it was before Brian left."

"You really miss him, don't you?"

"Yup, I really do. I didn't know him that long, but I felt like I'd known him my whole life."

"That awesome. Listen, cuz. I know everything's going to be okay. And just in case it's not, I'll be with you throughtout the way."

"Thanks, Ali."

"No problem. That's what cousins are for."

The two girls hugged for a long time, then headed off to their separate rooms and went to bed. VJ lay in her bed thinking about the coming week. She prayed that everything would be all right.