"Opff! What the-"

     "Would it kill ya to be on time girl?" He asked with much amusement in his voice.

     Looking up at him, Joce smiled and felt confident, "Hey Kev. What are you doing here?"

     He shrugged and took her arm to escort her to the waiting limo at the curb, "I figured you would want someone with you for this. And I knew it would need to be me." He teased as they got into the limo.

     Joce laughed, "Thanks Kevin, I am so glad you thought of it." She beamed as she hugged him. "I don't even know where the building is."

     "Then how were you planning to get there?" Kevin asked dumbfounded.

     She held up a pair of keys and a piece of paper out of her purse, "I kinda swiped Kara's extra set of car keys and got directions from Map Quest."

     Kevin found himself rolling his eyes and shaking his head, "Dear lord, lil girl, you have told me yourself that you would get lost in a paper bag. What were you thinking? Why didn't you have Kara drive you?"

     "She is still sleeping off last night and this morning. We kinda hit it up town pretty rough. I am still feelin' the effects. Either that, or I am having massive nerves issues right now."

     "It's ok, hell I did too when we first got signed too." Kevin admitted while nodding in sympathy, "That's why I am here, I figured that you would need me to help you along."

     After the gang left Wyoming, Kevin and Jocelynn had kept touch almost everyday, becoming best friends. He was able to help her figure out how to deal with the suits from J-records, how to handle her situation with Joe, and even offered to co-produce her new record. Kevin had taken Jocelynn under his wing, and held her in much respect. He felt a need to protect her as if she was his own family, and he saw the lonely, scared girl, the devoted mother, a friend and the new musician.

     Jocelynn looked over at Kevin, and was thankful that he was there to help her. She chuckled at how bossy he acted but knew that his heart was in the right place. "So Kev, how is Kristen?"

     "She's good, she had to be on location for a t.v. show spot, but things are still kind of rocky. We have decided to separate for a while. Figure out what is going on from a different angle. How are things with you and AJ?" He countered back.

     "Wha-what about AJ?" Joce tried to play off, even though she was getting nervous all over again. Kevin and her had never discussed Alex, she didn't think that Kevin knew about them.

     "You know what I mean. Kristen told me about that mark on your shoulder in Wyoming and I noticed that there is a fresh one." He laughed as Joce tried to cover up the bruise with moving her hair over that shoulder, "Don't even try with me Jocelynn. Not to mention, I kind of shook Nick down this mornin' with questions about why he had to pick AJ's ass up at 1 this morning. He told me that Alex was at a club where you were"

     "Damn Kevin, you just can't not know anything, huh?!"

     "Well ya wanna talk about it, or do you want me to nag?"

     "How about this, I don't talk, you don't nag, and we go in and sign this damn contract." She suggested as the limo pulled in front of the building. "Dude, I think I am going to throw up. I can't do this, I can't. I am going home." She panicked and started to turn to leave.

     "Nope, you are not," Kevin said as grabbed her hand then pulled toward the elevator for the contract signing.

                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Gina ran out of the back of the house to the patio where Leighann, Brian, Nick, Alex, Howie, China, Juaqin and Baylee were hanging out. "Guys! Kev just called, he said they are on their way here. The contract was signed and everything went great, he even took pictures! He said that they will be here in 10 minutes and she doesn't suspect a thing." She squealed.

     Nick put his finger to his ear and pretended to wince, "Ouch, geez Gina, you sound like a howler monkey." Gina just glared at him, "Shit, if looks could kill..."

     "You'd be a dead man, Carter." Gina filled in. "Anyway, where the hell is Kara?"

     "Right here, Captain Obvious!" Kara shouted as she and Taz walked around the side of the house.

     "About time, did you get everything set up at the club for the huge bash?"

     Nick looked up, "Wait I thought that we were having a party here?"

     China rolled her eyes, "No, actually we are going to 'pretend' that this is the surprise party. Then Kara and Taz are going to help her 'escape' like we know she will want to do... they are going to drive her around for a while so we all can get to the club. Then once we are there we are going to call Kara up and they are going to bring her there. And then she will proceed to kick our collective asses."

     "What about the kids?" Alex asked Howie.

     "Oh, we are going to leave the kids here with the dogs." Howie answered with a 'duh' attitude then he smacked him upside the head, which made Nick laugh. "What's so funny Nick?"

     "Sorry, it's just so nice to see someone else be smacked around for being an idiot for once, other then me." He laughed as Alex rubbed his head, "Sorry dawg."

     "Kevin, where is everyone?" they heard Joce call from inside the house.

     "I don't know let's go see is Gina and Howie are in the back." Kevin was heard calling back.

     The whole group quieted down and ran to each of the sides of the patio doors so she wouldn't see them right away. As Jocelynn opened the door the all shouted, "SURPRISE!" and started laughing as Joce turned around, ran right into Kevin's chest and fell backwards back on her ass.

     "Opf!" Escaped her mouth, "Damn you Kev!" She swore as she grabbed at his pants leg to pull herself up only to fall again when her foot slipped under her, causing everyone to laugh harder.

     Brian and Howie each to one of her arms and helped her up from behind, "Hey Joce, stand much?" Brian asked.

     "Brian, bite it 2-ways from Tuesday. Ok, who's bright idea was it to do this?" She asked, China and Gina raised their hands. Joce started to take of her earrings and her shoes handing them to Kevin, "I am gonna kick your asses!" She growled and started chasing them. China and Gina laughed as Joce ran after them shouting about how much she hates parties.

     Alex leaned over to Howie, "What's  her issue with parties?"

     "She has an issue about being the center of attention."

     Kev added, "Yeah, I had to drag her up to the meeting. She freaked out and tried to run."

     Joce finally came back to the main group after a few minutes, heavily out of breath. "Okay, can someone chase those two?" Nick nodded and chased after China but left Gina alone. "Oh man, that was painful."

     Kara hugged her tightly, "Happy birthday, Chicka!"

     Hugging her friend back, "Thanks, but I would really appreciated it if you bust me out of here." She whispered.

     "Ok, just lemme figure it out and we will pull a jail break." Letting her go. Joce turned and talked with Brian and LeighAnn about the record deal. Taz and Kara walked over to the cooler where Gina was standing talking with Alex.

     "Dude, it took less then 2 minutes for her to beg to get outta here." Kara told Gina.

     Gina nodded while sipping her beer, "Great. Sneak her out and take the long way to the club, it will take us about 20 minutes to get there. I'll call you when we get there. Did the 'gift' show up?"

     Taz grinned evilly, "Oh yea, 'it' showed up."

     Alex looked at the girls curiously, "What gift?"

     "Oh you will see. It's something she is going to luv. Just one thing-" Kara said looking at Alex in the eye, "Don't even think of pullin' another bathroom stunt!"