chapter three

“Ooops! I’m so sorry!” I said on instinct. I looked around the door and saw the beauty I had attacked with the door. He was tall, about six foot one, with pitch black hair and piercing green eyes. He smiled warmly and stepped out from behind the door.

“Its OK,” he replied. He stuck his hand out. “I’m Kevin, and you are?”

I took his hand and shook it. “Cass. Nice to meet you Kevin.”

“Thats one of the guys you’re gonna interview Cass,” Gina called out from the chair she was sitting in. “These are the others...well, three more anyway.”

“Hi, I’m Brian.” a brownish-blonde about my height said, walking up to me. He had the cutest Southern accent, just like Kevin’s, only thicker. My guess was that they were from around the same place. His baby blue eyes were mesmerizing. I loved them.

“I’m Howie, how we doing today?” he said, giving me a wink. I couldn’t help but laugh at his line, and slyly admire his own attractiveness. He was around my height as well, very well built. The Latin in him was obvious in his features, and those big brown puppy dog eyes were definitely not to be taken lightly.

“And that over there is Nick,” Brian said, pointing to a blonde slumped in a recliner, sleeping soundly. “He’s had a rough night, please excuse him.”

“Its OK,” I replied smiling. “I know what its like to not get any sleep” I glanced at my sister, who was just coming in the room, giving her a dirty look.

Brian laughed. “I take it she has something to do with your lack of sleep?”

“Yeah, thats my sister. Keri, come meet the guys.” I motioned to my sister to come closer. She shook hands with everyone, said her hello’s, and went back to her business-like state.

“OK, how about some preliminary Q’s?” she said. “Because I think Cass hasn’t the slightest idea who you are!”

“And you work at a radio station?” Brian joked. I grinned sheepishly at him. “I’m new here, what can I say?”

“Oh? Where are you from?” Howie asked, pulling up a chair and joining me, Kevin and Brian.

“I grew up here in Florida, only when I was about twelve I went to live with my dad in California. I just moved back here about two and a half moths ago. I’ve been interning here for two months now.”

“And if you aren’t Aerosmith, Journey, Prince, or Madonna, she doesn’t know who you are.” Mike replied, walking into the room with another guy. I playfully shoved Mike as he planted a kiss on my head. “She’s biased, you know. Her whole damn segment is nothing but 80’s music!”

“Shut up Mike, you aren’t one to talk. Mr. “I have to walk like an Egyptian once a day to relieve stress.” No matter what you say I do, you do worse!” I laughed. Mike feigned embarrassment as he slumped down onto the couch next to Laurel. I turned and looked at the guy Mike had brought in.

“Hello,” I said, getting up. “I’m Cass.”

“Hi,” he replied. “My name’s AJ. Please, don’t get up.”

He sat down next to my sister in a folding chair. “You know, you look familiar,” AJ started, looking at me closely. “Have we met before?”

“Hm...no, I don’t think so.” I replied. “I would have remembered. Sorry.”

“Its OK. Its just that I know you from somewhere, I just can’t quite put my finger on it.” he said thoughtfully.

“Well, whatever it is, it will come to you.” I assured him. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, obviously lost in thought. I studied him briefly. He was built...very nicely, too. He had a nice body, lean, but not scrawny. He had about a dozen tattoos on his arms, and he showed most of them off nicely, thanks to the tight black shirt he had on. His wild dark hair stuck out in different directions, and was topped by blonde tips. He looked very attractive, and I knew if I kept this up, I’d be hooked.

“So, who exactly are you guys?” I asked Kevin. He grinned.

“Ever hear of the Backstreet Boys?” he asked.

“Oh...thats you?” I asked. “I mostly hear of you here at the station. We mention your name at the end or beginning of one of your songs, but thats about it. Very cool.” I said, smiling. Behind me, I heard Mike chuckle.

“Whats so funny?” I asked him.

“Nothing, don’t worry about it.” he replied. I made a mental note to myself to kick him later.

“Hey, why’s Nicky sleeping?” AJ asked, coming out of his trance. We all glanced at the blonde, who had shifted in the recliner. AJ smiled wickedly and walked over to the sleeping boy. He plugged his nose and woke him with such a start, he almost lost his own balance.

“Who--wha--BONE!! That was not cool man!” Nick said, shoving AJ out of his way. He calmed himself when he saw everyone in the room. He got introduced to Kari and Laurel, whom he had not met yet, and then he walked over to me.

“Hi, I’m Nick.”

“Hi Nick, I’m Cass, nice to meet you.” he smiled at me, and I melted. His smile was amazingly charming, and the way his blue eyes sparkled when he smiled was enough to make my head spin. ::this guy is definitely handsome:: I thought. ::But probably too young for me::

“Hey you guys?” Jeff said, poking his head in the room. “We gotta go set up for Cass’ segment.”

Jay and I got up, excusing ourselves politely. As I walked out of the room, I felt someone’s eyes on me. I turned and saw AJ staring at me.

I froze when I saw his eyes. He had taken his shades off and was looking at me intently. ::those eyes:: I thought. ::I have definitely seen them before::

“Hey AJ?” I called before leaving the room.

“Yeah?”

“Come to think of it, I think I may have seen you before...” I trailed off as I closed the door to the Lounge.

[Chapter 02 | chapter index | chapter four]