Another day passed. The video for As Long As You Love Me was finished at 12 AM that Wednesday night, or Thursday morning, depending on perspective. Exhausted, the cast spilled into the parking lot and drove home, knowing they had the rest of the week off before they started I’ll Never Break Your Heart. The highlights of the day were few and far between: Brian’s pranks only received minor chuckles. Nevertheless, the boys agreed to come to the “party” Friday.

Thursday, Leighanne woke up at 9AM, an arm dangling over her bed. She sat up, stretched, and watched the sunlight dance across her room with a smile. The phone rang loudly, shattering her peace.

“Hello?” she asked drowsily.

“Hi love,” Brian answered. “What are you doing with your day off?”

“Don’t you ever give up? I have yet to put a foot on the floor and you’re asking me about the rest of the day!” she responded.

“Good, I take it you aren’t doing anything. How’d you like to spend it with me? Great, glad to hear it. I’ll be over about 10:30 to pick you up. Ciao, darling,” he dashed off, and then hung up.

Oh great, thought Leighanne. Now he decides to be affectionate. I can’t win! She headed to the shower to make herself presentable. Strands of her silky blonde hair fell onto the counter as she brushed it out. It was about an inch shorter than Malia’s and straighter. She ran through her routine, and when she emerged she was dressed in a flirty denim dress that buttoned all the way down to a little above her knee. She swept once side of her hair back with a barrette and the rest of it splashed onto her shoulders. Pale pink eye shadow, light gloss, and sandals completed her natural look. A few seconds after she looked in the mirror with approval, the doorbell rang. Brian. He was early.

Opening the door he greeted her with, “Well, you sure seem like you’ve been up for a while. Where do you want to go?”

Leighanne smiled. “You don’t look half bad yourself,” she approved his cargo khakis and blue shirt. “Your wish is my command . . . what do you want to do?”

“How about we go picnic at our spot at the lake?” Brian tossed out. “Thanks.”

“Sure! That sounds great, it’s supposed to be 75 degrees today.” Leighanne shut the door as Brian slung an arm around her. They made light conversation as they drove towards a nearby lake.

When Brian first met Leighanne there he thought she was a vision. With her hair cascading around her face, her laugh ringing out like an angel’s trumpet, and her eyes glittering it would be easy to mistake her for a goddess. Still in awe of her, he had managed to copy down her phone number and name. Not even waiting a day, he called her and took her out to dinner. The rest seemed to be a fairy tale: the two quickly fell in love (and how!), Brian and the group were having huge success in Europe, and Leighanne’s career was about to break. The whole thing was a fairy tale.

“ . . . so then the girl and her friends make it to the backstage,” Brian continued his story, laughing.

“Oh no!” Leighanne gasped. “What happened?” she asked, sitting down on the picnic blanket and unwrapping the sandwiches they picked up on the way.

Brian crunched on a chip and finished his tale with many pauses for laughter. He dusted off his hands and stared out at the sapphire colored water, the same color as Leighanne’s eyes. “Wanna go for a walk?”

“’I wanna be with you,’” she crooned, standing up.

“Stop! Anything but that!” Brian moaned.

“To answer your question: yes,” she told him. The two wandered around, hand in hand, for about an hour. By the time Brian dropped Leighanne off at her apartment it was 5PM.

“Don’t forget!” she called.

“Forget what?” he asked puzzled.

“Malia’s tomorrow . . .” she reminded him.

“Oh yeah! What time should I be there again?”

“About 7:45.” Leighanne then kissed him softly.

“Mmmmm . . . I’ll be there,” Brian promised. “Oh yeah . . . I wanted to give this to you.” He pulled out a package. “I saw this at the mall and thought you would like it.”

Leighanne unwrapped it carefully. A periwinkle sundress was carefully folded, and a pair of sparkling earrings lay on top. Leighanne gasped. “You didn’t have to do this!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

“I know, but I love you,” Brian told her, kissing her back. “Now, if you don’t go inside I don’t think I’ll ever stop kissing you!”

“Who said that was bad?” Leighanne laughed. “All right. I love you forever Brian. And that’s a long, long, time.”

“You got it!” he said, giving her a last kiss. “See you tomorrow!” Leighanne quietly shut the door and went inside. A scowl quickly suddenly covered her face.

“God, why does he have to be so freaking nice?” she muttered. She carelessly tossed the dress on her bed and flopped into a chair. “What am I going to do?” she asked the empty room.

Leighanne knew she wasn’t in love with Brian anymore. She loved him, yes, but she wasn’t in love with him. And that’s where Chris came in.

Chris. He was blonde, tall, athletic, had boy-next-door charm, and loved her. She knew much better than to cheat on Brian with one of Malia’s acquaintances, but she did it anyway. And now in about two hours he was coming to get her. “Shit,” she swore. Usually she lived for her secretive dates with Chris, loving the rush she got, and his passionate love for her, unlike Brian’s deep affection and everlasting trust.

“Screw Brian,” she decided. “He can go have sex with Malia, since that’s about all he cares about anyway.” She felt the guilt pangs resurface as soon as she spoke. Brian had never made any advances towards sex or Malia, but Leighanne was determined to find something mean to say. “All this talk about love and commitment . . . whatever. In a year we’ll both be famous and on the cover of every magazine . . . then this will all be worth it.” She dressed for her date with Chris, and when he came to pick her up she almost told him never to come back . . . but temptation won. You’re going to have to get rid of him and be happy with Brian again, her conscience persisted. She pushed all thoughts aside, set on having fun. “Screw Brian,” she muttered.

* * * * *

| Chapter Eight |