SIXTEEN: AJ MANIA


Dedication: Life doesn't always turn out the way it seems, and sometimes things can get you down, but eventually, you'll find a reason to smile again.

This chapter is dedicated to Fionna; you know, it's funny, but if it wasn't for this story, i wouldn't have met you. Thanks for taking a chance and emailing me that day, cos there's not one day i'm not thankful i met you; you've become a good friend.

Shout out to Val; Hang in there, it'll be alright in the end. I'm here for ya!

It just goes to show, how Backstreet can bring people who would have probably never met otherwise, together...

Thanks so much, girlies, luv ya always, 

Saya


"Where are you going?" was the first thing out of his mouth right after our ritual breakfast run down for the upcoming days events.

"Downtown. I need a battery for my lap top" I mumbled through munching on a piece of partly buttered toast as I threw my cell in my blue tote bag. "Danner wants my prelim draft by Friday"

"I'll get someone to get it for you"

Excuse me? First he acts like he couldn’t care less and now he wants someone to get my own battery for me?

"They don't know the size or style"

"So? Just tell them"

"Why, do you want me to stay?"

"I don't want you to stay"

"Then why do you want someone else to go get my own lap top battery? I have legs, I can walk, I can take a cab"

He shook his head in disbelief "You need protection, a body guard"

I laughed as he shook his head as if I were announcing hair dyes were being deemed illegal by the law. "It's not gonna be funny when girls are gonna come and bitch slap you"

"I refuse to believe that they'll do that" she said firmly. "You're not that great, you know"

I know I went a little too far, but we've been arguing like this incessantly since that night. The day always starts off calmly enough, but once things get quiet, it starts.

"Look, take Rory, I'm sure you'll need him. You were complaining that time about the girls jumping on you in the hotel"

"I'll be fine, I don't need one, okay?" My head was spinning from all this arguing, as the whole room shook while silverchair seemed to plant themselves in my head.

He grabbed my wrist, just as I picked up my bag and began heading out the door.

"I'm telling you, take Rory. You need him if you want to go outside. I know best."

"AJ, please" I pleaded. "I've got a splitting headache, a report to write up and a mass of phone calls to return. I don't want a burly security guard following my every move, I just want to be by myself, okay?"

He scoffed as he pulled a pair of khaki pants over his boxers "You think I like doing this, Minna?" Seriousness eclipsed his usual media grin, catching me off guard. "I'm doing this because I know what it's like, not because I want to"

"I'll do fine on my own, thanks" I gritted. I shook my wrist free as I turned the door handle and left the room with an abrupt slam.


I got down town about half past twelve, give or take thecab taking a full forty minutes to get there from the hotel.

The streets were polluted by gas fumes, smog, food residue, and other undistinguishable burnt or otherwise eradicated garbage.

I was almost knocked over by a man in dark grey trench coat when I entered the store. He mumbled something incoherent as he rushed past, not even stopping to apologise.

Pocket calculators, electronic diaries, mobile phones and other electronic equipment were displayed in glass cabinets as I bypassed them and headed straight to the back of the store. Talk about the number of lap top batteries available, I was sure they would have gotten me the wrong one if I had let AJ do what he suggested.

I grabbed the battery and was heading to the counter when I heard muffled whispers from two girls standing in a corner looking at the latest model phones.

They quickly turned away and stated giggling when I looked over.

Placing it on the counter, I waited for the sales rep to serve behind the counter. I pasted a tired smile when she asked how I was, handing my Amex over.

She continued to smile, phoney, perky and irritating as she handed over the bag.

It was then that they approached me.

"Excuse me" the blonde one gushed as she held onto her friend's arm for dear life. "But are you Minerva Prescott?"

"AJ's girlfriend?" the brunette one with the barrette added quickly.

There was that icky term again; girlfriend. I wasn't even his friend, I wasn't his manager nor was I his publicist. I couldn't even be classified as a fan, how the hell was I 'the girlfriend'? Pearl Jam seemed to have pushed silverchair aside and decided residence in my head. Had I been on the sidewalk, I would have made a run for it. But they had cornered me where I had nowhere to hide and all I could do was twiddle my thumbs and hope for the best.

I grimaced as I decided whether to answer yes or no.

Finally I gave a weak nod as the blonde looked at the brunette like I had told them they had won Lotto. "Oh my god, you know AJ!" The brunette screamed.

"I'm Brianna" the blonde one introduced " And this is Becky, my best friend" she continued. "And we LOVE AJ! He's so sexy and he's got the best voice and everything!" the blonde squealed. I don't understand why they're screaming. One, I'm right in front of them and two, I'm nobody famous.

"Oh my god" the blonde gushed again as she clutched onto my purple work shirt. She started fanning herself with her hands as she took a deep breath.

I felt obliged to ask "Are you okay?" as she looked at her friend again and continued screaming. "Can I do something for you?"

"Oh, oh, can you take a picture with us?" the brunette one asked with excitement, wide eyed and hopeful.

"A photo?" Why would they want one of me? But before I could say anything more, the brunette had handed her disposable camera to the sales assistant behind the counter. She pulled me in the centre as she and her friend flanked on either side of me.

I hammed it up for the camera as best I could, but as you know, smiling is not my forte. I thought my mouth was going to be painted like Barbie’s, from stretching so much.

"Thanks, so much" Becky said gratefully. "I hope everything works out for you and AJ! You're so cute together!"

"Will you tell AJ we love him, and we loved their concert on Saturday? That was the best. Did you go?" The blonde girl didn't even take a breath as she asked the question.

"No" I must have sounded really blunt, 'cos they gave each other quizzical looks. "I was sick" I covered quickly as they nodded in all seriousness.

"But I'll tell him how much you loved the concert" I blurted. I don't know what possessed me to do that, but it seemed very important to the girls that AJ get the message it personally.

"Really?" the brunette one squealed. "Thanks sooo much, we really appreciate it!"

The blonde grabbed her friend's hand as they scampered outside. They waved back when they were outside, giggling still as they disappeared into the sea of people.

I stood there, holding my battery in the brown paper bag, in awe about what had just happened.

The first time, the girls at the hotel had not as much said two words before I was knocked over. This time, these girls wanted their picture taken. Was my claim to fame so important, that people would be impressed or even infuriated just by the fact of association?

I decided then and there, fame was screwed. If I was being recognised, purely for being AJ's girlfriend, what was I really worth? Would anyone ever take me for me?

 

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