Brian sulked, sinking down into the plush red velvet of the seat, and sighed softly.
On the red carpet outside of the arena, he had seen Justin with Beezus attetched to his side. Not that Danni had been well-behaved about the event. She had been a leech, not only to him, but to the cameras as well. She had pulled him towards twelve cameras, smiling brightly, and flirted with the male anchors until they interviewed the pair. Fifteen minutes of fame, if that is what Danni wanted, was what she had gotten; the walk from the limo to the doors had taken no more than twenty minutes and her face had been on national television eleven times.
Brian's eyes strayed from the darkened stage, searching the noisy audience. Beezus was sitting across the aisle and up a few rows, chatting merrily with four other girls, apparently dates of Justin's cohorts. The quartet of other girls were all sporting matching makeup (greasy and caked on) and dresses (scandelous scraps of glittering cloth), but Beezus was wearing the exact opposite style, a dark maroon Victorian gown, laced up in front, with a draping skirt and wide sleeves. She was beautiful in Brian's eyes.
"Bri, baby, I'm back!" Forcing a smile, Brian sat up straight and allowed Danni to squeeze past and sit in the seat next to his. He felt suddenly quilty about studying Beezus' looks in the presence of his girlfriend. AJ's comments pertaining to his credit card from weeks before had made an impact, and they presently echoed through his mind continuously. Danni had begged and pleaded for the tight-fitting silver dress for weeks, and when he remained stubborn, refusing to pay such a high price, she had resorted to physical abuse.
He shook his head, releasing the memory from his thoughts, and glanced at Danni. She sat rigid, her mouth curved in a stiff smile and her lips covered in sticky red lipstick, watching the stage as the house lights dimmed.
The Bacskstreet Boys won two awards, and NSync had one nomination, which they had lost to 98 Degrees. Beezus acted sympathetic towards Justin when they announced the winner, and glanced over towards Brian. His face was twisted into a scowl that no one would notice unless they spent enough time with him, and she sighed softly to herself. She silently hoped that the expression of displeasure was due to her, and not the nomination that the Backstreet Boys had lost to Linkin Park.
"And, as our last award of the evening, Sting will join Alanis Morisette to announce the best album of the year." Alanis, clad in a long, black gown, and Sting, dressed in a formal tuxedo, approached the podium together.
"The nominees," Sting began, "For best album of the year are as follows." Beezus clutched her tiny handbag in both hands as she listened to the four artists, sitting on the edge of her seat eagerly. Sting pulled the white envelope from the podium and handed it to Alanis.
"The winner is . . ." She tore it open, pulled out the card, and read it excitedly. "The Backstreet Boys, for their album Black and Blue!" The five members of the group rose to their feet quickly, embracing their dates and each other happily. Filing into the aisle, they made their way up to the stage, where Sting and Alanis shook their hands and hugged them.
"Wow, three awards in one night," Howie sighed, gazing at the statuette in his hand. "Again, I'd like to thank God, and my family. Also, my late sister Caroline for her love and support, and her protection as our gaurdian angel today." He moved aside, and Kevin stepped up to the microphone.
"Thank you to Kristin, I love you, baby, and my family, friends, and my mom. I love you, Mom!" He waved to the camera, smiling, and allowed Nick to take his turn.
"Um, thanks to everyone I haven't mentioned yet. You know who you are," he said, drumming his fingers on the podium. "I love you!" He pointed into the audience, at Hannah, a beautiful girl five years his junior. Beezus looked over, smiling to herself. Hannah sat, beaming, and clapped loudly with the rest of the crowd.
"Hey, thanks again to my mom, God, and you guys." AJ grinned mischieviously, and raised his sunglasses, resting them on the top of his head. "I'd also like to thank my very good friend, Beez, without whom I wouldn't have kept a level head and my feet on the ground. Thanks for letting my act like a lunatic, and then knocking me over the head for it later." The audience laughed, and Beezus sank lower in her chair, avoiding the jeering from Joey until Justin interviegned. She could have handled the situation with a harsh glare and several insults, but she was grateful to the ratfink all the same. Brian stood in front of his bandmates, his pale eyes searching the crowd, never stopping.
"I really only have one person to thank this time around," he said after a moment. He cleared his throat uncomfortably, and loosened his collar slightly. "And to that person, who is at this moment in the audience tonight, I have something to say. You are the reason I get up in the morning and sleep at night. You keep me going through the day, and couldn't bare to live without you in my life. I love you." Beezus held her breath as he spoke, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Her heart ached to be the one he was speaking of, but in the back of her mind she knew it was Danni, not her, who held his heart hostage.
Within twenty minutes, the entire arena had emptied, most of the celebrities and VIP's heading to the post-Grammy party in a nearby hotel. Beezus found herself seated at a small table in a corner of the room with Justin, JC, and Chris and their companions, watching people enter the room. Brian slipped in with Danni still clinging to his side, and made his way over to the bar, struggling through the crowd.
"Um, excuse me, Justin, but I have a close friend I need to congradulate," she said, standing up. "Do you mind?" He rose to his feet, his arm finding its way around her waist.
"Sure, who is she? We can go together," he suggested, scanning the room. Her heart dropped, and she shrugged his arm off, walking away from the table. AJ waved from the other side of the room.
"Um, well, it's AJ, actually. He's just over there. It'll only take a moment," she said flatly, starting to cross the room. A young woman with dark hair pulled up on top of her head leaned against AJ, her arm looped through his, and he whispered something into her ear. She nodded aggreably, without looking giggly or disappointed, and Beezus came to the conclusion that he was neither flirting nor brushing her off directly. AJ glanced up, and upon seeing Beezus, smiled a broad smile. He walked towards her, and the woman at his side followed a few paces behind.
"On second thought, Beezus, I'll, uh, I'll be over there," Justin announced, squirming away quickly. She grabbed the sleeve of his blazer and held him to the spot, smiling at AJ as he arrived.
"Hi, Beez. Hey, Justin." For once, AJ didn't hold a trace of spite or anger in his voice while addressing the younger man. "Gina, this is Beezus and Justin, Beez and Justin, this is my cousin Gina." Gina grinned, eager to meet her, and offered her hand politely.
"It is so great to finally meet you!" She glanced at AJ, and added, "Can you believe this punk would thank you and not his own cousin?"
"No, but he embarrassed me to no end," Beezus sighed, a trace of a smile lingering on her face. "He'll pay for it later, naturally."
"Hmm, let me keep that in mind. I'll have to be sure and stake out a good hiding place, won't I?" A noisy commotion roared from across the room, and both Justin and Gina turned to see what was going on. AJ took the oppourtunity and hooked his arm through Beezus', leading her away. "Oh, Beezus, may I steal you away a moment? If Gina and Justin don't mind, that is." Gina waved them away, grabbing Justin's hand and forcing it down as he tried to object.
"Hurry back, please," she whispered. AJ swept Beezus onto the dance floor, where a slow ballad was playing, and pulled her close.
"So what is so important that you just had to tell me right now?" she questioned with a smile. AJ returned the smile a moment, then allowed the expression to melt away, replaced with a seriousness that Beezus hadn't seen before in his eyes.
"You know Brian's sermon about his lady friend? How he couldn't live without her, et cetera, et cetera?"
"Yes. I sincerely hope that he and Danni are happy," she choked on her words, surpressing the sob that tried to rack her body. AJ shook his head, sighing softly under his breath.
"You're really very stupid, aren't you?" It was more of a statement than a question, but she knew what he was alluding to. "There the poor guy was, standing on stage in front of thousands upon thousands of people, pouring his heart out to you and you alone, and you are too damn stubborn to know that you are the only one he loves? The boy is head over heels in love with you! Get your ass over there and ask him to spill his guts." She stuttered for a reply, catching Brian's longing gaze over AJ's shoulder, and felt a tear slip unchecked down her cheek.
"I....That was for....For me?" she asked meekly, her voice barely above a whisper. Self-conciously she wiped away the tear. "Where is the little asshole, anyway?" AJ nodded, turning so that she could face Brian directly.
"He's right there." He sensed Beezus's body begin to tremor at the sight of him, and he closed his eyes. "I suppose it's time to switch dance partners, wouldn't you say?" He lead her over to where Danni was draping herself over Brian, her cheek resting on his shoulder and her eyes closed. Pushing Beezus towards Brian, he grabbed Dannielle and swung her away quickly before she caused a scene. Beezus took Brian's hand and stepped closer, glancing around at the few couples who took notice.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, following her lead and pulling her close.
"You can stop the dumb blonde act," she answered, rested her chin on his shoulder. "I know. You can't hide your dirty little secret from me any longer."
"Why did you come with Justin anyway?" he said, changing the subject hastily. "I thought you hated him as much as you hated me."
"I do hate him as much as I hated you," she replied simply. "I needed to use his celebrity status to get your confession."
"You hate Justin but hated, in the past tense, me? Your hatred for me has deceased?" The questions that had been building up within him were rapidly pouring out at a rate he couldn't control. "And 'fess up to what?"
"Interesting," she mused, taking pleasure in having Brian in her arms at last. "He plays a fool in the drama of life. I believe that you're smarter than you let on, dear. You know you love me. Admit it."
"Only if I know that you love me as well," he countered. "Admit it." She sighed, keeping as close to his body as possible.
"All right, fine, yes. I love you." She pulled away slightly, raising an eyebrow at him. "But I just want to know when you decided when I wasn't a horrid bitch?"
"When did you decide that I wasn't a satanic creep?"
"I asked first," she pouted. "But AJ opened my eyes to it last week." Brian eyed her, a smile tickling the corners of his mouth. "Okay, okay, maybe I'm being a tad bit over-dramatic. It was the night we were locked up together, when you put your sweatshirt over me. I walked out of there . . . And I thought too much."
"Oh."
"And you? When did you realize what a gorgeous being I am?" He chuckled, enjoying the moment immensely. He pressed his mouth close to her ear, closing his eyes.
"From the first day that I saw your smiling face," he whispered. "Honey, I knew that we would be together forever."
"How cheesy," she smirked. "Couldn't even think up your own line, could you?"
"That's why we have people to write songs for us." A shrill scream rang out over the music.
"Bri, Baby! What the hell are you doing with that?" Danni had discovered the reason for her being whisked away from her boyfriend so suddenly. "You said tonight in that speech that you loved me!" Brian sighed, pulling Beezus' hands down from his shoulders and holding them protectively.
"Dannielle, you know that I never loved you." Her jaw dropped, and a look of faux dispair became etched on her face. "And you never loved me."
"But, baby, I--"
"You loved my fame, my money, and maybe even my talents. I thought I loved you. I was wrong, and you know that. You always knew that." Anger flared up in her eyes, and her jaw snapped shut and clenched.
"Well, I hope you're happy with that . . .That whore," she yelped, "Because I am sure as hell not coming back to you, not ever." She stormed off in a huff, pushing her way through the crowd. She tripped over someone's shoes, falling into a pair of arms. "Watch it, bitch. I oughtta--Oh, Justin, hello." She stood up, adjusting her mini-dress quickly. Justin looked up at her, forgetting about Beezus all together.
"Um, it's Danni, right?" She nodded, stepping forward and pushing her chest out towards him.
"I would absolutely love that, Justin," she said, her lips closing in a pout.
"Love what?" he asked, a look of confusion settling into his eyes. She hooked her arm through his, guiding him towards the door.
"Why, enjoy a late dinner with you, of course," she giggled. "I just knew you were going to ask me. So very thoughtful of you." She batted her eyelashed suggestively as they exited the building. "I hear that Les Deux Magots, that expensive new French bistro downtown has wonderful escargot. . . ."
(For the record, Les Deux Magots (Lay Duh Magg-Oh) is a real resteraunt in Paris, and directly translated means, "the two maggots". Escargot (Ess-Car-Go)is snails, a delicacy in France.)