AJ woke Saturday morning to the pleasant aroma of pancakes, eggs, and coffee. Although it would have been more pleasant if he had not had the immense, unavoidable pounding of 50 jackhammers in his head.

"I have got to stop doing this," he moaned, pressing the heel of his hand on the side of his head. After a few moments, the pounding lessened, and he slowly opened his eyes. It took a while for AJ to adjust to the brightness in the room, but when he did, he discovered he was in Brian and Kevin's rec room. There were bottles and paper plates all over the floor, as well as a few other things which he didn't recognize. The place was a mess.

AJ heard voices coming from the kitchen and heard something start to sizzle. The aroma began to float through the house, making his stomach turn over. He couldn't take it anymore. Jumping off the couch, and almost passing out from the sudden vertical movement, AJ raced to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just in time. After a few moments of heaving, he felt better. Groggy and a little sore, but less nauseous.
"I have got to stop doing this." he said, getting up and going to the guest room to get his toothbrush.

"So tell me why you're up so early again," Kat said, taking a sip of her coffee. She and Chris were in the kitchen, Chris making breakfast and Kat sitting at the table with her feet propped up on a nearby chair.
"It's not early," replied Chris. "It's only, what, eight thirty? And you know I don't sleep."

"Yeah, I know you don't. You never did." Kat shook her head. "I don't see how you do it. You get, like, two hours of sleep, if that, and you're wide awake all day long."

"Caffeine is a wonderful thing."Chris said, smiling. She flipped a few more pancakes and put the cooked ones on a plate in the center of the table. "There. Now if anyone gets up..."

Brian and Kevin walked into the kitchen. Chris stifled a laugh. Brian's hair was plastered against his head while Kevin's was sticking out at all angles.
"Morning fellas!" Kat chirped.
"Hey, Kat," said Kevin, yawning. "I can't believe we're up this early."
"It's not early,"chorused Chris and Kat, laughing.

Brian smiled. "Yeah, Kev. You forgot about Chris being up before dawn. It's late for her."

"You've got that right, Rok," said Chris. "Half the day's gone already."

Brian had a questioning look on his face. "What are you doing up at this time anyway? I thought you'd be sleeping until noon with all those daiquiris you had last night."
Chris looked at him in horror. "What!"
"Just joking, 'Riss. Just joking."Chris punched him on the arm.
"Don't do that to me. That's not funny."
Kat started to laugh. Chris glared at her.
"Do you see what I have to put up with?"
"Aw c'mon, Chris. You know you love them."
Brian smiled at Kat. "Thanks, Kat. I'm glad someone appreciates me."
"I didn't say I loved you."

Chris scowled. "You two are perfect for each other. Why don't you go live with her, Bri? She can be your new sister."
"No, dear, I don't think I could handle two beautiful women in my house. It's hard enough living with Emily."
"Bite me, Bri." Chris retorted.

"My aren't we in a good mood this morning." Brian teased, putting his arm around her. He knew she knew he was just goofing around. But that's the way they got along.

"So,"Kat said, clearing her throat. "What are everyone's plans for today?"

"Well," Kevin said, "I'm going to help Bri move his stuff to Emily's, and then I'm going to...uh...hmm. I'm not sure what I'm going to do then."

Brian shook his head. "You'll find something to do. Me, I'm going to whoop Em's butt at basketball and then we're going to go back and spend some quality time together. We might go up to the bedroom and--"

"Ugh!" Chris cried, putting her hands over her ears. "I don't want to know what you two are going to do. That's gross."

'Well, what are you going to do?" Chris looked him squarely in the eye. " I am going to do something productive ."

'Having sex is productive, 'Riss," interrupted Kat.

"Oh, for cryin' out loud. Not you too."

Kat smirked. "I am a horny little bitch at nine o'clock in the morning."

"Don't let Bone hear that. He's horny all the time."

"I am not,"said AJ, coming into the kitchen. He was feeling a lot better after his shower. Refreshed. Sober. Calm. But not ready to eat anything substantial. Coffee was going to be it.

Chris looked up when she heard his voice, the same voice that sent chills down her spine. The same voice that made her feel special when she listened to the CD's, when she watched him on television, when she saw him in concert. She'd never admit it to anyone that she had had a crush on him before she ever met him. And when she saw AJ fresh from the shower, dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a yellow t-shirt, smelling of Calvin Klein, Chris thought she would melt. Luckily, Brian still had his arm around her, so she didn't make a fool of herself.

"Lookin' good, Bone."said Brian. "What's the occassion?"

"Hey, Rok, I'm out to re-lax today." said AJ, pulling out the chair from under Kat's feet and turning it around so he was sitting on it backwards. They fell to the ground with a thud, and Kat slid down in her chair. "Hey! Why'd you do that?" Kat whined.

Kevin smiled and sat down, reaching for the plate of pancakes. He and AJ exchanged looks and AJ asked, "Is she always like this?"
"Only when she hasn't slept." replied Chris.

Kat got off the chair. "Fine. I'm leaving. Mom's gonna be wondering where I am anyway." She headed toward the door.
"Bye!" called AJ, waving. Kat stopped, turned around, and stuck her tongue out at him. Chris followed her to the door.
"Thanks for coming,"Chris said.

"Hey, no prob. I love you guys." Kat said. "Thanks for letting me come. I'2d better go, though. Mom knows I'm here, but I should really get back before she wakes up. That way she thinks I got in at a decent hour."
"Okay. So I'll see you later--"
"--this afternoon," Kat finished, laughing.

Chris shook her head, chuckling. "You're a nut. Get outta here."

Kat opened the door, turned back around to give Chris a hug. "Go for AJ. I think he likes you." she whispered. Then she stood up straight, saluted Chris, and skipped down the steps to her house across the street.
"What makes you think so, Kat?" Chris asked out loud. Then she closed the door and went back inside.

"So, how much did you have to drink last night, Bone?"asked Brian, pouring syrup on his pancakes.

AJ groaned. "Too much, Rok. Too much. I woke up this morning thinking I was dead." Kevin chuckled. "So does that mean that you're going to try and cut back now?"

"You know, I actually thought about trying that once. And then one of you guys had a party and it all went out the window." He reached for the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.
Brian gave Kevin a questioning look. Kevin nodded.
"So, uh, Bone. Wadda you think of 'Riss?"

AJ put his cup down abruptly. Too abruptly. "She's nice. But I haven't spent enough time with her to form a sound opinion."
"Oh, okay," said Brian, noticing the redness creeping up AJ's neck. Just then, Chris came back in.
"How's breakfast?" she said, pulling up a chair beside AJ. Oh, God help me. I think I'm gonna die.
"Great!" said Kevin, reaching for more pancakes. "I think I'm going to enjoy being home for a while.
"Yeah, well, don't think I'm going to do this all the time. This was just a welcome home breakfast."

"Oh, man!"said Brian. "And I was going to ask Emily if she wanted to stay here. Your cooking is better than hers anyday."

Chris laughed. AJ looked at her as she tossed her head back to shake out her hair. He noticed her radiant face, the way her eyes crinkled, the tinkling of bells that rang from her throat. And he saw the black and blue bump on the side of her head where she had hit it last night just before her hair covered it again. And from the look of concern on Kevin's face, AJ could see he saw it too.\
"What happened to your head, Chris?"asked Kevin.

"My head?" Chris repeated. "Oh, I hit it on the sink the other day. I dropped something on the floor and bent to pick it up. When I went to stand up, I hit my head. Just my own klutziness, I guess."
"And we all know you have a lot of it." said Brian.
"Oh, shut up Brian," she said, giving him a look.
"Actually, I have something I need to talk to you about. You know how you were dancing last night--"
"Oh, God." she groaned. "I don't want to be reminded about that. I felt so stupid."

"Dear, you have the worst confidence in the universe." Kevin said, reaching his hand across the table to grab hers. "We all noticed how smooth you looked. And we wanted to ask you if you wanted to dance for our next tour. It's not hard, and Rok and I have faith that you can do it."

"You have the moves, the looks, everything. We could even use you to sing for a song or two." Brian interjected.

Chris looked at them in shock. This was so unexpected. Why would they want someone like me? "Why would you want me?" It was something she had always wanted.
AJ noticed that she had started to shake. Why does she get so emotional? This is a wonderful opportunity.

" 'Riss, this is a wonderful opportunity. Brian and I think you should do it. We can get either Fatima to teach you, or one of us can." Kevin said. "Just think about it. We'd really like for you to join us, that is, if you feel you can."

"Chris looked at him with a fearful look in her eyes. Then she took a deep breath. Exhaled. "I would feel honored to dance with you. I would love to go on tour with you."

AJ felt his heart skip a beat. She's going to be on tour with us! Oh man, how am I going to restrain myself?
Brian and Kevin gave each other hi-fives. "Alright! Great! Now we just need to call--"
"No, don't call Fatima." AJ spoke up. "I know all the moves. I can teach her. And if you must call Fatima, she can watch and correct me if I'm teaching her the wrong stuff."

"Thanks, Bone. But I think we're going to call her anyway. That way Chris can meet her. However, if you feel you must show off your talent, then do." Brian said, smiling.

Chris looked at AJ and smiled. Even though she was shaking inside, she asked him anyway. "So, when's our first lesson?"
"How about today?"