We were 30 minutes away from their hotel when Nick said, "Oh my gosh!"
We all looked at him. "What's wrong?" AJ asked.
"I really, really, really have to go to the bathroom. I thought I could hold it but, I just can't!"
AJ moaned, "Geez, your worse than a five year old!" He pulled into a gas station. After Nick 'relived' himself and AJ put gas in the truck we were on our way.
"Are you sure you guys want to do this?" AJ asked.
"Yeah...it'll be...fun," Vanessa said. When we pulled into the hotel parking lot I started to get nervous. I could tell Vanessa was too because she was tapping her finger nails together.
"Here we are ladies our wonderful home...for this week." AJ said opening the door for me and gesturing towards the hotel with his hand. I smiled and said, "Lovely."
Just then we saw two girls approaching us. It was Amanda and Mandy. "Well you guys are actually on time for once!" Mandy said. "Hi, I'm Mandy I know we got off on the wrong foot last time we met, but this time it's my pleasure to meet you...Vanessa right?" She said sounding kind of sarcastic. I couldn't really tell. She reached her hand out toward Vanessa and she took her hand and shook it.
"I'm Angela," I said as Mandy shook my hand as well.
"I didn't really get a chance to meet either of you yesterday. I'm Amanda," she said with a friendly smile. Vanessa and I smiled and shook her hand.
Amanda then turned to A.J and said, "Hey baby." She kissed him on the cheek and they both hugged. Tightly I might add much to my dismay. He smiled and said, "Hey thanks for coming." Mandy looked at Nick and said, "Yeah,hey what's up?" Nick shrugged.
"Well, we'll take you to our rooms so you guys can get to know each other. We just need to get ready and we'll be off in an hour or so." AJ said taking my hand and leading us all inside the hotel. We went to AJ's room and Nick took off to his to shower and change.
"Well go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. I'm just gonna go jump in the shower." AJ said then disappeared into the bathroom. We stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before we all took seats. Vanessa and I took the short couch while Amanda and Mandy took the chairs across. Because of the silence I heard the shower turn on.
When the phone started to ring AJ shouted from the bathroom, "Answer that for me, babe!" "Alright!" Amanda and I shouted at the same time. We looked at each other.
"Oh, I guess he must mean you," Amanda said sitting back down. Mandy started to snicker. I walked over to the phone that was by the bed.
"Hello?" I answered the phone.
"Uh...is this A.Js room?" A familiar voice with a cute southern drava asked.
"Yes it is. This is Angela, umm, is this Brian?" "Yeah. Hey, what's up? Can I speak with A.J please?" "He's in the shower right now. Do you want him to call you after he's out?" "No just tell him to meet us there at 5:30 so we can get situated. Oh and how is your, uh...meeting goine. Nick told me what's going on." "Oh it's...you know...going." I said looking at the three girls still sitting in silence.
"Nobody's talking are they?" he asked with a chuckle in his voice. "Exactly," I said.
"Well just tell AJ that and if needs to talk to me I'll be here at Leighanne's until about 5:00 okay." "Alright. Bye." I reluctantly made my way back to the girls.
"So I guess someone better say something if we are going to get anywhere close to knowing each other," Mandy said.
"So have the guys asked you girls to be their girlftiends yet. Or have you just decided to 'see' each other for awhile first?"
That question was kind of personal in my opinion. But I answered it confidently. "Well today AJ asked me to be his girlfriend." I tried to say with a smile on my face. I think my voice sounded forced friendly though. I didn't think it was any of her business.
"Nick and I are together as well," Vanessa said.
"Really?" I asked. "I didn't know that."
"Yeah. Isn't that sweet," she said, she looked happy. The other two sat there silently.
"Well that's nice," Amanda said. "I hope you guys are happy. Did AJ do his cute little dance for you yet?" she said with a dreamy look on her face.
"No...I don't think so," I said. I knew I shouldn't but anger and jealously was building up inside me. I mean it was only obvious she was in love with him. Not that I expected her to over him right away but she was the one who told him she had another man. Maybe I was jealous of the couple years that they spent together and the fact that at one point they were in love and they...well I didn't want to think of what else they did but I couldn't help it. Or maybe I was angry because she kept giving him those looks or because when she would talk about him she...just eww. I was giving myself a nice stomachache. I tried to calm down but she went and opened her mouth again.
"Oh. Look at the fish," she said picking up the bag on the table next to her. "One time A.J won me a fish at a carnival. He named it Wanda. Isn't that cute?"
I just about vomited. I needed to relax. I don't usually drink but I felt I needed a beer and a cigarette really bad. I excused myself fortunately for me AJ had his cigarettes laying on the bed. I took one and lit it.
"I thought you quit smoking?" Vanessa asked looking surprised.
"I just re-started," I said taking a drag and blowing it out. Oh, that is much better, I went and sat down.
"Well," Mandy said. "What do you guys plan to do when the guys go to New York next week?" "They're going to New York?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah they have this month off but they're still doing promotional stuff for their new album, ya know." "Oh," Vanessa said. "I did not know that. Well I guess well just have to wait and see." "Yeah I guess so," she sighed trying to act like she cared. "Oh I hope they don't mind or anything but my dad wants me to fly to New York with them then go back to Orlando. He said he wouldn't feel I was safe unless I was with Nick," she rolled her eyes. "I already told Nick he said he'd be happy to take me. He just wants to check with the rest of the guys first." "Oh," Vanessa said I could tell she was the one getting sick now.
Just then AJ walked out with a towel around his waist. Water was dripping off his hair and onto his back. "Forgot my boxers," he said and grabbed a pair. He looked at me; "You smoke?" I nodded. "Huh I would have never guessed," he said then disappeared again.
"Doesn't he look so sexy right when he gets out of the shower?" Amanda said, "He looks really sexy right after...well your find out someday," she said with a grin on her face. I didn't know if she thought I cared or what but now I knew for sure I was pissed. I finished the cigarette then went to the small fridge. I knew AJ had to have a beer in here. He did.
"Grab me one," Vanessa said. We sat there. AJ came out fully dressed. He was wearing leather pants and a tight black shirt. He picked up a brush and ran it through his hair. He then went to the closet and picked out a cowboy hot with a leopard print on it. As he turned around his eyes popped open.
"And you drink! That's my girl!" he walked over to me grabbed the beer and took a big 'ol swig. "Ah, how refreshing!" he handed it back. I told him what Brian said. It was 4:30 right now. Nick walked through the door. He was wearing baggy black pants and a big black sweater with a white shirt underneath. He had his beautiful blond locks parted down the middle. He looked really good.
"Hey Nicky. Thought you'd never show up," Mandy said. She looked really happy to see him. Vanessa rolled her eyes. Nobody saw her except me. I nudged her in the ribs.
"Scoot over! I want to sit next to my baby." I tried to scoot over so AJ could sit next to me but the couch was only made for two people. Vanessa wound up being pressed against the arm. Finally she just got up and sat on the bed. Nick joined her. When AJ gave me a kiss I could smell his cologne he smelled so good.
"Well," Amanda stood up. "I think I have an errand to run or something, I'll be back in a half hour or so..."
"We'll be gone by then," AJ said.
"I can always hang out with the boys some other time you know?" she said.
"But what if I, I mean what if we don't get to see you before we leave. We're going to New York in a couple days." AJ seemed desperate for her to stay.
Oh my god! Am I hearing right! AJ is so in love with her! I am so mad right now. I took another big drink of beer. I wondered if he was using me to make her jealous. I need to get out of here! I let go of AJs hand and stood up.
"Where you going babe?" he asked. Oh god he is so sexy.
"I need to go to the bathroom," I handed him the beer. He set it on the floor. I heard Amanda and Mandy leave as I got into the bathroom I splashed water an my cheeks and took deep breaths. I don't want to embarrass myself by causing a big jealous girlftiend scene in front of everyone.
I heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" I asked.
"It's me," Vanessa answered softly.
"Come in," I said.
"Can you believe them?" she whispered as she plops herself on the, toilet lid.
I crouched in front of her and whispered, "You noticed too?"
"Of course. Those girls want our men back. At least Nick hasn't showed any signs of wanting it..."
"But AJ..." I sighed and fell to my butt. "I am so bummed. He is so going to go running back to her."
"You think? I don't. He just needs awhile to fully get over her."
"I guess," I said. "But I doubt it." I stood up.
"Let's get out of here." We walked out of the bathroom. Vanessa sat back down next to Nick and I sat next to AJ.
"Oh I heard some news earlier. Guess whose supposed to be here?" Nick asked with a devilish grin. "*Nsync!"
"Oh my god! No way!" Vanessa said alittle too excited. When she realized how excited she sounded she quickly relaxed and said, "Really that's cool."
"Anyway, I don't remember ever being in the same hotel with them. I just hope I don't run into them anytime soon."
"Well Nick we must be off. Mandy and Amanda should be back in a half-hour. So they say. We'll be back in about three to four hours, that's if we can get away early. So give me a kiss and a hug and oh, here's my credit card in case you get hungry. There's a 24- hour buffet downstairs..."
"Are you serious?" I asked looking at the card he had put in my hand.
"Of course. I trust you. And if you see anything that you like at one of the gift shops...feel free to get it."
"Oh, AJ...no...I couldn't," I said handing the card back to him.
"Look I can't leave you here to starve now can I? Take it baby. I'd feel so much better." He took my hand and gently placed the card back into my hand. He leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss. He put his hand on my cheek and said, "I'm gonna miss you." I smiled. Maybe I had just imagined everything that had happened earlier. But I knew I hadn't-unfortunately. We walked out the door and Vanessa and Nick were kissing-okay well making out in the hall. "Hey break it up!" AJ said. "Lets go before we're late!"