Falling Apart©

By Meg Galganowicz

Chapter 1: Meeting The Gang

Jake poked his head around the door. “Aly, please tell me you weren’t drunk last night.”

“Excuse me?” she exclaimed, dropping her book on her already cluttered desk.

He chuckled. “There’s some guy on the phone named Joey.”

Aly thought for a moment. “Joey…oh, yeah, hang on.”

Jake nodded and left. A few moments later she walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone. “Hey, Joe. What’s up?”

“Not much here sweet thing. How are you this afternoon?”

“Good thanks.” She grabbed a piece of a bagel Jake was making and smiled innocently.

“You interested in getting together?”

“Depends when.”

“How does tomorrow evening sound?”

Aly paused and thought. “Should be fine. What time and what’d you have in mind?”

“Maybe around eight?”

“Okay.”

“Dancing? Or, we could catch a movie if you’d rather,” he hastily added.

“Dancing is fine, Joe. Same club?”

“Who is this person?” Jake asked, as he munched on the last of his bagel.

Aly put a hand on the receiver. “Will you shut up!” she laughed.

“Why don’t I pick you up so he can relax?” Joey proposed.

“Uh, hang on.” Aly turned back to Jake. “He wants to know if he should pick me up so that you can ‘relax’ – as he put it.”

“Ugh, makes me feel like your dad. No, that’s fine, I trust your judgement.”

Aly’s eyes danced. “That’s okay, Joe. But why don’t I pick you up.”

“Uh…”

“Uh-oh, Joey’s unprepared for sudden movement!” came a cry from somewhere in the background.

Aly chuckled as she heard Joey hit someone and sighed. “Oh come on,” she pleaded. “I want to meet these friends you talked about.”

“Whatever the lady wishes.”

“Good. I need an address, Joe, in order to get there.”

“Damn, sorry.” Joey quickly gave her an address and they agreed for her to come by at around seven-thirty so that she could meet everyone. “So I will see you tomorrow,” he finished sweetly.

Aly blushed lightly at his gentle tone. “Bye, Joe.”

“Somebody’s got a crush,” Jake said in a singsong voice, as she hung up.

“Ah! I most certainly do not.” She laughed, “It’s incredibly funny how much of a flirt he actually is though.”

“So you’ll be leaving around seven tomorrow?”

Aly nodded.

Jake casually walked by, a small smile on his face, as he headed for the living room that connected. “I’m actually going to be leaving around six.”

She was immediately at his heels. “Why?” she droned, prying.

“Because I have a date.”

“You?” she cried in surprised.

“Why is that so hard to believe? Not cute enough for you?” he teased, pinching her side.

Aly squealed and swatted his shoulder. “You know you’re hot, we’ve been through that,” she replied. “But you haven’t gone out with anyone since…Andrea.”

He sighed at the mention of his former fiancé. “I know. And to be honest I’m quite lonely.”

She gazed up at him sadly, heart reaching out to him.

“Now stop looking at me like that,” he requested, a smile etched into his strong face.

“Pardon?”

“You look like an adult when you do that,” he mused.

Crossing her arms over her chest she retorted, “And why is that so wrong?”

Jake looked at her sternly. “Because a) you’re not my mother, and b) you’re a teenager – you need to have a little fun and chill out.”

Aly finally consented. He was 27, almost as old as her cousin, and he was single. Her focus roamed back to his date. “Who is she?” she finally asked coyly.

He chuckled. ‘Why should I tell you?”

“Because you love me and I want to know.”

Glancing at his watch he replied, “Kaylie. I’ve got another clinic at four, so I’ve got to get back to the club.”

“Shy guy,” Aly teased. “I’ll do dinner tonight. Oh, and say hi to Riley for me.”

“Riley, hm?” he inquired, raising his eyebrows in question.

She blushed. “I thought you had to go?”

“And I’ll make sure to say hi to Riley as well.” Jake grinned mischievously at her and grabbed his keys. “See you later, hun!” he called over his shoulder.

Aly shifted the pasta into the strainer in the sink and went to check on the chicken in the oven. She bobbed her head to the latest pop single as it blared through the radio. The front door opened and she reached over to turn down the music. “Dinner in about five minutes!” she called.

“Smells good.”

She spun around and smiled nervously. “Thanks. I just hope the chicken is eatable.”

“I’m sure everything will be perfectly fine.”

Jake came in and grinned wickedly. “Hope you don’t mind if I brought a friend.”

Aly glared at him and chortled, “What am I, you’re wife? Thank you, no.”

“He’s right, it smell’s great,” he continued.

“Stop trying to suck up, Jake. I’ve got two men to feed now. I’m hoping this is enough.”

Riley sat down on a stool at the island. “Didn’t mean to be an inconvenience Miss Grey.”

Aly stopped what she was doing to the chicken and faced him, finally daring to meet his warm eyes. “Miss Grey? Am I a spinster at nineteen or something? I love your manners, Riley, but we’re friends, you can chill.”

Jake burst out laughing. “I think you’ve been working too hard. I’ll take it from here.” He grabbed plates and put the pasta back in the pot to serve up.

“Don’t even think you’re getting out of doing dishes,” Aly accused, pointing a knife at him.

“Damn it…”

“You two squabble like any regular couple,” Riley commented.

“He’s almost ten freakin’ years older than me!” Aly retorted indignantly.

“Stop waving that damn knife around and just cut the chicken!” Jake cried, laughing. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. You need to chill out.”

“Is this the whole adult lecture again?” Riley asked, grinning childishly, his glance flitting from one to the other.

“God help me to get through an evening with you two,” she muttered.

Dinner finally made it to the table, then taking another hour to finish. Riley and Jake had fun poking at Aly, and she in turn with the fact that both of them were single. Though Riley was younger, he was still 23 and Aly figured he should at least have some sort of girlfriend.

“There’s just something a bit wrong when two good-looking guys hang around having dinner with me,” Aly stated, picking up her plate and carrying it over to the counter by the sink. They were eating at the island in the middle of the kitchen and she had been across from the two of them. Now they both swiveled in their seats to look at her. Jake’s face was annoyed, but Riley’s more shocked.

“Aly,” Jake began, in his usual stern tone.

“Oh, spare me the lecture when company’s around, would you? I’m sure he doesn’t need to hear it.”

Riley cleared his throat. “I’m not exactly sure what you’re talking about, Aly, but you are a gorgeous young woman. We should be the lucky ones.” His words were blunt and honest, catching her off guard.

“Well I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been the object of anyone’s affection,” she returned bitterly.

“I find that hard to believe.”

Jake sighed. “’Fraid she’s right, and it’s partially my fault. She became so dedicated to her game that guys became an annoyance. All because I told her she had real potential.”

Aly made a strange noise in her throat. “But look at me now Jake, look at me now. In a few years I’ll graduate from a top university and go on to pursue my dream. I’d say it was worth it.” She smiled in thanks to him.

He stood and patted her shoulder. “You two go occupy yourselves while I do these.”

“Jake,” Aly groaned. “Will you stop trying to fix us up. For Christ’s sake he’s standing right there!”

Riley let out a low rumble of laughter that made Aly smile at him. “Good point. What do you want me to do exactly, go make out with her or something?”

Aly laughed and went to take a last drink.

“Not a bad thought,” Jake teased, causing Aly to choke.

She slapped his back. “You’ll have to settle for a friendly game of Go Fish, k?”

“That hurt!” he moaned, rotating his shoulder blades.

“Good, that was the point. Just get Kaylie to massage your back tomorrow night, I’m sure she’ll be more than thrilled.”

Aly and Riley played out a championship of Go Fish until it was around ten. She yawned, then blushed and covered her mouth. “Sowwy…”

“’S okay. I should be getting home anyway. I have to be up early tomorrow for a lesson.”

“Good point, I’ve got a match at ten, so I should get some good sleep tonight.” She picked up the deck of cards and took the ones that he handed her, placing them back on the coffee table.

Riley stood and stretched, then put his hands out to help her up. Aly gladly accepted, a shy smiled curling her lips. “Thank you for a delightful evening, and a great dinner.”

“You are most certainly welcome. Come on, I’ll walk you out.” Aly grabbed his keys from the counter and tossed them at him as they made their way to the front door. Jake had gone to his room an hour earlier, claiming he wanted to call Kaylie. Reaching the door she shied back a bit, suddenly unsure of the situation.

“We…should do this again some time…” he started.

Aly looked up at him and saw the expression in his face, read his eyes. “You say that, but you know we won’t.” She smiled sadly. “The age is too much of a difference at this point I think, I’m sorry.”

Riley reached out and stroked her cheek. “Don’t be. Wait a few years and we’ll give it another go, how does that sound?”

“It sounds great.”

“Good.” He bent over and placed a tender, simple kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering ever so slightly. “Thanks again. I guess I’ll see you out on the courts tomorrow then.”

“Definitely. Maybe I’ll come help out again with those little tikes.”

“Oh please! I need all the help I can get with those ones. They are full of too much energy.” He opened the door.

“Right. Goodnight, Riley.”

“’Night, Aly.” His smile was eager, and Aly knew he’d meant what he’d said.

Aly straightened her top one last time as she rang the bell of the apartment. Her hair was tucked back in a half ponytail, but one shorter curl hung down in front of her face on the left side. Tight black pants clung to her shapely legs, meeting the black high-heeled boots that she wore – though they only came to her ankles. She’d selected one of her favorite tops for the evening, knowing ahead of time that she’d need to make a good impression. It was a tight silver, strappy tank top, with little butterflies where the strap met the rest of the shirt in front.

The door opened and music was heard as it flowed throughout. A young man about her height stood before her, his gentle green eyes full of momentary confusion. She smiled shyly and gave him a small wave. “Hi. I’m looking for Joey.”

“Oh, hang on.” The guy stepped away from the door and called out to his friend, who very soon appeared by his side.

“Wow…Aly, you look amazing,” he complimented her. He himself was decked out in a pair of baggy blue Jeans topped off by a black shirt that covered a tight white wife-beater.

She raised an eyebrow and smiled coyly at him. “Not so bad yourself, Superman.”

“Thank you, thank you. Come on in, I’ll go get Chris.” He disappeared for a moment, then re-appeared with another guy, older this time. “Aly, this is Chris Kirkpatrick. Chris, this is Aly Grey.”

“Nice to meet you,” he offered, putting out his hand.

Aly took it in a firm grasp. “Likewise.”

Someone cleared their throat and Aly turned to the first young man who had opened the door. “Joey….”

“Shit, sorry. This guy here is Lance Bass. Lance, Aly.”

The two shook hands and exchanged warm smiles. He’s kind of adorable, she thought as she watched him wander away toward the TV once more.

She is really cute…I love that hair, Lance mused as he walked away. He sat down next to another curly-haired young guy, whom Aly eyed as he pounded away at his keypad.

“Damn it!” he cried, tossing it down in disgust as he lost.

“Yo, Justin, come ‘ere!” Joey exclaimed.

The guy stood up and walked over, immediately blushing when he realized the company that they had. “Oh, sorry about that. Justin Timberlake,” he told her, putting out his hand.

“Well, hey Justin. You certainly are a gentleman. How old are you?”

“Fifteen. I’ll be sixteen in January.” There was a glint of pride in his eyes, though he was clearly the youngest of the group.

“Wow. You’re pretty grown up for your age. I had a friend when I was in high school who’s about your age, but he was beyond immature,” Aly confided, trying to treat him as though he were her own age. He grinned and looked to Joey and Chris for approval. Aly, meanwhile, glanced around the room to see Lance had settled into some paperwork – Odd for someone his age…she thought, figuring he was about a year or two younger than herself. On a couch, off to the side, sort of in a little sitting room, was another young man sprawled out. He was most completely asleep, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. “And who would sleeping beauty be, hm?” she inquired, turning her questioning gaze back to her date.

Joey glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. “That’s Mr. Chasez, a.k.a. JC.”

“He’ll sleep any chance he gets,” Chris added.

Aly smiled knowingly. “Sounds like my roommate at college.”

“Where do you go?”

“Stanford, back in Cali.”

“Wow, you snagged a smart one this time, Joey!” Chris exclaimed.

Aly giggled. “Why don’t we get going? I can see I’m not going to get to meet the last of you,” she sighed, flitting her eyes to the lone figure on the couch once more. I wish I could see his eyes. She sighed and her gaze once more connected with Joey. There weren’t any sparks, but there was a sparkle of what could be a good friendship. Over her years of meeting people and being turned away, she had learned to see them by their eyes. A polite gaze, a tender sparkle, or friendly warmth – like Joey and his friends.

“Sounds good to me, I’m anxious to get on the floor,” Joey replied, moving his hips from side to side.

Aly smiled at grabbed his hand. “Come on, loverboy, let’s go before we end up staying here and watching a movie. No offense guys, but I just spent half my day indoors and it’s killed me.”

Chris held up his hands in defense. “Hey, no offense taken, I understand.”

“Bye Aly,” Justin called, from his position on the floor with Lance as they battled it out at video games.

Such a sweetie. “Bye Justin. See ya Lance.”

He blushed, but only Justin could see him. “See ya, Aly.”

Joey waved a final goodbye and pulled the door closed behind them. “So…….What’d ya think?” he asked, as they walked out of the building toward her car.

“I like them. All of them. Though I really would have liked to see his eyes,” she muttered.

“Huh?”

“Nothing. I just have this strange thing where I like to see someone’s eyes when I meet them. There’s nothing more torturing than someone not looking me in the eye, especially with guys.” They both climbed in and Aly turned down the radio. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” He was silent for a moment, then asked, “What do you see when you look at people’s eyes?”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Just general stuff. I mean, there were guys that I met all through tennis that would smile, shake my hand…but their eyes. The cold expression in their eyes gave them dead away. There are all sorts of different things you can tell by someone’s eyes. It also depends on what you feel when you look into them.”

“Whoa…you certainly do think this all over don’t you?”

“Sorry.” She gave a tired sigh. “I just…I love to think about stuff, and I’m a psych major at the moment, so I enjoy delving into people and what makes them tick.”

Joey thought a moment, wondering if he wanted the answer to his next question. You already know what the answer is, so just ask. “What do you see in mine?”

Aly was silent, eyes focused forward on the road.

“Aly?”

“Honestly?”

He nodded.

“A friendly warmth, something that could be a great friendship,” she answered quietly. “I’m sorry, Joe.”

“Hey, no problem.”

“I just…you aren’t exactly-“

“You’re type. Hey, same here babe!” he laughed. “Damn, imagine this. Not even really out on our date yet and we’ve already established this!”

“Yes, but think of all the more fun we can have dancing,” she hinted, wiggling her eyebrows and smiling demurely.

“You want to come and hang out for a bit?” Joey asked, motioning to the apartment. The pair had danced for several hours, but as the floor became more and more crowded Aly found that she couldn’t stand it. Her head spun and she almost fainted. Joey insisted on stopping and making sure that she made it home all right. Aly consented to leaving the club, but told him she’d be fine as soon as she got some fresh air. They had walked around for a bit, then gotten back in her car, Aly driving back to his apartment.

Aly hesitated, and then smiled shyly. “Sure. Maybe I can get to know the guys?”

Joey laughed as he grabbed her hand. “I’m sure they’d love that. But I’ll tell you this, JC is prolly asleep and I’ll warn you about Chris in advance.”

“Why?” Aly followed him in and they walked toward the elevator.

“Coz he’s crazy!” he exclaimed.

Aly laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Then we should get along great.” They reached the guys’ floor and walked down the hall, still holding hands. Music could be faintly heard, though it was indecipherable where exactly it was coming from. Joey started going a little two-step as they went, a cheeky grin on his face. She giggled at his antics. “Come on, Superman, people are going to come out to see what lunatic is making a fool of themselves and I’d rather not be the one they see.”

Joey pulled another face, but walked the few remaining feet to the door. Grabbing his key he swiftly unlocked it. What on earth are they doing? He wondered, hearing the music from inside clearly now. “Welcome once again, my lady,” he said, bowing sharply at the waist and motioning to the open door.

“Thank you, thank you.” She patted his head and stepped inside, only to chuckle at what she saw. “Joe…you might want to uh…come see this.”

Joey moved beside her to see what it was and gaped. “What the hell…”

The four guys had the stereo up loud and were singing along to The Foundations. Lance was dancing with a mop, and Chris was swinging his arms around aimlessly in the air as he stood atop the couch facing the window. Justin was pretending to sing into a makeshift microphone, while providing echo for JC as he sang.

“And worst of all.”

“Worst of all.”

“You never call baby when you say you will.”

“But I got you still.”

“I need you.”

“I need you.”

“More than anyone darlin’.”

Taking two steps over to his nearest friend, Joey tapped him on the shoulder. “Yo, JC…”

JC glanced over his shoulder. His face went pink and he immediately stopped singing. Justin however, continued. “So build me up, Buttercup, don’t break my heart.”

Joey began hysterically laughing at his friends, and Aly couldn’t help but chuckle, though she refrained from actually laughing. “Guys, that has got to be one of the stupidest, weirdest things you’ve ever done.”

“Joe! You’re home!” Chris cried joyously. He ran over and threw his arms around his friend, then pulled back and in a falsetto voice continued, “I was getting worried darling.”

Aly couldn’t take it anymore. Between the expression on Joey’s face, and the other three flushed faces that stood around the room, it was too much. She fell back into an armchair, laughing until her sides hurt. Soon, though, all five guys were in hysterics along with her. Lance propped the mop up against the wall and Justin put down the wooden spoon he had. They all sat down miscellaneously around the small living room, finally quieting down.

JC held out his hand to Aly from his position next to her on the couch. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced. JC Chasez.”

“Alison Grey.” She took his hand in a firm grip.

“Pleasure to meet you, Alison.”

“Aly, please…Alison makes me feel funny. Only my mom called me that.”

JC nodded, though curious as to why that would be a bad thing. “Sorry about…”

“Hey, doesn’t bother me! My roommate and I do it sometimes, but kinda worse, coz we can’t sing. At least you guys have good vocals and harmonies. Sleeping beauty has a good voice, Joe,” she commented, turning to her friend who sat on her other side.

“We aren’t that great,” Lance said hesitantly.

“Wait…Sleeping Beauty?” JC asked, puzzled.

“Oh come on. Not that great even though you’ve got a recording contract and were the biggest thing to hit Germany last year?” she inquired, cocking her head at him, her eyes dancing.

Lance started, and Justin stared at her, as did Joey, Chris, and JC.

“Wait a minute…” JC started.

Aly turned her sweet gaze on him and for a moment the two were trapped, but she explained herself. “I went over with a group from school for my spring break last year and heard you guys on the radio. Even caught you doing a performance at a mall.”

“Aha…” Chris finally spoke.

“Now…back to this whole Sleeping Beauty-“ JC jumped in.

Aly giggled and felt herself blush lightly at her slip. “You were sleeping when I came before, I duno, you just reminded me of Sleeping Beauty. Don’t ask, I make strange connections.”

As the evening wore on everyone told stories about childhood and Aly made each of them laugh as she used their nicknames easily in conversation. She very quickly grew comfortable with the group. It reminded her of some of the friends she’d had in high school. They all wandered into the kitchen, a bit whacked, to get something to drink.

Aly sighed. “Do you have some crackers or something?” she asked hopefully.

“Why?” Justin asked.

“Coz I haven’t had anything to eat all day and I’m hungry!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down like a little child who needed a nap.

“Whoa! I’m not getting in her way!” JC exclaimed, stepping out of the kitchen, followed by Joey and Chris who held up their arms in surrender fashion.

Aly laughed, but glanced from Lance to Justin. “Crackers?” Her face was soft and weak.

Lance reached into a cupboard and grabbed a box of crackers as Justin found some cheese in the refrigerator. “Snack time,” Lance replied, pulling a knife from the drawer.

Aly jumped up and down and clapped her hands in a childish manner. “Yay!”

“But…. you have to help us come up with a nickname for ya,” Justin added with a sly grin, taking the knife and crackers from Lance. He walked backward toward the other room, Aly following him with an eager expression.

“Hey guys, check this out!” Justin yelled over his shoulder. He lifted everything in the air; Aly’s head went up. He put it all to his left, Aly’s head followed suite.

“Aw, Curly, just give her the crackers!” JC cried in her defense.

Aly jumped, catching Justin off-guard, and knocked him down, grabbing the cheese, crackers, and knife in the process. Quickly and agilely she dashed off and curled up next to JC on the love seat, grinning from ear to ear.

“That hurt by the way,” Justin moaned from the floor behind the longer couch.

“Oh well, you’re a big boy pop star, you can take a little beating now and then.”

Chris slapped her a high five for her last comment and Joey began dealing everyone a new hand for the next round in their game of cards. Aly smiled as she settled in contentedly between Lance and Chris. Justin is actually kind of mature for his age, and Lance…wow…then you’ve got my partner in crime, Joey. This could be a lot of fun.

A few rounds later and JC tossed his cards on the table in frustration. “I give up! I suck at this!”

Aly laughed and patted his knee absently, not realizing the spark of electricity she sent through his body. “Chill, Sleepy. I should really stop with this cheese,” she decided, putting it down on the coffee table to her right. “Can’t afford the pounds with this figure,” she muttered to herself.

“What was that, Al?” Chris asked, staring at her.

She sighed. “Never mind.”

“Noo…” Joey added. “Talk.”

“Well look at me, I’m not exactly a supermodel! Not that I’d want to look like that, ick, too thin. But…I duno…”

JC’s jaw dropped in shock. “No figure?!”

“Girl, when was the last time you looked in a mirror?” Justin asked. He gave her a sideways grin, and she chuckled at the hormonal side of him that was finally coming out.

Aly paused and thought. Glancing at her watch she replied, “About…6 hours ago.” Chris grabbed her hand and pulled her after him to a bedroom. “Excuse me?”

Laughter was heard from the living room, but Chris merely smiled like a Cheshire cat and opened the bathroom door. “Now, I want you to look at that mirror and tell me what you see,” he demanded, but in a comforting, fatherly tone. He was standing behind her, facing the back of the closed door, which had a full-length mirror hanging on it.

Aly sighed, and a sad smile spread across her face. “I see a young woman who is lost and whose confidence is on the downfall along with her game.” Closing her eyes she looked away, so as not to face the older man.

Chris was shocked at what she had said. Taking her hand gently he replied, “No. I see a confident, spunky young woman, who is quickly winning the hearts of 4 gentlemen tonight – and one teenager.”

She managed a smile and turned her head to look up at him. “You remind me of my dad…”

Before Chris had a chance to reply there was a knock at the door. “You two coming out anytime soon?”

Chris and Aly wandered out and back to the living room, Aly taking her seat next to JC again on the loveseat absentmindedly. “Are we going to continue playing? Or shall we find something else to do?”

“Tell us more about yourself, Aly,” Lance requested.

“What do you want to know?” she returned, running a hand through her hair as she let it down. The fine strands fell over her shoulder and down the side of her face.

Joey smiled. “Any brothers or sisters?”

She shook her head.

JC looked pensive for a moment, and then cocked his head. “How about tennis? There’s got to be a lot more than what you told us so far.”

Aly’s eyes lit up and the guys knew JC had hit upon her strength. “Where should I start?”

“The beginning usually works well for me…” Chris hinted.

She playfully smacked his head from her seat next to him. “I started when I was 6, and was horrible. My coach told my mom, after a few lessons, that I was a natural, born to play the game. I beamed with pride, though I’d only managed to hit a total of 20 balls in three lessons.”

“Geez…” Chris whistled.

“You think you could have done better?” Lance teased.

“I could!” Justin cried.

“Shut up Wonderboy, you can do anything, so you don’t count.” Aly pouted and sat back on the couch.

“I’m sowwy, Aly…continue, promise I won’t interrupt.”

Aly nodded and a grin once again spread across her simple features. “I only played during the summer my first year. But by the second summer my coach, Jake, told me I should try playing during the winter as well, saying I could improve so much more that way. So I did, I followed him to his club during the winter. That was until he started going south to Florida, I couldn’t follow him that far, school and all.” She took a sip of her wine and continued, smirking at the meal of pizza and wine momentarily. “Another 2 years later he asked I if I was ready to start tournaments, but I wasn’t sure, so we decided to hold off and allow for more match-play experience. Jake was great, because he set me up with one of the best pros up in Connecticut when he moved to Florida, but I still missed being able to work with him. The next summer he took me to my first tournament, and I can’t even begin to explain how nervous I was. But at the same time there was part of me that knew it was where I belonged.” Aly glanced around and chuckled at the attentive faces watching her. “I’m not boring you all to death, am I?”

“No, of course not!”

“Okay…anyway…I guess it’s sort of like any of you and performing up on stage, it’s where your heart feels at home.” JC nodded, and Aly knew that her assumption was correct. “I continued to play tournaments from then on, even during school.”

“Did you ever leave school to make a tournament?” Justin asked.

“Only a few times, but not until I had been in them for 2 years. Once I was 16 I could drive myself and I was able to get to New York and Massachusetts for tournaments, which enabled me to get a ranking at that age. For my sweet sixteen my parents surprised me with two plane tickets-”

“-to Florida,” Lance finished.

“Yes, to Florida. They sent me down to work with Jake during my spring break, and that summer I was ready to compete in the US Open Juniors Tournament.” She sighed and looked at her hands, which lay in her lap. “That was some of the toughest tennis I had ever played. International players, so much better than myself, were hitting stuff at me that I hadn’t thought possible. I managed to qualify and make it through the first week, but then I lost.” JC put a supportive hand on the back of her shoulder. The action surprised Aly, but she tried not to show it and continued. “After that I began to think that I couldn’t truly make it as a professional. Jake moved back up for that winter and promised to work with me more, but only if I made him a promise.”

“That you wouldn’t give up and you’d work hard,” Lance filled in.

Joey stared at him. “Are you psychic or something?”

Aly laughed. “Sure seems that way, huh? Anyway…that pretty much brings me to the present. But I haven’t done well in tournaments ever since, and my strive to win is lacking sometimes. It’s lonely at tournaments because Jake has gone back to Florida permanently and I never really got attached to any pros that worked in Connecticut. I’ve lost my edge,” she said sadly.

JC sat quietly, listening intently to her story. He felt as if there was something else behind the past 2 years that she wasn’t telling them. Joey was the same way, but he thought he knew what was missing. There was no family. Besides her parents sending her down for her 16^th birthday, and the mention of her mother in the beginning, her family hadn’t been a part of any of it. There was no mention of support, or the love from them that pulled her through - it was only Jake.

“You okay, Al?” Chris asked, gazing up at her from his spot on the floor.

She gave him a weak smile, “Yeah, Chris, I’m fine. Well, that’s that story…anything else?”

“Well, where does Superman fit in to all of this?” Joey questioned.

Aly laughed suddenly and Justin was relieved to see an honest smile on her face again. “I had a Superman patch in my racquet bag starting around age 9 I believe, and it’s been there ever since. Even when I got a new bag, I pulled it off the old one and put it in the new.”

“Yay!” Joey did a little dance in his seat, which made Aly chuckle and pat his head.

They talked for another hour, the guys telling stories about each other on the tour and about family. Occasionally Aly broke into a fit of laughter and would fall off the couch, leaving Chris or Lance to catch her. Conversation turned and Lance asked what had been on his mind all evening. “Aly, what about your parents? You hardly mentioned them when you talked of your tennis. Did they just not get involved?”

Immediately JC wished his friend had not asked the question, because he sensed the answer wasn’t expected, and that Aly wasn’t ready to tell them.

Aly’s eyes flitted over to him, then away from everyone in the room. She stood up and picked up the cheese and left over crackers that lay on the coffee table in the middle of the room. Speaking softly, but without emotion, she replied, “They died shortly after I turned 17.” Holding herself to her height and remaining emotionless, Aly walked toward the kitchen.

Chris jumped up off the floor before anyone had a chance to protest and went after her. “You okay? We’re sorry…if we’d have known we wouldn’t have gone on about everything with our parents and-“

Aly cut him off, “Chris, don’t bother, okay? I’ve heard the sympathy story enough times that I don’t appreciate it.” Brushing past him she walked back into the living room. Everyone shifted in their seats when she entered, looking uncomfortable. “This is why I hadn’t said anything,” she told Chris, motioning with her hand. “For the past few years I have had friends, teachers, and classmates look at me differently, act differently toward me, and let me off on assignments.” Sighing she ran a hand through her hair, letting the hair cascade over her shoulders. “I just…it can’t go back to the way it used to be, I’m just grateful that I was old enough to handle it and I don’t have any younger siblings.” Glancing at each of their faces she saw different emotions in each of them. An aching pity in Joey’s, sadness in Justin’s, sympathy in Lance’s, and concern in Chris’s. JC’s face was what puzzled her the most. “JC, please stop looking at me like that…” she requested, shifting her weight from one leg to the other awkwardly.

He blushed and hung his head, then looked up and held her gaze for a moment. “Sorry,” he said simply.

Chris had a puzzled expression and Aly chuckled. “What’s the matter, Chris?”

“I dunno…but you and JC…ugh…” he shook his head and mumbled something.

“What was that old man?” Joey inquired.

“Nothing.”

“Aly, I’m sorry about your parents, and sorry we carried on like we did,” Justin said, finally speaking.

Aly walked over and sat back down next to him. “Don’t worry about it, hell, I’ve still got loads of memories of them while they were here!”

“Hey, I was the one who asked, I think I feel the worst,” Lance complained, pouting and leaning his head back against the couch Justin and Aly occupied.

“Aww…don’t worry Poofoo, I didn’t take offense or anything, I just haven’t talked about it in awhile is all.” Aly bent over and kissed his forehead. Joey and Chris started ‘ooh-ing’ and she turned back to them an eyebrow raised. “Excuse me?”

“Ouch, death glare!” Joey exclaimed. “Sorry!”

“Watch were you point that thing, girl, you could hurt someone,” Chris piped in.

Aly blushed and grinned, “I’m sorta known for saying a thousand words with a ‘look’ so…I can’t really help it any, dread boy.”

“You just love using our nicknames, don’t you?” Lance asked, leaning back in his seat.

Aly grinned like a little kid and nodded her head. “Can’t help it.”

“Oh I see, so that’s how it’s gonna be, eh? Well then, we have to get one for you!”

“Mighty Mouse!” Justin cried.

“Ears!” Aly whimpered, covering her ears and tossing a look to her right at Justin.

A wry smile etched across his face he replied, “Sorry…”

“Anything your friends call you?” Chris asked.

Aly shook her head, “My friends, the few I still have, call me Aly, and my teachers call me Alison.”

JC stood up and walked around a few empty glasses. “What about Jake? He must have had a nickname for you, or two.”

Aly stared at him. He always seems to know just what and what not to hit, what is it with him? “Actually he had a few, but they were more oriented toward my tennis…”

“Oh oh oh! Tell!” Joey cried, bouncing up and down in his chair.

“Chill, Superman. Did you take Justin’s happy drugs again or something? You’ve been awfully chipper this evening.”

Justin’s face dropped and the whole room exploded with laughter. “My WHAT?!”

Aly was trying her best not to laugh, and managed to suppress it to a chuckle. “Your happy drugs. Come on, everyone knows you take them with your cereal in the morning…otherwise you won’t talk to anyone and are really crabby.”

Justin just gaped at her, laughing lightly, “How rude!”

Aly couldn’t take it anymore and fell off the couch, landing on her knee. “Ah, damn that hurt!” She clutched her knee as her laughing subsided, but her face was red and a grin was still etched through her features. “Admit it, Curly! You take happy drugs! And I think the other guys steal them sometimes too, after a bad night’s sleep or something…” she trailed off, her eyes moving to JC.

“Hey!” JC yelled, “No fair picking on the sleeper!”

“More like the sleepless!”

The laughter continued until Chris exclaimed, “You still don’t have a nickname!”

“What does Jake call you?” Justin asked, pulling her back up on the couch next to him.

Aly leaned against Lance’s shoulder, who was on her left now. “Let’s see…there was Slugger, Twinkle Toes, Ballerina, and ….oh shoot, there’s was one more…oh! Stefan!”

The group laughed and she grinned. “May I ask what each of them means?” JC questioned, still laughing.

“Slugger was coz I could handle playing with the guys for so many years. Twinkle Toes came about one day when I had a lot of trouble with my footwork and we did an hour and a half of running and shuffling and stuff, “ she chuckled as she heard Lance moan. “Ballerina because when I first started I would swing so for a backhand, and because I’d swing so hard and then miss without knowing how to keep my balance…I’d spin around in a circle.”

“And Stefan?” Lance asked, still confused on the last one.

She smiled proudly. “That’s my favorite. See, I saw him play when I was younger, though I think he’s retiring soon, and after that I changed my stance for return of serve. Instead of moving my feet side to side I began crouching down a bit and moving them forward and backward. Stefan Edberg had the best net game the sport has ever seen, and I wanted to do that too, as well as have Agassi’s backhand.”

“Right…” Joey responded, and just nodded his head.

“And you haven’t a clue who I’m talking about, geez…what is wrong with this world!”

“I dunno. What else do you like to do?” JC asked, coming back into the room from the kitchen with a plate of cookies.

“Cookie?” she questioned with a slyly raised eyebrow.

Chris laughed, “You go from serious, to proud, to acting like a little kid, it’s hilarious.”

Aly pouted and reached for a cookie. “I’ve just got a very wide personality. Kinda like Curly over there. He grew up too fast.”

“Heeey.”

“Not in a bad way, I’ve done the same thing, just a few years older than you. Trust me, Jake gets on my case for acting like an adult every chance he gets. Anyway…I love to write, which is pretty much what I do whenever I’m not working or playing tennis. Working out, hanging out with the friends sometimes, but I hate college parties…ugh, nothing but an excuse for a bunch of people to get drunk if you ask me.”

“So I’m assuming you don’t drink?” Lance quiried.

“That would be correct. It was a drunk driver that hit my parents. I’ve never had a drink in my life and don’t plan on starting any time soon. Don’t smoke either – nasty habit.”

JC nodded. Damn…beyond perfect. He chuckled, but bit his lip when Aly glanced in his direction.

Aly looked at her watch and yawned. “Jeez...guys, it’s almost 2 in the morning. I should get going.”

“Don’t go!” Chris cried. “Don’t leave me here with these crazed morons!”

“Chris, shut up!” Joey exclaimed. Everyone stood up and Aly grabbed her small bag from the coffee table.

They walked to the door and she turned to smile weakly at the five young men that watched her so intently. It certainly has been an incredible night. Reaching out she pulled Joey toward her, followed by Justin and then Chris. “Thank you, Chris…sorry about that whole image thing…”

“It’s okay, I didn’t mind at all.”

Glancing at the floor she continued, “It’s just that I’ve never had anyone loving me for it, so…I duno, guess that’s the price I pay for never having a boyfriend…” she trailed off.

Chris gave her one more hug and whispered, “I’m glad to help any way I can, hun.”

Aly smiled and nodded thankfully, then turned to JC. Without a word said they gave each other a hug and appreciative smiles. Lance was last, and he gave her a firm hug.

“You take care of yourself, my baby girl, okay?” he asked quietly.

Aly nodded, “You too…you too…” Stepping back she gave a soft sigh of contentment. “Thanks for such a great evening. I still don’t understand why you all wanted to spend time with me, but I won’t argue. Give me a call again some time, I’d always love to hear from you.”

“Oh you’ll hear from one of us, some way or another,” Joey answered, winking at her.

She laughed and said one final good-bye, then walked out the door and down the hall to the elevator.

Once the door was closed behind her JC and Justin both yawned. “Why are you yawning, Curly?”

“I’m tired!”

“Right…” JC muttered. He wandered off to his room and lay down on the bed, staring at the blank chalky ceiling. A knock came at the door and he mumbled distractedly, “Yeah…”

“You have fun tonight, Rico?”

He propped himself up on his elbows and looked at Chris baffled. “Pardon?”

“Rico Suave!” Chris replied, doing a little dance.

“Enough with the dancing, thank you, I don’t want nightmares.”

Chris chuckled and headed back to the door. “Oh you won’t have nightmares…no siree, not from the look I saw on your face tonight several times.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about old man. Now get out so I can get some sleep!” JC cried, pulling a pillow over his head.

“’What-ever’” Chris replied in his best Valley Girl impression, and shut the door.

Aly wandered down the hall to the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby and sighed. Leaning against the wall for support she slid to the floor. Oh God…don’t do this, Al, don’t get attached. Not even to the little curly-haired one. Don’t do it, you can’t afford to. Taking a deep breath she stood up and walked out of the elevator, doing her best to hold her head high as she walked through the quiet lobby at 2:45 in the morning.