Chp 8
"Man, what the fuck has been your problem, AJ" Kevin yelled at him. AJ winced slightly.
"Nothing, Kev" AJ muttered.
"Well, it seems you just keep fucking up more and more..." Kevin looked at him, awaiting an explanation.
"That's great, that'll make him want to do better even more, Kevin" Howie interrupted.
"Well, Howie, maybe you should talk some sense into the dumb shit. His moves have looked like crap recently, and his voice has cracked in all of the concerts here. That's why we are practicing now, instead of having fun..." Kevin sneered.
"Kevin, shut up. Even on my worse days I can dance and sing circles around your big, clumsy, un able to sing on the right key ass." AJ yelled at him. Kevin got a look of hatred in his eyes and charged towards AJ.
"You're in for it now, freak boy."
"Bring it on, grandpa!"
The two men were held back by Nick and Howie. Insults flooded the air.
"Just quit it you two!!" Brian shouted. The two men stopped and looked as Brian interjected.
"Just stop fighting." Brian gave them stern looks. "Now, I just think AJ is going through a slump right now..."
"A year long slump" Kevin responded.
"THAT'S IT!" AJ yelled. He stormed towards the door. "I'm sick of you guys. I hate this group. I'm out!" AJ screamed at the top of his lungs, and ran from the room. The others stood, mouths agape. Howie ran after him.
"AJ, AJ, stop" Howie was practically out of breath when he caught up with him. AJ turned around sharply as Howies hand clamped on his shoulder.
"AJ, you didn't mean that....." Howie said, trying to catch his breath.
"Maybe I did, Howie." AJ ran his hand through his hair. "I have looked and sounded like crap recently. I don't know why."
"Maybe its because of Crystal..."
AJ looked at Howie and saw the look of slight fear in his eyes.
"No, not Crys....She meant nothing. A whole month worth of nothing." AJ looked at the sidewalk, and kicked a pebble.
"D, lets just walk, OK?" AJ suggested. Howie shook his head yes and they off into the streets of London. They walked in silence for a long time, just taking in everything. AJ stopped when he saw a quiet little bookstore.
"Lets go in here." AJ suggested. Howie shrugged his shoulders and followed him in. The smell was heavy, the smell of a hundred old books. It had looked small from the front, but it was deep. AJ walked through each aisle, loving the way the old books looked and felt. He finally found a book he thought might be interesting. He walked to the cashier, and reached for his wallet. It wasn't in his back pocket, so he checked his other pockets.
"Shit.." He mumbled. "D, I must have left my wallet at the place. Can I bum a five?"
"Sure..." Howie started to grab for his wallet, but soon realized it wasn't present either. "I think I left mine behind too." AJ slammed the book down.
"Here you go..." a female voice said from behind AJ, and an outstretched hand held out several pounds. AJ spun around. He looked over the woman. Big dark sunglasses, short blond hair. She laughed.
"San...Santara?" AJ sputtered at hearing the laugh. He was unable to believe she was there. She took off her sunglasses and smiled.
"Hi, AJ." She smiled at him deeply. AJ grabbed her and hugged her tightly. "Its great to see you. Its been way too long."
He looked at her. "Its great to see you too. I love what you did to your hair."
Santara grinned. "I like yours too." She touched the soft spikes. Last time she'd seen him they were red. Now they were a natural dark brown. They stood for a few minutes just looking at each other and smiling. Howie coughed, hoping to bring them back to earth.
"Oh, I'm sorry......" AJ gave Howie a small grin. "This is my friend, Howie." Santara extended her hand and Howie shook it. "And, this is Santara."
"Santara? Have we met before?" Howie asked. Santara smiled but shook her head no.
"No, we have never met before."
"Oh, your name sounds so familiar. And you look familiar also." Howie squinted his eyes and turned his head. Santara laughed. AJ elbowed him slightly.
"So, what are you doing here?" AJ asked.
"I live about a block from here."
"You live here now?" AJ asked, slightly stunned.
"Yes, What about you, what are you doing here?"
"Well, the guys and I are performing several concerts around here. It just happened that we stopped in here...." AJ realized he was still holding her hand, which had the pounds enclosed in it. He laughed a little as he let go.
"Are you going to buy it?" She asked.
"I don't have the money....I left without it"
"I wouldn't have offered it if I didn't want you to buy the book." Santara said sternly, but the expression in her eyes showed she was playing.
"OK, But then you have to let me take you to dinner." AJ responded.
Santara smiled. "A book for a dinner.....hm....Sounds fair"
AJ laughed. "Great." He took the money and bought the book. He and Santara walked outside.
"So, should I give you my phone number?" Santara asked.
"We will walk you home, then I'll come pick you up." AJ said. Santara nodded and they walked the block and a half to her small loft. "I'll come by about 7, all right?"
Santara could do nothing but smile and agree. "I'll see you at 7." She flashed one more smile and disappeared through the door. AJ turned around still smiling, unbelieving the odds.
"Hello.....I am still here.." Howie said, waving his hand in front of AJ's face.
"Oh, D. I'm sorry.....I have so much to explain to you." AJ threw his arm around Howie shoulder and they walked as AJ explained everything about Santara to him.
Santara was running through her apartment, singing at the top of he lungs. She had been able to dig through her closet, and found a simple black skirt and a black shirt. She had thrown away or sold most of her designer stuff from NY and lived in jeans and a T-shirt. She glanced at the clock. He'd be there in 15 minutes. She felt incredibly nervous. But incredibly happy. She had been extremely lucky to have seen him, especially in London. She really hadn't ever expected to see him again. When the doorbell sounded, she squealed ever so slightly. She ran down the stairs to the main door, and opened it. There stood AJ, holding a white rose. He handed it to her.
"Thank you" Santara took AJ's extended hand and they walked down the street.
"So, where are we going?" She asked as they walked.
"Well, we are going to a small restaurant, which was recommended to me." AJ said. "We have a lot to catch up on."
"Yes, we do" Santara muttered.
Chp 9
Chp 7
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