Chp 6
"Yo, Bone! Rise and shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!!!"
AJ opened one eye and saw a mischievous grin surrounded by wisps of blonde hair. He picked up a pillow and threw it at Nick's face.
"Arrrgh! Get outta my face, man!"
"You wouldn't have minded as much if Elena was here instead of me, right?"
"Shut up. What do you want?" he asked grumpily. He was not a morning person. Especially on the rare occasion of days off.
"The guys and Elena are going out for breakfast. You wanna come?"
AJ glared at him and remarked sardonically, "Does it look like I'm up? No. Therefore, do you think I'd want to eat breakfast right now? No. So"
"You don't wanna come?"
"Very good. Now can you please go away? I'm trying to sleep."
Nick frowned at his stinging sarcasm. "You didn't have to be such an asshole about it. See ya later." He left his room, closing the door behind him loudly, and met the rest of their group in the lobby. "He doesn't want to come."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Cuz he just doesn't."
Brian shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well. So, where ya wanna go?"
"IHOP sounds really good to me," stated Kevin. They all nodded their heads in agreement and went to scope out the nearest restaurant in a rented van.
"Elena, we didn't get to talk much in our past few meetings. How's it going?"
"Everything's good, Kev. Jerry's been keeping me busy assigning one thing or another. He even made me interview Rob Zombie. *shudder* Let me tell you this, I don't think he likes you guys very much."
"Yeah well, we kind of reached that conclusion when we heard him say on MTV that I Want It That Way was very painful to watch."
"Hehe, well I wouldn't worry too much. It's just jealousy."
"I really don't care. I'm not his fan neither. So, umm, tell me about your friend."
Elena grinned. "So that's why you wanted to start this conversation. You want the dirt on Staci, eh?"
Kevin blushed. "If you don't mind."
" *lol* You're so cute when you blush. Of course I don't mind! I'm delighted! What do you want to know?"
"Oh I don't know interests? Job?"
"If she's single? Her type?"
"Yyyyeeeesss"
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Well, Staci's hobbies include swimming, going to the gym, writing absurd stories, singing, and heating up the dance floor every Saturday night. She's an accountant for Wakefern Foods Inc., a company affiliated with Shop Rite."
"Yeah?"
"Boring I know. But that's only during the daylight hours. At night, Staci's becomes a whole different personan unbridled and ferocious flirting and dancing machine. But don't be intimidated. She likes to see men squirm. But she's really sweet when you get to know her."
"Ah, I see. In other words, she's basically a female AJ," he said a little disappointed to find that she had more in common with his band mate than with him.
"As weird as it may sound, she's not really interested in people like AJ. She likes a challenge. Opposites attract you know. She prefers her man to be tall, dark, mysterious, and mature. Hint hint."
"Is that so, hmmm you're not just saying that to humor me, are you?"
"Nope. It's true. Did she ever tell you you're her favorite Backstreet Boy?"
"No, she never really stated that, but she did make it quite clear on several occasions" He smirked as his mind drifted back to the time she had unexpectedly kissed him when they were saying goodbye after the concert. "She certainly is a sassy one."
"Just the way you like it, Kev?"
"Well, I'm always up for a challenge."
"That's good to hear. It's about time she met someone. I was about to think that she would never get married!" Kevin turned crimson red. "Oh! I didn't mean that you two were going to get married! Just thatugh! I better get my size ten shoes out of my size eight mouth! Anyway, she really likes you, Kev."
"I like her, too, but I don't know if I'm afraid---"
"That she's just infatuated with your image and once she gets to know you, she finds out you're just like the average Joe and get uninterested?"
"In a nut shell, yeah."
"Kevin, you don't have anything to worry about. She's a very educated and sincere woman. At first it was just physical attraction, but I've told her about you. I've clearly stated that you're one of the most hard-working, sweetest, most caring and honest guys I know."
"Thanks, but with touring and all---"
"She's trustworthy and patient, as well. If she really loves someone, she'll be hopelessly devoted to him. Even if Brad Pitt asked her to marry him, she'd turn him down in a heartbeat," she explained trying to ease his worries.
Kevin smiled at her. "How do you know what I'm about to say?"
"I understand your situations wholeheartedly. I know where you're coming from."
"So you brag about being friends with us?"
"Haha, not likely. But I do intend to divulge a few secrets about you guys, here and there." She smirked.
"Like what?"
"Like the time you got stuck in your harness at the opening of your Into The Millennium Tour. *lol* You just hung there swinging like an idiot!"
"Hey! It wasn't my fault! I got tangled up in all the wires!"
"And when Nick accidentally smacked Brian during Larger Than Life."
Brian's eyes widened in realization and he hit Nick back. "Oh yeah! You still didn't apologize for that, you twerp!"
"Sorry, Brian."
"Your apology was four years late, but I accept it."
"AND the time AJ's pants fell apart when they got caught in the metal ladders during Don't Want You Back! *lol* That was priceless! He just continued like nothing happened while his pants hung loosely on the pole! And all the fans whipped out their cameras and one simultaneous bright flash blinded Nick and he fell off the elevated portion of the stage!"
"Oh Gawd! So you've told her basically everything about us, including our many embarrassing moments?!"
"Almost. There are a few things I haven't told her about."
"What?"
"My relationship with Howie."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I just didn't think it was very necessary for her to know. I just wanted to keep something for myself, you know? But I'll tell her. Sometime. Oh that reminds me, I still have to call her."
Five minutes later, they found an IHOP. Kevin got out first to help her. He extended out his hand. She took it and hopped out.
"Thank you, Kevin. Such a true gentleman."
"My pleasure. Brian? Nick? Why aren't you getting out?"
"Aren't you going to help us out, too, you big manly stud you," joked Brian in a high pitched voice.
"You two are the ugliest girls I've ever seen."
"Hey! Gentleman my ass!"
"Hehe."
"Guys, come on, just get out! I'm hungry!" whined Elena.
"Ok, ok, we're coming."
"Thank you."
They entered and were seated in the non-smoking section. Since they contemplated their orders on the ride there, they all knew what they wanted and immediately informed the waiter.
"Coming right up."
"Thanks."
Just then, two girls, grinning widely, came up to them.
"Sorry to interrupt you, but we just noticed you come in and we're like your BIGGEST fans and we're trying REALLY hard not freak because you're like HERE and we have all your CD's, videos, posters, you name it, we got it and we were just wondering if we could have your autographs because we love you SO much and it would REALLY make our day!" the one girl said all in one breath.
"We'd be happy to, sweetheart." The girls extended out the pictures they kept in their wallets for them to sign. "There you go. Have a great day!"
"Oh we will now!" They girls walked off giggling uncontrollably and chattering excitedly between themselves. Elena sat back and smiled at Brian.
"What?"
"You guys are so sweet. Don't you ever get tired of being mobbed on a daily basis?"
"Never."
The waiter came back with their food and quickly jogged back to the kitchen where he was needed.
"I love LA. It has this, oh I don't know, positive and lively aura about it," mused Elena.
"I know what you mean. It's a great city. The only thing is I'm terrified of earthquakes. I'll stick to the Florida hurricanes, thank you very much," declared Brian.
"Oh what happened that day the earthquake struck when you guys were supposed to go on?"
"Oh my gosh, let me tell you about THAT experience! I was in the bathroom in our hotel taking a leak before going to the venue when I felt the ground begin to tremble! I finished my business as quickly as humanly possible, washed my hands, hey not even a natural disaster will keep me from my personal hygiene, and FLEW out of there! I didn't know what to do! I had no idea where the others were so I just ran to the lobby and curled up in a corner FAR away from any object that had the potential of falling on me and prayed to God that if the building fell apart and I died, that the fans wouldn't try to excavate my body out of the rubble, rip me to shreds, and each take a piece of me as a memento to keep in a little glass case beside their other little souvenirs!"
Nick, Kevin, and Elena just stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"What? I was scared ok?!"
"Brian, it was only a four on the Richter Scale."
"Well it was big enough for me! God forbid, we experience a seven! I would just die of fright!"
"Aww, my poor little Bri-Bear."
"That's right." Brian pouted. "Have there been any severe tropical storms in Florida lately?"
"Nope. This season's been pretty calm."
"Good. I don't want to go back home to find that Lil' Tyk's been blown back to Mexico or whatever."
"Oh how is Tyk anyway? I haven't seen him in I don't know how long! I'm surprised he's still alive!"
"Why? I'm a good pet owner! When Daddy's not home, I leave him with the sitter."
" *lol* He's got his own sitter?! Aww, that is TOO cute! What about Panda and Bear?"
"All three of them have the same sitter. They all play with each other, get along great. Just like us! I miss Lil' Tyk."
"Aww, don't worry. You'll see him again soon."
Just then, a very handsome gentleman in a business suit walked in and made eye contact with Elena as he waited to be seated. She couldn't break away from his gaze and his bright hazel eyes burned into hers.
'Oh wow! What a piece of work!' she thought to herself.
The man smiled to reveal his pearly and perfect teeth as he was led to his table conveniently right across from Elena's. He wasn't very tall, but she could tell he had a very nice physique underneath all that clothes, which she began to imagine crumpled on the floor in her bedroom corner. 'Elena, snap out of it! What would someone like him want with someone like you!' Her wishful thinking elicited a very loud sigh from her.
"Elena? Earth to Elena? Helloooo, Elena! This is Nick speaking!"
She snapped out of it. "Huh? What?"
"What were you gawking at?"
"At that very attractive man over there."
"Where?" Nick scanned the restaurant and came across him. "Who? Him? He ain't nothing special!"
"Shut up, Nick! Not so loud! And don't look at him!"
"Well how am I supposed to see who you're talking about if I don't look?!"
"Elena, he's staring at you."
"Brian, don't tease me."
"I'm not! He's really staring at you! Look for yourself!"
Elena took a quick glance in his direction. Surely enough, his eyes were indeed fixed on her.
"Go talk to him."
"What? No!"
"Why not? He's all alone. Go talk to him," urged Kevin.
"B-b-but"
The waiter came to drop off their bill.
"Go, Elena. Now or never."
She paid for her share, nervously got up, and slowly walked in his direction. Half way there, she turned back to the guys. "It's never then." She veered off towards the left and walked out the door.
Chp 7
Chp 5
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