Chp 8
"Hells yeah I'm lucky! I get to spend time with my pals," giggled Elena into the phone.
"Never mind hanging with your pals! You're gonna be with four damn sexy and sweaty guys! You lucky lucky tramp! Oh how I envy you," remarked Staci sighing.
"Haha. I LOVE my job!"
"I love your job, too! Let's trade!"
"As if!"
"Anyway, have they been treating you like one of the guys yet? You know burping, scratching, and picking certain no-no places?"
" *lol* Staci! Not all guys are pigs! Nick, Brian, AJ, and Kevin are true gentlemen. They're four of the most courteous and cleanest guys I know."
"Still. Damn, I wish I was in your shoes! I'd be riding the Train right about now! Hehe."
"Speaking about hotties, I saw the most delectable specimen of a man yesterday while me and the guys were at IHOP"
"Why go all the way to IHOP when you have four cuties right in front of you?! Woman, are you mad?!"
"Ok, first of all I don't date my FRIENDS!!! Secondly, Brian's got a girl, Nick is WAY too young for me, and you'd KILL me if I touched Kevin!"
"True, but about AJ?"
"ME and AJ??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA*takes a breath* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
Staci impatiently waited for her to stop guffawing. "You finished?"
"Almost, hold onHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! There! I'm done now!"
"Good, now that THAT'S over! Why not? You two would make such a cute couple!"
"Psssshhhhh, yeah right!"
"I'm serious! You still haven't given me a satisfactory answer to why you wouldn't give the poor little guy a chance!"
"For starters, he's too young."
"Ooooh, seven years! Big friggin' deal! It's the two thousands, girl! Who cares?!"
"Another thing is it would be way too awkward. I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Blah blah blah go on"
"And most importantly of allWE DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER IN THAT WAY!"
"Now I'm not too sure about that! You haven't noticed how he stares at you with big goo-goo eyes? The man wants you!"
"Umm, I don't think so. If he felt that way he would've told me so. AJ's not the type to keep feelings in."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know him."
"Do you really know him? Do you really know anybody?"
"Umm" For some strange reason, that question made Elena feel somewhat uncomfortable. "Listen, I have to go. The guys are getting ready for the show"
"Did AJ show up yet?"
"No. But I'm sure he will."
"Well they can't start the show without him. You have time to talk some more with me."
"Staci, I really have to go. I have to do a behind the scenes kind of thing and in order for me to do that, I need to be behind the scenes. I'll call you later, ok?"
"Ok, fine. Bye."
"Bye." She hung up and sighed. 'Do I really know him? Is she right? Could AJ possibly have a crushon me?' She laughed and shook her head. "Ha! Yeah right! That's a stupid idea! We're just friends!"
Elena fixed herself a bit and went in pursuit of the fellas. She saw Brian standing in the hallway talking to the bus driver.
"Hey Bri, hey Dan. Is AJ back yet?"
Brian nodded his head. "Nope. No word yet. Dan here said he last saw him yesterday morning, right after we left, driving off in a black Mercury Sable. He said he was going to the beach, right Dan?" He turned to face the larger man.
"That's right. He didn't even say what beach he was headed to."
"I'm getting worried, Brian. Does he always disappear like this?"
"Not without telling anyone, but I wouldn't worry. AJ's a big boy. He can take care of himself, I'm sure."
"But this is LA, you know gangs and punks everywhere. He could be recognized."
"With all the tattoos and stuff, I'm sure he'll fit right in," he grinned.
She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head showing disapproval. "Brian."
He put his hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok. But seriously, don't worry. He'll be back."
"Sorry if I'm being a pain, but I gotta look out for my little bros. I'd do the same for you." He hugged her.
"Thanks. It's nice to know we're loved."
"Yeah, ain't it. Oh I've got to interview you guys, but I can't do it without AJ, so I guess I'll have to wait. Jerry's gonna have a cow."
"Oh well."
Denise came down the hall to let them know that everyone else was already situated in the bus and that they were ready to leave for the venue.
"But AJ's not back yet," stated Elena.
Denise shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you."
"But they can't do the show without him. If he doesn't show up in time, will it be cancelled?" she asked concerned.
"That's probably what would happen, but I don't think it will come to that. AJ's responsible. He wouldn't ditch the concert for no reason. Don't worry so much. You'll get wrinkles."
She laughed a little. " *sigh* It's too late for that. Let's go."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Five minutes 'till show time, guys!" announced their manager Derek.
"Uh oh! Damn! Damn damn damn!" Nick said as he stomped his foot. "Where the hell is he?!"
"What are we going to do?!" Brian turned to Elena. "Can you sing?"
Elena stared at him wide eyed. "No! I'm not going in for AJ! The fans would murder me! Besides, I can't sing." He then turned to Denise.
"You must be kidding!"
"But we can't do it with just the three of us!"
"You won't have to!" yelled AJ out of breath as he ran through the door. "Sorry I'm late!"
"Dude! Where ya been, man?! We were beginning to think you were dead lying in a gutter somewhere!"
Elena smacked Nick's arm.
"You had us worried there, buddy!" exclaimed Brian.
"Were you worried about me or the fact that maybe I wouldn't have showed up in time?" AJ didn't mean for it too come out as pungent as it sounded. Brian gave him a look.
"Both. What's your problem?"
"Nothing," he muttered playing with the bottoms of his sleeves.
"AJ, I---" Elena began but Denise was dragging him away to wardrobe.
"Oh my Gawd, AJ! There's only five friggin' minutes left! What were you thinking?!"
"Sorry, Mom, but I had to---"
"Never mind that, just get ready! FAST!"
"But AJ, you---"
"Sorry, Eelie! Talk to you later!" He shouted as he disappeared down the hall. Elena sighed.
"Ok, I guess I'll see you guys later. Go kick some butt! And be safe!" She hugged each of them and they went to take their positions. AJ met up with them a little while later.
"Sorry, guys. I just lost track of time. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't. That was too close, AJ, way too close," scolded Kevin.
"I said I was sorry ok? What more do you want from me?"
"An explanation would be nice."
"Sorry, I don't have one."
"That's not a good excuse."
"You got beef with me?"
"Guys, guys, no fighting before the show ok? I don't want to see our story on Jerry Springer," joked Brian trying to lighten up the mood. "Did you dye your hair?"
AJ rolled his eyes. "No, Brian. I just woke up this morning and my hair magically turned blue!"
The first beats of the opening number started and they hushed up and concentrated on putting on a good show.
Everything was going well. Elena was backstage jotting down anything noticeable. Near the end though, the fans were getting a little too over zealous. Brian bent over the barricades to touch a few fans' hands when suddenly, he felt himself lose his balance and the crowd was pulling him in. He found himself diving face first into the horde of outstretched arms. They swarmed over him like an ant colony engulfing a lollipop, screeching and pulling and scratching, unintentionally of course.
"HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLP!!!" Brian cried defenselessly. There was no way out. He was rolling around on the ground trying to evade the hundreds of stomping feet. They shredded his shirt and tore out his hair, doing anything to get a piece of their idol, not realizing that it was hurting him. They were smothering him with their love. "STOP! STOP PLEASE! NOOOOO!"
It was getting harder to breathe.
The others had lost him in the crowd and were desperately trying to spot him.
"Where did he go?!" screamed Kevin overcome with fear.
"I don't know! I can't see him!" shrieked Nick. The security guards had long been searching through the crowd, parting the large clumps of people, and demanding that they let them through.
"L.A.! PLEASE STOP! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" shouted AJ. "YOU HAVE TO LET THEM THROUGH! THEY NEED TO HELP BRIAN! PLEASE STOP NOW!"
Elena was hysterical. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Why don't they stop?!" she cried alarmed.
The bodyguards finally found Brian curled up in a little ball. They moved the girls to one side, grabbed Brian by his arms, and practically carried him out. An ambulance was already waiting for them. Nick, AJ, Kevin, Denise, Elena, and others jumped into one of their buses and followed the vehicle containing their fallen comrade to the hospital, wanting to see for themselves if Brian was ok.
Chp 9
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