I drove up to the studio and scanned the parking lot for a space. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Brian's BMW.
'Be cool, Leigh, you knew his car was gonna be here. Why are you freaking out?' I knew it wasn't the car that was stirring up emotion though, it was just that same old feeling that surfaced every time I saw Brian, or a car that looked like his, or even heard a song on the radio we had sang together. 'Well, Leigh, those days are over. So get over it. Get over HIM, for the last time.'
I always told myself this, but I knew I'd never really be able to get over Brian. No matter how many lies he told me, how badly he had treated me after we broke up, no matter how happy him and Maggie were, I still hadn't gotten over him, and I probably never would.
When he broke up with me and told me he was in love with someone else- Maggie- I honestly saw my whole world as I had known it shatter. But nobody else saw this. I was a movie star who was always in the spotlight and I couldn't let the press or anybody else for that matter see how badly I was taking things. When people asked about the break-up I would shrug it off like it was just an old flame that had died out. "We're much happier now," I'd tell them. But none of these people saw me when I'd go home afterwards and crumple to the floor and just sob till the tears wouldn't come anymore. I didn't know how to cope. For months, all I could do was wonder what it was I had done to make him stop loving me.
I made a few attempts to win him back. I tried to chase off Maggie several times, like with that incident at the awards show I took Brian to. But all that did was get her to hate me, and ruin whatever relationship me and Brian had left. So for about a year now I'd just given up and decided to get on with my life.
There had been other relationships- flings with some guys from NSync, a few movie stars, and yada yada yada but none of them replaced the void Brian had left. Then I got a role in the movie Olive Juice and next thing I know I'm back in Brian's hometown. I decided to take a risk and ask him to help me produce a soundtrack for the movie. Brian loves doing things like that, so I knew he wouldn't pass up the offer unless he really hated me. I took it as a good sign when he accepted the offer.
Right now I'm hoping we can patch things up enough to just be good friends again. Seeing him every day and knowing that I can't just hold him and talk to him like I used to is extremely tough emotionally, but if that's what it takes to get him back into my life, even if only as a friend, then fine. But deep down, I can't ignore the feelings I still have for him, how much he means to me, and the little tiny hope that maybe one day things will be like they used to be.
I snapped out of my daydream and climbed out of my Land Rover. Grabbing my purse and locking the doors, I then turned around and took one last glance at Brian's car, before willing myself to go into the studio.
I pushed open the thick glass doors and walked up to the front desk to see AJ chatting with the receptionist. He looked up when he heard me walk in then looked back down at the receptionist, then looked back at me quickly, surprised.
"Leigh-Leigh! Baby, whassup? How's my baby doll been? I haven't seen you in ages. Where ya been hiding, girl?" AJ shouted gleefully as he grabbed me in a huge bear hug and swung me around the room. I laughed out loud. It felt good to see him again. It had been so long since I'd gotten to hang out with Brian and the boys. After the break up, it had been easier to just forget about all of them. Now I knew how much I had missed them.
"Hey, wow, what a reunion. I feel like it's been forever. You look different as usual. And check out all the new tatoos!"
"Yeah, I've been hanging out at the tattoo parlor quite a bit. Check out this dragon, man. It's sweet!" He said as he proceeded to show off all his new artwork. "So where have you been, Leigh? Why didn't you ever come visit all this time?"
"I've just been busy," I said with a smile, gingerly avoiding the real reason I had stayed clear of the boys. "You know how show business is, don't ya, Bone? Or should I say Johnny No Name? What's up with that anyway? You getting too good for the BSB?" I teased him, laughing.
"Shoot, he always thought he was too good for us. His head's so big now we had to get another tour bus," Nick said walking up behind me, and engulfing me in a hug. I heard a groan behind us.
"That was lame, Nicky. You can do better than that. Even Kevin makes better jokes than you do," I heard Howie say. "LeighAnne! Beautiful! What brings your lovely face to our humble studios?" Howie asked as he hugged me as well.
"I'm in town shooting a movie and producing the soundtrack. Brian's helping so I came by to ask him some questions and also to see if you guys would mind contributing a song or two?" I asked.
"Gee, I don't know. Doing a soundtrack for one of your movies could be a bad business investment," AJ said with a grin.
"I'm sure whatever this movie is that Leigh's doing will be a blockbuster hit, just like all her others," I heard Kevin say. "How's my girl doing?" He said then, looking at me with a huge smile. I grinned and threw my arms around his six foot frame.
"Kev! It's been too long without seeing your handsome good looks! So should I call you Kevin or Mr. Sexy?" I teased, referring to the People magazine. Everybody laughed as Kevin blushed a little at my comment.
"Ok, enough fooling around. There's work to be done around here, kids," came another voice that had just entered the room. I froze at the sound of the oh-so-familiar Kentucky accent and humorous tone. Before I knew it, my knees felt like Jell-O and I felt my stomach flip-flop. Funny how no matter how old you get, boys still have that effect on you.
I finally turned around, and was face to face with a pair of stunning blue eyes I hadn't seen in over a year.
"Hey, LeighAnne." Brian said.
"Hey, Brian."
