The next morning, Taylor was getting ready to leave for work and AJ was running around the room trying to pack everything at the last minute. Taylor had just poured a cup of coffee when AJ yelled, "Taylor! Where's my hat?!"
She almost spit out her coffee laughing. "I don't know! Which one?," She yelled back.
"Leather cowboy hat!"
She groaned, "Do you have to take that?"
"Yes!"
"In the closet, top shelf!"
"Thanks!"
"Welcome!"
Tobie ran in then wagging his tail. Taylor fed him and the cat, Star. She heard AJ clomp down the stairs. "Did you find it?," She asked.
"Yep..I'm just about ready to go."
"Me too.."
"I wish I didn't have to go.," He said almost pouting.
"Me neither. Do you have everything?"
"Yep.."
She put her cup in the sink, "Don't look so sad AJ! Its only for a month!"
"I know..I should be the one saying that to you though."
"After knowing you for as long as we've known each other, I think I get used to it after awhile.."
He smiled, "True.," He looked at his watch, "Crap! I gotta go!"
He kissed her deeply. "Damn, I'm gonna miss this for four weeks."
She grinned, "Me too. You better go before you're late. Call me tonight.."
"I will. I love you!"
"Love you too!"
"Bye!"
She heard the front door close and then heard him start his Expedition and drive out of the driveway. She sighed and went to get her briefcase before heading off to another hectic week at work.
Later that evening, Taylor came home to a dark and lonely place. Tobie and Star both greeted her at the door and she let Tobie out in the backyard. She noticed the answering machine light blinking and set her briefcase down before pressing the 'play' button. "Hey Taylor. Its Alicia, I was wondering if you wanted to get together tonight with Jane and Marie. We figured you could show us the stuff you have so far for the wedding and plus, we haven't had a girls' night out in a while. If you want to call me at home or else we'll talk to you sometime this week. Bye!"
Taylor smiled, Alicia was always so happy and perky! She picked up the phone and dialed her number. "Hello?," Alicia said.
"Hey, Its Taylor."
"Hey girl! I was wondering when you get home from work!"
Taylor smiled and walked upstairs. "I had to stay late to finish some stuff. So, you all still want to get together?"
"If you want. I didn't know whether you'd be too work out from work or whatever.."
"Not really. We could order Chinese or something.."
"Okay! I'll call Jane and Marie and we'll try to be over there by 8 or so, okay?"
"Sounds good to me! I'll see you all then!"
"K! See ya later girl!"
Taylor hung up the phone and went to change clothes.
The guys had just arrived in Munich, Germany and were in their hotel rooms. "I am so jet lagged already..," AJ said dragging himself into Nick's room where everyone else was.
"Me too.," Kevin said flopping down in one of the chairs.
"So..what are we gonna do tonight?," Brian asked putting down the controller to the N64.
"I don't know...I'm too tired to go clubbing..," AJ said.
"Me too.," Howie agreed.
"Okay..so clubbing is out.."
"Yep..let's order a movie or something..," Brian suggested.
"Sounds good to me.," Nick said.
The others quickly agreed to that and settled into their seats.
At eight, Alicia, Jane, and Marie all arrived. The food had gotten there minutes before. "Hey guys..come on in.," She said ushering them in.
They sat around the kitchen table, eating, talking, and looking at the bridal magazines. "I can't believe AJ is the first to get married!," Marie said, "I mean, no offense to you or anything, but everyone figured it'd be Brian first!"
Taylor laughed, "Truthfully, I thought every one of the guys would get married before AJ finally did. And, I never thought it'd be me! I mean, we knew each other in middle school and saw one another go out with other people and everything. It surprised the hell out of me when he proposed!"
They laughed. Jane grinned, "I think its sweet though! I've never seen him so..so like romantic and stuff.."
Taylor said,"He's always been romantic. But..I don't think people really see that cause of the way he looks. He looks like a biker or something!"
They laughed again. "Thats true. I remember when I first met him, and he was in a bad mood too! I thought for sure he was like on drugs or something..," Marie said.
"My mom thought he was such a bad influence on me in high school! I kept telling her he was fine and the sweetest person! When she finally met him, she agreed with me though.,." Taylor said taking an egg roll out of the box.
"Did you know the other guys as well?," Alicia asked.
"When AJ first joined the group, no. I think I met them when I was at AJ's house for some reason. They just showed up and I remember thinking Brian was sooo cute!"
Jane laughed, "He is though!"
Taylor laughed too," He is..but I had always had feelings for AJ..I just never knew how he felt about me. Anyways, when I first met them, Kevin was the big bro, as he is anyways, but he was real nice and stuff. I wouldn't of guessed he was from Kentucky either because he didn't have an accent! Brian was the shy guy with the southern accent, I couldn't get over that! I thought he sounded soo cute! Howie was real sweet too, as he probably has been forever! Nick was the little guy, he was sorter than everyone and I think he was only like 13 though. He was cute though with that blond hair, he was real shy too. AJ swears up and down Nick had a crush on me when he first met me. I don't think he did though!"
"How come?"
She shrugged, "I dunno. Nick was really quiet and the only person he really and truely got along with was Brian. I remember asking him if he liked nintendo and his whole face lit up and he said yes. Then he wasn't so quiet and shy around me anymore."
"Thats cool. Soo..got anything planned for the wedding?"
Taylor nodded, "Yeah..We decided on June 12, its a Saturday. But we don't know where yet. Umm...here, turn that catologue to like page 113, there's the bridesmaids dresses I decided on but I want to make sure you all like them. I guess I should of called Jana but I'll do that tomorrow.."
Marie nodded and turned the pages till she found it. "Those?"
"Yeah..you all like them?"
The other two girls looked over. "Yeah..I like that color.," Alicia said.
"Me too..I like the color and the style of the dress is cool so we won't look like total dorks."
"I know..I wouldn't want you all to look like old women..some bridesmaids dresses are really ugly! Plus, I thought the color was summery ..didn't want like red or peach or some of the colors they have in there..," Taylor said.
"Yeah..I agree.," Alicia said. Marie and Jane nodded.
"Now..I just need to find a wedding dress and I'm all set on the dress part.."
They flipped through the different magazines for awhile. Suddenly, Jane jumped up, "Here it is!"
"There what is?," Alicia asked.
"The perfect dress for you Taylor!"
"Bring it over here and let me see!"
Jane rushed over, "There..that one!"
Taylor's face lit up, "Oh its perfect Jane!"
Marie and Alicia looked over Jane's shoulder and quickly agreed. "That'll look soo good on you!," Alicia said.
"Yeah..you definately got the body for it!," Marie said.
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do. Plus, it'll flip AJ out!"
She laughed, "I guess. Think I should get it?"
"Oh yeah!," They all said in unison.
Taylor laughed at them, "Okay..Let's see if I can get it here..Oo! I can get it at this boutique!"
"Cool.."
"Jane, will you tear out that page for me?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Jane handed Taylor the page. The dress was a satiny(is that a word? oh well) white, and was strapless and poofed out just enough. All the girls agreed Taylor would look perfect in it.
Later, Taylor walked them to the door. "Thank you guys soo much for helping. I'll call you all later this week."
"Bye Taylor!," They all said.
Taylor shut the door and locked it before heading upstairs. The phone rang while she was changing. "Hello?"
"Hey beautiful."
"Hey sexy."
"Ooh..I like these nicknames we're givin' each other!," AJ said laughing.
"How are you?"
"Jet-lagged as hell..you?"
"Tired. Sorry you're jet-lagged.."
"Its okay..I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Nope..but I am getting ready for bed."
"Ooohh..I'm getting a mental picture and damn, its a good one!"
"AJ! You're such a perv sometimes!"
He laughed, "I know."
"Anyways..Alicia, Jane, and Marie came over and I showed them the bridesmaid gowns I picked out and they all adore them. Then, I found the perfect wedding gown!"
"Good..What's it look like?"
"Like I'm gonna tell you!"
"Come on!"
"Its white."
"No, duh."
"I'm not telling. You'll just have to wait and see on our wedding day."
"Can't wait."
"So..what do you all have to do tomorrow?"
"Interview, rehearsal, concert..you?"
"Work..work..work..sleep..," She said crawling under the covers.
"Sounds soo exciting."
"Oh it is. So, what'd you all do tonight?"
"We rented 'Wild Things'."
"Ohh..we've seen that!"
"I know..but this time with a bunch of guys around we can talk about how fine those two women were.."
"And you can comment on the threesome, huh?"
He laughed, "Yep!"
"I knew it!"
"You know us all too well."
"Yep! Well, I better get off of here. I don't want your phone bill to get too high.."
"Does it matter when I'm talking to you?"
"I know you're grinning like a madman over there but that was sweet..but I am really tired baby.."
"Okay..little one."
"Quit callin' me that!"
"Nick says I can't until you quit calling him little man."
"Well, I'm not gonna do that!"
"I know..just thought I'd tell you. Well..I guess I'd better go..I'll call you tomorrow night?"
"Okay..if you're not too tired or busy or something.."
"I'll always make time for you Taylor, you know that. I'll try not to call too late, k?"
"Okay..I love you."
"I love you too..talk to you soon."
"K..bye AJ."
"Bye Taylor."
She hung up the phone and set her alarm. Tobie and Star both jumped up in bed with her and curled up beside her. She turned off the light and closed her eyes. Before she fell asleep, she couldn't help but think how weird it was sleeping in that big house by herself...
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