Chapter 27"I just can't wait until Christmas that's all."
"And why is that?"
"Because we are giving each other the best gift," Kristen said kissing AJ again.
"Um okay," AJ said confused when the door bell rang. Since Kristen was sitting in his lap he just picked her up in his arms and went to answer the door to see Howie on the other side.
"Now this is really cute," Howie said to AJ and Kristen. "Hope I didn't interuppt anything."
"No, you didn't," Kristen said as AJ set her down on the floor. "I haven't talked to you since the party. You and Mandy sure did hit it off well."
"She's going out with TJ remember?"
"Yeah well I don't think that's going to last very long. As soon as they started dating he had to leave and he hardly ever calls her."
"Well they are going to be seeing a lot of each other the next two months."
"Why?"
"Just get dressed and meet me, Lou, Jasmine, and Mandy in the conference room of his studio in an hour okay?"
"Alright, I'll see ya then Howie," Kristen said as Howie walked out the door as she shut it behind him. "I wonder what that was about."
"Well it has to be good. Maybe the single went double platinum," AJ said.
"I highly doubt that one AJ."
"That would be pretty cool if we did. But as long as you remain number two on TRL I'll be happy."
"And why not rise a spot and remain number one?" Kristen asked curiously.
"Because I'm the man of the house and my wife isn't allowed to beat me," AJ said with a smile then kissed Kristen on the tip of her nose.
"Okay you just keep telling yourself that while I go take a shower."
"That's fine, I'll just join you."
"No you won't. I have an hour to get ready and get to the studio," Kristen said leaving towards the bathroom. When she was ready she kissed AJ goodbye then got in her car and drove to the studio. By the time she got there she was the last one to arrive, like usual. Lou awarded them with their platinum singles then had them all sit down at the table.
"We'll just get right down to it," Lou said. "You girls have one week to record two more songs and choreography to one more dance."
"Why what's in a week?" Jasmine asked.
"Love's Angels is going to replace one of the opening acts for Britney Spears for the remainder of her tour starting in a week," Lou said.
"We're going on tour!" Mandy screamed and Lou nodded his head.
"You're going to do three songs. Of course you'll do 'Making It Tonight' and you'll do another upbeat song and also a ballad."
"This is great," Jasmine said. "When do we start rehearsing?"
"I'd like you to get you into the studio today."
"Christmas is coming up in three weeks are we going to be able to come back home for that?" Kristen asked.
"You're going to have to depend upon yourselves for that. There will be a concert on the 23rd but on Christmas Eve and Christmas no concerts are scheduled but the tour buses will be driving to the next location. It will be up to you girls to get to the airport and to make sure you are back at the next concert venue early enough in the morning on the 26th to go through a sound check," Lou explained.
"Hey that's fine by me as long as I'm not gone for Christmas," Kristen said.
"Okay I have another group to meet with so I will be back later. Howie take them to the recording studio with the music. You know everything to do," Lou said getting up and leaving.
"You know out of all the people to go on tour with we are going with Britney Spears," Kristen said sarcastically.
"Don't complain. She's big in the music industry and all her concerts are sold out. It's good publicity for you three," Howie said.
"I'm not complaining one bit," Mandy said with a huge smile on her face. "This way I'm going to be able to see TJ and spend some time with him every day." Howie looked at Mandy and forced a sincere smile. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go call him and tell him the great news," Mandy said taking her cell phone out of her purse and leaving the room.
"Do you like her or something?" Jasmine asked Howie. She could tell that something was up with the smile that he gave Mandy.
"Yes he does," Kristen said.
"She likes TJ. I'm not going to interfere with them so don't worry," Howie said.
"Oh I wasn't implying that you would," Jasmine said. "I was just asking. What are you going to do while we are on tour since you're part manager?"
"Actually I'm going with you girls. Since the Backstreet Boys are off for a while because of AJ's touring we have no concerts or publicity shoots so I'll be joining you."
"Wait back the track up for a second. Did you say you guys are off because of AJ's touring?" Kristen asked.
"Yeah, didn't he tell you?"
"No, he didn't tell me," Kristen said pissed off. "Why is he touring?"
"He's doing a charity tour as Johnny Suede or No-Name or something I'm not sure. But all the money he makes from it is going to five charities that me and the guys chose. Then after that he's off for about two months and we are all rehearsing for another Backstreet Boys tour," Howie explained.
"I guess I shouldn't be pissed because it's for charity but I am because he didn't tell me."
"Kristen I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure he had a good reason. Talk to him tonight when you get home," Jasmine said.
"Jasmine's right. AJ doesn't like getting you upset so he would never do it intentionally. There's probably a good reason behind it. Now we better go grab Mandy and get into the studio to start practicing," Howie said and they all got up and went into the recording studio. Kristen got home late that night and she entered the house and didn't see AJ around. She heard music playing so she ran up the stairs to where his music studio was and she saw him sitting down messing around with a bunch of stuff.
"When were you planning on telling me?" Kristen asked and AJ turned around startled.
"Tell you what?" AJ asked confused.
"That you were going on tour by yourself. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was going to. Who told you?"
"Howie did. He said he was going to go on tour with me, Mandy and Jasmine since the Backstreet Boys were off for a while so you could go touring. When were you planning on telling me this? When you left?" Kristen asked sarcastically.
"No, I was going to tell you soon. Now just didn't seem like a good time."
"How do you figure that one?"
"I figure that one because I don't know what's been going on with you lately."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Well lately you've been waking up and going straight to the bathroom because you're sick to your stomach. Then you just walk out of the bathroom like you're perfectly healthy. Then at the party you didn't have one sip of alcohol and you were all over me in front of everyone."
"You were all over me too so that is no damn excuse!" Kristen yelled interuppting him.
"That's normal for me! I never care if there are people around you usually do! You never act like that. Then you have been so happy this past week, I've never seen you like that. You weren't even like that when we were planning our wedding and that was a huge thing for you. Then we have had sex every single night this past week since the party."
"Since when do you complain about having sex?" Kristen asked curiously.
"I'm not complaining. But it's completely unlike you. I swear to God Kristen I thought someone drugged you at that party and for some reason the drugs weren't wearing off. When you started acting like your normal self again I was going to tell you."
"So you don't like it when I'm happy? What do you want me to be depressed all of the time?"
"No, I just want to know what is with the change of mood this week. Now what is going on with you or are you not going to tell me?"
"I am just not right now."
"Then when? I would like to know soon."
"Just trust me okay? I promise I'll tell you but you can't get mad because I want to wait until the time is right. Just please accept that as an answer because you will find out soon."
"Alright, I believe you. Come here," AJ said grabbing Kristen's hand and pulling her down onto his lap. "I guess I was wrong not to tell you about me leaving and I'm sorry."
"That's fine now but when are you leaving?"
"A week after Christmas. I'll be gone between a month or two. When do you leave for your touring and who are you opening for?"
"The infamous Britney Spears," Kristen said sarcastically. "We leave in a week. I can fly back home Christmas Eve but I have to make sure I'm back at wherever early in the morning the day after Christmas. After that we'll get back in about a month and a half."
"Well at least we'll probably get back at the same time. I hate being away from you."
"I know the feeling," Kristen said leaning her head down and kissing AJ. Throughout the next week Kristen, Mandy, and Jasmine were in the studios rehearsing every day for almost the entire day. When the day came for them to leave AJ helped pack all their stuff in his car and drove Howie and the girls to the Orlando airport. They checked their luggage in and got to their gate about a half an hour before the plane took off. When the flight attendant lady called their seat numbers Kristen put her backpack down and stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around AJ's neck pulling herself up to him. AJ wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. AJ could feel the tears that were falling from her eyes land on his neck.
"Kristen it's only three weeks and then you'll be back for Christmas," AJ said reassuringly.
"I know but this is me we're talking about. I get home sick easily. And once I come back I'll only see you for two days before I leave and we won't see each other for probably two months. Then you guys start rehearsing and you'll leave for touring for a few months so this is like just the beginning," Kristen said getting all upset.
"How about we just take this whole touring thing one step at a time instead of all at once the way you are?" AJ suggested and Kristen nodded her head. "I'll see you in three weeks," AJ said kissing Kristen for a couple of seconds. "I love you."
"Love you too, bye," Kristen said kissing him again.
"Okay let's go now," Mandy said grabbing Kristen's and Jasmine's hands and pulling them through the gate. She was eager to get to the venue so she could see TJ.
"Take care of Kristen for me D. Along with the other two," AJ said to Howie.
"I will. See ya later Bone."
"Later. Good luck and tell them I said that." Howie agreed then boarded the plane as they closed the gate. AJ stood by the window and watched the plane leave. He knew Kristen was right when she said it was only the beginning. He also knew that it would probably put a little strain on their marriage but he wasn't expecting how much there was actually going to be.
