Ayma smothers a yawn and stretches back in her chair. She closes her eyes as the clock strikes 8pm.
“Ayma!”
The shout and accompanying hug nearly knocks her off her chair. She opens her eyes with a yelp and leaps up to hug her laughing friend. “Kill me why dontcha.”
Leighanne laughs. “Sorry. I missed ya honey.”
“You too.” Ayma yawns and sits down again.
Leighanne sits opposite. “When’d you get in?”
Ayma looks blearily at her watch. “Err about an hour ago….man I should be in the land of nod right now.”
“Aww. How’re your folks?”
“Great.” Ayma yawns again. “C’mon and it better be good.”
“What?” Leigh tries to look innocent but fails.
Ayma laughs. “You’re good but not THAT good….got somethin’ to tell me….?”
“Maybe…” Ayma groans and she laughs. “OK…” She moves her chair closer to Ayma’s. “Brian kinda asked me to marry him.”
“Oh my…!” Ayma squeals and hugs her friend. “I’m guessing you said yes.”
“Yeah!” Leighanne waggles her ring finger at her and Ayma looks at the ring.
“Oh Leigh. It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah. Bri chose it.”
“It’s official….the guy has taste!”
Leighanne laughs. “It was SO sweet…” She sighs happily.
“C’mon…word for word.”
“OK….”
Ayma settles back in her chair as Leighanne takes a deep breath to tell her all about the proposal.
“So you see the film as your big break?”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Not the show?”
“Well ‘Dawson’s Creek’ helped raise my profile in the business and taught me a lot but so many TV actors way better than me never get the…” A mobile phone starts ringing. “Jeez, whose IS that?!”
Ayma checks her bag and blushes. “Ahh, mine…sorry Josh.”
“Ohh, that’s OK.” He grins at her.
“Just let me turn it off…” She gets the phone out of her bag.
“No, go ahead…answer it.” He smiles at her. “Might be important. A scoop or somethin’.”
She smiles and answers the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey Ayma, where are you?”
“Hi Leigh. Interviewing.”
“Oh, sorry. Who?”
Ayma glances at the guy next to her. “Joshua Jackson.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Pacey in ‘Dawson’s Creek’?”
“Oh yeah! He’s sweet.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Oh he’s right there?”
“Yup.”
“Oops.” Leighanne laughs. “He single?”
“I’m not even going there.”
“Aww. Well, doin’ anything tonight?”
“Nup.”
“Consider yourself booked.” She hangs up.
“Wha…?” She groans and turns off the phone. Josh looks at her and she shrugs. “Ah just my annoying friend trying to set me up AGAIN.”
“Oh.”
Ayma paces her lounge floor nervously. The phone rings and she grabs it. “Leigh?!”
“Wow, you’re good.”
“WHAT are you doing to me tonight?”
“Ah, nothin’.”
“Leigh…”
“OK…I DID have a date lined up but he kinda reacted the way you did.”
“Oh…” Ayma rolls her eyes towards the ceiling. “Thank you lord.”
Leigh laughs. “But is it OK if Bri and I come round with a video and ‘corn?”
“Sure.”
“See you in a bit then.”
Ayma puts the phone down and whoops. No embarrassing blind date to suffer through that night. Ever since she had split up with Joe, Leighanne had been on a dating mission. Ayma had already suffered through 4 disastrous dates and she was damned if she was gonna sit through any more. A celebratory dance was called for and Ayma found the perfect song to accompany that dance. ‘Don’t Want You Back’ blares out of the speakers and Ayma jumps around singing along at the top of her voice. The doorbell rings and Ayma dances to the front door and opens it.
“Don’t want you back! No, no….” Her voice trails off as she recognises the guy standing in front of her. She self-consciously runs her fingers through her messy hair. The song ends and the house is deadly silent. She manages to speak first. “Err, hello.” He stares at her in horror. “OK, think you got the wrong house.”
“I do too.” He turns to leave. “But could you tell me which one Ayma lives at?”
She stares at him. “Ayma?….Err, that’s me.”
“Oh.” He looks her up and down. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know you do I? I mean I know WHO you are…obviously…but I err….nup.”
“Leighanne sent me.”
“Oh…” She rolls her eyes. “Damn her.”
“Jeez, I’m not THAT bad a guest.”
“Oh no, it’s just she’s ALWAYS trying to set me up with somebody.”
He backs away slightly. “She’s not setting US up.”
“Oh good.”
“She said that her and Bri were comin’ over to watch a video and that I could come.”
“Jeez, that was nice of her.”
“You’re bein’ sarcastic huh? Bein’ a Brit and all.”
“You got it. I’m impressed.” She clutches her chest exaggeratedly and motions him to follow her into the lounge. They sit at opposite ends of the room.
“So you’re the famous Ayma huh?”
“I guess.” She looks at him. “And you’re the famous Nick.”
“Yup.”
There’s a long silence. “Wow. You’re a great conversationalist.”
“Right back at ya.”
The phone rings and she makes a dive for it. “Hello?”
“Hey Ayma.”
“Brian, hi.”
“Nick there?”
“Unfortunately.” Brian laughs. “When you guys getting here?”
“Ah…we’re not.”
“What?!”
“Errmm….nup…Tyke’s bein’ clingy.”
“Bri, that’s a crap excuse and you know it.”
“Mmhmm, blame Leigh not me.”
“Put her on then.”
“Leigh!……Errr, she went out.”
“Hmm, figures.”
“So, have a nice night.”
“Hey, what am I supposed to do with conversation boy?”
Brian chuckles. “Geez, you guys REALLY hit it off didn’t ya?! Check your doormat.” He hangs up.
“Check my…Geez, you guys really got to stop hanging up on me with cryptic stuff.” She puts the phone down.
Nick looks at her. “OK, what was the excuse?”
“Tyke’s being clingy.”
He groans. “Oh man, you were SO right. This STINKS of a set-up.”
“Uh huh.”
“What else did he say?”
“To check out the doormat.”
“Huh?” He gets up and disappears. He comes back with a box and sits next to Ayma as she opens it. It’s a SIXTH SENSE video, popcorn and a bottle of wine.
Ayma laughs. “A well-planned set-up.”
“Oh yeah.”
She picks the video up. “Watch this with me?”
“You’re not a psycho BSB fan are ya?”
She laughs. “Yup.”
“Ah….OK then!” He picks up the wine. “Kitchen?”
“Thatta way.”
Ayma rests her head on the back of the couch with a grin. “Told you he was dead.”
“I bet somebody told ya.”
“Nope.”
“Ah, c’mon…it wasn’t obvious.”
“Only if you’re clever, intuitive….” She laughs as Nick throws a cushion at her. “Owch!”
“Shaddup already.”
“Great film though…”
“Oh yeah.”
“Was Bruce wearing a wig?”
“Man, I wondered about that. The guy was bald in ‘Armageddon’.”
“He was.”
Nick suddenly giggles. “We did this song last year with Elton John and all I saw was his HAIR.”
“Doesn’t it look natural?”
“No WAY! Not up close anyway.” He laughs. “I mean, it’s BAD.”
She giggles. “Bet that put you off.”
“Oh yeah. I totally missed my lines and stuff. Kev kept getting’ mad at me.” He pouts. “He ALWAYS gets mad at me.”
She laughs. “Aww.”
“But Elton kept tryin’ to get his arm round me and I was getting’ freaked out and backing away. I actually fell off stage into the orchestra bit and damn near broke my arm but everybody was going crazy about this stupid violin.”
Ayma giggles and he glares at her. “Sorry. Bet that hurt.”
“Oh yeah. Damn near got a trombone up my ass.” She tries to keep a straight face but fails miserably. Nick starts laughing as well.
“And I thought I was the world’s clumsiest person.”
“What’ve you done?”
“Oh, show me a hair and I’ll probably trip over it.” He laughs. “I fall down stairs on a regular basis, stand up under open windows…”
He winces. “I’ve done that. Owch.” He rubs his head.
“When I was 6 I ran down the stairs to tell my Mum that Dad had put in a new toilet duck…”
“Toilet duck?!”
“Oh yep, I get excited over the stupidest things…..Anyway I tripped and cut my head open on a speaker.”
“Owch.”
“Yeah. Last year I fell down the stairs at the Savoy in London.”
He grins. “Wow that’s classy.”
“Yeah. I was trying to be all dignified and ended up flashing everyone my knickers.”
He laughs. “I fell off the stage in front of President Clinton.”
“Whoa…that’s classier!”
“Yep.” He grins. “So we’re Mr and Mrs Clumsy.”
“Yup, you got THAT right.”
He grins and looks at her. “So, tell me….why are you still single?”
“Wow…coulda given me a little seriousness warning.”
“Sorry.”
“Ah, never met the right guy.”
“But Leigh’s been tryin’?”
“Oh has she?!” He laughs. “What about you?”
“Single. I broke up with a girl several months ago.”
“Oh right.”
“It just wasn’t working out.”
“But you’re OK with it?”
“Oh yeah….it’s kinda cool bein’ single.”
She laughs. “You couldn’t tell Leigh that?!”
Ayma opens the door and peers groggily into the sunlight.
“Has he gone?”
“I’m not talking to you.” Ayma walks into the lounge and collapses into a chair. Leighanne sits opposite her.
“Aww, he’s a great guy.”
“Yeah, but no more set-ups.”
“Hmm, so you hit it off?”
Ayma groans. “We had a good night.”
“Oh yes!” Leigh punches the air and laughs. “Success!” Ayma shakes her head. “No?”
“Nup.”
She sits down again. “Oh, why?”
“Just friends.” Leighanne groans. “And we’re both happy with that.”
“But you guys’d be PERFECT together. Bri agrees.”
“Leigh, I appreciate what you’re trying to do but when I want a guy I’ll go find myself one.” She smiles at her friend. “OK?”
Leigh sighs. “OK.” The phone rings and Leigh hands it over to Ayma.
“Hello?”
“Hey Ayma.”
“What’re you doing up already?”
“I’m not. I have a bed phone.” She laughs. “You?”
“One word….begins with a L…”
“Ahh, say hi for me.”
“OK.” She looks at Leigh. “Nick says hi.”
“Hi…..Nick?” Leigh grins. “Oh yes.”
Ayma rolls her eyes at her friend. “Great. I just got her to agree we were better being just friends and now you just went and undid all my good work with one tiny word.”
“Oops…Sorry.” He laughs. “I was callin’ to see if you were free tonight.”
“As far as I know, yeah.”
“We have this awards thing and I kinda need a date.”
“And you thought of me? Jeez, I might just cry…”
He laughs. “So?”
“Why not? I might get some inside goss for the magazine.”
“You can try. I’ll pick you up about 8pm.”
“Bye.” She hangs up and smiles sweetly at Leighanne. “So, coffee?” She stands up.
“No…well?!”
“Well what?”
Leigh growls at her. “What’d he want?”
“Oh that…” She grins. “Don’t get all excited…OK?”
“Promise.”
“He invited me to the awards thing tonight.”
“Oh…” Leigh struggles to keep still but fails and swings Ayma round the room humming ‘I Need You Tonight’.
“You promised!”
“Hey…made to be broken!”
“Remind me to tell Bri that one…”
Leigh laughs and grabs Ayma’s hand. “Let’s go shopping!” She drags her towards the front door.
“Err Leigh…let me get dressed first.”
“Oh….hurry up!” She pushes Ayma towards her bedroom and carries on humming to herself.
Ayma takes a deep swallow of her wine and sighs happily. She had been feeling nervous up until a few minutes ago but the wine and the mellow tones of Eric Benet had calmed her down. The doorbell rings and she opens the door to a besuited Nick. He looks her up and down and slowly whistles. She laughs and gestures him to follow her into the lounge.
“You look damn fine.” He apes a diggin’ hand gesture and she giggles.
“Thanks.” She turns the music off.
“Eric Benet huh?”
“Yup.”
“Not the BSBs…I’m insulted.”
“Well I have to listen to you all night y’know.”
“Hey!” He pouts and then laughs. “I’m glad you could come. It would’ve been bad bein’ the only one without a date.”
“Well, I AM listed under Rent-A-Date y’know.” She smiles and heads towards the door. “C’mon, let’s get this over with.”
“You really do look beautiful Ayma.”
She looks at him. “You don’t scrub up too bad yourself.”
“Jeez….praise indeed.”
Ayma shuffles her chair closer to Leighanne’s and leans closer to whisper in her ear. “OK, the camera flashes I could cope with…even though I can still see white spots…Could even deal with the screaming girls. But THIS….”
Leighanne laughs and they both look at the stage where Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston are trying to out-warble each other.
“Who’s gonna get the last note?”
Ayma looks at Leighanne. “Hmmm….Mariah. She’s got the bigger chest.”
“So?”
“Lung capacity.”
“Ahh. No, I think ole Whitters. She’s got experience.” Leigh looks at Brian who’s been listening in. “What d’you think?”
“Gotta go with the lung capacity theory.”
Ayma nudges Nick who has nearly managed to fall asleep. “Wha..?!”
“S’OK….Who do you think’ll get the last note?”
“Oh..err…Whitney.”
Leigh grins. “Welcome to my side.”
Howie leans across the table to Ayma. “What you doin’?”
“Guessing who’ll get the last note. What d’you think?”
Brian looks seriously at Howie. “It’s between Mariah’s lung capacity and Whitney’s experience.”
“Ahh…” Howie glances at the stage. “Mariah.” He nudges AJ. “Last note?”
“Hmmm…..gotta go for experience every time.”
Kevin frowns. “I think lung capacity’s more important.” He looks at his fiancée Kristin. “What d’you think honey?”
“Hmm, I can’t believe we’re talkin’ breasts.” She shakes her head. “But I’d have to go with Mariah too.”
“Me too….I got small ones but then again I can’t sing that high either.”
AJ slides his arm round her. “Amanda honey, you have perfect breasts and the only good thing ‘bout singin’ high is the dogs hear ya.”
“Aww thanks babe.” She snuggles up to him.
Leighanne sighs. “C’mon Pollyanna, you gotta join my side.”
Howie’s sister laughs. “I’m there.”
The whole table sits back and stares at the stage to await the end of the song. It finally draws to a close but Whitney and Mariah warble on. Eventually the music dies away and Whitney sings a long note, then Mariah does, then Whitney, then Mariah…and so on until finally the stage lights go out and a voice-over thanks them both for performing. Ayma and Leigh look at each other and giggle.
Nick looks confused. “So who got the last note?”
“The stage manager.”
“The guy deserves a medal.”
Ayma grins at AJ. “I’ll second that.”
Kevin suddenly tenses. “Hey, they just nominated us.”
Brian looks up. “What for?”
“Ah, Best Album I think.”
Everyone listens intently as the presenters announce the winner. “And the award for Best Album goes to…..Millennium by the Backstreet Boys!” The audience cheer and the Boys look shocked.
“Man, we were NOMINATED?!” Howie stands up. “Nobody tells us anything anymore.”
Nick stands up muttering. “What are we gonna SAY?” The guys walk towards the stage.
“Oh I’m glad they won.” Pollyanna grins at the girls.
“Yeah.” Kristin looks at Ayma. “Hi, I’m Kristin.”
“I’m Ayma.”
“Oh, Leigh’s friend? We hear a lot about you.”
“Should I be scared?”
Kristin laughs. “Maybe…!”
Pollyanna smiles. “I’m Howie’s sister Pollyanna.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Amanda.”
“Hello.” Ayma smiles at them all.
Kristin grins. “So, are you and Nicky….?”
“No.”
“Well, they only met last night but they…” Ayma glares at Leighanne. “Are gonna be JUST friends….humph.”
Ayma smiles sweetly at Leigh. “Thank you.”
“Ooh, acceptance speeches!” Leigh clasps her hands exaggeratedly and the others laugh. They look at the Boys gathered round the microphone on stage.
Howie grins. “Wow. This is SO great. We didn’t even know we’d been nominated.”
AJ grins at the audience. “Shows how good our communication skills are eh?!”
Kevin steps forward. “We’d like to thank everybody who voted for us, and all the fans for their love and support. We wouldn’t be standing here without you. Thanks to our families for their understanding, love and support. On a personal note, I’d like to thank Kristin for always being there for me.”
Kristin giggles and then clasps her hand over her mouth. “Man, I sound like SUCH a groupie.” The girls laugh.
Brian claps Kevin on the back gently. “Ditto to all that. Plus I gotta thank Leigh for all her love and support.”
Leighanne grins and Ayma gives her a quick hug.
“If AJ don’t mention my name, he is gonna be SO dead.” Amanda looks round the table and grins.
“My family are way important to me, so thanks guys!” Howie grins and then looks serious again. “Plus I wanna thank everybody for their kind words when my sister Caroline died. The foundation that we set up in her name is doing SO well, so thanks.”
Pollyanna sighs. “Yeah, everybody was so nice.”
“And I’d like to thank everybody involved with Johnny No-Name for making it such fun to do. And Amanda for just bein’ her.”
Amanda sighs. “Damn, I was kinda lookin’ forward to killing him.”
Nick grins at everybody. “Man, I guess I gotta say somethin’ but the guys have kinda said it all. Thanks to the fans, the DJs who play us, the media who are nice to us, my family for all the support, my friends for never letting me forget who I am, these guys for bein’ more than brothers to me…and Rent-A-Date – this could be the start of somethin’ good.” He laughs and follows the others off the stage.
Leigh looks at Ayma with a grin and starts to open her mouth.
Ayma holds up her hand. “Don’t even GO there.” Leigh closes her mouth and raises her eyebrows with a smug grin. “Arrgh.” Ayma rests her head on the table. “For the last time…NO!” She glares at her friend and then turns to Pollyanna. “What is that foundation about?”
“Oh, our sister Caroline died from an illness called lupus and we set up the foundation to help raise awareness and money for research and treatment.”
“Wow. How’s it doing?”
Pollyanna smiles. “Oh fantastic. Totally beyond our expectations.” The Boys come back to the table.
Ayma smiles at Howie. “Pollyanna was just telling me about your foundation. I think it’s so great that you’re using your high profile to raise awareness for lupus.”
“Thanks. It’s the least I could do.”
“Would you mind if I interviewed you about it?”
“The foundation? No, that would be amazing.” Howie grins at her. “Really?”
“Yeah. I think more people need to know about it.”
Brian looks at them. “Ayma interviewed me about the heart foundation I set up, and it was SO good for raising awareness. Donations kinda doubled.”
“Tripled.” Leighanne grins. “The girl’s got talent.”
Ayma smiles. “OK, you’re back in the good books.”
Nick looks confused. “You have good books?”
“Oh yeah. The best is To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Leighanne giggles.
Kevin sighs. “Nick…get with it.”
“What?”
Ayma smiles at him. “Good books, y’know…when people say something nice to you…”
“Oh…I’m with ya.”
Kevin rolls his eyes. “Finally.”
Ayma heads towards a comfy chair in a quiet corner of the club. The music seems to be quieter there and she sits down with a sigh. The post-awards party was in full-flow. Ayma had been dancing all night with Howie, AJ and Amanda and now she needed a rest. She sips her drink and closes her eyes.
“Hey Ayma.” She opens her eyes. “Can I join you?”
“Sure.”
Joshua Jackson sits next to her with a sigh. “Man, I’m tired.”
She smiles. “Yeah, kinda exhausting all this back-slapping stuff.”
He laughs. “You got it.”
“Congratulations on getting Best Actor.”
“Thanks.” He sighs heavily. “I just wanna go to bed now.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“My feet are refusing to move just yet.”
“I know how you feel.” She laughs.
He smiles at her. “I’m glad I ran into you here. I was kinda kickin’ myself for not getting’ your number.”
She smiles at him. “Were you?”
“Yeah.” He moves closer to her. “Please tell me you’re not with someone.”
“I’m not.”
“Me neither.” He brushes her hair back from her face and kisses her gently. She wraps her arms round him and deepens the kiss.
“Leigh, seen Ayma?”
Leigh shakes her head at Nick. “I thought she was with you.”
“Nup.” Howie and AJ come over. “Seen Ayma?”
“She was dancin’ with us but then she disappeared. Where’s my girl?” AJ looks round and spots Amanda by the bar. “Ah, laters.” He goes.
Howie shrugs. “I think she was going to find a seat somewhere.”
“Oh.” Nick wanders off and Leigh follows him.
“Nick, you OK?”
“Yeah. Are you?”
“Yeah. So you like Ayma huh?” She feigns disinterest.
“Ah…well….y’know….I….errr…yeah.”
“Oh yes!” She giggles and then looks serious. “I knew it.”
“D’you think she likes me?”
“Oh, sure.”
“Really?”
“Y….whoa.” She looks past Nick and spots Ayma and Josh kissing. “Maybe not.”
“What?” He tries to turn round but she grabs his arm and manoeuvres him over to the bar.
“Drink?”
“Err, sure.”
“Great.” She looks round for Brian and grabs him. “Bri…keep Nick company.”
“Why?”
She sighs and leans closer to whisper in his ear. “Nick just told me he likes Ayma and I just saw her over there kissin’ someone else.”
“Where?” He tries to turn round.
“Don’t look.” She pushes him towards Nick and walks over to where Ayma and Josh are kissing. She coughs discreetly but they don’t hear her. She sighs and coughs loudly. They jump apart.
“Jeez, you sound terminal Leigh.”
Leighanne smiles sweetly. “Bit of dust.” She looks pointedly at Josh.
“Ah, Leigh this is Josh. Josh, this is Leigh.”
He smiles at her. “Hello.”
“Hi Josh. I need a word with Ayma. You don’t mind do you?” She grabs Ayma’s arm and pulls her up.
“Err…nup.”
“Thanks.” She drags Ayma over to a quiet part of the bar.
“What do you want Leigh?”
“Josh….you serious?”
“I only just met him.”
“Is it like a one-night kissin’ thing or potential relationship thing?”
“Hm…well I like him.”
“Oh.”
“What? You’ve been trying to get me a guy for MONTHS now. I thought you’d be pleased.”
“I AM. Really. I mean he’s even cuter in the flesh.”
Ayma giggles. “Oh I know.”
Leigh sighs. “But Nick’s kinda fallen for you too.”
“Oh.”
“And guess who has to give him the good news?”
“Oh.”
“Yup.” Leigh smiles. “But as long as you’re happy.”
Joshua comes over to them. He wraps an arm round her waist. “Hey. Wanna leave?”
Ayma smiles at him. “Sure. You managed to get your feet working?”
He kisses her. “Oh yeah…I found a good pick-me-up.”
Leigh smiles at them. “Call me tomorrow Ayma.”
“OK.”
“Don’t worry ‘bout…y’know.”
Ayma smiles. “Thanks.”
“Josh…I have to go…yeah, I know honey…Next week for sure…Oh Pacey’s not sexy….Sorry but I prefer you!” She giggles. “OK Josh. I’ll call you soon…..yeah, bye honey…” She hangs up her phone and sighs. The sun is shining down on her body and she closes her eyes against the sound of waves. She lies back onto the sand and smiles. Someone sits next to her, spraying her with sand. “Hey!” She opens her eyes and sees Nick looking apologetic.
“Sorry Ayma.”
She smiles and sits up. “Hey Nick. How are you?”
“I’m great. We’ve been promoting the new single like crazy.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard it played a lot. I like it.”
“Thanks. What have you been up to?”
“Ah, work y’know. Nothing exciting.”
“Is Joshua not around?” She looks at him. “Leigh told me you guys started dating.”
“Oh right. He’s filming in Wilmington for the TV show.”
“Wow…that’s far.”
“Yeah.” She laughs. “And I always said I’d never have a long-distance relationship.”
“They can be pretty crazy.” He pulls a face. “With my job, I KNOW.”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“Hey, I don’t. You’re talkin’ to Mr Single here.”
“Aww.” She puts an arm round him. “You’ll find somebody.”
“Maybe.” He suddenly laughs. “I don’t want her just yet though…I’m having way too much fun.”
She smiles at him.
Ayma walks past a camera and narrowly avoids tripping over a cable. She just manages to regain her balance when Josh races over. He sweeps her up in a big hug and kiss.
“Hey honey! I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” She kisses him. “Now put me down before you do your back in.”
He laughs and puts her down. “C’mon, let me introduce you to the guys.” He takes her hand and pulls her over to a group of people sat fanning themselves on a wall. “Guys, this is Ayma.”
She smiles at them. “Hi.”
Josh points at his friends. “These are Michelle…Katie…and James.” They wave at her.
“C’mon, sit down.” Michelle pats a space next to her and Ayma sits down.
“Thanks.”
James smiles at her. “Josh has told us a lot about you.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No way…it’s all good.”
She smiles at Josh. “Exercising those acting muscles again eh?”
Josh laughs. “Hey, y’know…every chance I get.”
Katie grins. “So you met in an interview?”
“Sod that…Josh said you know the Backstreet Boys!”
Ayma looks at Michelle and laughs. “Yes. My best friend is engaged to Brian.”
“Wow. What is he like?”
Katie rolls her eyes. “Michelle is a Backstreet groupie.” Ayma laughs.
“Hey, you like ‘em too.”
“No way.” Michelle glares at Katie and James starts humming ‘I Want It That Way’. Katie laughs. “OK, I like SOME stuff they did.”
Josh laughs and looks at Ayma. “She LOVES them. Really.”
Ayma grins at Katie. “I kinda like them myself. Nick thought I was a real groupie when I first met him!”
“Why?”
“Leigh set us up on a date and he came to my house. I had ‘Don’t Want You Back’ blaring out of my speakers and opened the door to him yelling the lyrics.” She shakes her head. “I was SO embarrassed and he just looked scared.” The girls giggle.
Katie sighs. “OK, I admit it. I love ‘em and Nick’s gotta be my favourite. What’s he like?”
“Nick? Oh just a total klutz!” She laughs. “But great with it. Real cute too.” Ayma sighs and notices Josh looking at her with a sad expression. She puts an arm round him. “But not as cute as this guy.” He grins and kisses her.
Michelle groans. “Josh and cute….not words I’d choose!”
Josh shoots her a look. “That’s probably why you’re not my girlfriend.”
Michelle giggles. “Thank God.”
“Hey, behave!” James looks severely at them and they start laughing.
Michelle ruffles Josh’s hair. “Ah, I love him really.”
Ayma looks at her watch impatiently. Eventually a car stops in front of her and Leighanne climbs out.
“At last!” Ayma grabs Leigh’s hand and pulls her across the road to the TV set. “You almost missed filming.”
“Oh horrors.” Leigh laughs. “Nice to see you too Ayma honey.”
“Oh.” Ayma stops and hugs Leigh quickly. “Sorry! I missed you.” She pulls her over to the camera crew and stops. “This’ll be a good place to watch.”
“Great. What is it?”
“Josh said it was going to spoof Katie’s film ‘Go’.”
“Oh, sounds good.”
“How’d production go on ‘Olive Juice’?”
“Real well. I have a tape of out-takes to show you.”
“Great.” Ayma rubs her hands together gleefully. “I get to watch you cock up…yay!” Leigh hits her gently. “Hey…owch!”
Leigh laughs. “You missed your calling.”
“I know…I could’ve won an Oscar.” Ayma sighs dramatically. “I guess I’ll never know now.” Leigh laughs and they watch filming for a while.
“How are things with Josh?”
“Ah, fine.”
Leigh looks at Ayma. “Only fine?”
“What did you expect?”
“Great, fantastic, wonderful, he’s adorable, this could be love….any one of those.” Ayma shrugs and Leigh takes her arm. “C’mon, let’s go get a coffee.” They go into a coffee shop and sit in a quiet corner to talk. “Ayma, if he’s not the one, is he really worth the hassle of the whole long-distance thing?”
“I don’t know. I thought so…but…”
“What?”
“Well…I…” Ayma sighs. “Katie was asking me about Nick and I was telling her and…”
“And?”
“I felt…weird. Like I missed him and I really wanted to be with him. And Josh felt it too cos he looked so down.”
Leigh looks at her friend’s face and touches her hand gently. “I think you want to be with Nick too. And I KNOW he wants to be with you.”
“But Josh is such a great guy. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Honey, you’ll hurt him even more if you let this drag on.” Leigh squeezes her hand gently. “You’ll be back in Tampa by next week anyway. He’ll move on.”
“I know.” She sighs. “I’ll talk to him tonight. Then can I come back with you tomorrow?”
“Of course you can.” She smiles at Ayma. “It’s times like these I thank God Bri took me off the market.” Ayma giggles. “Yeah.”
Josh looks at Ayma and smiles. “Leigh didn’t want to come out with us tonight?”
“She was tired. Long day and all that.”
“Ah yeah. How’s her film going?”
“Really well. It’s in production.”
“Already?”
“More like, at last.”
He grins. “Ayma…I’ve enjoyed having you here.”
“It was great to meet everybody.”
He looks at her and sighs. “OK, what aren’t you telling me?”
“Josh, I…”She sighs and looks over at the bar. “Oh, there’s James.”
“Ayma.” He touches her hand. “Tell me.”
She looks at him. “I’m sorry Josh. I should’ve said this a long time ago.”
“Well, you’re sayin’ it now.”
“I don’t think we should date any more Josh.”
He laughs. “We hardly date now. Wilmington to Tampa’s ‘bout the furthest you can get in one country!” He looks serious. “I know what you’re sayin’ Ayma. If that’s what you want…”
“You’re a great guy Josh but this isn’t fair on either of us.”
He sits in silence for a few minutes. “It’s Nick isn’t it?”
“No…I like him, yeah but…even without him, this would never have worked.”
“I knew it when Katie started askin’ you all those questions. You got this look…” He sighs. “I realised then that that was the kinda look I deserved from a girl. And you can’t give me it.”
“I’m sorry, Josh.”
He sighs and then looks at her with an evil glint in his eye. “But I’m WAY cleverer than him aren’t I?”
She laughs. “That wouldn’t be too hard.”
Ayma looks up at the big security guy blocking her way into the arena. “Err…hi.”
“Pass.”
“I haven’t got one. Sorry.”
“Then bye.” He folds his arms.
“Could you just find Leighanne?” Ayma tries an innocent smile on him. “I promise she knows me.” He looks at her for a moment and she bats her eyelashes. “Please?”
He sighs. “OK, but if she don’t know you, you are OUT little lady.” He disappears inside as an equally burly guy takes over on the door.
A few minutes later Leighanne appears. “Nup…don’t know her.” Ayma glares at her and she laughs. “Kiddin’. C’mon in honey.”
Ayma follows Leigh into the arena. “You SURE this is the best time to talk to Nick?”
“Oh by far. He gets so bored hangin’ round for sound checks, he’ll be a captive audience.” Leigh grins.
“Hmm.”
“Don’t be nervous honey. It’s a done deal. The guy is BESOTTED with you.”
“OK, point the way before I lose all courage.” Ayma follows Leigh into a lounge area where Brian and Howie are sat reading. They look up.
“Hey Ayma…nice to see ya.”
“You too guys.” She smiles at them. “OK, where’s Nick?”
Howie gestures towards a closed door. “In there with MandAH.”
Leigh and Ayma speak at the same time. “His ex?!”
Howie looks confused. “Yeah. Why?”
“Oh nothing.” Ayma looks at Leigh. “I think I need to be somewhere.”
“Where?”
“Some place not here.” Ayma heads towards the door but Leigh stops her.
“C’mon, just wait ‘til he comes out.”
“So I can see Nick play Mr and Mrs with his EX?! No thanks, I don’t believe in self-torture.” Before she can move any further, the door opens and a blonde girl stomps out, closely followed by a mad Nick. Ayma stares at them both. Nick manages a weak smile before flopping down on the couch next to Brian. The girl walks up to her.
“Who the fuck are you?!” Ayma just stares at her. “Get outta my way.” She pushes Ayma aside and walks out. Ayma gestures at the others.
Howie grimaces and mouths to her. “MandAH.”
“Oh.”
The girl comes back. “Oh what?!”
“Nothing. Just breathing.”
She glares at Ayma. “Do you have a fucking name?” Ayma says nothing. The girl stamps her foot. “Tell me your fuckin’ NAME!”
“Whoa…something tells me you were spoilt as a child.”
Leigh smothers a giggle and the girl turns round to glare at her. Leigh just smiles sweetly. “Can I help you Mandah?”
Mandah ignores her and turns back to Ayma. “I know who you are.”
“Really?”
“You’re the bitch who thinks she can steal my Nick. Well you can’t. He’s mine.”
“Lucky him.”
“He’ll come back to me. You just wait.” She sneers. “Ayma.”
Ayma looks at her. “Hmm. Whatever. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” She turns round to walk away but Mandah grabs her arm and pulls her back.
She slaps her.
“Don’t fuckin’ turn your back on me.”
Before Ayma can react, Nick has grabbed Mandah’s arm and pulled her out of the room, swearing and calling for security.
Leigh races over to Ayma and puts her arm round her.
“Are you OK honey?”
“Yeah…jeez.” Ayma touches her face gingerly. “Is she Tyson’s sister or what?”
Nick comes back into the room and puts an arm round Ayma. “Did she hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine.” She smiles at him. “Wow, what’d you SAY to her to get her so mad?!”
He shrugs and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Just the truth.”
“Shall I take you home?”
Ayma looks at Leigh. “Yeah, I could do with going home for a while.”
Leigh smiles at her and then suddenly clutches her head. “Oh…I forgot. I have a meeting in 10 minutes…next door. Maybe somebody else’ll drive you…” She looks at Nick pointedly. He fails to take the hint.
Howie stands up. “I’ll…”
“Yes, make some coffee.” Leigh makes a face at him and he sits down again looking confused. "Nick, maybe you’d…?”
“Hmm? Oh sure.” He heads towards the door. “C’mon, Ayma. I promise to drive at the speed limit.”
She laughs. “Thanks.” She passes Leigh and whispers to her dryly. “Great acting.”
“I try.”
“So, how’s Josh?”
“He’s fine. I think.”
Nick glances at her. “You don’t KNOW?”
“I haven’t heard from him for a while. We split up.”
“Oh.” He stares at the road ahead. “Are you OK with that?”
“It was my decision.”
“Oh.” He concentrates on the traffic.
“I kinda realised that things weren’t working out between us.” Nick doesn’t say anything and she sighs. “And besides, there was another guy I liked more than I did Josh.”
He looks at her quickly and then pulls the car over into a side road. He turns the engine off and turns to face her. “Who?”
“You.” She looks at him. “I only realised when I was in Wilmington and Katie started asking me about you.”
“That made you realise?”
“Yeah. I wanted you to be there with me. And Josh realised then too.” She laughs. “And apparently Leigh always knew.”
He grins. “Of course.”
She looks at him. “So…?”
“So.” He leans closer to her and kisses her gently.
Ayma groans and rolls over. The phone continues ringing insistently. She pulls her blanket up over her head as the answerphone switches on.
“Hello, this is Ayma. I’m not around right now. Try me on the compact or leave a message. Bye.” The machine beeps and Leigh’s voice comes on.
“Ayma! Pick up…I know you’re there…C’mon honey…OK, fine. I’m gonna sing ‘til you pick up…” She starts singing ‘I Need You Tonight’ deliberately off-key.
“Arrgh!” The blanket is pulled off Ayma to cover Nick’s ears. When that fails, he pulls the pillow out from underneath her and dives under it.
Ayma groans and grabs the phone. “Shut up!”
“Ah, hello. I knew you were in.”
“I was TRYING to sleep.”
“Ooh, late night?”
“Yes, I guess.”
“Have a special guest round after 10pm?”
“Maybe.”
Leigh groans. “Oh TELL ME!”
Ayma winces. “Jeez, thanks Leigh…really woke me up.”
“Ayma…”
“OK, yes…Nick came round after the concert.” Leigh screeches and Ayma grimaces. “OK, now you’ve totally deafened me…anything else?”
“I knew you guys’d get together. Took your time but hey…geez, I’m pleased…We can double date! Oh my God…let’s have dinner and…” Ayma lets Leigh ramble on for a few minutes.
“Leigh…Leigh…LEIGH!”
“And then…what?”
“Shut up already.” Ayma sighs. “Can I go back to dream world now?”
“Sure…can we meet for lunch?”
“Just come over…about 2.” Ayma hangs up and pulls the blankets over her head.
Nick rolls over and kisses her. “Hey, did your machine record the wailing?” Ayma gestures towards the blinking red light on the machine and he chuckles. “Hmmm…blackmail material…gotcha.”