AJ and Claire had been spending all the time that they could together and I was getting used to having her around all the time. Nikki was still in Orlando and planned on staying a few more days.
“Wanna go to the mall with me, AJ?” I asked.
“Umm, well, I can’t. Claire and I are gonna hang out on the beach,” he explained.
“Oh. Can me and Nick go with ya?”
“I guess...” he said, trying to make it seem like he didn’t care.
“Well if you don’t want me to...”
“No. It’s fine.”
“Ok. When are you going?”
“In about 45 minutes I guess.”
“Tell Nick for me? I have to go home and change.”
“Ok.”
“See ya.”
When I arrived back at their house, Claire was the only one in the living room. “Where are the guys?” I asked, sitting down with her on the couch.
“Um, I think they’re still changing.”
“Oh. Ok.”
“So....how are Mary and Samantha?”
She totally caught me off guard. I was surprised that she would actually talk about Mary in front of me....let alone TO me.
“They uh..well...they’re good,” I stated plainly.
“Good. I haven’t seen them in a while,” she smiled.
“Wow! It’s not every day you walk down your stairs and have 2 beautiful ladies sitting on your couch,” AJ said as he walked in.
“Save it, AJ. Where’s Nick?” I rolled my eyes as he gave Claire a kiss.
“Right here,” he came around the corner.
“Lets go.”
“Lindsey, can I talk to you?” AJ asked me as we all arrived at the beach.
“Sure. What?”
“Come here,” he led me away from Claire and Nick. “Are you starting to like Claire more now?”
As much as I hated to admit it, I was beginning to trust her again. “Well...kinda.”
“Good because I really like her and if you don’t, it’s gonna be hard for us because you’re around a lot and I don’t want you two to fight with each other.”
“As long as she doesn’t talk about Mary again, we’ll be fine.”
“Ok...good,” he smiled as we joined Nick and Claire.
~*~*~THAT NIGHT~*~*~
“Hey AJ,” I looked around their kitchen, “Where’s Claire?”
“Out with friends.”
“Ahh. Is Nick home?”
“Nope, he’s with Kevin and Howie somewhere.”
“Oh.”
“Can you do me a MAJOR favor?” he asked.
“Sure!”
“Take Aaron and Nikki to a movie. They are begging me to take them and I have the worst headache.”
“It’s called a hangover, dear. You’ll be fine in the morning,” I teased him.
“Ha ha,” he laughed sarcastically. “Just go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Uhuh. AARON! NIKKI! Come down here!!” I yelled.
“Did I NOT just say I have a headache?” AJ yelled at me.
“Well....sorry! Gosh, I thought you were kidding to get out of taking them.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I’m gonna just...go lay down, I think.”
“Yeah maybe you should,” I rolled my eyes as Aaron and Nikki appeared behind me.
“What?” Aaron asked.
“Come on, we’re going to a movie.”
“Cool!”
“Yay! Cool!” I imitated him. “Lets go.”
“What do you want to see?” I asked the two of them as I was driving.
“Lets see the Blair Witch Project!” Nikki exclaimed.
“Isn’t that rated R?” I asked.
“Yeah. So?”
“Don’t you need to be 18 to get in?” I asked.
“I think so...”
“Sorry Aaron, I know you’re older now, but 14 doesn’t cut it. Neither does 16, Nikki. I guess this means I have to stay and watch it, huh?”
“Guess so,” Nikki stated.
“Great. Since I love spending my weekends with 2 kids instead of my boyfriend. Hey-what could be better?” I asked sarcastically.
“I feel loved,” Aaron stated.
When we entered the theatre, Aaron and Nikki insisted we sit in the very back row; so we did. About halfway through the movie, I saw a tall guy with curly blond hair making out with someone, I realized it was Justin, and thought, ‘Didn’t he say he doesn’t have a girlfriend?’ I looked closer and tried to figure out who he was with.
“No way...that can’t be......CLAIRE?” I yelled. People all around me told me to be quiet. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was, starting to trust her again and....with Justin!
“Lindsey, what are you doing??” Nikki asked angrily.
“I’m sorry, we need to leave...NOW!”
“But the movie isn’t-”
“Aaron, we have to go, right now!”
“Ugh, fine.”
On the way home, I thought about how much I was dreading having to tell AJ. It would break his heart.
My thoughts were interrupted by Aaron when he angrily said, “What was that all about?”
“Nothing. I’m really sorry. You guys can go see it tomorrow,” I replied as I parked the car and we all got out. I searched all over the house, but couldn’t find AJ, then realized he had gone to lay down about an hour ago. I went up the stairs and knocked on his door. He didn’t answer it, so I just walked in. I had never been in his room before, but it didn’t surprise me a whole lot that clothes were scattered all over the place. He had a picture of himself with Claire sitting on his nightstand. My heart fell because I knew how much he really liked Claire. I decided I couldn’t go through with it and hurt him like that. As I began to exit his room, he woke up.
“Lindsey?” he rubbed his eyes. “What are you doing in here?” he asked confused.
“I..I umm..need to talk to you.”
“Oh, ok. What’s wrong?” he sat up and motioned for me to sit one the edge of the bed and I did.
“Well, it’s about Claire.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Well,” I turned my head so I wasn’t facing him. “I saw her at the movies with her friends.”
“That’s cool.”
“No, it’s not. She was with...Justin. Kissing Justin.” he didn’t say anything, all he did was stare blankly at me. “Look...I know you’re disappointed, but-”
“You’re right. I’m really disappointed,” he stated. “Disappointed that my best friend would lie to me because of her past. I know you don’t like Claire, but to say she was cheating on me is...well it’s just...” he trailed off.
“AJ! Do you really think I would make this up? As much as I distrust her, I would NEVER say that,” I defended, standing up. “I thought we went over this trust stuff and I thought you knew me better.”