"Ohmigod, Mom, the Backstreet Boys!"
The voice penetrated Tina's tired mind, but she paid little attention. The Backstreet Boys were all Chrissie had been able to talk about all night long. Considering it had been her first concert, Tina wasn't surprised. But Tina desperately needed sleep right now. She'd stayed up and written a couple of chapters for her fan fiction while Chrissie had passed out on the way to the hotel. Tina's back still hurt from carrying Chrissie up in the elevator.
Chrissie pounced on the bed, vigorously shaking her shoulder. "Come on, Mom, get up." Then next to Tina's ear, she whispered, "he noticed you."
'He' had been AJ McLean, her favorite Backstreet Boy, and yes, he HAD noticed her. When they flew out over the audience, AJ had flown over her section. She'd never forget how her heart had pounded as he got closer and closer. As he was drawn back, and everyone around her was taking a deep breath, she'd screamed out at the top of her lungs, "I love you, Bone." On his way back overhead, he'd looked right at her, and spread his fingers in the classic 'I love you' gesture. Her knees had turned to water as she took his picture.
Grinning, she savored the image, then opened her eyes.
Chrissie's face was only inches from hers. "He noticed you," she said again.
Tina stared into her daughter's hazel eyes, and said, "Yes, he noticed me. Can I go back to sleep now?" She wanted to relive that dream...handcuffs...whipped cream...AJ...
"I'm hungry," Chrissie said, breaking into her thoughts.
Me, too, Tina thought, a wicked gleam in her dark eyes. AJ wearing nothing but a smile...she shook her head. Breakfast, she thought, sitting up and stretching. Get Chrissie breakfast, get coffee, then drive home. She groaned, not looking forward to the five-hour drive ahead of her...especially with Chrissie in the car.
"He noticed you," Chrissie said again.
Maybe Chrissie could ride in the trunk? Tina shook her head. Unfortunately, that would just have to be illegal, now wouldn't it?
Chrissie grinned at her. "He noticed you."
Damn. She rolled her eyes heavenward, then looked at her daughter. Now she knew why some animals ate their young. "Let it go, Chrissie."
Chrissie grinned at her.
"Can I take a shower, or will you starve in the next ten minutes?"
Chrissie thought for a moment, then said reluctantly, "Well, okay, if you HAVE to...I can wait." She gave a long, suffering sigh.
Tina ruffled Chrissie's blonde hair. "Why don't you go watched cartoons, while I go shower, 'kay?" Chrissie hopped down to the foot of the bed, and clicked on the TV. Sailor Moon was busy fighting evil, and Chrissie was instantly entranced. Tina grinned, and slipped into the bathroom.
The water never really got warm enough, so Tina hurried through her ablutions, and dressed quickly, slipping on the other yellow sweater she'd brought with her. The lowcut v-neck sweater she'd worn the night before...and AJ had noticed her. She ran a comb through her hair, and pushed it back behind her ears. Her dark bangs brushed her forehead.
She looked about 18 years old again. She grinned at her reflection, then turned and opened the door.
Chrissie sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the tv.
Tina sighed, and suddenly felt her age again. Funny how kids could do that. She was growing up so fast. It seemed like only yesterday that she was a little baby, and now she'd gone to her first concert. 8 years old. She crossed the room, and hugged Chrissie.
Chrissie hugged her back. Chrissie looked up at her, one blonde brow cocked in question. "You okay, Mom?"
Tina nodded. "Fine." She grinned, noticing that Chrissie wore her new Backstreet Boys tour shirt. "You ready for some breakfast?"
Chrissie stood up, shut the TV off, and bolted for the door. "Shoes!"
Tina reminded, and Chrissie skidded to a stop. Tina waited at the door as Chrissie put on her shoes, then joined her at the door.
She opened the door, and stepped into the hallway...then froze.
The hall was nearly deserted except for three people. They stood near the elevator in conversation. Two were blond, and the other had dark hair...or nearly dark hair...or sort of dark hair. Tina swallowed hard. Brian and Nick and AJ waited for the elevator.
Tina caught Chrissie as she tried to come out the door. "Mom," she whined.
AJ's head turned toward them, and he did a double take. "You," he said.
Tina looked over her shoulder. No one was behind her in the hallway.
She looked back at AJ, and found him, as well as Brian and Nick, walking toward her. She swallowed hard again. "Hi," she squeaked. Chrissie's eyes grew round as saucers, and Tina became aware of the deep breath Chrissie was drawing in. She clamped her hand over her daughter's mouth before she could scream. Her heart was pounding so loud, she was sure they could hear it. Tina only had eyes for AJ. The man looked so fine first thing in the morning, it had to be a sin.
"It IS you, isn't it?" AJ asked, coming closer, grinning as he took in her yellow sweater. "I flew out over the two of you last night."
Tina nodded her head, then hissed as Chrissie bit her hand. She pulled her hand away, and Chrissie said, "Hey AJ, do you have a couple of hours because my mom really wants to mmmffmmfmmmff." Tina's hand came over her mouth again, muffling what she knew had to be coming out next.
"What was she going to say?" Brian asked, grinning devilishly.
Tina blushed. "I can only guess, but I've learned not to pay too much attention when she babbles first thing in the morning."
Chrissie growled behind Tina's hand.
Face flaming, Tina shrugged. AJ grinned at her. "You guys want to join us for breakfast?" AJ asked.
Her knees trembled, threatening to fold beneath her. Chrissie started jumping up and down. "Yes, yes, yes!!" she said, shoving Tina's hand out of the way.
Brian and Nick laughed. "Who's your favorite Backstreet Boy?" Nick asked.
Chrissie threw her arms around Nick's waist. Tina winced as she heard him grunt from the force of the impact. "You are," she said. Then taking his hand, led him toward the elevator. "AJ used to be, but since my mom is sooo obsessed with him, I had to like someone else. I used to like Howie, but there is just something about you..."
Tina blushed even redder. Brian and AJ were grinning. "Obsessed?" AJ asked.
She shrugged. "Well, um." She ran a hand through her hair, and looked at Chrissie and Nick who had reached the end of the hallway. Chrissie was definitely going home in the trunk.
AJ laid a hand on her shoulder, and her knees nearly turned to jelly.
He's touching me, her mind shrieked. She swallowed again. "We can talk over breakfast," he chuckled, leading her toward the elevator.
Chrissie waited in the open elevator. "Come on, Mom, we're waiting."
She rolled her eyes.
Definitely going to ride home in the trunk...definitely.
