Ch. 8
"Man, can you believe we got to sit infront of Metallica tonight? Oh, how cool is that?" Nick beamed as he finshed buttoning his pajama top.
I rolled my eyes as I made myself comfortable against the sheets. "Yeah, Nick, it was great." I turned my head to see Howie staring aimlessly through our tiny window. "What 'ya doin', D?"
"Just thinking about Sally, that's all."
"Oh, did you two have your first lovers' quarrel tonight?" I laughed.
"I wish. The celebrities sitting behind us made a few comments about Sally's um....full figure, and I really think it bothered her."
"That's awful! How could they?"
"I dunno. Some people just don't care."
"Did you say something to them?" Nick asked.
"I didn't have time- Shaq was going off before I could even up my mouth."
"Shaq?" Nick repeated. "The Shaq? Damn, Sally's one lucky girl to have him defending her!"
I shook my head. "The point is he shouldn't have had to defend her at all. No one should've ever say that."
Howie sat down. "I just don't get it. I mean, yeah, there are girls smaller than Sally-but there are also a lot of girls bigger than her!"
"Sally's an easy target- upcoming author, young, innocent, dating a man 9 and half years older. And that man happens to be a Backstreet Boy- the shit can really hit the fan."
"I could care less what they think, but she is another matter."
Nick rubbed his stomach. "I know how she feels."
I sighed. "Come on, guys, let's just forget about it and catch some zz's."
Little did I know that across the hall the girls would be having a conversation very similar to our own. Amanda met me the next morning with the occurence still playing in her mind. She noticed a few tears slip down Sally's cheek as she drifted to sleep.
************
"Well, how was your first touring exprience with the band?" Howie asked Sally as he guided her to the lobby of our newest hotel. Their week together had passed quickly.
"It was wonderful."
"I'm still so sorry about what happened..."
She pressed her fingertips to his lips. "It's okay. It's not like I give a rat's ass about the people near us. Sure, I might be a big girl; but I could never weigh as much as their egos!"
"That a girl!" I cheered delievering a high-five to her palm.
Amanda grinned reaching out to hug her newfound friend. "That's the way to think about it. Just remember you have all of us on the road."
"Thank you. I owe all of you a huge thank you for accepting me so quickly."
"Our pleasure," I stated with a nod.
She sighed. "Well, I really have to be going. Missing my bus would not be a good way to start the day."
"I'll miss you. Three months without seeing you is gonna' be tough," Howie whispered gently kissing her lips.
"I'll miss you, too," she assured him.
Howie gave her hand a small squeeze. "Make sure you eat something on your ride. You haven't eaten yet today."
"I will," Sally promised. "I'll write you as soon as I'm settled in my new schedule." She gave him a final hug. "Bye, guys!"
I turned to Howie as she stepped inside of her cab. "See, D, nothing to worry about. That redhead's a fighter. Everything's gonna' be fine."
"Yeah," he breathed, allowing a smile to form across his face. "Everything's gonna' be fine."