Chapter Nine

*****
	April glanced at the clock again, growing incredibly restless.  They were at the
Teen  People headquarters for the guys’ individual photo sessions.  Right now it was
Kevin in front of the camera while the others were in makeup and wardrobe.  Not her
idea of a fun day at all.  She wished she stayed home.  And maybe had eaten some
breakfast, her stomach was growling.  She sighed and stood up, rifling through her purse
for some change before heading out of the room and down the hall to where she had seen
some vending machines.  She stuck her change in and pushed the little button, waiting
impatiently for the little pack of crackers to fall.  
“ April.  Hey,” She looked up at AJ who was walking back inside the building.
“ Hi.  I thought you were in wardrobe,” He shook his head and indicated the pack of
cigarettes in his hand.
“ Nope, went outside for a little break.  Getting hungry?” He asked, glancing at the
crackers in her hand.
“ Yeah.  I missed out on breakfast today,” 
“ Why?  Overslept?”
“...Um.  No.  I wasn’t hungry,” She suddenly felt like she was talking to her mother and
was uncomfortable about the critical look he was giving her.
“ Nick doesn’t feed you?” He asked, eying her waist.
“ It’s not his job to feed me,” She snapped, getting a little angry.
“ I can feed myself,” She added but then felt ridiculous for it.
“ Keep up the good work,” He saluted and started on his way back to the room.
“ The bathrooms are right down the hall,” He called over his shoulder.  She stared after
him as her cheeks turned scarlet.  She looked down at the package in her hands and
slowly made her way back to the room also...


					*****
	“ Where to for dinner?” Kevin asked as they finally finished up on their last
interview for the day.  It was several hours later, 9:30, and they were sitting in a lobby
area at another building, deciding on dinner.
“ How about that little chinese place me and you used to go to a while back?” Nick asked
April.
“ You don’t look very hungry.” AJ said innocently but unable to suppress the mock
sincerity in his eyes.  Kevin shot him a look, knowing how much of a strain Nick’s nerves
were under.
“ Sure, sounds good to me,” She nodded, forcing a smile but unable to stop the slight
blush that crept into her cheeks.  AJ’s eyes were intently on her while everyone else
talked it over and she hated the way  he was staring through her rather than at her.  She
met his look but quickly looked away, pretending to listen to what Brian was saying
about chinese food.  A few minutes later, they were all in the Explorer and on their way
to the little restaurant.  They ordered upon entering and were seated outside at the little
tables the owner pushed together to fit everyone.
“ I’m going to the restroom.” April said as everyone else sat down.  There was an
awkward pause and she glanced AJ who had a slight smirk on his face as he lit a
cigarette, making a big show about it.  
“ Okay, hurry up before the food comes,” Nick said finally.  She nodded and disappeared
back inside the little building.  He turned and glared at AJ who was casually blowing
smoke.
“ Put your cigarette out, AJ,” Kevin ordered sternly, waving to clear the air up.
“ Yeah, some of us would like to live a little longer than 35,” Brian said, trying to break
the tension that had lingered all day.  AJ barely glanced at Kevin and deliberatly took a
few more drags before stubbing it out.
“ AJ, what the hell is your problem?” Nick asked, unable to ignore it any longer.
“ My problem?  Are you sure not her’s?” 
“ Fuck you.  Just because you don’t like her doesn’t mean she has to become a toy to
you,” AJ smirked and slowly shook his head as if he knew more than everyone else at the
table.  
“ I put up with that whore, Amanda for all that time and didn’t say shit to her, why can’t
you do the same?” AJ glanced at Nick sharply.
“ How about you leave her out of this?” He snapped, fumbling with his pack of
Marlboro’s. 
“ You want me to not ‘say shit’ to her?  Fine...” The table fell silent again and Brian
launched into some story to keep it at bay.  April returned a few seconds before the
waiter and they settled down to eat, AJ resolved not to speak a word to anyone for the
rest of the night...






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