Chapter Twelve

10:30 Pm...ThAT NIGHT

	AJ scanned the rows of cold drinks and carefully selected a bottle of
coke, averting his eyes from the alcoholic beverages.
“ My my, if it isn’t AJ McLean,” Came a sultry voice.  He looked up, not
placing it until he saw her face.
“ Jess?  Hey,” He greeted, surprised.
“ You’re back in town?” She asked stepping closer and giving him a look of
slight skeptiscim when she saw the bottle of coke in his hand.
“ Why yes, I am,” He answered smoothly, a little puzzeled when he noticed
her gaze.
“ SO what the media said was true?” She asked, moving to grab a
Heinekin.
“ Yeah, I’m a clean man,” He stated jokingly, watching her as she looked
thoughtful for a second.
“ How long are you going to be in town?” 
“...I don’t know yet, I haven’t decided.” 
“ Well what are your plans for the night?” Her teasing air returned and he
gave a chuckle.
“ Head back home...What are you insinuating with that look, Jess?” 
“ Oh, nothing...How about you come and see everybody, it’s been a while,
come hang out...There’s a party tonight,”  
“ A party?...Who’s throwing it?” 
“ Brooke....Come on, it’ll be fun,” She urged, resting a hand on his arm.
“ It’s been way too long since we’ve seen each other,” He contemplated
and gave in.
“ Just for a couple of hours, to say hi,” 
“ Great,” She gave him a triumphant smile and tucked her arm through his,
leading to the line where they paid for their purchases...


                                                     
*****
              
AJ laughed along with everyone else as stories were exchanged
but he was a little uncomfortable with the whole party environment again,
though he had to admit, he was having fun.  
“ Anyone else want a drink?” He asked as he stood up.
“ Could you get me a daiquiri?” Jess asked as everyone else said no.
“ Sure thing,” He headed to the kitchen and away from the noise.  Pushing
open the door, he was surprised to see Alyssa sitting on the middle of all
the table with the drinks, smoking and looking slightly amused.
“ Lyss?  Hey, what are you doing here?” He asked, giving her a pleased
smile.
“ Oh, please, if I could remember how I let good ole Brookie convince me
to come to these, I would be a fucking genius.” She said, letting out a
chuckle as she took another puff off her cigarette. 
“ So you’re friends with Brooke?” 
“ Friends?  You might say that...We’re cousins,” She explained.
“ Cousins?  Wow,”  He scanned the table.
“ Why are you sitting here?” 
“ Because I’m planning my getaway,” She answered, looking at the clock.
“ I take it you don’t enjoy this,” 
“ Wrong crowd for me...And I’d expect for you too...Too much drinking, too
much sex, too many pointless conversations...” She paused, stubbing out
her cigarette.
“ Don’t get me wrong, I do drink, I do have sex, and I’ve been a part of
stupid conversations a lot but...These people are fake...” 
“ Aha,” He nodded.
“ And yet you came anyways?” 
“ I needed a distraction,” She smoothed out her hair and stifled a yawn.
“ I’m thinking about going home so-” She was cut off when the door
opened and Jess walked in.
“ What’s taking you so long, hun?” She asked slinkily, taking the drink from
his hand.
“ Oh, I was just talking to Alyssa,” 
“ Oh...Aren’t you Brookie’s cousin or something?” She asked in a slightly
patronizing tone.
“ Yeah, I am,” Jessica smiled at her and turned back to AJ, flipping her hair
over her shoulder impatienly.
“ Come on, Daniel’s talking about that other party a while back,” She said,
taking his hand and proceeding to lead to the door.
“ Ok, it was great seeing you, Lyss,” He gave her a parting wave before
walking off with Jessica...






Main Page

Contents