“Yo Reggie, you’re coming out with us tonight,” Kon called across the room as he leaned back in his chair.

“No, I’m not,” Regina replied, completely engrossed in her latest book, Interview With the Vampire, by Anne Rice.

“Come on, Agey boy and Nick will be there!” Bizzy called.

“I don’t like AJ,” Regina retorted, still not taking her eyes off the book, turning the page.

“Em, kick your girl in the ass and make her come out,” Proof called.

“Since when are you two so eager to go hang out with the Backstreet Bitches?” Marshall asked as he looked over at Proof and Bizarre.

“They really ain’t that bad, if you give them half a chance. There music is still whack, but really they cool,” Kuniva replied.

“Yeah I agree. ‘Sides, if they like Regina, they got to be cool,” Bizarre assured.

“Ha ha Bizzy, you’re friggen hilarious, I’m not going out tonight, I want to read my book, go take his ass and get him drunk or something, I’m not in the mood,” Regina replied motioning to Marshall with a wave of her hand.

“Come on Reggie, really, come hang out with us, we haven’t seen you, in like, one whole day,” Swifty replied. The countdown was down to twelve days.

“No,” Regina replied firmly. “You read too damn much girl,” Dre said shaking his head.

“Oh fine, you ain’t gonna let me finish the damn thing any time soon anyways, but I’m not drinking tonight,” Regina said stoutly.

“Why not?” Kon asked.

“Cause the last time I did, I got drunk, and AJ had to help me back to the room, I got drunk, on JD, and asked AJ McLean, to help me back, since my less than helpful boyfriend was nowhere to be found,” Regina replied glaring in Marshall’s direction.

“I had to piss, excuse me,” Marshall snapped.

“Yeah, right, so where is it that we’re going?”

Regina shook her head as she thought about having to go to the club, again. She really wasn’t into having to hang out at the table again, with Marshall and AJ and the guys, in a loud, dark room. What was the point? She didn’t find it any fun, she would have preferred to read another chapter in her book. Besides, with her luck AJ would probably show up with a box of tater tots to throw at her.

“Reggie, come dance with me,” Proof said as soon as they entered the club.

“Huh?” Reggie asked confused.

“Yeah, dance, wit me,” Proof said grabbing Regina by the wrist and dragging her to the dance floor.

After about forty-five minutes, Regina was thoroughly enjoying herself, but not too much. Dancing with Proof was a little like dancing with her brother. It was safe, Marshall was not going to worry about Proof making a move on her, and she didn’t have to worry about him getting too handsy, plus, it kept guys from hitting on her. She hated that most of all, guys had such bad pick up lines and grabby hands.

“Hey, you gonna let me in on some of the action or what?” Regina turned to find AJ smiling at her.

“Good, I need a break, and she needs to keep on dancing, this girl is finally having fun. No offense Reggie, but I’ma gonna go try and find a girl that I actually have a chance with,” Proof gave Reggie a kiss on the cheek and hauled off to the bar.

“So, you gonna let me show you how to dance or what?” AJ asked.

“You gonna throw more tater tots at me?” Regina asked with a laugh.

“No, not as long as you don’t throw any more drinks at me,” AJ replied.

“All right, come on,” Regina nodded and moved back into the music.

This was getting to be too much, AJ thought, watching Regina actually dance, move, her body, was way too nice, she was way too nice, too nice for that guy she’d attached herself to. He loved watching that girl move. Damn, it was gonna be hard to remember not to get too close to her.

He started out staying close to her, in front of her, they each had their personal space. Soon he was a little closer, doing his signature AJ moves, a little too nasty for the dancing that Regina was doing. Regina did wear tight jeans and knee high boots, but did not ever, do the bump and grind.

A few minutes later AJ had moved even closer to her, almost close enough that they were touching. Regina tried to ignore it, knowing that if she wasn’t careful, Marshall would be over here in a few seconds, despite the fact that he refused to dance with her at all costs.

She felt a hand on her waist and then AJ was up close and personal. Uh uh, no way, not where she was going.

“Back off,” she said suddenly pressing both hands on his chest and pushing him firmly away. She didn’t look back as she went to the table. Marshall wasn’t there, only Nick, the rest of the guys must have been getting drinks or looking for a way to get laid.

“Hey Reggie, what’s up?” Nick asked taking a sip of his drink.

“Your boy has some grabby hands, that’s what,” Regina replied as AJ shamelessly sat down beside her.

“What’d you run for?” AJ asked.

“Cause you were touching something that you had no permission to be touching, that’s what,” Regina replied shifting her chair slightly away from him.

“We were dancing Reggie, that’s what you do when you dance,” AJ retorted.

“Not like that, I don’t dance like that, and I certainly did not tell you, that you could,” Regina stopped short when something caught her eye. She turned towards the dance floor, and AJ noticed the familiar stiffening in her spine and the lengthening of her neck. He turned and saw her eyes rooted to the scene that didn’t really surprise him.

Marshall was on the dance floor, first of all, not where he ever ventured, second, he was grinding, not dancing, grinding and rubbing, on tall, blond, big breasted woman, and shamelessly so. Regina’s ears pulled back like an angry cat, and AJ swore she would have growled or hissed if she were.

“Reggie, you okay?” AJ asked.

“Tell him I left,” Regina said abruptly standing up and knocking into Nick as she went for the door. AJ was hot on her tail.

“You gonna let him do that to you again?” AJ asked as she paged the limo driver.

“I’m not letting anyone do anything to me,” Regina snapped, looking around for the limo.

“So what are you going to do, run back to the hotel and get drunk in private?” AJ asked.

“What I do is none of your business,” Regina retorted.

“Oh so you are going to go get drunk,” AJ snapped this time.

“It’s still none of your business.”

“It is when I’ve been there before, you picking a new addiction?” he asked.

“My head ain’t that big that I need it shrunk by you, leave me alone.” The limo pulled up and she yanked the door open, but AJ went in behind her.

“Dammit, can’t you take a hint?” Reggie asked as the limo pulled out.

“No Reggie, I can, but what you are doing is just plain stupid. You should be back at that club, yanking him off that scag instead of running back to the comfort of a bottle!” AJ retorted.

“What I do, is none of your business, you’re not my god damn sponsor, so leave me alone!” Regina moved to the other side of the limo and sat down, stubbornly looking out the window and away from AJ, but he was not to be placated. He jumped up and was so close to her that she ached to smack him.

“He is not worth it Regina, tell me, how many times has the bastard done this to you? Huh? How many?”

“He’s never done it before I met you,” Regina growled, turning to look at him.

“So he’s never fucked around on a girl before?” AJ asked. Regina didn’t answer.

“He’s never just up and screwed around, just because he wanted to?” All Regina could remember was the searing pain from the sight she’d seen in the club. Was that the way he’d danced with Tina too?

“Regina, you’re too good for him, you need to,” but what she needed to do she didn’t hear because the door of the limo opened and she flew out. Flat out running in her high heeled boots, the steps loud and pounding. An elevator was just closing and she bolted for it, screaming at the guy not to close the door yet.

AJ’s steps were close behind her and she pushed the bellboy out of the way, jamming the “CLOSE DOOR” button several times as AJ disappeared behind the doors. She sank back against the wall, breathing hard.

She burst out onto her floor, ripping the key card out of her pocket as she ran at full pelt. Only a few more feet, she could make it.

She stopped dead. There AJ stood, right in front of her door.

“Go away,” Regina said stiffly.

“I’m not going to let you fuck yourself over Reggie,” AJ replied.

“Get away from me or I’ll fucking call security on your ass,” Regina snapped.

“How? With my phone? You left yours in the limo, and I’m not giving it back to you until you talk to me,” AJ replied.

“Fucker,” Regina spat.

“Whatever, but you’re going to talk to me, whether you want to or not, just no booze, you need to be sober, you need to stay sober,” AJ replied.

“I don’t get drunk every fucking night asshole, just once in a while, now get out of the fucking way so I can open the fucking door, so we can fucking talk, bitch,” Regina said as she pushed him out of the way and slapped the card into the door.

“You must kiss your boyfriend with a mouth that dirty,” AJ retorted as the door snapped open and she stepped inside, leaving it open for him. He followed deftly and watched her sink on the couch, her head in her hands, elbows resting on her knees. She didn’t respond to the couch dipping down beside her as AJ sat down beside her.

“Regina, it doesn’t make you any less a woman, any less strong if you’re mad that he’s doing this to you. Regina, it’s what guys do, its what this guy does, it’s what Marshall does,” AJ said tentatively.

“You don’t fucking know him,” Regina bit back, still not moving.

“From the way I’ve seen him treat you, I don’t want to know him. Regina, come on, just let it go, I’m not gonna think any less of you, no one would,” AJ replied, sympathetically.

“Fuck you McLean, I’m not going to cry, get out,” Regina snarled as she stood, heading for the fridge.

“Don’t do it Regina,” AJ said standing up, watching her open the door.

“I didn’t ask you for your help you know? You’re not my fucking friend, or relative, you’re a fucking acquaintance. So leave me alone,” she opened the fridge and pulled out a half full bottle of JD.

“Just don’t Regina,” AJ was nearly pleading.

“What, afraid of your own damn demons, AJ, get out, I don’t want a friend, I don’t want a shoulder to cry on, I don’t want to talk about it.” Regina slammed the fridge shut and grabbed a glass off the counter. She slammed both the glass and the bottle back down on the surface and stood stock still, her back to AJ, just breathing.

“Regina, you got to stop letting people do this to you. You fight against everything else, but not him. Not against the men that hurt you. Why? I don’t get it. He is inflicting just as much pain, as much pain as your father did with his fists, only he’s just using a different weapon,” AJ’s voice was soft, understanding, gentle. Everything it should have been.

“Don’t fucking talk about my father, you don’t know him, you don’t know me, you don’t know shit!” Regina said quickly.

“Reggie,” AJ tried but she turned around and her eyes were on fire.

“Get out!” she screamed.

“Come on, why won’t you talk to me?” AJ asked.

“I just told you, to get the fuck out! I don’t want to talk to you!” Regina yelled again.

“I’m not going to give up on this Reggie, for some odd reason, I don’t want to let you turn out like me,” AJ replied.

“You fucking insane asshole! Just get out! All right, I don’t fucking need to be psychoanalyzed by you, about anything!” Regina screamed.

“What is going on in here?” Marshall entered the room and stood looking from Regina to AJ. It wasn’t an incriminating scene, though Marshall wasn’t stupid. He’d seen the scene on the dance floor between her and AJ, and he knew that Regina was too upset over him to even think about crying on AJ’s shoulder for comfort.

“Good, make him leave,” Regina said gesturing to AJ. She turned, and in one swift movement, grabbed both the bottle and the glass before slamming the bathroom door shut.

“What the fuck you doing, with my girl, pansy,” Marshall asked as he looked back at AJ.

“I know what you’re doing to her asshole,” AJ replied.

“Yeah, and what do you care?” Marshall snapped.

“Be a man and tell her what you feel instead of making her drown herself in a bottle you fucking jackass. Cause one of you is going to end up in a coffin, and it’s not going to be her.” AJ turned and left, closing the door behind him. Marshall looked over after him.

It took him a minute to move from where he was standing. Part of him knew that AJ was right, and part of him was annoyed as hell that the boyband bitch had dared to say anything to him about his girl. But that wasn’t what had really hit him. Regina seemed over the moon mad and upset, and it wasn’t just because of Marshall. AJ had hit some nerve.

Once he finally took a step, it was towards the bathroom. He knocked once, but didn’t get a response. He heard a click of a glass on the counter and then the water turned on. He stepped away from the door and went to the bedroom.

She cared. She did, it was obviously, painfully clear. But did she love him? He still didn’t know. He needed to know. He hated hurting her, but it was better than hurting himself. He wanted, no, needed to know that she loved him before he let himself go and completely fall over the edge. Never again would he fall into that trap. So what if Regina got a little mad, and a little hurt over him? That was love, and if she loved him, she’d believe it was all worth it in the end.

But what end would that be?

He waited almost three hours before knocking on the bathroom door again, again getting no response. He tried the knob and found that it opened. He stepped inside and found that Regina had fallen asleep, or rather passed out in the tub. Hot water and alcohol never mixed that well. The glass sat on the edge of the tub, an inch or more left in the bottom of the amber colored liquid, the empty bottle sitting next to the tub.

He emptied the tub, wrapped Regina up in a soft robe before taking her back to the bedroom and dressing her in her customary pajamas and tucked her into bed. When he crawled in bed beside her, he was surprised when she turned to him and snuggled into the warm wall of his body.

Once she was settled he looked down at her and watched her sleeping form.

“I’m sorry that you have to hurt so that I can know the truth. If I could, I’d take away everything, but I can’t. I need to know, and I know you won’t be sorry about it later,” Marshall spoke softly, knowing that she didn’t hear his words at all as she kept breathing deeply and heavily.