"Where have you been lately?" she asked him.
"Around, I guess..."
"AJ, don't give me any of that...I just want to say I'm sorry." AJ was surprised.
"Really?"
"I wouldn't be saying it if I wasn't," she said. She smiled. "I just hope you can forgive me..."
"Of course, Lyss, I still love you."
"Aww my baby!" Alyssa cried, and kissed him, but pulled away. "Damn you smell like mad alcohol."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. Where's your hotel?"
"C'mon, I'll take ya." AJ took Alyssa's hand and walked the next couple of blocks to his hotel. He brought her up to his room, and they sat down.
"Where's the other guys?" Alyssa asked.
"At a party," AJ replied quickly. Alyssa looked confused.
"Why aren't you there?" she asked.
"Oh, uh, I didn't really feel like going," he lied, not wanting to get into it.
"Yeah right, your the first one to suggest a party...why aren't you there?"
"I don't feel right okay? I just wanted to rest or something."
"Mhmm..." she replied, not wanting to push anything. She moved closer to him. "I love you..." AJ actually almost smiled, though drunk.
"I love you too." He put his arm around her and kissed her.
A couple of hours later they were asleep in each other's arms as Nick, Brian, Kevin, and Howie rushed in, laughing and chatting as if it was afternoon. AJ opened one eye and saw them all. "Dayuuuum you people, why u gotta be so loud?"
"Aw we ain't that loud," Brian said.
"Yeah you are, when people over here ar tryin ta sleep," AJ said, trying not to slur his words. Brian looked at Alyssa.
"I thought she broke up with you?"
"She did...but she said she was sorry...and I forgave her cuz I love her..." AJ said, talking a little more slowly. He was wondering why the guys hadn't asked him to go anywhere. He also wondered what made Alyssa come back to him. Brian noticed something was up.
"What's wrong, AJ?" he asked. AJ sighed.
"Dude ther's nothin' wrong, why dose ther haveta be somethin' wrong?" he replied.
"I was just asking man." AJ was a little glad Brian actually seemed to care a little bit about him, since the others obviously didn't.
"Why didn't you take me to wherever you went tonite?" AJ asked.
"We didn't notice you weren't with us until we got there," Brian replied. Of course not, AJ thought to himself, but didn't say anything. He suddenly realized the room was quieter and Nick was standing in the doorway.
"Yo Brian, we're going to Kev's room," Nick said.
"But I'm talking to AJ," Brian replied.
"AJ?" Nick asked. Brian rolled his eyes.
"You know, the other guy in our band, besides me, you, Kev, and D?" Brian said sarcastically.
"Well I knew that," Nick said. Brian sighed.
"No, s'okay, you's can join the othes and go and have your fun without ME...you're used to that anyway," AJ said nastily and sat on the bed, almost falling over.
"Damn, AJ, what went up your ass?" Nick said.
"Don't even START, Nick," AJ said, getting up. Brian stopped him.
"C'mon, Nick, let's just go," Brian said, not wanting anything to start.
"You do that, it's something y'all are good at," AJ muttered, staggering backwards. Brian and Nick left and closed the door. AJ threw his shoe at the door, waking Alyssa.
"What the hell was that?" Alyssa asked, rubbing her eyes.
"My [expletive]ing shoe!" AJ exclaimed, and stormed over to the drawer where he left his bottles.
"What are you doing?" Alyssa asked.
"Absolutely nothing," AJ replied, and pulled out a bottle, not bothering to see which one it was. He opened it and sat on the bed.
"What's that?"
"A bottle of JUICE." He started drinking it, taking big gulps. Alyssa pulled it away.
"AJ! You already had enough alcohol tonight," Alyssa said.
"Gimme the [expletive]ing bottle," AJ said, trying to grab it. Alyssa held it over her head so he couldn't reach it.
"What's wrong with you, AJ? I mean I knew you liked to drink, but you stopped before anything bad happened..." Alyssa started to say, but AJ interrupted her.
"LISTEN to what I SAY," AJ growled, grabbing her arm. He pushed her down on the bed. "Now GIVE ME the BOTTLE!" Alyssa started crying.
"AJ please! Stop it! What are you doing!" she exclaimed through her tears. He pinned her down.
"Don't [expletive] with me," AJ said, almost on top of her, as soon as the door opened.
"AJ what are you doing?!" Brian exclaimed, and ran over to them. He pulled AJ off of Alyssa, who was crying hysterically. "Man, calm DOWN, what's with you?"
"I just wanted mah bottle dude, and she ain't give it," AJ said slowly. Brian picked up the bottle.
"Jack Daniels? AJ, please don't do this."
"I ain't doin' nuthin'! LEAVE ME ALONE!" AJ screamed, and turned around to leave. He walked into the bed and fell over. Brian helped him stand up.
"Dude, CALM DOWN," he said, and sat AJ down on the bed. "Ughhh...God you smell like alcohol." Alyssa was curled up on the other bed, still crying.
"Yeah, he was like drinking all night," Alyssa said. She stood up. "I can't be here..." she said, and walked towards the door. Brian followed her.
"If you need to talk to anyone, I'm always here for ya," Brian said, hoping she was okay. She smiled.
"Thanks so much," she whispered, "I just wish AJ could do that for me..." She walked slowly down the hall, and Brian went back in the room to find AJ on the floor, the now-empty bottle hanging out of his hand.
"AJ, if you don't kill yourself first, I'm going to kill you," Brian muttered. He looked up. "Sorry, I didn't mean that." He helped AJ up and laid him down on the bed. He got in the other bed and fell asleep.
Chapter 9
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