CHAPTER 5
“So how do you guys like the Virginia night scene?” Joey asked.
Rose laughed. “Not too bad. I’m surprised at how many clubs there are downtown.”
Ali adjusted her belt. “Me too. I didn’t even know Virginia had a night scene. I’m so used to the historical sights”.
JC looked puzzled. “You’ve been here before?”
“Oh yeah, but it was a long time ago. I went to Arlington and Harper’s Ferry a few years back with my parents. We saw the Vietnam memorial and General Lee’s house and we even went on a ghost tour.”
On that note, Lance came up behind Rose and grabbed her. “BOO!”
Rose nearly jumped out of her skin and the group exploded with laughter. “You little shit! You do that again and I swear I’m going to find a gypsy on this road and make a sell off”. Then she smiled and put her arm around Lance. “Nah. On second thought, if I do that I won’t have anyone to use for a pillow”.
“Aw, isn’t that cute? Puggie and Poofoo”. Ali and JC laughed. Lance let out a groan and Rose replied by kicking Ali in the shin. “Behave, Smurf, or I’ll sell YOU to the gypsies!”
Ali and JC settled down and they and the group walked down the night streets. Ali had her head rested against JC’s shoulder, and Rose and Lance were walking arm-in-arm. Justin looked at the couples and groaned. “What’s your problem?” JC asked.
“You guys make me sick!” He smirked.
“You could have the same thing you know…if you’d quit running around with your tail between your legs and take care of your business”, Chris replied.
“I don’t know what else to do. Beside, I’m not running around like I’ve got my…whatever.” Justin rolled his eyes.
“You’re just upset because, for once, you’re not J Smooth and you can’t even tell a girl that you’ve known practically your entire life that you have feelings for her.”
Justin was crushing over his friend, Christina. They had been friends for years, but he hadn’t gotten the courage to admit his true feelings. He had one opportunity about eight months ago, but he was dating someone at the time. Though the relationship was going nowhere, Justin seemed to get tongue-tied whenever Christina came around. The awkwardness is still there, and now that both of them were single, he still can’t figure out what to do.
“Give us a break, Justin. You’ve had so many opportunities with Christina It’s not our fault that you’re too chicken to fess up.”
“Any ideas, genius?” Justin retorted. “You have no room to talk. Pretty sad that I’m getting reamed out by a guy whose longest relationship was three months”.
“That wasn’t my fault.” Chris said. “Catherine moved”.
“Uh huh. Whatever.”
Ali went over and separated Justin and Chris. “You guys, cool it. Don’t make me have to get the hose”.
That made the group tension ease and everyone laughed. “I have to admit though, it’s a big improvement from when you were seeing Britney.” Joey added. “I swear, that girl had her nose up so high in the air she couldn’t see anyone but herself. I mean, she was a nice girl and all, but if she was any more stuck on herself, we’d have to use her as a promotion for Krazy Glue”. Joey laughed, but the rest of the group rolled their eyes at his lame joke.
“Nice effort, Joey” Ali replied. “But do us all a favor and don’t quit your day job”.
Joey smiled. “Wouldn’t even give it a thought”.
“Hey Ali! Mind coming over to my side? I could use an armrest”, JC said in a cutesy tone.
Everyone cracked up as Ali went back over. “Behave.”
“But that takes all the fun out of it”, JC replied as he put his arm around her.
“Yeah, well, I need a pillow, so I guess we’re even.”
“Makes you want to just barf, don’t it?” Rose told Lance.
“Scratch and sniff, Rose”.
“Don’t make me get the hose”, Chris said, trying to mimic Ali.
Lonnie, one of the guys’ other bodyguards, was waiting for them at the hotel doorway. Ali and Rose were staying at the hotel down the street, so the guys had to stop here. “About time you guys got here. Its close to bedtime for the Fab Five”.
“Oh jeez, Lonnie. Don’t go there. We made it on time.”
“I know”, he said. “I just like to tease you guys with that name. The looks I get from you are priceless.”
Ali and Rose laughed. “Well, what are you guys needing to do tomorrow?”
“Not much”, Lance replied. “I think we have a few photo shoots, but amazingly enough, there’s a little time in between each.” Then he looked at JC and cocked his head towards Ali. “JC, don’t you have some plans tomorrow night?”
“Oh yeah, definitely.” JC replied and turned to Ali. “Don’t make any last minute changes to your schedule tomorrow, cause as soon as I get done with the photo shoots, which should be around two, you and I are spending the rest of the day together. I have everything planned”.
Ali gapped. The whole group went “How sweet!”
“Poof with you guys”. Ali smiled as she walked with JC to the elevator. “You know how I love surprises from you. I don’t want you to tell me anything else.” She kissed JC good bye and looked at Rose. “What? No goodnight kiss for Lance?”
Rose rolled her eyes. “I don’t kiss on the first date.” She pretended to turn away from him, but then laughed and looked at Lance. “Give me a reason to kiss you goodnight and...”
Before she could finish the sentence, Lance planted a deep kiss on Rose’s lips. Everyone’s jaws dropped, including Lonnie’s. When they parted, Rose gasped for air. “Is that reason enough?” he asked.
Rose stood there, wide-eyed. She couldn’t really speak. Lance is usually so laid back. When she finally gained some of her composure, she uttered “wow.”
“Well?” Lance asked, the smile on his face getting wider and wider. He was starting to fall for Rose, but didn’t have to guts to say it out loud. When Ali made the comment about the goodnight kiss, Lance decided that that would be the opportune moment.
Rose grinned from ear-to-ear. “Babe, that was more than enough. Looks like someone’s been keeping a secret. But we’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?” She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “I will definitely be seeing you tomorrow”. The group said their final good-byes and the girls quickly left, blowing a kiss and waving to their guys as they walked on to their hotel.
“Girl, you sure you’re ok?” Ali asked Rose. Rose still had this look of bewilderment on her face. “Believe me, I didn’t expect Lance to plant that smacker on you just like that. I’m as shocked as you”.
“Tell me something…did he say anything to you about me at all today?”
Ali shook her head. “If you’re wondering if I knew about his little act, the answer is no. He didn’t say a word. You should know that Lance doesn’t tell anyone his feelings. I mean, no one except the person he has feelings for. Maybe he was just waiting for the right time and this was the best for him. He decided to be spontaneous.”
“YA THINK?!” Rose said with a laugh.
“You’re not complaining, are you?”
“Oh, of course not. It’s weird that I liked the kiss, since I never thought of Lance as my type, you know. But he’s not like he was in middle school. He’s different. He’s more outgoing…”
“You mean he grew up?” Ali decided to finish the sentence. “Girl, it’s been years. I think this is the perfect time for you to get reacquainted with that boy. I’ve heard you guys talking to each other. You seem to have a lot to talk about, you have a whole lot in common, and you enjoy each other’s company. I’ve also been noticing the way he looks at you. It’s not like it was in middle school, where everyone was getting out that of that “yucky” stage. Girl, you need to go for it. I’m serious. I wouldn’t be telling you if I didn’t see possibilities here. Besides, I’m telling you the same thing you told me. It would be pretty pathetic if you didn’t take your own advice.”
Rose smiled. “I guess you’re right.” Then she smirked. “What I want to know is what JC has planned for you guys tomorrow night”.
“You mean you didn’t know about it either?” Ali asked. She had a feeling that maybe Lance knew about it beforehand and told Rose, or that JC might’ve have told her.
“Nope. When you were in the shower while Lance and JC were over, Lance started to tell me but JC told him to keep quiet. He wasn’t sure if I would’ve been able to keep it a secret.”
“Go figure.” Ali rolled her eyes.
Rose smiled. “Well, I tell you what, whatever it is, he seemed to be definitely looking forward to it.”
“And you know what?” Ali replied, beaming. “He’s not the only one”.
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