Chp 13
Two weeks later…
"Ah, yes! We have arrived to the Cheese Capitol of the USA! Watch out Milwaukee, I have come for your cheese!" Brian shouted with his arms outstretched above his head.
Jen came out of the bus shaking her head and trying to hide her face behind a magazine in shame. "I don't know you."
Nick sneaked up behind her and put his arm around her, grinning. "Brian loves cheese. No doubt we'll be attending cheese shows while we're here. You might as well sign the marital papers as Mr. and Mrs. Cheddar Mozzarella."
"Be quiet, Carter."
"Awww, guys, I can't believe it's over already!" Elena exclaimed as she joined them. "The month went by too fast!"
"I know what you mean," added Staci as she and Kevin emerged from the bus hand in hand. "I'm going to miss everybody. Especially my sexy studmuffin." She gave him a small peck on the cheek.
"What time are you leaving again?" asked AJ.
"The plane leaves at eight, but I'd like to be at the airport at least an hour before."
"Oh. I'm sorry we won't get to see you off, but the concert…"
"I know, hon.. It's ok. You guys have done more than enough for us. Thanks."
"It's no problem. Anytime you girls want to take a road trip, just call us up. Our bunks are always available."
"I'll remember that."
"Hey guys, since we can't accompany them to the airport, how about we take them out to an early dinner?" suggested Nick.
"Good idea. Just tell me what time and where and I'll be happy to make reservations."
"Oh no, we couldn't possibly ask you to do that. You've done so much for us already! WE should be taking YOU guys out!"
"We insist. You have brought us so much laughter and joy and a sense of normality this past month. We forgot how much we missed having you around," stated Kevin. Elena hugged him.
"Oh I missed you guys, too. I almost forgot how cute and sweet you guys were!"
"I must thank you too, Eelie," said Staci.
"Why?"
"Because if it wasn't for your connections, I would've never met my dreamboat." She stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him.
"Oh Gawd, you two didn't start officially dating until just two weeks ago, and you're still nauseating! I can't escape the mushiness!" complained Nick.
"You're just jealous cuz you don't have a girlfriend!"
"That may be true, but you still make me wanna puke!"
"So don't look!"
"It's there!"
"You're a dork!"
"You're a nerd!"
"You're a freak!"
"You're a tramp!"
"You're a dick sucker!"
"You're a douche bag!"
"Uh oh! Bitch fight!" laughed Brian as he and the others watched in amusement as Staci and Nick spewed insult after insult.
"Butthole picker!"
"Snotty brat!"
"Slut!"
"Prick!"
"Whore!"
"You're dickless!"
"Oh yeah, well you're dickFUL!!!"
" *lol* What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"That you're a man!"
"Ha! I'm more woman than you could ever handle!"
"You wish you could have a piece of my beautiful blonde ass!"
"Oh yeah, Nick, you're such a sexy beast! Give it to me, baby! Oh yeah!"
"Yeah I thought so!"
"Please! I wouldn't have sex with you if you were the only one left on the whole friggin' Earth!"
"You're only saying that because Kevin is here, otherwise you'd take me right here right now!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That's funny!"
"After a night with me, Kevin would look like a school girl!"
"Hey! I think that's enough from you two!" interrupted Kevin. "Staci, what ever happened to being the mature and serious one?!"
"I'm allowed to slip back into my childhood once in a while!"
"Nick, apologize."
"What?! No way! She started it!"
"It's not about who started it! It's about being mature and finishing it!"
"In that case, don't look at me!"
Staci and Nick glared at each other for a few minutes and then burst out laughing.
"I love you, Nicky!"
"Love ya , too, Stace!" They hugged. "Let's try not to pick on each other again, ok? Even if we were joking, you really did hurt my pride," he pouted. "You really wouldn't do me if I was the last person on Earth?"
"Well…" she smirked. "Maybe if I was desperate enough…"
"Ok. Enough of that. We have a few hours to kill. What do you guys wanna do?"
"I want cheese!"
"Brian?"
"Yeah, Bone?"
"You're a freak."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"May I take your orders?" asked the waiter to the seven people seated at the table at The Macaroni Grill.
"Yes," began Brian grinning. "Can I have the mozzarella sticks appetizer and macaroni and cheese?"
"Yes."
"Make sure there's lots and lots and LOTS of cheese!"
"I'll be sure to do that."
"Thanks!"
Kevin shook his head. "I'll have the shrimp scampi."
"Ok."
"I'll have the lemon herb chicken breast."
"The turkey triple decker with a pickle on the side."
"Are you pregnant, Nick?"
"Shut up."
"I'll have a caesar salad."
"I'll have a Tex-Mex burger with the chili cheese fries on the side, the Nacho Grande appetizer, and garlic herb breadsticks please." Everyone looked at Staci in disbelief. "What?! I like to eat!"
"And what will you have, sir?" the waiter asked AJ.
"I'll just have a glass of orange juice, please."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Ok. I'll be back with your orders in a short while." The waiter walked away.
"Is that really all your going to have?" Elena asked him concerned.
"Yeah. I'm not hungry. I had a big lunch," he lied. He didn't have anything for lunch. Or breakfast for that matter.
"Ok."
"You need to get some meat on those scrawny little bones of yours, my dear," teased Staci.
"I'm not scrawny. I'm lean. Leave me alone," he pouted.
"What's wrong? Are you upset because I'm leaving?" Elena asked him sounding like she was talking to a little boy.
"Maybe," he answered innocently.
"Aww, poor baby. Don't worry, you'll be hearing so much of me, you'll get sick of me."
"I could never get sick of you."
"I heard you got a little tipsy yesterday, Bone," smirked Brian.
"Just a little."
*riiiiiiing*
"Oh, it's my phone," stated Elena. She pulled her cell out of her purse and pushed the talk button. "Hello?" Seconds later, her face lit up and she smiled widely. "Oh hi, Nathan!"
Kevin and Staci looked at AJ while he sank in his chair.
"Umm, guys? I'll be right back. I have to take this call somewhere more private." Elena stood up and walked away. She made herself comfortable in the little waiting room. "Hey, what's up?"
"Oh nothing, I just felt the need to hear your voice," he answered.
Elena smiled. "That's so sweet of you. Well now that you've heard it, what?"
"I'd like to hear it many more times. Actually, I wanted to ask you if you would like to go out on a date with me Friday?"
She was taken off guard, but very pleased. "Umm…sure, what time?"
"I'll pick you up at seven."
"Ok. Where?"
"Nah ah ah, that's a surprise."
"Really. How should I dress?"
"Elegantly, but don't go sporting a diamond tiara or anything."
They both laughed. "Like I own one!"
"You don't? Ah, well, I'm going to have to get you one then. After all, you're as beautiful as a princess."
Elena blushed. "Don't you mean queen?"
"Very well then. You are my queen and I am your king."
"Nathan…I-I-I---I don't know what to say!"
"Just say that you'll give me a chance."
Elena bit her bottom lip and thought for a while. It's been so long since she has had a meaningful relationship. Maybe this was her second chance? "Ok."
"Great."
"Wait. Are you in Orlando?"
"Yes."
"Really?! You're calling me long distance?! I better not talk much then! *lol* "
"It's alright. Do you need someone to pick you up from the airport?"
"No, my brother's going to drop me and Staci off home. Thank you."
"No problem. I have to go now. Business calls and all. I'll see you on Friday."
"Ok, Friday it is."
"Good bye, my queen."
"Umm, bye." *click* Elena leaned against the wall and squeezed her eyes shut sighing loudly. 'What am I getting myself into? Should I be doing this? I know I should be getting on with my life, but…I'll tell him I want to take things slowly. Oh God, what if I fall in love…again?'
"…and then I find out that Robbie was just using me to get back at Rachel and that's when---" Staci was talking about her high school dramas when Elena returned to the table wearing a grin. "Hey girl, what did Nathan want?"
Elena sat down with a dreamy look on her face. "He said he just called because he wanted to hear my voice…and ask me out on a date."
A whole chorus of ooooohhh's sounded from the table.
"Where to?" asked Nick.
"I don't know. He won't tell me. He says it's a surprise," she giggled. "I can't wait! He is so sweet! I like him a lot." She continued to gush about how sweet and thoughtful and charming and cute Nathan was. AJ wanted to puke. That and beat Nathan with a bat. He excused himself and walked away with Kevin hot on his trail.
"Where are you going?" Kevin inquired worried that he'd do something stupid.
"I'm just going to take a walk. Get some fresh air. Is that ok with you?" he snapped.
"Sorry. I'm just worried."
"Well, don't be," he replied harshly and exited the restaurant.
Kevin went back to the table distraught.
"Where is he?" asked Staci concerned. She knew how AJ felt about Nathan.
"He just needed to step outside for a minute. He'll be back."
"Is he ok?"
"Yeah, he's fine," he lied through his teeth, but only Staci noticed.
'I hate Nathan. I hate Elena. I hate myself. I hate this situation I put myself in. I hate everything. I hate this fuckin' world!' AJ wandered along the cold dark streets, not knowing or caring where he was going. Only wanting to get away. 'Who am I kidding? The only person I hate is myself. I was too stupid to tell her how I felt before and now it's too late. I can't blame anyone but myself. Still…I strongly dislike Nathan.'
He continued to wander aimlessly and argue with himself until he reached a small park. He sat on a bench in front of a frozen pond and began to talk to no one in particular.
"Argh! This is so fucked up! I'M so fucked up! Why can't I move on?! What is this hold she has on me that I can't escape?! What do I have to do to break free?!" That bottle of Tylenol suddenly came into his mind. He was horrified at the thought. "No! There has to be another way!" But nothing else came to mind. "I can't," he told himself quietly although it didn't sound as convincing as the other times. "What's happening to me?"
"Guys, our plane leaves in two hours and you have a concert to put on," reminded Elena.
"AJ isn't back yet. He's been gone for so long. I'm really worried," stated Staci. She didn't enjoy herself as much as she had thought she would. Actually, she really didn't enjoy herself at all. AJ completely occupied her mind the whole time and she was extremely reluctant to leave him like this. But she knew she had a life outside of the BSB that she absolutely had to return to and knowing that Kevin would be extra cautious helped her as well.
"I'll go look for him," volunteered Kevin. But he didn't get a chance to take a step because AJ had just appeared beside him. He was really pale and his usually bright brown eyes were dull and saddened.
"Are you ok?" Staci stepped up to him and placed her hand on his arm. She saw how sick he looked and he cursed himself for not bringing his sunglasses with him. At least his eyes would've been covered up and everyone wouldn't be staring at him so intensely.
"Yeah, I'm ok. It just got a little stuffy in here, that's all," he answered weakly trying to smile to prove to them that he was indeed alright. Although not one ounce of it was true.
They went back to the hotel and the guys helped Elena and Staci put their luggage into the trunk of the limo they had arranged to take them to the airport. Brian, Jen, Nick, Kevin, and AJ couldn't really stay that long so it was finally time to say goodbye. Elena said her farewells first.
"Bye, Nick. Stay as sweet and funny as you are," she said as she hugged him.
"Bye, Elena. I hope you had fun. I know I did." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek and then she moved on to Jen and Brian.
"Congratulations once again, you two. I can't wait until the wedding. I am going to be a bridesmaid, right?" she joked.
"Of course you are! Staci will be too!" She embraced them and then went to Kevin.
"You better come home soon. Someone will be waiting for you." She smiled looking over at Staci who was saying her good byes to Nick, Brian, and Jen.
"We'll be back home before you know it. Only two and a half more months to go. Make sure she doesn't leave me for another man," he told her smiling.
"As if."
"Bye, Elena."
"Good bye, Kevin." Elena said bye to AJ as Staci said good bye to Kevin.
"Kevin," Staci began but Kevin knew what she was about to say and gently put his finger on her lips to quiet her.
"Sshhh, I'm not going to let anything happen to him, I promise," he reassured her softly.
"I know you won't," she replied quietly as their foreheads gently touched.
He intertwined his fingers around hers. "Staci…I think I'm falling for you…" He expected her to jump back and look at him in shock. Instead she just smiled and answered back…
"Well, I'm not falling for you."
Kevin felt like he had been punched in the stomach. "Y-y-you're not?"
She nodded her head. "No…I already have." She looked up at him for a moment. His eyes were twinkling and the brightest green she had ever seen. Their lips finally met and they kissed for a good five minutes before Elena and Nick had to pry them apart. "Bye, baby." She stole one quick last kiss from him before she moved on to AJ. She smiled at him and nodded her head in a tsk tsk manner. " *sigh* Oh AJ AJ AJ…"
"What's this? You're not calling me Alex anymore?" he laughed.
"Nah, that was just a phase as Kev said. I'm over it now. But don't be surprised if I start referring to you as Freak."
"I'll be taking that as a compliment."
She laughed and then hugged him. "Take care of yourself, ok, hon? Don't let anything get to you. You still have a long, happy, and successful life ahead of you. There's still time for you to find that special someone."
"I'm 25, how much longer can I wait?"
"Hey, I'm 30 and I've just recently found my honey. Believe me, there's still hope for you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Just keep the faith. Good bye."
"Bye. Thanks for everything."
"Anytime, sweetie."
She patted his arm affectionately and then joined Elena in the limo. As it drove off, they turned around and saw the guys standing there waving and acting goofy. They laughed and waved back until their friends were nothing but little dots. Finally, they disappeared down the road and were on their way home.
Chp 14
Chp 12
