Chp 15
*riiiiing*
"Ello?"
"Happy birthday to yooouu! Happy birthday to yooouu! Happy birthday dear AJJJJ! Happy birthdaaaaaay toooooo yooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!! *lol* "
AJ smiled. "Thank you for that beautiful performance. I can't hear anymore."
"Hey! *lol* I ain't singing for you anymore if you're going to be like that!"
"Thank God."
"You're so mean!"
"I know. What's up, Eelie?"
"Oh nothing. I just called to wish you a very happy 26th birthday! Only four more years until you hit thirty, babe!"
"Ugh, don't remind me."
" *lol* It isn't THAT bad! So watcha doin'? Enjoying being prince for a day?"
"Yeah right. I'm just sitting here in my hotel room in…I don't know, somewhere."
She noticed the unenthusiasm in his voice. "Why are you so sad? It's your birthday! You should be jumping around screaming at the top of your lungs! That's what I do!"
"You would. I just don't see what the big deal is. It's just one more year of my life that passes me by in the blink of an eye. I just don't care anymore."
Elena frowned. "AJ, you should be thankful that one more year of your life passes you by. Some people aren't so lucky. You should make every birthday count no matter how old you are."
"Blah blah blah." AJ was so not feeling up to being happy. Of all his birthdays, he feared this one the most. The reason being that when the clock hit 11:43 PM on January 9th, it meant that he had outlived his best friend. "Enough about me, let's talk about you. How are you and Nathan doing?" he asked her trying to sound as interested as possible. Elena and him had been dating exclusively for over two months now. He still couldn't stand the man.
"Umm, everything's good between us. Great as a matter of fact."
"Really? I'm happy for you," he lied. Why he even bothered to ask was beyond him. They'd call each other every other weekend and whenever he asked her that question she'd give him the same reply "Great."
"Thanks. How are things going with you?"
"As good as can be expected I guess. We're going to shoot the video for Dangerous Obsession tomorrow."
"Cool! Tell me about it!"
"Don't you want to wait until it premieres?"
"Well, don't tell me everything! Just things like what's the concept, what are you guys wearing, and stuff."
"Ok, well to answer your first question, this girl's gonna be walking down the street and depending on who's verse it is, one of us will like pop out of somewhere and stare after her. I can't really explain it. You'll just have to see it for yourself. We're going to be wearing black, as usual. Trench coats and stuff. And there's going to be an awesome dance sequence near the end. Kind of like Don't Want You Back except not."
"Mmhmm. Slow down there! You're overloading my brain with all the detail and excitement!"
"I'm sorry. I just feel like shit today." 'Like everyday.'
"Aww, I'm sorry you feel like that on your birthday. Don't worry, soon you'll be home and we'll make you feel all better! Only one more week right?"
"Yes. I don't think I'll be home, though."
"What do you mean?"
"I was thinking about spending our three month vacation time in the Irish country side. Somewhere nice and peaceful and quiet. Somewhere I can just chill."
"Of all places, why there?"
"See that's the thing. No one would expect me being on let's say a farm in Ireland. I can just be myself and wander around not worrying about security. Unless a flock of sheep recognize me and want autographs. I just need time by myself, you know?"
"Yeah," she answered sadly. She understood him, but that didn't mean she was happy about his decision. She was hoping they could hang out like old times. She knew she was being selfish, but she really did miss him. "Just be sure to say good bye before you leave, ok?"
"Ok. But it's not like I'll be gone forever. Just three months. You'll still be there when I come back, won't you?"
"Sure." 'I don't know. A lot could happen in three months. A lot could happen in two weeks,' she reminded herself somberly. "Just be careful, ok? Don't get rammed by goats or pecked by chickens or anything. It's a little far for me to visit you in the hospital," she said half joking.
"I promise. Same thing goes for you."
"There aren't any chickens in Florida, silly."
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do." There was a long pause followed by a cough from Elena. "AJ, Nathan gave me the keys to his house. I think it's getting serious."
AJ was stunned and not in a good way. "R-r-really?"
"Yes, and he told me he loved me."
'Here comes my world crashing down on me.' "He did? Did-d-d-did you say it back?"
"Yes, I did." He felt his heart being ripped out, flung to the floor, and pulverized to a bloody pulp.
"Wow. Congrats. Listen, I'd love to talk more, but I gotta go." 'Kill myself.' " I'll see you before I leave."
"Ok. Bye, hon."
"Bye."
*click*
Elena sat up on her bed and sighed. Maybe she should have told him the truth. The whole truth. After all, there was a BIG difference in saying that you love someone and actually meaning it. Sure, she cared for Nathan. A lot. But she wasn't sure it was love yet. It had only been two months. She only said it because he had caught her off guard and it was a spur of the moment kind of thing. She was closer to the truth when she had told AJ that her relationship with Nathan was good, not great. And it was getting pretty serious. Possibly too serious. Maybe things were going too fast, but she was 32. How much slower can things get? She should have been married by now with kids. She would have been if only…
She looked down at the ring on her right hand. She never took it off since that night. Nathan asked her why she kept it on. She told him it was because it was Howie's last wish. That was only partly true. She thought it was stupid and didn't want to believe it, but she knew. Part of her was still in love with him and she didn't want to let go. Of course, she'd never tell Nathan that. Or anyone else for that matter.
Nathan had become somewhat overwhelming in the past few weeks. In the beginning, he was so sweet and romantic. He'd take her places she had never been and bought her all she had ever wanted. He'd still do those things, but now it wasn't the same. Nathan had become obsessive and possessive. He'd call her twice everyday and if she wasn't home, he'd leave like twenty messages on her machine inquiring where she had gone. And when they went out, if another guy did so much as stare at her, Nathan would get in his face. It bothered her, but she had convinced herself that he only did it because he loved her. Besides, it wasn't like she had suitors knocking at her door. If she broke it up with Nathan, she'd be alone. And her biological clock was running out. She always wanted to have kids.
She gently ran her finger over the diamond. " *sigh* Two months I've been with Nathan and I'm more confused as ever. With you, two months was all I needed to know that you were the only one for me. Why did it have to happen? You were so perfect. Perfect."
With one last sigh, Elena slipped the ring off her finger and placed it in its little box. Then she put it away in her dresser. She put on her delicate night robe and walked to the kitchen. Then she opened the sliding door to her patio being immediately greeted by the cool winter breeze of Florida. After making herself comfortable in a soft padded chair, she stared up at the starry sky. Millions of little celestial bodies twinkled like diamonds sewn onto black velvet. A falling star zoomed across the sky. Elena closed her eyes and made a wish.
After hearing the wonderful news that Elena was in love, AJ decided to wallow in misery. He lied on his bed staring longingly at a picture of the three of them. The same one Elena had standing above her fireplace. They were doubles, Howie having the other one. Mr. and Mrs. Dorough had given AJ a whole box full of pictures, notes, and other things of sentimental value mostly concerning the BSB. They knew Howie would've wanted AJ to have them and of course, AJ had sadly accepted them.
All of a sudden, AJ had an epiphany. Why stay inside and feel sorry for yourself when you could do the same thing sitting outside while breathing in the cold and polluted air of… whatever goddamn city they were in now? AJ lost track back in Birmingham. What was the point? You'd just go somewhere else the next day. It took too much of his limited energy to know where he was so he just gave up. He didn't care anymore. Actually, he didn't care about anything anymore. His life was a mess. The only thing that kept him going was the Backstreet Boys. He was only happy on stage. That was when he could forget about his life's many problems and just concentrate on the smiles of the crowd. And since he wasn't on stage all the time, the majority of the time he was a moody, gloomy, pessimistic asshole. But he didn't care. No surprise there.
He forced himself out of bed and trudged to the balcony. As soon as he opened the glass doors, the biting cold wind smacked him in the face. It was the middle of winter after all. Not bothering to put something warm on, he plopped himself down on a chair and looked up at the night sky. He sighed as only a few stars were dimly visible due to light pollution.
"I wish I was up there. Nothing would ever be able to touch me or bring me down. I hope you're having fun up there, buddy. I don't care what anybody says. Anything's bound to be better than my life. But AJ, you're a big famous pop star, selling millions of records, breaking even more, lots of money, everyone loves you, girls everywhere, blah blah blah. People don't know anything," he grumbled on. A bright flash cut across the sky in a second. Not even thinking about it, he closed his eyes and made a wish.
Both Elena and AJ, pondering under the same great big sky, wished the same wish. The only thing that either of them had ever wanted but couldn't seem to find. They had no idea that that wish would soon be granted.
Chp 16
Chp 14
