"How many?" asked the waitress.
"Two," Brian threw the waitress a flirtatious grin.
She didn't seem to notice. She lead us to a booth in the corner of the restaurant.
The restaurant was dimly lit, and it held a very romantic aura. A vase of purple orchids was the centerpiece to the small, cozy tables.
After our orders were placed, Brian looked me squarely in the eyes. "Now, Angela, I'm going to be frank."
My eyes drifted to the front door to the restaurant instinsctively when I caught a glimpse of blonde hair. I bagan coughing on my water when I realized that it was Nick. At his arm was a curvy platinum blonde girl, probably about 5'9". Apparently he either didn't notice Brian and I, or else he was deliberatly avoiding my stares. I caught the faintest trace of a smile playing at his lips as he sauntered by our table.
Brian put his hands on his head, like he always did when he was frusterated.
I leaned forward "ho does he do it Bri? How? He's such a player!" I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms in front of my chest.
I studied the girl with a critical eye. She was wearing way too much make-up, and based on her horrible roots, I could tell she wasn't even a natural blonde. Where the hell did he pick that skank up? I asked myself.
Throughout the entire meal Brian desperatly tried making conversation with me, but I was too intent on Nick and this Barbie girl to do much more than comment here and there.
"So what do you think?" Brian asked.
"Well, I think she needs to wear looser clothing, wash a couple pounds of make-up off, and then color her hair brown like it should be and..."
Brian sighed and tossed his knapkin onto the table. He frowned over at me. "Ange...Ange look at me!"
Reluctantly I shifted my gaze to Brian's disaproving face. "Why do you care who Nick is out with?"
I blushed "Of course I don't!" I laughed nervously, jamming a piece of my burrito con pollo into my mouth, to avoid having to comment further.
"This is ridiculous...Ange, going back to what I was saying earlier....well...actually I think you inadvertently answered my question."
"What's that Bri?" I asked nervously.
"You're fooling yourself Ange...you like Nick...not me."
I let out a loud obnoxious laugh, that was quite obviously forced. "You're crazy! What makes you think I like either of you?"
"Oh shuddup and admit it! This is crazy! I have watched you two wrestle around the house, tease eachother, it's obvious you're both sexually frusterated!"
"What??!!" I sputtered, shocked.
Brian put up his hands in submission "ok, ok...I was kidding...but it's obvious that things are messed up. You should be with Nick over there...not here."
"Brian, let's get one thing straight ok? Nick is everything I always dreamed my husband wouldn't be. He's immature, he never takes anything seriously, man...he plays video games ok?"
"So do I!"
"Not faithfully! C'mon...when Nick swears...it's over the sacred N64...and you know it." I had to force myself not to smile as I affectionatly though of all of Nick's flaws. I looked Brian squarely in the eye. "Brian Littrell, this is embaressing to say but...when I was younger and I dreamt about getting married...it was...it was...to someone like you !"
Brian grinned "really Ange?"
I reached accross the table to clutch his hand "really!" I said with utmost sincerity.
Brian looked pleased "I'm confused...I really thought...Ahhh well...I'm probably confusing brotherly affection to flirtatious affection.
I nodded "Oh most definitly," I nodded, avoiding his piercing eyes. I leaned forward and forced myself to give him a kiss, for Nick's benefit. After all, if he wanted a show I was damn ready to give him one!
"Morning Brian!" I said cheerfully. Brian wrapped me in an affectionate good morning hug. Unfortunatly, at that moment Nick decided to walk into the room. Instinctively I jerked back, feeling guilty.
Brian looked at me, perplexed.
"Oh, I'm so glad to have the day off!" I looked out the window. Even though it was chilly the sun was shining brightly.
"Great!" Nick said sarcastically. "You got the day off too?"
I could hear Brian listening to the messages on our answering machine.
"Bri, when's the last time anyone checked the messages."
"Yipes!" he exclaimed when he realized how pissed the people at that gay pub must have been when we stood them up.
I perked up when detective Bodini came on the machine. He said that Christina was getting off with 150 hours of community service. Carl wasn't so lucky though. He was going to have to enter psychiatric evaluation.
"Wow!' I breathed. "Does that mean 3 Make Harmoney are breaking up?"
"I imagine so," Brian said seriously.
The machine beeped and a third message played. "Hello, this is Diane Gorman, chair of the music events here at the Magic Kingdom. We hear from a trusted source that you are an excellant group, and if you have the interest or the time, we would like to try you out. You can contact me at..."
My jaw must have dropped to the floor.
I jumped up and down, clapping. "You guys! We have to call her back!"
Nick stood up, his chair scraping against the linolium of the floor. Gloomily he stalked off into his bedroom.