Chapter 9

I awoke to see A.J. above me for the second time that
week.

"Wake up sunshine!" He said kissing me softly.

"McLean do you ever let me sleep?" I whined.

"Not today, today we PARTY!
Get up!" He said as I sat up.

"When is the party?" I asked looking
at my clock, 2 in the afternoon.

"Uh…I think 8," he said as my mouth dropped.

"A.J. I could have slept for at
least 4 more hours!" I pouted.

"Well I'm sorry! I just wanted to see you
before I left, is that so wrong?" He asked as I
shrugged.

"Actually I'm glad," I said as he nodded.

"I thought you would be," he said as I did the same.
I kissed him softly, then with more force and he laid
down on top of me. We definitely got caught in the
moment, but stopped as soon as I felt his hand go
up under my shirt.

"A.J. I'm sorry," I whispered as he looked at me.

"No I'm sorry, I shouldn't have
done that, my bad!" He said as I smiled.

"I don't know how you can deal without
getting any for so long," I said as he shrugged.

"I can wait," he said as I smiled.
I kissed him lightly before getting up with him.

"So what shall we do before the big bash?" I asked as
I went to my closet. I pulled out a short
spaghetti-strap Tommy Hilfiger dress and
laid it down on my bed.

"Not many options actually, only 4 hours…
want to go to Nick's?" He asked as I shrugged.

"If that's where you want to go," I said putting the
dress on.

"Well…spending my last day with people I'll be with for
6 months isn't exactly what I want to do…but there's
really nothing else to do is there?" He asked as I
walked over to my vanity mirror.

"Nope, we're fun aren't we?" I asked brushing
my hair into a ponytail.

"By ourselves?" He asked as I grinned.

"Why A.J. is this what you are going to think
of all day now?" I asked getting up and sitting in
his lap.

"I think about it everyday! I just never say it," he
said as I smacked him playfully.

"Well actually…did you know you…men in general
think of sex every 5 minutes of the day?" I asked as
he looked at me funny.

"How did you know that? Oh wait…brainiac over
here, never mind," he said smacking himself in the head.

"That's right! Like you're buff, I'm a brainiac!" I
said as he nodded.

"Why do I feel stupid all of a sudden?"
He asked as I pouted.

"You know that's not what I meant! Baby I
would never like you if you weren't smart!"
I said kissing him lightly.

"You're just saying that," he said as I shook my head.

"You know I never lie to you," I said as he
nodded. I kissed him softly.

"Yeah, brainiac says I'm smart! WOO
HOO!" He said as I smacked him.

"Funny, oh so funny."

That night, I got ready slowly, taking my time in
everything I did so it would be perfect. I put on my
dress and looked in the mirror, I thought of how A.J.
would like it and what would happen tonight
after the party. I had been thinking a lot about us
and that, I didn't know if I should, but I definitely
wanted to.

I walked down the stairs and over to my dad and
Denise.

"WOW!" They both said as I spinned like a model.

"Like it?" I asked.

"You look beautiful!" My dad said as Denise nodded.

"Thanks, what are you guys doing tonight?" I asked.

"We're going to Denise's house, you guys can go
swimming later if you want," my dad said as I smiled.

"Thanks daddy," I said as the doorbell
rang. "I gotta go, bye guys!" I said about to leave.

"No wait! Let me see my baby boy!" Denise said
as I rolled my eyes at the door.

"Hey Jessie, ready to go?" A.J. asked with a wink.

"Actually Denise wants to see you first," I said sighing.

"Is that you Alex? Come here!" Denise said as I let
A.J. in.

"Hey mom," he mumbled as Denise smiled.

"You look so adorable!" She said as I held in my
laughter.

"Mom we really gotta get going," A.J. said as she
hugged him.

"Be good, and have fun!" She said as A.J. and I
walked out.

"Is she always like this when you dress up?" I asked
as I got into the car.

"Sometimes she cries," he groaned as he pulled out
of the driveway.

When we got there, it was like a palace, ice
sculptures, champagne, the works!

"Hey A.J.!" A girl said as A.J. waved.

"Yo Bone, over here!" Some weird guy said. He had
tattoos all over his body and his hair was
shaved, except his bangs…

"That guy does my tattoos," A.J. told me as I nodded.

"A.J. long time no see!" Some girl said. She was
pretty, and hugging him tight.

"Hey Becky, Jessie this is my ex-girlfriend Becky,
Becky this is my girlfriend Jessie," he said introducing us.

"Hi," we both said with our fake smiles.

"A.J.!" Nick yelled as we walked over to him.

"Hey Belle," I said hugging her lightly.

"Looking great as usual," she said as we sat
down at Nick's table.

"What about you? You look great!" I said as she
rolled her eyes. I looked at A.J. as he
talked to tons of people.

"They invited like everyone they've ever known.
Nick introduced me to his friend from the 3rd
grade!" Belle said as we laughed.

"This is going to be a long night," I said gulping
down my champagne.

"Then let's just talk while they meet there
long lost teachers and stuff," Belle said as I nodded.

"Sure, we got nothing else to do right?" I
shrugged as I saw A.J. talking to Becky again.

"Nick took me here in his Jeep," Belle said as I smiled.

"Really? By yourself?" I asked as she
nodded. "AWW!"

"Shut up!" Belle said smacking me lightly.

"Jessie?" A.J. asked as I looked at him. "This is my
sister Nicci, Nicci this is Jessie," he said as I saw her.
She did look kinda like him in a way. I shook her hand
as she smiled.

"So you're Jessie? I could write a biography on
you I've heard so much about you!" She said as
I laughed.

"Oh, I gotta go, we're doing something in a sec!" A.J.
said before kissing me and running off.

"Sit down!" I said to Nicci as she sat down.
"So do you have any idea what he's doing?"

"All I know is that all 5 guys that we're
celebrating this for are not here," she said as
I looked around.

"Ladies and gentleman, can I have your attention
please?" Jane asked as I turned to the small stage.
"Well, they did it, finally!" She said as every cheered.
"They're going to sing a little song to show you
guys what they're sending over seas, here they are!
Singing, 'We've Got It Goin' On,' the Backstreet
Boys!" She said walking off the stage. As
the music started, I saw all of
them go on stage, they were so
coordinated and…so cute!

"Everybody groove to the music, everybody jam!"
They started as everyone cheered. I couldn't help
but stare at A.J. as he sung, he was so adorable!
When they got down on their knees everyone
screamed as Belle as I laughed, they looked
like they were praying!

"We've got it goin' on!" Brian finished as
everyone cheered and applauded.

"WOO!" Belle and I screamed, laughing.

"Thank you, thanks," Brian said as Howie, A.J.,
Nick, and Kevin sat down on the stage.

"We're going to give some shout outs, and you know,
since I'm the greatest, I'm starting!" He said as people
laughed. "I'd like to thank God, for giving me the voice
to do this, I'd like to thank Lou, for listening to us and
believing in us, my mom, for actually letting me come
down to Florida to do this, Jessie, Belle, you guys
will NEVER beat me in basketball, and guys, I love
ya like brothers, can't wait till tomorrow!" He said
as Howie stood up.

"I'd like to thank Lou as well, even though we
are NOT New Kids on the Block, my family, for
actually believing I could do this, and Fatima,
our choreographer, she's the best,
peace," he said as my A.J. stood up.

"God is the coolest isn't he?" A.J. said as everyone
laughed. "Wait, he's putting me with these four
guys, maybe not," he said as the guys gave
him the evil eye. "Changing that! I'd like to thank
my mom, Denise who is at home, good thing. But she
was there for me, ever since my acting days and
I love her for that. Lou, for always putting us
down and saying we would never make it, thanks
Lou. And my baby, my Jessie. I love you so much
and without you I wouldn't be doing this at all," he
said as I felt water in my eyes. "Oh wait! And Nicci!
Yeah cause she's hear and I kinda have to say that!"
He said as we laughed, I looked over at Nicci with
her arms folded over her chest.
Then Nick stood up as A.J. smacked his arm.

"OW!" He whined as everyone laughed.
"A.J. always knows how to beat me," Nick said
as I laughed. "Um…I'd like to thank God, love
ya man! I'd like to thank my family for believing
a little guy like me could make it, and I'd like to
say to Belle and Jessie, I want a rematch
in basketball!" He said as I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I'd just like to thank God, and thank Lou. I wish
my dad were here to share this, I know that he's
up there watching me though, I love
you dad!" Kevin said as everyone clapped.

"At this time, anyone wanting to say something to
the guys, we have a video camera set and we'll be
taking personal messages from now until the
end of the party!" Jane said as the guys
walked off the stage.

"Baby you were great," I said kissing him lightly.

"Nicci what did ya think?" A.J. asked sitting next to me.

"You did not have to thank me!" She whined
as we laughed.

"Yo A.J.!" That scary tattoo guy yelled to him.

"I gotta go, dance with me later?" A.J. asked me.

"Hmm I don't know, you sure
your dance list isn't filled up?" I asked
playing with his fingers.

"Nah, you come first, see ya Nic," he said before
kissing me and running over to that scary guy.

"Is it just me or is that guy scary?" Belle asked
as Nicci and I nodded.

"Let's go do that video camera thing," Nicci said as we
got up. We walked over to the long line and
waited for about half an hour.

"Finally! My feet are going numb!" Belle said as
Nicci and I nodded.

"Okay, sit here," the man said as Belle sat down. "Say
whatever you want, but make it clean huh?
Parents might see this," he said as Belle
nodded. "Okay go."

"Hi guys! It's so cool to know international stars!
Nick you've been my neighbor for so long it's weird
not seeing you play basketball anymore, I'll miss
you the most. Brian, I will whip you in basketball!
Jessie and me both! Um…Howie, you are the
best to talk to when the guys are in basketball psycho
stuff, I love ya for that, Kevin, don't change, take
tons of pics! A.J. my impression of you has definitely
changed, you are the coolest guy I know, treat Jessie
wrong I'll kill ya!" She said with a giggle. "Um, that's it,
this is Belle, signing off!" She said getting up and
running over to us.

"Sit," the man said to Nicci. "Okay, you
know the drill, go."

"Hey guys! I've known all of ya for 5 years and every
year you guys tease me more and more, so you know
what?" She asked. She stuck her tongue out and
folded her arms. "Mostly to you big bro! I'll miss hearing
from you everyday, but I won't miss the
stupid remarks, and the Jessie obsession! Love
you guys, bye!"

"Next!" The guy said as I ran over to the
seat and sat down. "Go."

"Um okay that was fast! You guys should know who
I am, I'm the genius going to Yale that you guys think
you can beat in basketball, which is SO not true
Carter! I'll kick your butt! You know my
knee is still messed up? How rude!" I said with a laugh.

"Anyways, getting on to more important people!
Howie, you are so suave, girls will love you! Kevin,
stay positive with being the dad of the group,
look out for them," I said pointing to the camera.
"Brian, I can and will kick your butt when you get
back, but your like a brother, I love you man. Nick,
I hate to say it, but you too. A.J., I love you with all
my heart. Hopefully I'll see you before our parents
wedding," I said with a small laugh. "I hope to see
you when you come around Yale, and you better call
me!" I said pointing again. "Guys, you better visit
me! I love you!" I said with a smile. "And I don't
look like Jennifer Lopez!" I said getting up.

"Actually miss, you do," the man said with his
New York accent.

"Yeah, thanks," I said walking away with Belle and
Nicci. When we walked back to our table all the
guys were there talking and eating.

"Hey where did you guys go?" Nick asked as I sat
down on A.J.'s lap.

"To do that video thing," Belle said sitting down
next to Nick.

"Hey Nic, that guy," A.J. said pointing. "He wants to
dance with you."

"Really?" She asked getting up. "Excuse me,
hot guy wants to dance with me."

"Hey Jess when are you going to Yale?" Kevin asked.

"Um…a week I think, I'm not sure, either next
week or the week after," I said taking a
sip of A.J.'s champagne.

"Hey missy! You can't drink that!" Nick whined.

"And why not!?!" I asked.

"Because you're not 21 and if my mom
catches you she'll kill me!" He said as I grinned.

"Then I think I'll drink some more," I said
picking it up as he frowned. "I'm just
kidding!" I said with a laugh.

"We're going to go dance," Brian said as he,
Howie, and Kevin got up.

"Belle you wanna go dance?" Nick asked as she smiled.

"Sure!" She said as he took her hand to the dance floor.

"AWW!" I said as A.J. looked at me. "What?"

"Nothing! Can't I look at my
girlfriend?" He asked as I shrugged.

"Depends on which one," I said as
his mouth dropped. "I mean you have so many!"

"DO NOT JESSIE!" He yelled as I giggled.

"I know! You think I'd be dating you if you had
multiple girlfriends?" I asked as he frowned. "Baby
I was just kidding!" I said kissing him
lightly. "Ew I tasted egg roll!"

"Yummy," he said wiping his lips
as I giggled. "Want to dance?" He asked.

"Sure!" I said mimicking Belle. He took my hand
and led me out to the dance floor. I wrapped my arms
around his neck and he put his hands around my
waist. I put my head on his chest and I heard him
humming to the song, "On Bended Knee," from
Boyz 2 Men. I felt like I was
at the prom all over again, it was weird.

"Baby?" He whispered to me.

"Hmm?"

"Look at Nick," he said as I looked over, my mouth
dropped. Nick and Belle were in full tongue
action; it was actually kind gross to look at,
being Nick and everything.

"WOW!" I whispered. I looked up at A.J.
and giggled. "Did we do that at the prom?" I asked.

"Believe me I felt what they were
doing at the prom," he said as we both laughed.

"I feel like doing it again," I said kissing him lightly
at first, then deeper as we went into
the same kind of tongue action they were experiencing.

"Alexander! Wild man!" The tattoo
guy said as we stopped.

"Yo Kyle did you ask my sister yet?" A.J. asked
getting all tough again. He turned into mush when
we were alone, but with people around
he was the way the he looked.

"No, she's busy with Mike!" Kyle said as we
looked over at them sitting at the table.

"Kyle you're not asking to marry her yo, you're
asking her out!" A.J. said as my
mouth dropped. "What?" He asked me.

"Nothing!" I immediately shut my mouth.

"Bone is this Jessie?" Kyle asked as he
nodded. "Hi, I'm Kyle."

"Hi," I said with a grin.

"You know what? One time A.J. came in so
drunk he asked me to get your initials tattooed on his…"

"Kyle!" A.J. said as Kyle laughed.

"Sorry…gotta go," Kyle said walking
away as I looked at A.J.

"Weirdo!" I said with a laugh.

"What!?!"

"You actually think Nicci will like HIM?" I asked.

"Why not?"

"She thinks he's scary!" I said as A.J.
looked at me and shrugged.

"That's Nicci's problem now, look he's going
in for the kill," A.J. said as we looked over at Nicci.

"I can't look," I said looking back at A.J. I looked at
him as he laughed at Kyle and Nicci, then
looked back over at me. "I want to do it
tonight," I bluntly said.

"HUH WHAT?" He asked looking at me. "Come
here," he said taking my hand and leading
me over to the empty table. "You want to do WHAT?"

"I want to have sex with you A.J., I'm
ready," I said as he looked at me with a blank face.

"A.J. she said no!" Kyle said as A.J. turned
to him, ignoring what I said.

"What did you say to her bro?" He asked.

"I said, 'A.J. said I could ask you out, so go out with
me,'" he said as I rolled my eyes and got up.

I walked into the girl's restroom and sighed, looking
in the mirror. I don't even think A.J. noticed me
get up, though at the time I was glad. I made
a fool of myself in front of him, I shouldn't have said it.

"Jessie?" Belle asked walking in.

"Hey make-out girl! What was
that I saw with Nick?" I asked as she blushed.

"I don't know yet, he kinda brushed me off after
the song was over," she shrugged. "What about
you? I saw you and him talked and he
blew you off? What happened?" She asked.

"I told him I wanted to have sex tonight," I said
again bluntly.

"YOU DID WHAT?" She asked.

"That's exactly how he said it," I
said putting on some more lipstick.

"Well I mean he was probably shocked Jessie!
You guys have never done it, and then you just
bluntly say it like that!" She said as I sighed.

"I'm so dumb," I said as I heard a knock at the door.

"Jessie I'm coming in!" A.J. said coming
through the door. "Anyone else in
here?" He asked Belle.

"Nope, coast is clear," she said as I folded
my arms and looked the other way from A.J.

"Jessie come on, you just left without
letting me say anything!" He said.

"Belle will you tell him I'm not talking
to him for the rest of the night!" I said.

"She's not talking to you the rest of the
night!" She said mimicking me as I grinned.

"Jessie this is stupid, the last day I'm
here and you don't want to talk to me?"

"Belle tell him that he shouldn't have
ignored me the way he did!" I said as
Belle ran over to him.

"Shouldn't have done that bro," she said as I giggled.

"Jessie come on! Don't make me sad
on my last day!" He begged as I turned to see him.

"Why did you just stare at me like I was stupid or
something?" I asked as Belle sighed and sat
down on the couch in the bathroom.

"I didn't know what to say! I mean we almost did
this morning," we looked at Belle and back to
each other. "And you said no and now you want to?"

"Well…yeah!" I said as Belle laughed.
I looked over at her and smiled.

"Belle, I'll meet you outside, block
the bathroom?" I asked as she nodded.

"Gladly this stuff is way to personal!" She said shutting
the door. I leaned on the wall staring at the floor;
this was the first time in my life I couldn't speak to him.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked quietly.

"I guess not," I said shrugging.

"Baby the only reason I don't want to tonight is because
it would be like you had to. Like because I was
leaving you wanted to," he explained as I looked
at him sadly.

"You think after how long we've been dating I would just
do it 'because?' That's like saying Nick would
beat me at basketball because I felt like letting him win!"

"I'm sorry…" he said walking over to me.

"I know, I'm sorry too," I said hugging him. I kissed
him lightly and stood, our foreheads touching.

"You coming out our are you going to
hibernate in here for the winter?" He asked as I giggled.

"I'll be there in a second," I said kissing him
lightly and watching him walk out the door.

"Jessie everything okay?" Belle asked.

"He never talked about…nevermind you know to much
already!" I said with a laugh. "Now we have to find
Nick and see what's going on with you two!" I said
dragging Belle out of the bathroom.

"No Jess!" She whined as I walked over to the table.

"Nickolas, we need to talk, now!" I said as A.J.
looked at me. I winked at him and dragged Nick over
to the corner of the large ballroom.

"What? I'm busy!" He whined as I
smacked him. "OW!"

"Nick what's up with you and Belle? One minute you
and her are making out heavy, and the next
you won't talk to her?" I asked as he rolled his eyes.

"That's mine and Belle's business, not yours Jessica."

"It is when she comes to me and
asks for advice!" I said as he sighed.

"I…I don't know what's going on, she's just…nevermind,
I can deal with it okay? Let me go now
Olsen!" Nick said as A.J. walked over.

"Want me to beat him for you baby?" He asked.

"Nah, I think I can beat him," I said smacking him.

"OW! Cut it out!" He said as A.J. laughed.

"Getting beaten by a girl Nick, that's sad," he said
as I looked at him. "Well, kinda," he said as
I rolled my eyes.

"Carter, you're hurting her and if you continue
doing so A.J. and I will beat your ass!" I
said letting him go.

"You guys sure are hostile! Geez!" He said running
away.

"We sure are aren't we?" I asked looking at my baby.

"Yep! Proud of it too!" He said as I giggled.

"Ladies and gentleman, the Backstreet Boys are
going to perform one more song, the acapella
'Just To Be Close To You,'" Jane said as A.J.
ran up to the stage.

"On three," Brian said as I leaned on the wall
and looked at them.

"Like a flower to a tree, that's how close I want to be,
to your heart," Howie sang as I walked over
to our table next to the stage.

"What did you say to Nick?" Belle asked as I shrugged.

"Nothing much, tell you in a second," I said
looking back over to them.

"I want you to be, the only that I see, cause I believe,
it's our destiny," A.J. sang waving at me. I waved
back and smiled, he was so cute! Whenever he was
on stage I felt like I was 14 again and I was going
to cry at how cute A.J. was…I did when
New Kids were around, it's pretty much the
same thing right?

"Thanks for coming everyone! Remember next time
you hear Backstreet Boys, they will be famous!
Goodnight everyone!" Jane said as I
looked at the clock on the wall.

"WOW! It's 2 in the morning!" I said as Belle
looked to make sure that's what I said.

"WOW!" She repeated.

"You guys ready to go?" Brian asked us.

"Yep!" We both said getting up. Nick and Belle
both looked nervously at each other as A.J.
and I rolled our eyes.

"Come on, let's get out of here," A.J. said as I nodded.

"A.J. wait! I gotta talk to you buddy!" Kyle said
as I sighed.

"Baby I'll meet you at the car okay?" I asked as
he nodded. I walked to the car and sat down
on the hood.

"Hey Jessie, see you in 6 months!" Nicci said
hopping into some guy's car. I waited for maybe
half and hour before he and Kyle came out.

"I'll call you when I get there," A.J. said slapping
Kyle's hand.

"Bye Boner, bye Jessie nice meeting you!" He said
hopping onto his motorcycle.

"Sorry that took so long," he said as I shrugged.

"No it's okay, being the last people to leave is
cool," I said as he stuck his tongue out at me.

I heard thunder and immediately when
I tilted my head up to the sky it started to rain.

"Oh damn!" A.J. said hopping into his car and putting
the hood up as fast as he could. I got off the
hood and got inside. "I am so ready to go
home, what about you?"

"Uh huh," I said laying my head on the passenger
door. When we got to my house, I walked in,
A.J. and I both soaked in water.

"You want me to dry your clothes?" I asked.

"It's okay," he said walking over to the door.
"I'll come back tomorrow before I
leave," he said as I nodded.

"Okay," I mumbled.

"Love you," he said shutting the door. I sighed
and walked up the stairs to my room. I took off
my shoes and let down my hair, brushing it to the
side. As I unzipped my dress I felt two hands
wrap around me, scaring me to death.

"Hi," A.J. whispered as I sighed in relief.

"You scared me," I whispered as he kissed my neck.

"I'm sorry," he said as I grinned. "I've changed
my mind, about what you said."

"You have?" I asked as he kissed my shoulder.

"Mmm hmm," he said. "About drying my clothes,"
he said as I turned to him. "I was kidding!" He
said with a laugh.

"That was mean!" I pouted.

"I was kidding! Baby I'm sorry," he said kissing me.
I wrapped my arms around his neck as
he carried me to my bed.

We didn't talk the whole time until we were completely
undressed. Our breath short and our bodies soft,
I was so nervous yet I felt so completely safe.

"Baby?" He whispered looking at me in the darkness.

"Yes?"

"You are absolutely sure?" He asked as
I kissed him, that was answer, and I was so glad I said
yes.

Index

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