The club was not exactly what I had planned when we got there. It was loud and crowded, but I guess I just wasn't in the mood anymore. I was all excited in the cab on the way there, but clubbing just wasn't the same without AJ there. I needed a drink, I decided.
I walked up to the bar and ordered a rum 'n coke, and sat down on the bar stool, watching the various couples grind on the floor. I payed the bartender and sipped my drink slowly. I didn't exactly want to get drunk. I was in a daze when a tall man sat down beside me and said, "I'll have what she's having." I turned to look at him, and recognition hit me.
"Erik? Is that you? Oh, I haven't seen you in ages!" I gave him a huge hug, glad for someone to talk with since Summer had found a cute blond.
"Cass? Oh my god, it's been years!" he laughed. "Grade 9 or 10, at least."
I nodded. "Grade 10, when I went away to school. I'm surprised I recognized you, but it's definitly the hair." I laughed. "It never changes, does it?"
"Why mess with a good thing?"
I laughed. I'd forgotten how easy he was to talk to. We chatted for about an hour, and I hadn't really realized how much I was drinking. I had enough to loosen my tounge, anyway.
The next thing I knew, I was telling him all about the tour, me, AJ, and Jordan. I hadn't really talked about it since it happened, and soon I was in tears in his arms. The night was definitly not what I had expected.
When I calmed down, he lead me out onto the dance floor, and held me as we moved to the rhythm of the music. It was so comforting, being held by someone that didn't expect anything in return. For as long as I had known him, Erik had been very much gay, and I think that's what made me so comfortable around him. There was absolutly no sexual tension involved.
When the bar was closing, a very tipsy Summer came and found us, and the three of us headed towards the door. Erik would not leave me until I assured him that I was ok, and then Summer and I got into a cab to head back to the hotel.
"So, who was that?" Summer slurred at me, grinning.
"His name's Erik, we've known each other since elementary... he was in my class in grade 9, remember?" I asked her.
"Right... Erik..." she giggled. "Gay right?" She laughed.
"Very." I responded. "But a great person to talk to. I pretty much told him everything, Sum." I sighed. There was no response, and I looked over at her. She had falled alseep leaning on the car door. "Great." I mumbled.
When we got to the hotel, I shook her gently, but she wouldn't wake up. I dug in my bag for the security cell phone, and called one of the body guards to come help me. By the time I had paid the cabbie, John was there, laughing at the fact that all he'd done tonight was carry a drunken girl up to someone else's room.
I knocked on Nick's door, and when he opened it, with a bed head and boxers on, a look of worry passed over his eyes. "Don't worry, she didn't do anything dumb, just got a little wasted." I said as John put her on the bad.
Nick shook his head and mumbled "thanks" as he closed the door.
"Thanks John, but I'm good on my own." I said as I headed to AJ's room.
"Anytime." he answered, getting back in the elevator.
I let myself into his room, hoping he was asleep, but no such luck. His back was to me, looking out the window. "Did you have fun?" he asked sullenly.
"Actually no." I replied. "But I did run into an old friend, and we talked for a while. Look, J. It was dumb for us to fight about this, I only wanted one night out on my own. I used to do it all the time, and I needed tht normalcy again." I put my hands flat on his shoulder blades. "I'm sorry if you don't get that."
"I do. I do way too much. I would do almost anything to be able to go out on my own, without a guard, and not worry about getting mobbed. But I can't. And I was jealous that you could. I trust you, I was a little worried, but mostly I was mad at myself. I'm sorry." He said. He turned to face me, his eyes filled with honesty.
"Oh, babe, it's ok." I caressed his face as I noticed tears forming in his eyes. "Shhh, it's ok." I whispered as I pulled him to me. I wrapped my arms around him and we held each other. I knew that he was feeling bad and under a lot of stress lately, and I knew that I wasn't helping. "I'm sorry." I whispered.
He looked at me again, his eyes clear again. He stared at me for a moment, appeared to be memorizing my features, and then took my mouth in his. I melted into his arms as he kissed me, and lead me slowly toward the bed, laying me down. It all felt so right, and I never wanted it to end.
The next morning we woke up in each other's arms with the sunlight beaming in the window. I smiled as I saw his eyes open softly, and kissed his nose. "Good morning." I mumbled, snuggling in closer.
"Definitly is." he replied, holding me tight.
The phone rang, breaking the blissful silence. "Dammit." he mumbled, rolling over to pick it up. "Hello?... Yeah... Yeah... ok. Later." He hung up again. "The front desk called, they said that your Mom has left a bunch of messages and that she wants you to call her." He looked at me. "Is everything ok at home?"
"I sure hope so." I answered, taking the phone from him. I sat on the edge of the bed and he traced circles on my back as I dialed. "Hey, mom, you called?" I asked. "Uh huh... yeah... Yeah I talked to him. He called you? Why? Oh dear. Mom... I'm fine. Really... nothing is wrong... What did Erik tell you? Well, he shouldn't have... there's no reason to be worried... honest. He told you what!?! Mom, I'm fine. Yes... where? Jail, of course... well, where else would he be? Mom no. No! You don't mean that. Of course I'm happy with him..." At this point, AJ had sat up behind me and was hugging me from behind. "He's amazing Mom. I don't care what you think... Mom, you can't do that! Don't call them... I'm not a kid anymore Mom... you can't make me come home... I wanna stay here with him. Yes, he's here. Fine Mom... we have slept together, is that what you wanted to hear?" I yelled. AJ had stood up to pull boxers on, but was still looking at me with worried eyes. "Of course we did... I'm not dumb. Tone? I will damn well use a tone if I want to! You want to what? No! Why?.... Fine." I said, angrily. My parents were being so dumb. "AJ, they wanna talk to you." I said, my hand shaking as I held out the phone.
He sat back down beside me and pulled me into his arms when he took the receiver. "Hello, Mrs Aspen." he said, a little nervously. "Yes, I do love your daughter. Yes, I knew about Jordan." I could tell he was using complete sentences so that I knew what they were talking about. "No, I did not know that he was going to hurt her, no one did. Yes, I took her to the hospital as soon as I could. Why wasn't I with her last night? She wanted to go out alone." he paused for a moment and winced. "I believe her word was 'normalcy' Mrs Aspen. No, I did no say that she was unhappy. Yes, I do think I am good for her... ok, Mrs Aspen... yes." He passed the phone to me again. "I tried..." he whispered. I was nearly in tears as I answered again. "Mom, no. You can't make me go home... you just can't... please don't call Deniese... she knows all that too... honestly. Fine, if you want to talk to her... fine. But she knows everything... fine. Bye." I hung up and laid back down on the bed. "oh God AJ... she wants me to go home... What's your Mom going to say?" I asked.
He laid beside me and stroked my face gently. "I don't know babe... we'll just have to wait and see..."
"I don't want to leave AJ... I love you..." I sobbed. He wrapped his arms around my bare skin and held me like a child.
"I love you too, Cass... we'll manage..." He kissed me gently.
In about half an hour, the phone rang again. "Hello?" AJ answered. "Hey Mom. I know, I talked to her... You're not serious... I don't care how sorry you are, Mom... you know I love her... you know she's ok here... she doesn't want to go home... tonight! Shit, Mom! You must be kidding... no way... Fuck it all!" he yelled, and hung up the phone. He was in tears as he looked at me. "Five 'o clock flight... She says that there's nothing that she can do, babe..." We held each other and cried until I didn't think that I could cry anymore.
I stood at the airport, wrapped in his arms. It had all happened so fast... We met, we love and then I lost him... fresh tears fell from my eyes. "Baby, we can write, we can call, we can e-mail... and I'll visit whenever we are anywhere relatively close..." A tear fell down his cheek.
"I don't want to let you go..." I sobbed, as my flight was called. Everyone was there, but AJ was my last goodbye. Summer was even staying there with Nick. I would miss everyone from my new family. I held AJ's hand as I turned to the group. "If each and every one of you doesn't keep in touch, I'll send AJ after you!" I sobbed, trying to laugh through my tears.
AJ and I walked to the gate, and kissed one last time. "I'll guard your heart from wherever I am." He said one last time, as I left down the terminal ramp.
"I love you." I called out, one last time.
"I love you."
Ok, that's it! Yay!!!!! Cheers from the crowd. I know, sad ending... but it's ok, cause my friend, Amanda, is going to write a sequel with a tiny little help from me... go check it out at Eternal Flame ok? And please sign the gbook to let me know what you think about the ending... and check out Familiar Strangers and let me know what you think about that too.. ok? Laterz chickies! Love you! You've been great, and I'll be back!