Since Gwen was feeling better, she was taking charge of costumes again. She was organizing the five guys separate piles of clothes while Ashleigh helped.
"So did you tell mom and dad about Nick yet?" Gwen asked her sister.
"No," Ashleigh said.
"I think they'd like him. When we are in New York next week, I think we should call them," Gwen suggested.
"I don't want to talk to them yet," Ashleigh said.
"Well, at least for the girls' sake," Gwen said, about their younger sisters.
''Well maybe we can call Whitt and have her bring the girls to a show," Ashleigh said.
"Ash....has AJ been acting weird lately or is it just me?" Gwen asked.
"I dunno, he's been somewhat nervous lately," Ashleigh said. "Why?"
"Just wondering."
~~meanwhile~~
"Congrats man. Ashleigh is a great girl," AJ said as he and Nick were programming their ear plugs at the tech station.
"Yeah, who would ever thought we'd fall in love with sisters?" Nick asked.
''Well, Ashleigh might be family to me soon," AJ said. Nick looked up at him.
"No shit! You're going to ask her?" Nick said.
"I hope so. I've been thinking about it constantly. I picked out a ring while she was gone," AJ told him.
"Wow...I'm so happy for you man," Nick said. "So are their parents really as bad as Ashleigh says?"
"Not their mom...it's their dad that you need to worry about. Gwen told me that Dave was the one who threw Ashleigh out," AJ said, about the girl's father.
"Have you talked to them yet about asking Gwen?" Nick asked.
"No...when we are in NYC next week, I'm gonna give them a call," AJ said. Regan was standing near by and couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could AJ ask Gwen to marry him when he lied to her about Amanda? Regan decided she needed to tell Gwen before she found out from someone else. Regan walked to the wardrobe room and found her talking to Ashleigh.
"Hey Regan, what's up?" Gwen asked.
"Hey Gwen, can I talk to ya for a minute?" Regan asked. Gwen nodded and the two girls stepped out in the hall.
"Gwen...last week, Amanda was here," Regan said. Gwen gasped.
"What?!" she asked. Regan told Gwen how she saw Amanda come to see AJ. She told her how AJ looked around and then pushed Amanda in his dressing room. She said when AJ opened the door, they hugged and she left. Gwen couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Wait...Amanda was here? And AJ was alone with her in his dressing room?" Gwen asked.
"Yes..I dunno exactly what they did but she was coming on to him," Regan said. Gwen thanked her and stormed out to find AJ. Gwen couldn't believe how AJ never told her and how he cheated on her. Ashleigh saw her sister fly by and knew she was pissed about something. Gwen found AJ and Nick in the tech room and slammed the door shut.
"Gwen.." AJ said, startled.
"You asshole!" Gwen screamed. AJ looked at her confused.
"What?"
"How could you lie to me?! Why didn't you tell me Amanda was here?!" Gwen screamed. Ashleigh snuck in and watched with Nick.
"What the hell are you talking about?" AJ yelled.
"Regan told me Amanda was here and you pushed her into your dressing room with you. And when I was at your house, there was a birthday card from her. Why the hell didn't you tell me about her? Is there something going on?!" Gwen demanded.
"Whoa wait..." AJ said, trying to take in everything that just happened. "Gwen, there is nothing going on," AJ said.
"How can I fucking trust you when you don't even tell me about her? I had to find out from everybody else. Why did you lie to me?" Gwen screamed.
"Gwen!" AJ said, trying to calm her down, "Listen to me, there is nothing to be mad about. Will you hear me out?" AJ asked. Gwen crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "Okay, I'm sorry I never told you about Amanda. I wasn't ready to tell you yet and I'm sorry you had to find out this way. Yes, Amanda came to a show about 2 weeks ago and I didn't want you to see her so I pushed her in my dressing room. She came to tell me she's engaged. Engaged! Nothing happened! We've been over for almost a year," AJ explained. "I didn't want to tell you about her until I was ready."
"AJ, that gives you no excuse to lie to me," Gwen said. "How can I trust you now?"
"I'm sorry I lied. I should have told you about her," AJ said. AJ knew this was going to mess up his proposal.
"AJ...you can't lie to me like this. I thought we told each other everything," Gwen said. AJ saw the hurt in her eyes and felt his heart melt.
"I'm so sorry Gwen. I promise that I'll never lie to you again," AJ said.
"I can't be with you if you keep lying to me," Gwen said, quietly.
"Gwen...don't start this. You know you can't end what we have on a little damn argument," AJ said.
''Little? Lying to me and betraying my trust isn't a 'little damn argument', AJ!" Gwen shouted.
"I'm sorry," AJ said. Gwen was silent and looked at the ground.
"Well, you don't have to worry about next time because there won't be one," Gwen said, running out of the room and slamming the door shut behind her. AJ stood in shock. He couldn't believe what just happened and ran out the door behind her.
"Wow..." Nick said, as he and Ashleigh stood in shock.
"Did you know about this?" Ashleigh asked him.
"No," Nick said honestly. Ashleigh sighed and he hugged her.
~~~~~~~
Gwen ran down the hall and right out to the bus. She had to clear her mind. She got to the bus and climbed into her bunk. The bus was empty because everyone was setting up in the venue. Gwen could hear someone get on the bus and walk to the sleeping hall.
"Go away AJ," Gwen said aloud. AJ pulled the curtain back and climbed in next to her.
"No..not until we talk about this," AJ said. Gwen refused to look at him. "Gwen, I'm gonna talk and even though you aren't looking at me, I know you are listening. I should have told you this a long time ago but since I didn't, I'm going to now. I dated Amanda for 6 months and I thought I was in love. I wanted to ask her to marry me so when I went over to her house, I caught her with another guy. She cheated on me and I couldn't take the heartbreak. I turned to alcohol and became this person I didn't want to be. She made me miserable until I met you. You completely turned my world upside down and I could finally know what real love was. I didn't tell you about her because she means nothing to me now. You mean everything. She came to tell me she was getting married so we could finally end everything. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think I still had feelings for her because I don't. But you're right, I should have told you," AJ said. Gwen had tears running down her cheek. Partly because she really did love AJ and partly because she felt bad for his broken heart. He laid down next to her and wiped her tears away. "I want you to trust me and from now on, we lay everything out on the table," AJ said. "Deal?"
"Deal," Gwen whispered. AJ kissed her and held her. "I'm sorry for saying there wasn't gonna be a next time," Gwen said. They kissed again.
"I guess I can forgive ya," AJ smiled as they kissed again.
~~the next week~~
It was the big New York week. The guys were doing 4 shows in New York. One in Buffalo and the other three in NYC. Ashleigh was a nervous wreck because their parents were coming to the show to see AJ because they didn't know about Nick yet. Ashleigh wanted to see her younger sisters but she wasn't too thrilled with seeing her parents. Gwen had talked to them and made all the arrangements. The guys were rehearsing for their first show in New York City while Gwen and Ashleigh were setting up their wardrobe.
"I talked to mom this morning...the girls are thrilled," Gwen said. Ashleigh nodded. "Mom said she can't wait to see us," Gwen said.
"You. Not us," Ashleigh said. Ashleigh hasn't talked to her parents since they threw her out.
"Us," Gwen said, firmly.
AJ, who was on stage, was off in his own world.
"Okay, I wanna run through the dance sequence for 'Not for Me'...Brian, you aren't picking up on time," Fatima called out. The music came on and AJ just stood there.
"Hello! AJ! Earth to AJ!" Fatima yelled out. AJ snapped into reality and danced. During their water break, Nick caught up with AJ.
"What's up with you man?" Nick asked, pouring water on his face to cool off.
"I'm so nervous...I'm going to ask Mr. Matthews for permission to marry Gwen," AJ said.
"Dude, this is big shit," Nick said.
"No kidding," AJ said.
"How long have you guys been together?" Nick asked.
"Almost seven months," AJ answered.
"Well, I'm nervous for Ashleigh," Nick said. Nick knew it was going to be a tough weekend for her. AJ nodded and they went back to dancing.
