I woke up the next morning in the same position. I turned around to face him and saw him smiling at me.
"Did I wake you?" I asked. He shook his head.
"I've been awake for a few minutes," he said.
"And you were staring at the back of my head why?" I asked.
"I was afraid to move because I thought it was a dream," he said. I smiled shyly and kissed him. when we broke apart, we laid there looking at each other, then were rudely interrupted by someone jumping on the bed.
"Justin," I groaned.
"Nick," Brian groaned at the same time.
"Wrong on both counts," AJ said as he and Maribeth crawled up next to us. AJ got behind me and put his arms around my waist while Maribeth did the same to Brian.
"Morning, honey," AJ said to me.
"Morning, dumpling," I said. He groaned, remembering the time he had called Maribeth that when we first met. After a few minutes of strange conversation, the four of us got up and got dressed, the guys grabbing their suitcases and moving to the bathroom (AJ had brought Brian's with him last night, obviously assuming he was going to be sleeping over without actually knowing for sure.) I put on a pair of black pants and a blue, v-neck, long sleeve shirt, throwing over it a black sweatshirt with the huge red and orange Superman "S." When the four of us were ready, we met Kevin, Joanne, Nick, Rachel, Howie, Jamie, Justin, Joey, JC, Chris, and Lance in the lobby.
"When's your flight?" I heard Kevin ask as the four of us walk in. When I heard Joanne hesitate, I jumped in.
"Five," I said, joining them. "When's yours?"
"Four," he said. Brian came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing my cheek.
"Awe," Justin cooed. "Look at the sappy couple."
"Damn straight," I said.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Brian said at the same time.
"I don't mean to intrude or anything, but I need to know," Chris said. "Are you guys going back to where you left off or starting over?" I looked at Brian and smiled, then I turned my attention back to Chris.
"We haven't talked about that, yet," I said. "We'll let you know as soon as we do."
"Why did you guys break up, anyway?" Joey asked. "You always looked so happy."
"Long story," Brian, Kevin, Joanne, Maribeth, Justin, Chris, and I said in unison.
"Ookay . . ." Joey said, giving us a weird look.
"What time is your flight?" Joanne asked, gratefully changing the subject.
"Were on the same one as you guys," Justin said. He came up and pinched my cheeks. Won't that be so much fun?" I elbowed him in the stomach.
"Of all people, Justin," Rachel said, "you should be the one to know never to pinch Alex's cheeks."
"Okay," Howie said. "We have until two o'clock if we're gonna make out flight on time. What do you guys want to do?" AJ opened his mouth to say something.
"But, no clubbing," I said, interrupting. He shut his mouth.
"How about bowling?" JC suggested. We all agreed. Chris got a map from the front desk and found a bowling alley just down the street, close enough to walk. As we were walking there, Justin came up to me.
"Everything's okay with you two now, right?" he asked. I nodded and smiled. "Did you two get your 'freak' on last night?" he asked accusingly. I laughed and elbowed him in the stomach.
"No," I said. "Not yet." He purred in my ear and I laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Bowling was a stitch! AJ made a game of who could fall on their butt the most (he won that game with Nick and Lance tied for second), Me, Joanne, Joey, and Justin tied for first place, Kevin, Brian, and JC came in last, and Jamie, Rachel, Maribeth, Chris, Lance, Howie, and Nick were all scattered in the middle with a wide range of scores.
When came two o'clock, we all went back to the hotel and got our stuff. When we got to the airport, we met Donna (N'Sync and our managers are back in Florida waiting for our return). She looked at me and smiled when she realized Brian and I were holding hands. We checked in our bags and walked to our terminal (since both flights were headed to Orlando, they were at the same terminal). After a half-hour, the Backstreet Boys's flight was called. Brian stood up and kissed me softly.
"You're coming right home, right?" he asked. I nodded.
"That's the only place I'd wanna be," I said. I kissed him again and pushed him away gently so he didn't miss his flight. When the six of them left, the ten of us continued talking. An hour later, our flight was called and we boarded. I sat by the window with Justin on my side and JC next to him, and Chris in the aisle seat. Joanne was behind me, Joey behind Justin, Lance behind JC, and Rachel behind Chris. Jamie was in front of me with Maribeth next to her.
"So?" Justin asked after we took off.
"'So,' what?" I asked.
"What's going on with you and Brian?"
"I told you that'd I tell you when I knew," I said. He leaned back in his seat and pouted. I just laughed and rolled my eyes. I felt someone kick my seat. I turned around and saw Joanne reading a book. She looked up from the book and gave me a huge grin. I rolled my eyes and kicked Jamie's seat. She turned around and slapped my knee. I turned around and did the same to Joanne. That continued for about one hour. Then I talked to Justin and watched out the window for the rest of the flight.
"Home, sweet home," Joanne said as we stepped off the plane.
"That reminds me," I said. "I have to call Jess. Don't let me forget." Rachel, Joanne, Justin, Chris, and I got in one limo (we live nearest each other) while the other five got in the other. We dropped Joanne off first, then Chris, then me. As I tried to get out of the car, something attached itself to my leg.
"Justin," I scolded, "let go of my leg." He shook his head vigorously.
"No!" he said in a baby voice. I looked at Rachel for help. She pried his hands off my leg and I got out. I grabbed my bags from the back, blew a pouty looking Justin a kiss and then looked at Rachel.
"Find out who gave him sugar," I said. She laughed and we waved good-bye. I walked up to the door or mine and Brian's house, hesitating to enter. I took a deep breath and put my hand on the doorknob. I turned it and pushed the door open. The lights were off and there were candles surrounding the living room. I put my bags down and walked in, shutting the door behind me.
"I've been waiting for you," said a voice. I looked up and saw Brian standing at the top of the stairs in khaki's and a black T-shirt.
"Miss me?" I asked. He jumped down the stairs and ran over to me, scooping me up in a bear hug.
"Of course I missed you," he said, his mouth capturing mine in a searing kiss.
"We've only been apart for four, five hours max," I said, laying my head against his chest.
"Yeah, but you haven't been here for almost four months."
"True, but now I'm back." Just then, the phone rang.
"Hello?" Brian said when he answered it. He sat down on the couch and pulled my down onto his lap. "It's for you," he said.
"Hello?" I said, taking the phone from him.
"Hi," Joanne said.
"Oh, hey Joanne."
"Call Jessica," she said. I laughed and shook my head.
"Thanks for the reminder," I said. We talked for a few minutes and then hung up. I looked at Brian, who was playing with my hair. "Amused?"
"Uh huh," he said. He used my hair to tickle my chin. I giggled and tickled him back. He grabbed both of my hands and looked at me, his face turning serious. "I love you, y'know."
"I love you, too," I said, kissing him softly on the lips. "And I hate to do this to you, but I really have to call my sister. She's supposed to fly in and see me tomorrow and I have to tell her not to go to MB's house."
"Why would she go to Maribeth's house?" Brian asked as I picked up the phone and dialed my sisters number in Philadelphia.
"She and AJ offered to let me stay there, after the tour, until I found a place of my own," I said. "Jessica was coming down to help me with things."
"Oh," Brian said, looking at the floor. While the phone was ringing, I tilted his face up towards mine and kissed him softly. Then someone picked up the line.
"Hello?"
"Jess? It's me," I said.
"Hey, Lexi," my sister said. "How's everything down under?"
"Pretty good," I laughed. "You still flying down tomorrow?"
"Of course," she said. "And I'm taking a cab to Maribeth's, right?"
"There's been a slight change of plans," I said. "Number one, you're taking a limo. Don't argue, it's already been arranged."
"Who, in their right mind, would argue with that?"
"Who said you were in your right mind?"
"True," she said laughing. "What's number two?"
"Number two is you're coming to my house instead," I said, waiting for her answer.
"I thought I was coming own to help you find a house."
"No," I said. "You're helping me unpack my stuff back into the one I share with Brian."
"Okay, what'd I miss?" I laughed hysterically at my sisters sudden change in attitude.
"I'll explain tomorrow, k?"
"Fine, but I want the whole story," she demanded. "Not just the cliff notes version."
"Deal. Look, I gotta go, but before I do, there's someone who wants to say hi." I handed the phone to Brian.
"Hey, Jess. Long time, no speak," he said.
"Hmm, I wonder why," Jess retorted. Brian looked stung. "Sorry," she said as if she had seen the effect of her words. "I guess my defenses are still up when it comes to my sister."
"That's okay," Brian said. "I understand. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Yeah. Tell Alex I say 'bye'." They hung up and Brian wrapped his arms around my waist.
"What'd she say that made you make that face?" I asked. He just shook his head and kissed my forehead.
"Nothing," Brian said. "Absolutely nothing." After I went from room to room, seeing if everything was as I remembered it (I know I'm strange. You don't have to point it out.), we decided to watch a movie. After going through all the choices, we agreed on The Empire Strikes Back. Halfway through it, the phone rang. Brian answered it and I went to get more soda's. When I was in the kitchen, Brian came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck.
"Who was on the phone?" I asked.
"Oh, that was Nick," Brian said, grabbing one of the soda cans I had grabbed from the fridge. "I still can't believe you drink diet."
"It tastes better to me," I said. "What'd he want?"
"They have seven o'clock dinner reservations at Marco Polo's," Brian said as we walked back into the family room. "They wanted to know if we wanted to go."
"What'd you tell him?"
"I told him we'd meet him there at seven. I figured it would be nice for all of us to be together again."
"Definitely, but now I have to go change. It's six o'clock," I said. I unraveled his hands from my waist and walked up the stairs. I went into our room, took a very quick shower, and changed into a pair of black velvet pants and a silver tank-top, throwing on a black, velvet jacket over it. When I was done, I went into the bathroom to put on a little makeup. Brian came in wearing khaki's, a black polo shirt in hand. I ran a brush through my hair and was done. I waited downstairs until he was ready. We took his black Jeep Cherokee to the restaurant, meeting Nick, Rachel, AJ, Maribeth, Joanne, Kevin, Howie, Jamie, Justin, and Joey out front (JC, Lance, and Chris were visiting their families).
"My guess is you're not staying over our house," Maribeth said. I smiled and shook my head.
"Nope, but thanks anyway," I said as we were seated. Dinner was pretty uneventful. We sat, we ate, we talked. AJ announced that he and Maribeth were having a barbecue.
"Who would eat anything you made?" I joked at AJ.
"It's a 'Back Together' barbecue for Alex and Brian," he said, proudly. I almost reached across the table to strangle the bastard. "Woh, down girl," he said. "Every one's invited. That includes Chris, Lance, and JC. And Jessica, too."
"Who's Jessica?" Joey asked.
"My twin sister," I said.
"You have a twin sister?"
"An identical twin sister." Joey's mouth dropped open and I laughed. When dinner was over, we went back to Joanne and Kevin's house. Brian drove the car home first, then walked over. The women and Justin talked on the back porch. Joanne, Rachel, Maribeth, and Jamie had lounge chairs while Justin and I sat on the concrete, leaning against the sliding glass doors.
"I hate to bring the subject up, but I still can't believe you two are back together," Rachel said.
"I know, either can I," I said. "It doesn't seem real. It's kind of like a dream."
"I know what you mean," Maribeth said. "I'm just glad we can all hang out together again. I mean, who'd of ever thought that it'd happen?"
"Not me," Justin said in a valley girl voice. "I'm still in horror about that green makeup I saw Mandy Moore wearing at the awards show." I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Then I patted his head.
"Good boy," I said. "Go to sleep." He laid down on the ground and put his head in my lap and began to snore. I hit him on the head and he shut up.
"So, how long's Jessica staying?" Jamie asked. I shrugged
"Beats me. All I know is we have to take her to Disney World. She'll love it."
"She's never been there?" Joanne asked in surprise.
"The first time I went was a few days after we moved here," I said. "Remember in school when you guys used to come back from vacations there and talk and talk and talk about it?" They nodded. "I always tried to change the subject because I couldn't go."
"Why not? You were left millions by you mother and grandparents," Maribeth said.
"If we went, there would have been questions like 'Where are you're parents?' and 'Why are they sending you by yourselves?' We just thought it easiest to stay home. The only vacation we ever went on was that one cruise we took with Justin and his family. We paid for ourselves, but they were the perfect cover. They told people that they were our parents and they acted that way, which was a disadvantage at times," I said. Justin snickered and I rolled my eyes. "Jamie just happened to be on the same ship. That's when she found out what happened with my dad and I told you two after we got back."
"Oh," was all Maribeth could say.
"On a lighter subject," Justin said, sitting up and looking at me. "Have you two christened the bedroom yet?" I looked at him in shock. Before I could answer, Joanne jumped in.
"Justin, christening only happens the first time you do the 'nasty' in one place," she said. "They're way past that."
"Not that it's any of your business," I said, "but, no, we're not 'way past that'." They all looked at me in surprise. "His religion doesn't 'allow' doing the 'nasty' before marriage," I said, using my fingers as quotes, "and I respect that."
"Wait a minute," Rachel said. "You guys have been living together, in the same bed, for two years, and you haven't done a thing?" I shook my head. "I thought I was the only one."
"So did I," Joanne said. "Kevin's made the mistake of doing it once before and he got hurt badly, nonetheless it's also against his religion. He wants to wait and I respect it like you respect Brian's choice." After a minute, the four of us looked at Jamie and Maribeth, who had been keeping quiet.
"What?" Maribeth asked, innocently.
"I'm not saying a word," Jamie said.
"It's okay, we're not gonna kill you for it," I said. "Your choice is your choice. Just don't give out any details, please!" They laughed. Just then, the glass door that Justin and I had been leaning slid open. We fell on our backs into the house.
"Hello," I said, looking up at Brian. I raised my wrist to my face, almost hitting myself on the head. I looked at my watch. It was one in the morning.
"Ready to go, babe?" Brian asked.
"Hey! That's what I call her," Justin pouted. I gave him a peck on the cheek and grabbed Brian's outstretched hand. He lifted me off the floor and pulled me into his arms. I said good-bye to the girls, telling Maribeth that we would be at her party on time (which was one in the afternoon). We said good-bye to the guys and walked out of Kevin's house.
"So," Brian said, putting his arm around my shoulders as we walked down the street, "what were you ladies chattering about?"
"None of your business," I said, wrapping my arm around his waist. He laughed and kissed the top of my head. We walked in silence for a few minutes, then Brian turned to face me.
"I have to ask you something," he said.
"What is it?" I asked, concerned.
"I know you probably don't want to have to think about this now because you're probably confused . . ."
"Brian, what?" I said.
" . . . and I won't be angry if you say no . . ."
"Brian, what?" I asked again.
" . . . but I have to ask it."
"What?" I said, frustrated. He hesitated, then pulled something out of his pocket. He got down on one knee, making my breath catch in my throat.
"Alex, will you marry me?" He asked, looking up at me with his bright-blue eyes. Before I could answer, he interrupted me. "You don't have to answer right now if you don't want to." He looked down at the ground nervously. "I just . . . I just . . ."
"Brian," I said quietly, chuckling softly at his nervousness. "Of course I'll marry you." It took him a minute to register what I had said. When he did, he stood up and kissed me passionately. When we broke apart, he opened the box. It held a small size diamond (about four millimeters in diameter) with two tiny sapphires on either side. It was on a thin white-gold band. Still holding me in his arms, he slipped in on my finger, then brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed it. I laid my head on his chest and, after a few moment, we walked the rest of the way back to our house (it was only a few blocks down from Kevin and Joanne's). When we got inside, we changed into our pajamas (mine were a pair of grey cotton pants and a black tank-top while his were boxers and a black T-shirt) and laid down on the couch to watch the rest of the movie.