I don't know what happened. The whole car ride home felt like something out of a dream. There was humor, fun, a bit of romance in the air, and singing. (Okay, so I'm probably the only person who would dream about singing, but whatever.) So, it was me, AJ, Kevin, Joanne, and Brian. A very unique group, if I do say so myself. You'll see why.
"Wow!" Brian exclaimed as we pulled out onto the road. "This is awesome. I've never ridden in a convertible with the top down before."
"Oh, you poor, deprived child," Joanne said sarcastically.
Kevin laughed and then decided to speak up. "Hey, Alex?"
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Can you put in Backstreet's Back?" He asked. "I want to hear how you and Brian sound together."
"But . . ." I thought quickly trying to make-up an excuse.
"C'mon Alex," AJ whined. He leaned forward and rested his head on the top of the front seat and looked at me with the best puppy eyes he could manage. "You sound good! Don't be shy." He tried to pinch my cheeks, but Joanne pulled him back against the back seat before he had the chance.
"Alex, I have no idea what they're talking about, but you do have a great voice," she said. "Pwease sing! I'd like to hear you two together also."
"Huh?" Brian interrupted from the seat next to me. "What are you people talking about?"
I started to say something, but AJ reached forward, clamped his hand over my mouth, and held it there (thank goodness he didn't cover my eyes, the lunatic!). Then Kevin started to explain the situation to his cousin.
Well," he said, "we were listening to the UK CD on the way to the restaurant. When 'That's What She Said' came on, Alex and I sang along. I think we were the only two who knew the lyrics." Kevin shot an accusing glance at AJ. I took that opportunity to lick AJ's hand (which, by the way, tasted gruesome). A disgusted look grew on his face as he realized what I'd done. He took his hand away from my mouth and whipped it on Kevin, who hit him.
"As I was saying," Kevin continued. "We were singing along and I was really impressed with how good she sounded. I think AJ and Nick were impressed with her voice as well," he smiled at me. "She's really good, Brian. Her voice sounded awesome with the CD, Brian."
"Yeah, right," I groaned.
"Well, if Kevin said your good, then you have to be good," Brian said to me. "He doesn't just say that about anyone, you know. Can I hear you?"
I froze. I didn't know what to say. I'd sung in front of AJ (who is my favorite Backstreet Boy), but I'm starting to like Brian as more than a friend. I get really nervous and self-conscious around people when I like them.
"I don't know . . ." I said.
"C'mon Alex," Joanne coaxed from the back seat. "I'll even trade places with you if you want."
"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked her, confused.
"Nothing, I was just offering."
"Oh, whatever."
"So you'll sing?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," I said, giving in.
"Great," Brian said. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
I almost lost my breath. I couldn't speak, nonetheless sing. Then I cleared my throat.
"The CD's already in there," I told him. He let go of my hand and pressed play.
"What's the number of the song? I forget," he said.
"It's number nine," I said.
As soon as the song came on, I began to loosen up. Music always does that to me. By the time Brian started to sing, I was completely relaxed. When the chorus came on, I started to sing quietly. Then Joanne punched me in the back, so I started to sing louder. Brian looked at me in amazement, then smiled at me softly. He moved his hand along the seat and laid it on top of mine. Strangely enough, I was completely at ease. I didn't freeze up, go nuts, or start drooling. I squeezed his fingertips and he squeezed my hand in response. I started singing the verses and the chorus, listening to Brian and keeping in key with him. When the song ended, the car was in complete silence. We came to a stop at a red light, and I turned around to see Kevin and AJ staring at me. Joanne was looking back and forth between me and Brian with eyes as wide as saucers. I looked at Brian and he looked back at me. We started laughing and, soon enough, the other three joined in.
The light turned green and we started cruising down the road again. I turned the corner and we were on the road leading around the marina golf course. I put the key in the slot and the gate opened. A black Jeep pulled in behind us and followed us down the long road to "G" dock. We pulled into a parking spot and the Jeep pulled in next to us. The door opened and Howie popped out of the drivers seat. As we got out of the car, Nick got out the passenger side and Rachel, Jamie, and Maribeth got out of the back.
"Well, that was rude!" Joanne exclaimed, leaning against the car and crossing her arms over her chest.
"What?" Nick asked, confused.
"You guys left the girls in the back seat," I said, standing next to Joanne, playing along. "You should have given the choice of whether they wanted to sit in the front with Howie. It's rude of you to treat your guests like that!"
"Oh!" Nick said. He turned to the three girls. "I'm sorry. Did any of you guys want to sit in the front? If you did, I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
After looking at one another for a minute, the five of us cracked up.
"We're just pulling your chain, Nick," I said, patting him on a back.
Nick looked around, embarrassed by his little show. "Oh, umm . . .I knew that. I was just playing along."
"Yeah, sure!" Joanne said, laughing. "C'mon, lets go back to the boat."
"Okay," I said, turning to the guys. "You guys coming?"
They all looked at each other and shrugged. "Yeah," Howie said. "I guess."
AJ came up to me and threw his arm casually around mine and Maribeth's shoulders. "Lead the way!" he said.
I laughed at him and we all started walking towards the dock. I looked over my shoulder to see Brian hanging in the back, basically walking at a snails-pace.
"You coming?" Joanne asked him.
"Umm, I'll be there in a minute," he said. "I want to check out the beach for a minute."
"Okay," Joanne shrugged, walking ahead. "Don't be too long," she sang.
As Brian walked off onto the beach, I eased out from under AJ's arm and said "I'll be there in a second. Maribeth knows where the key is."
He looked at me understandingly. "Go ahead, we'll see you later." Then he leaned over as if to kiss me on the cheek, but he put his mouth up to my ear instead. "Good luck," he whispered. "He really likes you. I can tell."
I smiled up at AJ and turned towards the beach. It was almost pitch black on the beach, but I managed to make out Brian's figure not far off in the distance. I walked up to him and put my hand on his shoulder for a second, just so he knew I was there.
"Hi," I said quietly. "You okay?"
He took a deep breath. "Yeah," he answered. "I was just looking at the water."
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah," he said, turning to me. He hesitated for a moment, as if not sure of what to do. Just then, a small gust of wind swept by, blowing my hair into my face. Brian brushed a few strands of hair out of my face and tucked them gently behind my ear. I smiled, blushing, and looked away. He chuckled softly at my shyness and cupped his hand under my chin, moving my face to look at his. Our eyes met and I felt faint. I looked into his bright blue eyes and saw a tenderness I'd never seen before. Not just in him, in anyone. He gazed at me with such passion that the only thing I could hear was my heartbeat.
He slowly lifted my face up towards his. I closed my eyes as my lips touched his ever-so gently. He lingered for a moment before pulling away. My lips tingled from the tiniest touch of his. I opened my eyes to find him gazing at me. Just from his look, I could tell he meant everything that went into that kiss. I reached up and put my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me towards him. He held me tightly as I laid my head against his chest. Kissing the top of my head, he rested his cheek on it. I listened to his heartbeat
After what seemed like eternity, we reluctantly pulled apart. We sat down on a log and I laid my head on his shoulder. He put his arm around my waist. After a few moments, he spoke.
"Alex?" he asked softly.
"Yeah?" I answered, picking my head up off his shoulder to look at him.
"Will you go out with me, or go steady with me, or however you want to put it?"
I laughed lightly. The fact that he could joke so easily after a moment like that was sweet. "I'd love to, Brian."
"I was hoping you'd say that," he said. He hesitated, then spoke again. "I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I think we'd better get back or they're gonna send out a search party."
"You're right," I said. I got up off the log and took his hand. "C'mon, lets go."
We walked hand-in-hand back to the boat. We found everyone sitting on the back of the boat. Kevin, Joanne, Rachel, and Nick were sitting on the back seat while AJ, Maribeth, Jamie, and Howie were sitting on the seat facing us. As they noticed us coming down the dock, Maribeth piped up.
"I heard you two were getting pretty cozy in the car." she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I threw her a look that said loud and clear, "Shut-up!"
"Sooo?" Nick said. "What happened?"
I looked at Brian and laughed. "What in the world makes you think we're gonna tell you?" I asked as we got on the boat. I looked around to see if there were any more places to sit. There weren't, so I just plopped down on the floor right where I was standing. Brian sat down next to me and put his head on my shoulder. I put my head on top of his.
"Because Brian tells me everything," Nick said, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.
"Oh, really?" I challenged.
"Yeah, really."
"Okay."
I think Nick was expecting more of a response than just a simple acceptance, though he seemed satisfied enough.
"Oh, comeon you guys!" Rachel whined. "You have to tell us something. Are you guys going out or what?"
I looked at Brian and he looked at me. I shrugged, indicating that it was his turn to answer.
"Yeah, we're going out," he said, "and I'm damn proud of it!"
"You should be!" AJ said. "Alex, here, is a great girl." he turned to me. "Aren't you, Alex?" he cooed in a voice you'd normally talk to a baby in. Then he tried to pinch my cheeks. I had to slap his hands away. Everyone laughed.
We all sat there in silence for a few moments until Jamie came up with an idea.
"Why don't we play truth or dare?" she said. "Or we could play questions or something."
"That's a good idea, Jamie," I said, already thinking of some good dares.
"Why thank you," Jamie said.
Then Maribeth interrupted her. "Now that's your limit for the day. No more good ideas for you."
"Awe, man!" Jamie whined. Everyone laughed at her. Howie put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed lightly.
"It's okay," he said, sarcastically. "We still love you."
"Said who?" Rachel asked. Jamie threw a cushion at her.
"So," Kevin intervened, "who wants to start?"
"I do!" Maribeth jumped up. She looked at each of the guys and I knew right then that she had something evil in mind involving all of them.
"Yeah," I said, eager to see what's on her mind. "Let Maribeth go first."
"Okay," Howie said, shrugging. "Shoot!"
"Yea!" Maribeth shrieked. Clasping her hands together, she looked at all the guys in turn. Then she spoke. "I have one for all the guys," she said. "Just to get them in the swing of things." All the girls laughed, while the guys looked at each other nervously.
Then Brian leaned over to whisper in my ear. "What's she got planned?"
"I don't know," I said, "but I couldn't tell you even if I did. When we make dares up for other people, we usually swear each other to secrecy."
"Damn," he said, his shoulders sagging a bit.
"So," Howie said, "what is it?"
"Well . . . . " Maribeth started.
"We're in for it!" Kevin sighed.
"You betcha!" I said, smiling.
"Excuse me," Maribeth said. "I'm in the middle of their sentence. What I was gonna say is you guys have to cross-dress, and I mean in full dresses. Not just stretch pants and boyish-girl things. Dresses, heels, the whole nine yards."
"Oh, man!" Brian groaned.
"We're dead," Nick put his head in his hands.
"I don't know," AJ said. "It might be kinda fun."
It took everyone a minute to process what AJ said. We all turned to look at him as if he were insane.
"Hey," he held up his hands defensively. "I'm just trying to look on the bright side."
"What bright side?" Kevin asked. "We have to put on dresses!"
"Well," I said, trying to cheer them up a bit, "my brothers friend put my dress on voluntarily." As they all turned to look at me, I stopped to think for a second. "Then again, his other friend did pants him . . ." I drifted off in thought. After a few moments, I shook my head. "Oh, well, whatever. I still want to see this happen." I turned to Maribeth. "Do they have to wear ours?"
"Yeah," she said. "That is, unless they have dresses of their own."
With that remark, everyone turned to look at AJ. When he realized we were all staring at him, he put on his innocent look.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" he said. "I am not like that!"
"Okay," Joanne said, changing the subject off of AJ's little cross-dressing fad, "enough procrastinating. You guys have to get some dresses on. I'm the tallest out of all of us, so Kevin probably will fit in mine."
"AJ will probably fit in mine," I announced.
"Howie should fit in mine," Maribeth said.
"Well, Brian should be able to fit in mine," Rachel stated.
"Then I guess Nick will fit in mine," Jamie said. "Let's go get 'em ready!"
I got up off the floor, grabbed AJ's hand, lifted him up off the seat, and dragged him down into the boat. The other four girls did the same thing to the other guys, Kevin groaning the whole way.
"C'mon," I said, "We've gotta find something pretty for you to wear."
"I don't know about this," AJ said as I pulled him into the v-berth (the "room" in the front of a boat. It has a wall-to-wall, v-shaped bed. Hence the name "v-berth"), shut the door behind us, and locked it.
"You don't have to know about it, you just have to do it" I said, opening the compartment where I hang my dresses. "Now, what do you want: a sundress or a gown?"
Getting into the swing of things, he thought for a moment. "Well, if I have to do this, I might as well go all out. I'll take a gown."
"Good choice," I said. "But that leaves another question. What color? We have gray, black, green, and blue." I turned to AJ and looked him up and down for a minute. Then I focused on his eyes. If I can, I always try to find a color that will bring out a persons eyes. AJ happened to be wearing blue contacts!
"Blue is definitely the color for you," I said, rummaging through the closet. I found my blue gown and took it out for him to see. It was shear with thin straps. The color faded in a diagonal from light-blue to dark-blue from the top to the bottom. The bottom was angled in the same direction diagonal, with one side ending just below the knee and sloping down so the other side hit the floor. AJ's eyes widened as he took it all in.
"Wow!" He exclaimed, fingering the dress. "I'd like to see you in this."
"Nice try," I said, pushing the dress into his hands. "Now, no more procrastinating. Put it on and don't complain. All you have to do is slip it over your head." I opened the door and slid out the crack. Before I closed it, I looked back at AJ. "Call me if you need help."
As I closed the door completely, I turned around and stopped short. There, standing directly in front of me, was Kevin in a dark blue silk gown with velvet straps. Instead of collapsing in laughter (which I was very tempted to do), I decided to complement him.
"Wow!" I said. "You look fabulous!"
He raised an eyebrow at me as if I were nuts. He obviously was a "little" uncomfortable being in a dress, but he was dealing with it pretty well.
"Alex!" I heard AJ call. I turned around and opened the door a crack, closing my eyes.
"Can I come in?" I asked through the crack
"Sure," he said, opening the door I could come in.
As I closed the door behind me, I looked at AJ, standing there in my blue gown. He looked sharp! His eyes were gleaming from contrast.
"Now, all I have to do is put a little make-up on you and you'll be perfect," I said.
"Whoa!" He said, backing up against the wall. "Who said anything about make-up?"
"I did," I said, taking out my lipstick. "Let me put a little-bit of lipstick on you and then I'll leave you alone."
He hesitated a moment, obviously trying to figure if there was any way to get out of it. I shook my head at him, indicating that I blocked the only exit that didn't include showing off the dress to the entire marina (that would involve crawling out the hatch on the ceiling). He finally sat down and I applied the goldish-brown lipstick. He looked fabulous! (For a boy in a dress, that is.) I opened the door and we both walked out. By that time, Nick was out there, with Kevin, in a black simple gown with a small bow in the back. He looked up at me shyly.
"You three look fabulous," I said, looking at Joanne and Jamie. They seemed very happy with their creations.
"Do you really think so?" Kevin asked, mocking a shy-flirty look while AJ joined them. AJ and Nick got into some weird conversation about jewelry.
"Of course I think so," I said. I sauntered over to Kevin and started dragging my finger up his arm teasingly. Joanne and Jamie were having a blast watching his reaction. "In fact, if I weren't with your cousin, I'd just have to take you right now."
"But you are with me," Brian said from behind me. I turned around to see him in a dark-blue, backless silk dress. He put his arms around me from behind. "Don't you forget that."
"Don't worry," I said. "That's what I was just telling Kevin."
"Uh, huh, I saw what you were telling Kevin."
"I was just kidding, Brian. You know that."
He sighed, resting his head on top of mine. "Yeah, I know that. Don't worry I trust you."
"Good." I said, patting his arm.
"Wait a minute!" Rachel exclaimed from behind us. "You're not messing up his make-up, are you?"
"No, we're not messing up his make-up," I said. "He still looks perfect."
"Okay," she said. She looked around confused. "Where's Howie? We still haven't seen Maribeth's creation yet."
"He's right here," Maribeth said. She was grasping his hand, trying to drag him out from behind the door. "Come on, everyone else is out here."
"Oh, fine," he said, stepping into the light. Howie stepped out wearing a white backless satin dress. Something I had made. It looked really neat on him.
I ran to the stereo and threw in my Dance Mix cd. Madonna's "Vogue" came on and the guys started walking down the middle of the boat like it was a runway. After they were done posing, we lined them up and made them pose for pictures. Brian, Nick, and AJ decided to be Charlie's Angels while Kevin and Howie posed back to back with their arms crossed over their chests. It was classic!