“What do you mean she’s gone, AJ?” Kevin asked
“She just left. I don’t know why. I saw her in the elevator and I was talking to her. Next thing I knew, she was gone” He replied.
“You saw her in the elevator and you didn’t stop her?”
“She sneaked out, Brian!”
“You know what? I’m not even going to ask how a full grown human being could sneak out of an ELEVATOR, a very small space may I add, without you noticing.”
“Okay look guys I’m sorry, but I didn’t cause her to leave!”
“Maybe you did! Maybe she finally got sick of you dissing her! Maybe...Maybe she just got sick of you! Did you ever think that maybe that was the reason?” Nick stated.
“Maybe...Maybe you should stop saying ‘maybe’.” AJ started “Anyway, what about you guys? Huh? You think you 2 had nothing to do with it?” He pointed at Nick and Brian. “You were always messing around while she was trying to teach us a new routine. You don’t think that could have pissed her off? You don’t think the fact that you never listened to what she had to say bothered her? So stop blaming the innocent guy!”
“Innocent? Ha that’s a joke”
“You know what I meant”
“It doesn’t matter. Stop your little blame game. Does anyone have her cell phone?” Kevin asked
“Um...I think I have it somewhere. Hold on I’ll go look.” Howie said as he went searching for his suitcase.
“I thought Destiny was happy, why would she just leave like this?” Nick asked confused.
“Nick, get over it okay, she isn’t the angel you think she is.”
“AJ, this is not the time to diss her. She’s missing, don’t you care, not even a little? For god’s sake she’s the best choreographer we ever had!” Kevin said
“Blah, Blah, Blah” Was all he could say.
“Seriously Bone, what IS your problem? What did she ever do to you?”
“More than you can imagine “ He whispered with his eyes to the floor.
“What was that?” Kevin asked
Before AJ could answer Howie ran into the room with a piece of paper in his hand.
“Thanks D” Kevin said as he dialed the number.
As she exited she smelled the fresh air. Even though it rained all night and the ground was damp it was still beautiful. She just wished she could have enjoyed it. Destiny looked around her and noticed a green, quaint looking park on the side of the hotel. The smell of the flowers attracted her. She walked over to the garden and found a bench. She sat down next to a young woman who was busy watching her little girl running around in the grass.
“Okay so what am I supposed to do now? I’m stuck in a foreign country without a way back home. Oh yes Destiny that was smart...” She said out loud.
The woman was looking at her strangely.
“Oh, sorry” Destiny said.
“Yes, okay but your phone, it’s ringing.”
“What?” Destiny asked puzzled. She didn’t hear anything.
“It stopped. It was ringing before.”
“Oh thank you.”
“Yes, Yes.”
“God I’m so self absorbed I didn’t even hear the friggin phone” she managed to mumble before looking up the incoming call. As soon as the number popped up on the screen she pressed the ‘Yes’ button and waited for the person to answer.
“Hello?” Kevin said answering the phone.
“Kevin?” the voice said.
“Destiny? Where are you? Where’d you go?”
The other 4 guys lifted their heads up when they heard the name Destiny.
“I...uh, look Kevin, I just had to leave. I’m sorry. I know that’s not a reason but it’s not your fault.”
“It wasn’t us? Then why would you leave the tour? You only worked with us after all...”
“I said it wasn’t YOUR fault Kevin. Look, you know I’m not into blaming though. I just had to leave. I can’t explain now because I know the other guys are in the room.”
“Then let me meet you somewhere.”
“Kevin, you know you can’t do that. I know your schedule. I’m not a stranger, I know you’re busy.”
“I’ll cancel my schedule. You’re more important.”
“Please don’t. Just go on with your life. Kevin, you’re the Backstreet Boys. You won’t have any trouble finding a new choreographer. Everyone is DYING to work with you. Talk to you later! Love ya.” She hung up.
He couldn’t help smiling. She always knew how to give them an ego boost, that was for sure. Kevin looked up and saw 3 curious faces starring straight at him. AJ was by the window.
“Hey guys, I uh, need to go downstairs. Okay? I just need fresh air. I’ll be back later.”
“Okay, yeah, sure” was heard from 3 voices. They were still starring at Kevin, wanting for answers.
“Don’t you even want to hear what I have to say AJ?” Kevin asked.
“Sure I do Kev but right now, I need fresh air. You can tell me later.” AJ said as he walked out of the room.
“Soo...” Brian said impatient.
“She said she just had to leave. “
“Why?”
“She didn’t really say. She said it wasn’t my fault...or something like that. She was pretty unclear.” Kevin answered.
“Something must have happened Kev, it makes no sense.” Howie said
“You’re right Howie, but personally, I think it’s something neither one of us knows about.”
Destiny just sat there starring at the grass. In a way she regretted what she did. She loved working with the Backstreet Boys. They were a blast. She could get the routines done quickly and then just sit there and goof around with them. It was a great job but what happened was just too embarrassing to let go. Seeing his face every morning and hearing his beautiful voice sing every night was just too much. She felt like he was playing games even if he didn’t intend to.
“Destiny?” Someone said, interrupting her train of thought.
“AJ?”
“Yeah...”
“What are you doing here and how did you know I was here and why do you even care?”
“Just...just let me ask the questions. Did you leave because of me? “ He asked.
She was silent for a while and the softer than a whisper she answered ”Yes.”
“I told you to forget about it, so you kissed me, big deal.”
“Big deal? Obviously it was a big deal to you I mean for god’s sake you started acting like a complete ass after it.”
“You know what? I didn’t come out here to hear this. I’m going back.” He started walking back to the hotel
“Sorry I wasted your precious time, McLean.” She said softly.
“You wouldn’t understand” he whispered as he entered the hotel.