AN: This chapter is just well, a filler, it doesn’t really have much content that is important to the story itself but I had to add it because my next chapter, which will be much better, would not make sense without it. so here ya go.

After Coral confessed her true feelings, AJ became silent. He didn’t know how to react. When Destiny told him about what happened to her back in “Smallville” he knew that her friends might resent her for it. She did abandon them at the time they needed her the most. AJ could also see Destiny’s point of view. She was a young, scared kid. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do and she was flooded with guilt, so she left. His thoughts returned to the minute he saw Coral and Destiny walk down the corridor together, they were acting so friendly toward eachother. He concluded that Coral couldn’t have been mad at her to the extent where she would add to the guilt Destiny was feeling. Coral just wanted an explanation but that would require Destiny going back to that night again, which he didn’t know if she could do again. She was so emotional when she was telling him. He couldn’t blame her, if he felt responsible for the death of his best friend he wouldn’t want to talk about it either. Something had to be done. In time, he would find a way to reach out to Destiny and make her understand that it wasn’t her fault.

“Are you okay?” Coral asked.
Coral rolled her eyes when AJ didn’t respond. She got up from her seat and kneeled down in front of him. She started waving her hands in his face.
“Earth to AJ.” She said talking into her hand.
“What? Oh sorry I was just thinking.”
“You seem to be doing a lot more of that thinking stuff lately.” Howie said.
“Thinking stuff? Yeah, I guess so. I’m just glad we’re getting out of this place, I need to see some sunlight, man.”
“That’s why you wear those shades wherever you go?” Howie said pointing to the sunglasses AJ was twirling in his fingers.
“No, I wear those to look cool. Something that you people don’t know anything about.” He said leaning back on his chair.
“Ouch, I’m hurting.” Kevin grumped.

“Anyway...” AJ said turning his back to the guys and facing Coral.
“What did you want?” AJ asked.
“You just seemed off.”
“Aw, you were worried, charming.”
“What can I say? That’s just the person I am.” Coral winked at him.
“So...” He said with a smile.
“Sew buttons. Can I look at those?” She said referring to his sunglasses.
“Sure, just be careful. They cost a lot of money.” He said handing them over to Coral’s hands.
“Wow, they’re worth the money. I wouldn’t mind a pair of these.”
“I’ll buy you a pair for your wedding.” He joked.
“I just got married.” She said with a smile.
“Really?”
“Sure.” She said placing her left hand behind her back.
“Nice try, I saw you didn’t have a ring.”
“We’re very....uh...poor?”Coral struggled with her lie.
“You’re not getting my shades, Coral. I appreciate you would make up a lie for them but, no.”
“Fine.” Coral said with a pout.
“I’ll just observe them for a while.” She said as she put them on.
“Did you mean observe the world through them?” AJ asked.
“Isn’t that what I said?”
“Not really.”
“Details, details.” she mumbled.
When she took the sunglasses off her hands seem to be covered in butter because the glasses slipped and fell straight to the floor with a clunk.
“What the hell was that?” AJ said looking up at her.
“Um, nothing.” She said innocently.
“Please tell me you didn’t just drop my sunglasses.”
“I didn’t mean to. I’ll pick them up.”
“You better pray nothing happened to them.”
“Pray? That’s more of Brian’s field."
“Funny.” Brian said.
Coral bent down to search for the missing shades.
“Is that necessary?”
“What?” She asked, apparently annoyed.
“You sticking your butt in my face.”
“You wish.”
“Do you mind moving your leg?” She asked Brian as she spotted the shades under his chair.
“Actually, I do mind.” He said.
“Fine, be that way.” She said shoving his leg out of the way and grabbing the sunglasses.
“Ouch! What the heck is wrong with you?”
“I asked you to move it but you didn’t.”
“You could have asked nicer.”
“What? Like this: Oh mighty one, would you please move your holy leg so I can get the sunglasses?” She asked impatiently.
“That would have been a good start. I wouldn’t mind seeing some more groveling.”
“Bite me, Littrell.”
“I’d rather not.”

“Would you two quit it?” Destiny said.
They both turned to face her and the newbie she was walking with.
“This pretty argument isn’t going to make your life easier on tour.” She continued her lecture.
“She’s not going on tour so obviously we won’t have that problem.” Brian simply said.
“News flash Rok, she’s going.” Destiny said, beaming.
“What?” everyone asked.
“In time you’ll get it.”
“Can we go now?” Nick asked from behind them.
“Yeah, we’re outtie.” Destiny said.
“What just happened?” AJ questioned with a confused look on his face.
“I have no idea, but I’m about to find out.” Kevin said finally getting up.

They all grabbed their belongings and lazily walked toward the exit of this edifice. They were happy to rid themselves of the hospital and all the burdens and worries that accompany it. They were pleased that the press hadn’t found out about Nick’s accident or about them being in the hospital for all this time. If they would have found out and written about it in all the tabloids and announced it on every possible news channel, the fans would have been surrounding every exit to the hospital. Not that they didn’t appreciate all the love and support, it was just that they had better things to worry about at the time. They walked in a group down to the parking lot.

“Now what, Nick?” Destiny asked turning to him.
“You’re asking me?”
“No I’m asking the Nick standing behind you.”
“I don’t know!”
“Car Anyone?”
“We have 2 here.” Kevin explained to Destiny.
“Two? I think the 8 of us can squeeze into two cars.”
“Well...I didn’t know they were going to be 8 of us but we can try.” Kevin said
“Who’s driving?” Howie asked.
“Not AJ.” Destiny said.
“Hey! Why not?” AJ pouted as he embraced her from behind.
“Because dying would kinda suck."
“Hey! I’m a good driver.”
“Self denial...” She sighed
“Me and Howie will drive.” Kevin said, laughing at their conversation.
“Thank you.” Destiny lipped.
“By the way...” Carrie said, feeling awkward “I’m Carrie.”
“I know.” Nick said with a smile.
“I know YOU know, Nick.”
They all said their greetings.
“I know you guys are probably confused out of your minds, something that Nick is pretty familiar with.” She said giving him a knowing wink.
“But...as i said before, I’ll explain soon enough.”

They all nodded. They were used to Destiny’s weirdness. She was always in her own world. They loved that side about her. When she got excited about something it was impossible to stop her. They wouldn’t usually allow a complete stranger to follow them around but since Carrie was okay in Destiny’s book she was okay with them and Nick seemed to have an unusual liking toward her. They divided into the two cars they rented and drove to the hotel they were staying at until they returned to touring life.