AJ walked back into the hotel. His head directed to the floor. A Million thoughts were running through his head. He remembered the day as if it was yesterday. She asked him to stay after practice, saying that she had something important to tell him. When he came over to her she looked him in the eyes for what seemed to be forever and then slowly kissed him. For a minute there he was kissing back. When he pulled away she had this frightened look in her eyes, as if she knew she did something wrong. He assured her that everything was fine. That he didn’t have the same feelings for her but she shouldn’t worry about it. Nothing would change between them. He really thought it wouldn’t, but a day later in practice, he couldn’t help looking at her in a different way. He was scared. The second emotion that reached him was anger. Anger towards Destiny. He wasn’t ready for a relationship and the feelings that came with one. She made him think about those feelings when all he wanted was to have fun. She did this. He couldn’t be friendly to her anymore. Many times he wondered if his reaction was right. He kept seeing the hurt in her eyes when she tried to approach him but he couldn’t break the wall between them. It was impossible. It was easier that way. That way he never even had to deal with what he was feeling. What was he feeling? AJ didn’t even know for sure.
“Excuse me?” A voice asked while tapping him on the shoulder
“Are you AJ McLean?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Hi! I’m Jennifer. I came on vacation to Paris with my family. I can’t believe it’s really you!! Are you touring here or something?”
“Yeah, something like that” he answered. His mind was definitely not in this conversation.
“Something like that?” The girl couldn’t have been older than 9.
“Oh yeah, well our choreographer left us in the middle of the tour. I guess we’re kinda stuck.”
“I’m so sorry! I can just imagine all the millions of disappointed fans.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll continue. We’re not gonna cancel the tour, that’s for sure.” He said with a smile. He was glad she approached him. She took his mind off Destiny. He remembered he had so many other things that were working out for him, his music and his fans will always be there for him. He knew that for sure.
“Good”
The two continued small talk for a few minutes. Later he signed an autograph for her. AJ gave her a hug thanked her and waved goodbye as she ran happily over to her parents. Thank god for their fans, he thought as he walked over to the elevator to meet up with the other guys.
As he walked into the room all 4 pairs of eyes were looking at him.
“What?”
“AJ . . . we know it’s you.”
“What do you mean you KNOW it’s me? What did i do this time? Yes I admit I broke Nick’s Nintendo but it was getting on my fucking nerves. Those noises ‘ding, ding, ding’ ‘bam, bam, bam’ ‘pow, pow, pow’ It was just too much to handle. But other than that I don’t really think I did anything wrong.”
“Um...right. AJ, it’s not about that.” Kevin said softly.
“Hold on, yes it is!” Nick interrupted “You said it fell on the floor!! You said that while I was sleeping the bus swerved and it fell out of the top bunk. Didn’t you AJ? Didn’t you?”
“Yeah sure did. But you know better than believing me about that Nintendo of yours Nicky boy. So what is it about Kevin?”
“Destiny” Kevin replied.
AJ was about to talk but again, Nick interrupted.
“ It was MY NINTENDO. You had no right to do that, man!”
“Shut up Nick” Brian said as he grabbed Nick’s ear and dragged him out of the room.
“Okay...What about Destiny” AJ sat on one of the beds.
“She left because of you, didn’t she?”
“Why do you say that?”
“We saw you downstairs with her.”
“How did you know I was downstairs with her.”
“I got suspicious when you said you were going down for fresh air. We’re not that dumb AJ.”
The comeback for that line was too easy but from the look in Kevin’s eyes he knew it wasn’t the time or place for his wittiness.
“Alright, Alright, not going to lie to you anymore Kevin. She did leave because of me.”
“Then you have to get her back.”
“What do you mean I have to get her back? She don’t want to come back!”
“That’s what she says. Are you going to believe her? No, you’re not”
“I’m not?”
“No you’re not.”
“Kevin, I can’t force her to come back.”
“Yes, you can. You’ll go find her in the streets of Paris and you’ll tell her that you’re not going to be an ass to her anymore.”
“Trust me Kev, that’s not why she left.”
“Then what is the reason?”
AJ was silent.
“AJ, I think we have a right to know. This is a problem and it is postponing the tour.” Howie said. He was never the one to argue. He always used to stay away from arguments but this time he thought he had a good reason to speak his mind. It was important this time. It wasn’t about lost shoes or a messy room it was about one if his best friends.
“She uh...she I guess she had a thing for me I guess.”
“She had a thing for you?” Kevin asked in disbelief.
“Now why is that so hard to believe Kev?”
“I don’t know. You just don’t seem her type.”
“I know you think she’s some kind of angel Kevin and maybe she is but she did like me, okay? She kissed me.”
“And you?” Howie asked
“I...I told her that I didn’t feel anything for her.”
“And that’s the truth?” Howie asked looking at AJ.
“Why aren’t you guys believing me anymore? I don’t like her okay? I told you the truth now leave me alone.” AJ said as he got up and started to leave the room.
“AJ don’t leave. Look I’m sorry and I’m sure Kevin is too but I still think it’s the right thing to get her back. Just agree with me here.”
“I don’t have a choice do I?”
“Not really.”
“Fine, I agree with you then.”
“Good choice” Kevin said.
“I didn’t have a choice for god’s sake.”
Suddenly the door slammed open
“Kay, are you done?” Nick asked annoyed. Brian was right behind him.
“Yes, why?” Kevin asked.
“I want to talk about my Nintendo and now” Nick said pulling AJ out of the room.