No sooner were the words out of her mouth when Kenneth came storming outside, obviously very angry. "Angela! I want your ASS out of that car right NOW!" He stood waiting as they all climbed out slowly. Nick and Brian were looking down, quietly, as Kenneth started yelling. "I told you to keep them IN THE HOUSE and OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. I'm listening to the radio at work, and what do I hear? Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys is at McDonalds?! Did you NOT hear anything I told you?!"
"Ummmmmmm," she replied sarcastically. "He was hungry?" Nick snickered at the remark.
Kenneth turned to Nick. "You think this is funny, Nick?"
Nick's eyes widened as if to say "yes," but he looked away and didn't comment. Kenneth turned back to Angela, calmer than before, yet still upset. "You're lucky nobody followed you. I don't have the means to provide security for the next two days. How could you do this, Angela?"
"I didn't think anyone would notice," she said shrugging, feeling a little bit bad about it. "And I DEFINITELY didn't think anyone would call the freakin' radio station."
"Well, they did. They described the Durango and they also mentioned that he didn't pay....?" Kenneth looked over at Nick for an explanation.
Nick suppressed a smile and looked at Kenneth guiltily. "Well, I meant to pay. I mean, I WAS paying, but I got......." he turned to Angela, ".....distracted, you could say."
"You know, Nick," Kenneth said sternly. "People in the real world go to jail for stealing."
".......a happy meal?!" Nick replied, his voice squeaking more than usual.
Brian turned to Nick, solemnly. "First, it's a happy meal, then it's an extra VALUE meal.......and then..."
Angela started laughing and everyone joined in. Everyone except Kenneth. "You know, I just don't see the humor in all this," he said. "I'm trying to look out for your best interests here and all I'm getting is THIS kind of an attitude?" He looked them all in the eye, one by one.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Angela said, trying to keep a straight face. "I'll go back and pay for it."
"Angela," Kenneth pleaded, "You're missing my point. I've already PAID for the food. That is not the issue here. The issue here is that people are aware now. You NEED to keep a low profile until Friday morning." He turned to Brian and Nick. "Certainly you guys can understand that, can't you?"
"I understand that," Angela argued before Brian or Nick could respond. "But you've got to understand that they are human beings who don't want to be locked in a house for a week, either."
Brian grabbed Kenneth's arm and leaned closer to him with a serious expression on his face. "If you cut us, will we not bleed?" he asked in a Shakespearean accent, not even cracking a smile.
Kenneth was caught off guard by the comment and started laughing. "Okay, okay," he said throwing up his arms in surrender. "You guys do what you wanna do, but I'm not responsible at this point. I don't wanna hear it when the stalkers come out in full force."
"We'll just do what we always do when we're being stalked," said Brian.
"And what's that?" asked Kenneth, knowing it would be another wisecrack.
"Push Nick out the door. He's the one they want, anyway," replied Brian. "I can usually get by scott free if I'm behind Nick." Brian winked at Nick.
Kenneth rolled his eyes. "Well, you'd better come up with a better plan than that. I'm serious, folks." He looked over at the Durango. "Oh, and I need the keys to the Durango."
"What? You can't take my Durango! You're not my boss!" said Nick looking at Kenneth like he was insane.
Kenneth sighed out of frustration. "I'm not taking your Durango to punish you, Nick. I want to move it out to the house so it's not sitting out in the open. It's a dead giveaway now."
Nick's mouth puckered out as he thought about it momentarily, and he looked over at Brian to see what he thought about it. Brian agreed. "You know, Nick, that's not a bad idea."
"Thank you, Brian," Kenneth said, holding out his hand for the keys.
"I still think it's bullshit," said Nick handing him the keys reluctantly.
It was the first time Angela had seen Nick look totally serious. "How..........attractive," she thought, as she studied his face. When he glanced at her unexpectedly, she didn't look away, and it was like a lightning bolt had hit her. His piercing blue eyes right then cut through every inhibition she had ever had about men, and for the first time in her life she felt true desire race through her body.
As if he were reading her thoughts, Nick narrowed his eyes ever so subtly and let them drop slowly to her lips, then back up to her eyes again. Angela looked away this time, stunned by the emotions sweeping through her.
"Well," Nick said, walking past her, towards the Durango. "Let's get the stuff out of the Durango so Kenneth, here, can take it."
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Ten
Story Index
