"Flight 126 from New York City to Orlando has arrived. Please remain seated until the younger children and seniors have exited. Thank you for flying Cardinal Flights Airlines." The stewardess announced over the intercom, waking up Theresa, my best friend. I yawned also a little drowsy from the four-hour flight.
"Wow, we finally made it to Florida. Warm weather, cool beaches, and hot guys. Practically paradise!" Theresa grinned, as we got our carry-on bags down from the over-head compartment.
"It is good to be here isn’t it." I smiled, as we exited the plane. We were coming to Florida to meet my cousin, Alex, who also happened to be in a band, not to mention Theresa’s crush, well shouldn’t have said that but anyway. We walked past many sophisticated business people, on our way to the luggage claim. Theresa suddenly started pounding on my shoulder.
"What?" I mumbled, still not fully awake from the flight.
"That guy with the blond-highlights is stealing our suitcases. He’d be really hot if he wasn’t stealing our luggage." She muttered, pointing to a weird looking guy, just about 5’9", lots of tattoos, and dark shades over his eyes. I walked forward quickly, and tapped his shoulder.
"Excuse me but what are you doing with our luggage?" I asked, getting my attitude started early.
"This is my cousin’s luggage. So if you don’t mind…" He said in a rough, raspy voice.
"Well if you haven’t noticed I do mind, the luggage has my name on it." I fumed, putting one hand on my hip and the other on my luggage. The young man, about 20 or 21, pulled down his sunglasses and stared at me for a minute. His eyes got me laughing so hard I almost fell to the floor.
"Alex, God you change a lot in three years, what the hell happen to you!" I giggled, trying to catch my breath. Alex had already realized it was me, his baby cousin, and pulled me into a hug laughing along with me.
"Me? Look at you, you’re taller than you were and your hair is so much longer and got it highlighted. God you changed so much from the family reunion. It’s great to see ya again, Stephy." He grinned widely, kissing my cheek. I suddenly remembered Theresa standing nearby. Alex also noticed her, and had to do a double take to see all of her. ‘She got a body like Brittany Spears, after the surgery.’ His lips couldn’t form the naughty words that were coming to his mind.
"Alex, you probably don’t remember her but this is Theresa, she came to the family reunion with me." I hid my grin, Alex was practically drooling over her, about like she was for him.
"This is Theresa? Holy Cow, you’ve really changed. Your hair, your tan, all those delicious curves." His words faded out as they got to the end of his sentence. He even seemed to blush a little at what he said, and my cousin has never in his life blushed.
‘That can’t be Theresa! Last time I saw her she was pale, a little chubby, glasses, and so shy she blushed when I said hi.’ Alex thought, still staring at Theresa, in her red and black striped tube top, that showed off her navel ring, and hip-hugger jeans. Her hair was a more bleach blond, probably from the sun, since she was very tanned. Her hair was layered down her back past her shoulder blades. He also notice she had filled out quite a bit in her chest area. I tapped Alex’s shoulder gently and giggled,
"You stare any harder at her and your eyes are gonna bug out. You could say hi."
"Hi Aj it’s nice to see you again. I have to say I love you’re hair." Theresa slightly stuttered, shaking his hand.
"Well are we gonna get out of this airport or what? I’d like to get to your place before it gets dark!" I blurted out. Alex nodded, and helped Theresa and me with our suitcases. We walked out of the crowded airport, to his gray Expedition. Aj slid our bags into the back and I climbed into the front passenger seat, while Theresa sat behind Alex.
"So Steph, how’s your job at MTV going?" He asked as he got in the driver’s seat and started the ignition.
"Oh just fine. Ever since Carson Daliy quit because of the break up of him and Jennifer Love-Hewitt, for the seventh time, I’ve been the new host of Total Request Live. Theresa works with me, she is the hair and make-up manager. She does an excellent job, too." I said, trying to pull Theresa into the conversation.
"You’re the Hair and Make-up Manager? That must be a pretty cool job." Aj looked up into his rearview mirror to meet eyes with Theresa.
"Yeah it is. I got to do Christina Agularia’s make-up last Monday. We talked while I fixed her hair, she is so nice. And I also do Steph’s hair and make-up everyday for the show." Theresa laughed a little, blushing when she saw Aj checking her out again.
The rest of the ride just mainly stayed on how long we were staying, where we were going to go while in Florida, and what the sleeping arrangement were going to be. Aj had already planned to put us in the closest guest rooms to his. Theresa had the room across the hall from his and I had the room next to hers.
We pulled into Alex’s round driveway, to a large white, two-story house.
"Wow your house is huge!" Theresa exclaimed, wide-eyed. Aj just smiled, while he and I got the luggage out.
"You should see the inside, everyone says it looks like something from ‘The Jetsons.’ " He said, handing her the black suitcase with her name on it.
Alex led us up the stairs to the large second floor where the guest rooms and his room was. Theresa got a white room with a large waterbed that had royal blue satin sheets on it. It also had one of the two balconies. My room was equally as nice, a light shade of purple, with a large double bed, covered with rich purple sheets and a dark navy satin comforter. Although it had no balcony, it was furnished with a beautiful oak desk, for my laptop computer. Alex grinned widely seeing our delighted faces. Theresa and I looked at each other for a split second and we both rushed and hugged Aj. He laughed playfully as Theresa and I both started thanking him.
"I love the room, it is so pretty. Thank you so much for letting me stay here." Theresa gushed, as we pulled away from our hug.
"I’m glad you two like the rooms. But I’m sure you want to get some rest or take a shower or something…" Aj said, very happy we were so pleased with our rooms.
"Yes I do need to take a shower, so I guess I’ll go unpack and get out of your way." Theresa smiled, walking back into her room.
"What about you Little Cuz, you gonna unpack or what?" Aj asked, as I still stood there next to him.
"Actually, I thought maybe we could talk. You know like we use to. You busy?" I asked, looking back at my luggage I still had to unpack.
"What about your clothes, don’t you wanna unpack and settle in a little?" he noticed my suitcase not even open at the foot of my bed.
"I’ll settle in later, right now, I wanna get to know my cousin, I haven’t seen in three years. I gotta hear what’s up with you and the rest of the guys. Let’s go down to the kitchen and talk. Okay." I grabbed his hand before he could reply and dragged him towards the stairs.
Theresa started unpacking, thinking about Aj. ‘God, his so cute, and sweet, and thoughtful, and…’ she thought to herself, as she unpacked her clothes and put them in the oak dresser. She walked into the joining bathroom, pulled a large yellow towel off the rack, and started up the shower, her thoughts on Aj’s tantalizing cologne.
"So, what’s tour like? How have the guys been?" I started, as I dug through his refrigerator for something to drink.
"Well tours not too bad, a little hectic but fun. And the guys, they’re all just fine. I was thinking tomorrow we could all get together, see if they remember you from about six years ago." Aj smiled, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"I’m up for that, and I know Theresa’s eager to meet the guys. And I’m kinda eager to see one of them again." I giggled a little, thinking about the first meeting with the guys.
"Oh, really, and who would that be? Somebody’s got a crush on a Backstreet Boy?" Aj teased, hoping that I’d spill who I liked.
"Ha, like I’m gonna tell you. The same guy that told my crush I wanted to kiss him when we were 10. I don’t think so. You couldn’t keep a secret if your life depended on it." I grinned, playfully.
"Hey, well you got your first kiss ‘cause I help him out."
"Well threatening to beat him up if he didn’t give me a kiss on the cheek was pretty helpful." I laughed. "But I don’t think you could beat him up even if you tried. But enough about me, what happened to Marissa, I mean I hear you’re kinda with some Amanda chick now, right?" I changed the subject.
"Marissa and I are friends now, we broke up, and as for me and Amanda well we’re…" Aj was interrupted by Theresa running downstairs, in short cut off jeans and a tight yellow tank top, and a towel wrapped around her head.
"Hey what are you guys up to?" She asked, sitting down across from Alex.
"Nothing. Just mindless chit-chat, you know nothing important." I said, closing the fridge after pulling out three cans of Pepsi.
"Oh, well what are we gonna do today Steph?" She asked, taking the can of coke I offered her. I shrugged and sat down in between Alex and Theresa.
"I dunno, I’m sure Alex has something he has to do, so why don’t you come upstairs and help me unpack." I suggested.
"Yeah, okay, sure. That sounds like fun." She sighed, sarcastically. I gave her a ‘I Got Something Important To Tell You’ look.
"Well see ya girls later. I’ll be in the study if you need me. Okay." Aj said, grabbing his coke and heading out of the kitchen. Theresa and I headed upstairs and into my room.
"You wanna know something about Alex, that relates to his love-life?" I asked, grinning slightly at her, when she nodded instantly. "Well it just so happens that he and Marissa are no longer a thing. And as for Amanda…" I paused waiting for her to stop jumping up and down.
Theresa heard the name Amanda and stopped jumping immediately.
"What about Amanda? Are they still a couple? Or friends? Or sex buddies? What?" She said, hastily.
"Well, my dear friend, the truth is I don’t know about Amanda. I would, if you hadn’t walk down the stairs. G-d, will you stop interfering with my match-making." I stomped my foot, slightly frustrated.
"Shit, man, if I had waited five minutes I’d know if I had to compete against that ‘Monica Lewinski look-a-like.’" Theresa whined, sitting on the bed, playing with her hair as I unpack my clothes and put them in the dresser. I laughed at her as she gave out a frustrated sigh. "Whatcha you laughing at!" she muttered, frowning.
"You. Trust me, if you can’t get Aj there are at least a half a dozen guys that would date you. Oh, yeah and tomorrow we’re going to meet up with the guys. That’ll be fun right. I wonder if they’ll remember me. It’s been about six years though. I wonder if, you know who, will remember me." I plopped down on the bed next to Theresa, hugging my stuffed tiger Alex and the other guys had gotten me before they left for Europe.
"I dunno, he might. But if Aj’s still with Amanda, I’m gonna hit on Nicky. Okay?" She said, almost as if she was asking for my permission.
"I suppose. And if, he, doesn’t remember me, we’re going clubbing for some guys. K?" I said, squeezing ‘Pumpkin’ my tiger, a little tighter. ‘G-d I hope he remembers me.’ I thought to myself.
The rest of the night was pretty much uneventful. We all went out to eat, McDonalds, of course. Alex and Theresa seemed to be flirting non-stop, so I felt a little out of place. When we got home, Theresa headed up to bed, still a little tried from the long day we had had. I went into the kitchen to make some coffee for Aj and me for the next morning. Alex walked into the room and sat down for a minute, reading a letter he had gotten in the mail. He got a less than happy look on his face.
"What’s up?" I asked, putting the coffeepot on automatic.
"Huh, oh just another letter from Amanda." He frowned, she was begging him to get back together with her.
"Really, I was kinda under the impression you and her weren’t together. Are you two still a couple?" I asked, taking a drink of my water. He shook his head,
"Well yes and no, we broke up, but it hasn’t gotten to the media yet. In this letter, she wants to get back together. We still see each other but not as an official couple. I just don’t understand women!" He gave out a groan of frustration, I giggled a little at him as he laid his head on the table.
"You’re not supposed to understand us. We’re here to make all men be confused and insane. And from the looks of it Amanda’s done a fairly decent job. But if she made you happy, then try again. And if she didn’t make you smile every time you saw her face then she’s not right for you." I said, trying my best to give out some advice he would actually take. He picked his head up off the table and gave a thoughtful look.
"My G-d, you actually have good advice for once." He teased, as I kicked his shin under the table. "Maybe we aren’t right for each other, but it’s just she was my ‘Little Panda’ and I really loved her." He frowned.
"You just gotta decide what’s right for you. If you and her were happy together then maybe you need to be with her. But do you know if she is in love with you?" I asked, trying to help out my cousin as much as possible, even if it meant not getting him and Theresa together.
"I don’t know if she honestly loves me or not. We’ve both said it to each other but I don’t know if either of us meant it then." He said, standing up and stretching.
"Well, who was the first to say ‘I love you’, you or her?" I said, seriously.
"Me, why?"
"Maybe you two weren’t meant to be, I mean, did she say I love you back immediately or did she stutter when she said it, did she not say anything at all?"
"She was a bit surprise when I said it, it was kinda a spur of the moment. We sorta in the middle of an intimate moment and she didn’t say anything back."
"Maybe you should let her go then. I mean the first ‘I Love You’ was exchanged without a reply. That isn’t a very good sign. I’d say let her go but it’s your decision, but I have to say I know one person who would gladly fill Amanda’s shoes for you." I hinted, standing up and hugging him slightly. "Goodnight Alex. Thanks for letting me and Theresa hang with you for your break."
I broke the hug and walked upstairs slowly.
"Night Stephy. Woah, hold up, come back down here for a sec." I turned around and stepped back down into the kitchen. "Which of the guys do you like?"
"I ain’t gonna tell you. Only Theresa knows and she won’t tell anybody, or I’d tell who she liked so, you’re outta luck. Sorry Cuz." I grinned, teasingly.
"Please, I promise I won’t tell. Please, pretty please with sugar on top." He faked begging, as he fell to his knees in front of me.
"Not a chance, Mr. Clean. Sorry but I’m going to bed. See ya in the morning." I waved, rushing up the stairs.
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Kit Kat's Stories
