Catherine and Peter Gordon grabbed their luggage from the baggage claim and made their way out to the parking lot of Newark Airport. They got in the car and began to drive back to New York City. They had been in the Bahamas for the past two weeks, taking a relaxing vacation. Their two-year-old son, Aidan, had been staying at his grandparents in the city while they were gone. They were on their way to pick him up before going home to Long Island.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Hello?” Mary Gerhart answered the phone.
“Yes. This is Dr. Sanders at Mercy Hospital. Is this the mother of Catherine Gordon?”
“Yes it is,” Mary answered, fearfully. “What’s wrong? Is my daughter okay?”
“Your daughter and your son-in-law were involved in a car accident this afternoon,” Dr. Sanders told her. “They’ve just been brought in. It would be wise if you and your husband could get down here as soon as possible.” Mary frantically hung the phone up and screamed for her husband, tears steadily falling down her face.
Dr. Sanders hung up the phone sadly and glanced at the nurse standing next to him. “I hate this part. I hope they get here soon. Mrs. Gordon isn’t going to make it much longer.”
“What about her husband?” the nurse asked.
“He was DOA,” the doctor answered sadly. “I didn’t want to tell them over the phone.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Two days later:
“Okay,” Christine said quietly to herself. “I can do this.”
“Talking to yourself Chris?” her secretary, Emily, asked smiling.
“Just trying to psyche myself up,” Christine replied. “I haven’t seen any of these guys in three years.”
“You’ll do fine,” Emily reassured her. “Now go. They’re waiting.” Christine nodded and gathered her papers together, ready to face Howie for the first time in three years. When she entered the conference room, the guys were all involved in an animated conversation that they didn’t even notice her come in. She watched as they all laughed at Brian’s joke before she decided to get their attention. She cleared her throat loudly, causing them all to turn towards her, their mouths dropping in the process.
“Christine?” Brian asked, eyes wide. “What are you doing here?” One by one, they all stood up to grab her in a hug. All except for Howie. He didn’t know what to think. He hadn’t seen her in years and all the sudden she shows up at their meeting as their new tour director? He felt like the room was closing in on him and quickly ran out.
Christine pulled away from Nick and noticed that Howie was no where to be found. “I guess this wasn’t the best way to show my face again,” she said, sadly. “I guess he should have been warned.”
“It’s okay, Chrissy,” Nick told her, his arm around her shoulders. “AJ just went to talk to him. He’ll be fine. He was just surprised, I guess.”
“What’s up, D?” AJ asked, approaching Howie in the hallway. Howie shrugged but did not offer a response. “She looks good.”
“Yeah she does,” Howie admitted, quietly, glancing towards the doorway of the conference room. “God, I can’t believe she’s here.”
“Why don’t you go talk to her?” AJ suggested. “The rest of us will go grab some lunch or something. Give you some time to be alone.” Howie nodded and followed AJ back into the conference room. “Hey guys,” AJ interrupted. “Why don’t we go grab some food.”
“But I’m not…” Brian began, not getting the hint.
“Come on, Bri,” Kevin cut him off. “Let’s go.” Brian nodded in understanding and followed Nick, AJ, and Kevin out of the room.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Ready?” Brooke asked Lanie. “The other girls are out in the car.”
“Yeah, I’m coming,” Lanie responded, grabbing her purse and following Brooke out the door of their house. The two girls climbed into the back of Ang’s jeep where Ang and Sarah were waiting.
“Where do you guys want to go?” Ang asked, throwing the car into reverse.
“Friday’s,” Brooke replied before anyone else got a chance to.
“Okay,” Ang laughed. “Friday’s it is.” Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of TGI Friday’s and were seated at their usual table in the back.
“So, how’s Nsync's tour looking?” Sarah asked Brooke, giggling.
“It’s fine,” Brooke replied. “Why is that so funny?
“It’s not,” Lanie laughed. “It’s just that…I don’t know. How did Kevin react when you told him?”
“Oh, he was furious.” Brooke grinned. “He thinks I’m going to get involved with Justin or something. Forget all about him.”
“It’s not entirely impossible, Brooke,” Ang pointed out. “I mean, look at the first Backstreet tour we ever did. That tour was like one big orgy.”
“That’s sick, Ang,” Brooke laughed, tossing a french fry at her. “Besides, Justin? No way. Now, maybe J.C.”
“Oh come on,” Ang began. “You never know. I mean, who ever though AJ and Krista would be compatible? Or Kate and Nick?” Out of the corner of her eye, Ang caught sight of the looks she was getting from Sarah and Lanie. “Sorry, guys.”
“It’s cool.” Lanie plastered a fake smile across her face. The truth was, ever since she and Nick had returned form New York, he had been distant. Lanie knew something had to have happened when he saw Katelin at that funeral but he wouldn’t talk about it.
“Oh yeah,” Brooke giggled, not noticing how uncomfortable Lanie and Sarah were beginning to feel. “Well, Krista and AJ were so similar but Kate and Nick? God no. I’m surprised they both made it to the end of that tour in one piece.”
Ang, noticing the looks on both of the other girl’s faces, kicked Brooke under the table in order to get her to shut up. “Come on, Brooke. Let’s go grab some more drinks from the bar. You guys want?”
“Sure,” Lanie replied. “Whatever you’re having.”
“Do you ever get the feeling that you’re an outsider?” Sarah questioned, as Brooke and Ang walked away.
“I never used to,” Lanie admitted. “But lately, yeah. Even Nick is making me feel like one.”
“It just feels like they have this little club that we’re not really a part of,” Sarah stated. “Well, I’m probably not anymore anyway.”
“Aw, Sar,” Lanie soothed. “Have you talked to AJ?”
“No.” Sarah shook her head. “I figure that if he wanted to me, he’d come after me.”
“He’s a guy, Sar,” Lanie pointed out. “They don’t come after you. No matter how much they want you back. Do you want to be with AJ?” Sarah nodded. “Then don’t let him slip away. Fight for what you want.”
“You should take your own advice, Lane,” Sarah advised. “We’re both letting our guys slip away over two girls who walked out of their lives years ago.” Before Lanie got a chance to respond, Ang and Brook returned to the table with Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Nick in tow.
“Hey guys!” Ang greeted, giving Lanie and Sarah their drinks. “Look who we found.” The guys pulled up chairs to the table and sat down next to each of their girls.
“Hey,” AJ said softly to Sarah.
“Hi,” Sarah responded, nervously, glancing at her hands.
“Can we talk, Sar?” he asked.
“Not right now,” she replied, much to AJ’s dismay. “Later.”
“Okay,” AJ reluctantly agreed. “I missed you, Sarah.”
“Me too.” Sarah smiled, looking deep into AJ’s eyes. Relief surged through AJ. Maybe this time it would be different. Maybe this time it wasn’t hopeless.