“Alanna, this is Erik, Dan, Jacob, Trevor, and Ashley. Guys, this is Alanna Murray.” Alanna shook each guy’s hand, not able to look Ashley in the eye.
“I’ll let you guys get to know each other.” Mary said as she walked out the door. Ashley whispered something into Trevor’s ear and Trevor nodded.
“Who’s up for a basketball game?” Everyone chorused an ‘I am’ and all six people went out to the basketball court that was behind the house that O-Town shared. Ashley stayed behind while the rest of the guys played.
“So our dreams came true after all.” Ashley commented, his hands in the pockets of his baggy jeans.
“I knew that you would be famous someday Ashley.” He looked down at the ground.
“I keep thinking about that summer.” Ashley said, looking off into the distance. “Since I’ve become famous, I’ve lost sight of the old Ashley. I feel like Redding, and my old life, is slipping away.”
“I have to be careful about who I trust, I don’t have a normal life anymore, and I never have time to myself. I have to run myself so hard that I get sick from exhaustion. But seeing you is like a refresher, a reminder of Redding.” Alanna didn't even realize that she was crying until Ashley reached up and tenderly brushed a tear away.
“Let’s go play some basketball.” Alanna suggested, wiping away the remaining tears. Ashley’s touch was enough to cause Alanna to almost break down.
“Ready to play?” Jacob asked. Alanna nodded.
“Ready to get beat?” Erik asked playfully. Alanna laughed.
“You wish.” Poor Erik, Alanna thought. I played basketball in high school. Ashley gave her a knowing look and Alanna immediately knew that he had been to some of her games. Two hours later, Erik, Trevor, Dan, and Jacob were exhausted and beat: 90 to 35.
“You played basketball in school didn’t you?” Dan asked, wiping his face and neck with a towel. Alanna gave him an innocent look before nodding and cracking up. Erik came up and put his arm around her.
“We definitely need to keep you.” Alanna looked at her watch.
“I gotta go.” She grabbed her backpack and wiped her face with a towel. “I have to get home, shower, and get to class.” Erik shrugged his shoulders.
“You can take a shower in the guest bathroom.” Alanna weighed her options. Taking a shower and then going to class would be much faster.
“Okay.” Erik showed her to the guest bathroom where she took a shower and wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel. When she stepped out of the bathroom and into the guest room, her clothes were nowhere to be found. Left with no other choice, Alanna ventured out into the hallway, colliding with Ashley.
“Here.” Both started laughing and Ashley handed her an oversize white tee shirt. “I thought that you might want a clean shirt.” Alanna looked him over from the slightly baggy jeans and the semi tight tee shirt that clung in all the right places up to his angular face, finally stopping at his clear blue eyes.
“Thanks.” Alanna said, blushing under his intense gaze.
“You’re welcome.” Alanna turned and quickly retreated into the bedroom. She quickly got dressed and threw her shoulder length hair into a ponytail. Alanna ran downstairs and out the door before anyone could say a word.
*****************************
She had come and gone so fast. Dazed, Ashley sat down on the couch. His four band mates looked at him, amused.
“You’re really sweatin’ this girl aren’t you bro?” Trevor asked. Ashley could only nod.
“So tell us about her.” Erik prodded. “She is quite the hottie.” Ashley smiled.
“I met her in Redding right after graduation.” Dan nodded.
“Keep going.”
“It turns out that we had gone to school with each other for all twelve years. She was the valedictorian at my high school.” All his band mates were looking at him in surprise.
“You never noticed her?” Ashley shook his head. “Dude! You must have been blind!”
“Naw.” Jacob said. “He had his eye on Shelley, right Ash?” Ashley nodded.
“So anyway, I met her when I went to my special spot. It’s a cliff overlooking the river that runs near my house.” Ashley smiled wistfully. “It was the most amazing summer of my entire life.”
“So why did you guys lose touch?” Dan asked.
“She decided to go to college down here. I thought about that summer millions of times and when I did the t.v. show, I was secretly hoping that I could find her.” Ashley shook his head. “I never thought that she might end up interviewing us.”
“Sad story man. And she’ll be leaving after the interview.” Trevor shook his head.
“I heard Viv and Mary talking to Mike and Mike.” The other guys looked up in interest.
“And?” Trevor smiled.
“They think she really has talent.” The guys groaned and Trevor held up his hand. “They want her to write individual biographies on each of us and then a group biography. In order to do so, she’ll have to tour with us for at least a year.” Ashley’s face lit up with excitement.
“Then she’s not leaving after the interview.”
“Slow down Ash.” Trevor said with a laugh. “Alanna doesn’t even know about it yet which means she hasn’t accepted it yet.” Ashley sat down on the couch, pouting.
“Just go ahead and burst my happy bubble.” Dan put his arm around Ashley’s shoulders, grinning.
“Alanna is one fine woman Ash.” Ashley smiled once again.
“She is isn’t she?” Erik smiled.
“You’re one lucky man Ashley.” He shook his head, thinking about Alanna. “One lucky man.”