Trials

"So... how long have you known Howie?" AJ asked. Kevin had gone out to CityWalk at Universal Studios, and he was bored. It was their second night at the hotel, and he was getting fairly restless. He'd been talking to Eva since she clocked in at eleven. Looking up at the clock, he saw it was well past 1:30AM.

"About six months. I wouldn't say he's my BEST FRIEND or anything - I haven't known him that long... but we did... oh shit, nevermind," Eva almost blushed. But after slipping up, she couldn't resist. She was willing to bet AJ would be curious. Teasing should have been her middle name.

"You've what?" AJ prodded. Eva grinned. "No way..."

"What?" Eva tried to look innocent.

"Tell me you haven't... you know..." Eva nodded. "Oh that's nasty! That's Howie!" AJ faked disgust.

"We were a little tipsy." Eva quipped, "It's kind of on the low-low. I don't think he even remembers it."

"Howie forget sex? No way. I had lots of good reasons to quit drinking and that was one of them..." Eva's eyes widened. There was... "No! I mean, he could drink me under the table and remember everything. Me on the other hand..." AJ rolled his eyes. "You don't wanna know."

"Well has he even mentioned it?" Eva was curious.

"He's a man. That's what we do. I'm not sure if he ever did, though. All I remember was the 'bar' joke," AJ winked and began to 'look at her name tag.'

"Ahem..." Eva tried to get his attention. Sure, it was really, really nice that this gorgeous man in front of her was staring bluntly at her breasts. But still. "You are definitely male," She laughed a little at him. Howie'd always said AJ was 'definitely a flirt, yes, but not without issues," but that AJ 'didn't really need good skills. Chicks dig him anyway.'

"Okay, Miss. La-la Land, you knew where I was a minute ago, whatcha thinking?" Damn he was going out of his mind. He couldn't stand hotels, he was in them way too much, but he'd had no choice.

"Sorry. Just remembering some stuff Howie told me... about you," Eva taunted.

"Like what?" AJ definitely wanted to know.

"I'm not telling."

"Yes you are!"

"Nope."

"Please? Pleeease?" Okay. Eva couldn't take it. Sexy man begging. She about needed an oxygen tank.

"Only if you tell me the little secret you wouldn't tell D in front of me."

"Nope," AJ put his hands on his hips and stood triumphantly. "I won't crack under your pressure."

"Well," Eva leaned forward, her elbows on her side of the desk, "It had something to do with you, and your skills with the ladies," Eva teased.

"Oh God, what did he tell you?" AJ laughed. Good ol' Howie. Always trying to bust his flavor.

"Not unless you spill the beans," she was determined to know. AJ looked at her long and hard. She knew Howie. Howie said he trusted her.

"You've never had my phone number, have you?" he asked. He knew it came off odd but he had to make sure...

"No!" Eva laughed. "I would have had phone sex with you by now. Or at least tried..." Eva winked, eliciting a huge grin on AJ's face.

"You probably would have succeeded." AJ rebutted, cocking his eyebrow.

"You're not a shy man, are you?" Eva blushed.

"Well you're pretty blunt yourself, young lady."

"Oh trust me, there are some real racy thoughts going through my mind that I haven't mentioned. Maybe I'll divulge them if you tell me what you told D." Eva cocked her own eyebrow. She had every right to taunt him. After all, he was all up in her boobs and calling her 'fine' and 'hot.' Revenge is a bitch.

"I mean, seriously, if you were a stranger, even my big mouth wouldn't tell you," AJ ignored her comments and moved on. "I'm not missing the tour life, going through hotel withdrawal or anything. I'm just trying to hide out," AJ was surprised he was just... telling her. She was a trusted friend, or acquaintance, whatever, of his best friend, but still.

"Why would you need to do that? Don't you live in a gated..."

"I do, you're right. But that hasn't seemed to matter the last few days. Since I got back from break... I've been getting these phone calls. They're pretty... I don't know, odd. That's not the word. More like eerie. Some dude keeps calling me and speaking Latin. I don't fucking know Latin! And he's just like, 'blablabla Latin blablabla' and he hangs up." AJ felt a little less insane every time he recounted it. It sounded more like what his abnormally paranoid mind thought, not just some Italian dude who had the wrong number.

"Damn. Latin?" Eva repeated, mostly to herself.

"Yeah, and check this out. We have to have a parking sticker to get in. Lately I've seen a shit ton of people driving around in cars with no sticker. It's weird. I mean, I know my freakin' next door neighbor is a big basketball star and Chris what's his name dreadlocks lives down the street, and Otown live right down the street but still. Security used to be almost airtight. So with that and those calls? I'm outta there until they call my cell and tell me its handled," AJ fumed.

"They're just, slacking? Like that? With all those people? Dude, why don't you have them talk to Jonathan and have him tell 'em where to shove it?" AJ laughed at her comments. She didn't know why. It happened all the time: people thought things she said were funny, but damnit they weren't.

"How do you know Jon's our main lawyer... err... wait. Duh. Stupid question, huh? AJ smiled... and blushed. "I'm a little slow sometimes."

"Yeah, but I don't mind slow every once in a while. Like when its all by the fire with the music-"

"Whoa! Stop it. Stop trying to distract me. YOU'RE supposed to tell me what Howie said."

"He basically said you lacked... 'tact.' Example: Your eyes on my 'name tag' " Eva made quotes with her fingers and struggled not to laugh. "BUT..."

"Uh... but what?" AJ let out a breathy laugh.

"He also said you didn't need the skills, and that chicks dig you anyway... which we do." Eva grinned. AJ was fun. Very fun.

"That's real nice of him, I guess?" AJ yawned. "Look, Eva, I hate to cut it short but I'm gonna hit the sack. It's 2am." AJ said, a sudden wave of sleepiness settling in. "Kev should stumble in soon. Don't let him fall over or anything," AJ laughed at the thought.

"I won't. Nite. Thanks for keeping me company. This is the most boring shift in the world," Eva replied. He waved and walked toward his room. She sighed. He wasn't the only one tired. She hated working overnights!

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