Chapter 8 - Amanda and AJ

"Oh, hi Sarah," she smiled and sat down on the bed by mine. "Looks like we're sharing room."

I forced a smile then closed my eyes again, praying that she would leave. I was so tired that I didn't want to have any more conversations.

"So," she began while unpacking her clothes and putting them into drawers. "How long have you and Nick been together?"
I put my pillow over my head, refused to answer the question.
"Hello? Sarah?" she threw her pillow at me. "I said, how long have you and Nick been together?"
I threw the pillow at her. "Three days," I said and replaced the pillow back over my head.
"Three days, huh? Well, that's quite some time," she mocked.
"Yeah," I mumbled, hoping the conversation would end with my reply.

Instead, she carried on talking about how long she and AJ had been together, how they had make out at her house and how wonderful he was. I was just about to strangle her when there was a knock on the door.

"AJ!" Amanda cried.

Lord, give me strength, I thought as I grabbed my portable CD player and turned it on. I made sure my TLC album was so loud that I couldn't hear what they were saying.

AJ pulled the pillow off my head. "Hello?" he said, while waving his hands in front of me.
"What?" I snapped.
AJ stood up. "Oh look who's got a problem."

He rolled his eyes and walked over to Amanda. They started having sweet talks and kissing each other which made me wanted to throw out, so I threw my CD player on the bed and stormed out.

"I think she's a li'l touchy," Amanda giggled and carried on with AJ.

I banged on Nick's door. Brian flung the door open, an angry expression on his face.

"Oh, it's you," his expression softened. "Come in."

I forced a smile and walked in, throwing myself on the nearest bed, which happened to have Nick laying on it. Nick sat up and flicked on the TV.

"Hi, Sarah. How it's goin'?" he asked, a sweet smile on his face. At this point he looked so cute that I felt like throwing my arms around him and kissing him to death, but I contolled myself and smiled back an honest smile.

"It's Amanda and AJ," I confessed.
Nick carried on smiling. "And?"
"It's just... well.... it's.... Amanda," I said, hesitating.
Brian sat down by me. "What's wrong with her?"
I put my head in my hands. "She just makes me ill."
Brian frowned. "What is it you don't like about her?"
"I just.. don't wanna talk about it," I told them. I grabbed the TV control and turned it to another station.

"Make yourself at home," Nick mumbled to himself.
"Do you want me to leave?" I asked and smiled at him.
"No," he quickly shook his head. "Just make sure you watch something good."

We all laughed and watched South Park, which happened to be one of my most favorite TV shows - and Nick's and Brian's too.

"Hey cool," Nick said and put his hands around me. I laid on him.

Brian tutted and went into the bathroom. Half an hour had gone by, and Nick and I were watching MTV. The bugging Goodbye song by Spice Girls was on. Brian still hadn't come out of the bathroom. I stood up and knocked the door.

"Brian," I called. "Are you okay?"
Brian slowly open the door, a magazine in his hands. "What?"
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded. "I just hate what you're watching," he said and closed back the door.

Weird, I told myself. Brian hates South Park? From what I read, he loves it! Although I felt a tingling weird feeling in my heart, I let it go. I didn't want it to develop into a big conversation.

"What was that all about?" Nick asked when I sat down next to him.
I shook my head. "I have no idea."

I closed my eyes and laid my head on Nick's chest. I put my arms around his waist. He eased me by rubbing my back.

"Jess?" he said.
I took me a minute to register that he was talking to me.
"What?" I whispered, nearly asleep. I don't know why but listening to someone's heart beat always makes me feel tired.

"I was doing some thinking," he paused and stopped rubbing my back. "I was wondering... well... sort of hoping," he said and sighed.
"What's wrong Nick?" I asked him, looking him in the eyes.
He blushed. "Um, nothing." He smiled a convincing smile, as if to say "hey, don't worry about me!"

Before I could control myself, I leaned over and kiss him. Nick stopped breathing. He shrugged it off and kissed me back, I stopped kissing him and turned away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, stroking my arm.
I shook my head and stood up.
"I should go," I told him and made my way to the door. Nick jumped and pulled me close.
"Please don't," he begged. "I thought you like me."
I leaned against the wall. "Nick, it's not that I don't like you... It's - " I broke off when I saw Brian in the bathroom doorway, staring at me and Nick intently.

"What's going on?" Brian asked.
"Nothing really. We had a bit falling out - that's all," Nick said.
I turned to Nick. "Sorry, Nick."
Nick smiled and nodded. "That's okay," he said and cuddled me.
Brian smiled and put his arms around both of us. "GROUP HUG!" he laughed. Nick and I joined his laughter.

I walked towards the door. "I should go now," I opened the door. "See ya later, guys!" I called and walked out.

I walked off to my hotel room, wiping my tears with my hands. I prayed I wouldn't see anyone I knew which I didn't and opened my door. I walked in and Amanda and AJ was on the bed.

"Go away!" Amanda screamed and lobbed a teddy bear to me. I dodged the flying bear and closed the door.

"No," I told her and sat down on my bed. I pulled out my reading book and pretended to read, ignoring them.

Amanda laughed. "Is it just me, or she couldn't hear me?"
I looked up from my book. "No, I can hear you. I'm just not going," I said and carried on "reading".
She tutted. "Come on, AJ," she said and walked towards the door.
"See ya loner," AJ hissed and walked out.

I closed my book and cried. So far, everything's had gone wrong.

I opened my eyes and sat up. I had fallen asleep in my clothes. I yawned and rubbed my eyes while looking out of the window. It was dark out there. I leaned over to pick up the phone and keyed in 143. I waited for an answer.

"Hello?" someone mumbled.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"Nick," he said. "Who's this?"
I smiled and thanked God Nick had answered, not Brian. "Nick, it's me Sarah."
Nick's heart skipped a beat. "Hey, how's it goin' at - three in the morning?!" he asked, a bit shocked.
"Okay, I guess," I laughed. "I'm really bored. Can we go for a walk outside?"
Nick's heart pounded. "R-really? I mean, um, why not?"
"See you at my room," I told him.
"All alone?" Nick asked.
"Looks like it," I sighed.

And with that, he hung up. I put the phone back into its cradle and thought about what I had just done. Is it a hectic idea to walk at three in the morning? No, it's smart, I told myself. It's the only way the fans wouldn't know, I smiled at my thought.

I pushed the thought away and cleaned myself up - brushing my teeth and combed my hair.

I waited for Nick. Two minutes later there was a knock on my door. I jumped up and opened it. There stood Nick in his jeans and Nike T-shirt. He looked to his left and right and stepped in.