Chapter One

He scanned the crowded train station nervously, already having second
doubts.  
“ You OK, Aje?” Kevin asked distractedly as he kept his eye on one of the
guards who had left to get their luggage.
“ Yeah...You know what?  I’m tired as hell, I’m just gonna crash at a hotel
tonight,” He said, hoping it was convincing enough for Kevin to just agree.
“ It’s only 7:30,” Kevin said, finally cast AJ the skeptical look he was
expecting.
“ Look, AJ.  You do what you gotta do but you came all this way just to
back out?” 
“ I’m not backing out, I just said I was tired.” He snapped defensively,
ignoring Lori’s gaze.  AJ sighed, running a hand through my hair in
exasperation.  God how he needed a drink.  Or a cigarette.  Kevin
remained quiet after shrugging, showing his disapproval of his choice. 
Jack and Marcus returned with the baggage carousels.
“ Ready, guys?” Jack asked, looking, as usual, at Kev for an answer.
“ There’s a change in plans,” AJ cut in, knowing damn well there was a
snap to his voice but too impatient to drop it.
“ Instead of me going with Lori, I’m gonna stay at some hotel for tonight,” 
Marcus looked slightly quizzical but said nothing as Jack nodded.
“ Lemme call you a driver, then.” 
“ No, don’t worry about it, I’ll take a cab,” He jumped in quickly, just
wanting to get away from everyone as quickly as possible.  He knew
where he was headed and needed to get there as soon as he could, just
for some kind of closure.
“ I don’t-”
“ Nothing’s gonna happen.” AJ looked at Lori.
“ Tell my mom I’ll be by tomorrow,” He said, all the while getting his
suitcases.
“ When tomorrow?” She prompted and he shook his head again.
“ I don’t know yet.  Just tomorrow,” He glanced at everyone again before
walking towards the main doors to hail a cab...


					*****
	“ Lakeside piece of shit,” He muttered, chuckling slightly as he
looked around the familiar room, feeling almost as though she’d come
back if he just closed his eyes.  The owner shot me a suspicious look as
he indicated where the bathroom was.  The smile slid off AJ’s face as he
realized the owner thought he was smiling at him.
“ And the-”
“ Yeah.  I got it, thanks,” AJ dropped his suitcases on the ground and
looked at him.
“ Okay.  Well if you need anything, just drop by the main office,” He
nodded and the owner shut the door.  AJ looked around the room again. 
Air was the same.  So was the bedspread.  He walked to the closet and
threw open the doors before inspecting the interior of the backwall.  
“ Well I’ll be damned...Still here...” He murmured aloud, tracing the outline
of the carving in the wood.
“Sammy and Alex...” He sighed.  Seemed like a dream, so many years
ago but in reality, they had just been here the past summer.  They had first
stayed here as some cheap thrill by the muddy lake they called ‘Crystal
Lake’ a few years back and continued coming as an escape from
everything.  From all the chaos.  That was, whenever business called for
his return to Florida which seldom happened.  Or which he seldom let
happen.  The fans, the media; they’d never suspect famous AJ McLean
staying at some shabby motel on the outskirts of Orlando.  Slipping too
close near his melancholy again, he inhaled as he stepped out of the
closet.  Picking up the remote, AJ flipped it on and discovered the only
annoyance he’d always had with this place.  No cable.  No distractions. 
Which was good if you has someone to share it with.  The tv went back off
and his eyes fell to the trashcan which looked like it hadn’t been emptied in
the past few days.  There  were cigarette stubs in the ashtray and some
crumpled papers lying in another corner.  Weary from the day’s travels, he
stacked his two pieces of luggage on the closet floor and went to take a
shower before turning in for an early night, anything to keep his mind off of
her...






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