Written by : Alexandra .
~ DISCLAIMER ~
This short story is a piece of fiction.
"Look at them. They look so cute together,” commented a pretty dark haired female.
“Yeah, it’s a shame they haven’t hooked up,” replied a dark haired man.
The scene took place in a black pick up truck. Kevin and his fiancée, Jacquie, we’re on there way home from a party. The two sat closely in the front of the cab. Kevin kept his eyes on the road but Jacquie was staring in the backseat at their two best friends. AJ and Lexie were sitting in the back fast asleep. Lexie’s head had fallen over onto AJ’s shoulder and AJ’s head rested on top of hers. They weren’t together as far as a couple was concerned but they were the best of friends.
Jacquie and the rest of her friends including Lexie had met the Backstreet Boys two years ago. Jacquie scored a job at a local top 40 station in Ohio. This entitled her to many perks including tickets to concerts and backstage passes. She had received tickets and passes to the local Backstreet Boys show and being the generous friend that she was, she invited her best friends to the show. And that’s how it had been ever since. Kevin fell for Jacquie the minute he saw her and the two were recently engaged. Pretty much everyone had hooked up together. It sounds strange and rather coincidental, I know, but life works in mysterious ways. The only two that hadn’t gotten together were AJ and Lexie. It was true, they were the best of friends, and it was obvious to everyone else that they belonged together.
“Ya know what, Kev?” Jacquie asked snuggling up to his shoulder.
“What, baby?” he questioned back giving her a quick kiss on top of the head.
"We should get AJ and Lex together. Lexie’s mad about him anyway and you told me that AJ mentioned having a crush on her. Look at how they act together. It would be easy.”
"I don’t know, Jaqs. I don’t like messing in other people’s business. I think they should be the ones to decide if they wanna be more than friends,” he stated.
“Kev, come on. I know you can see they are perfect for each other. Look at them back there. They are soulmates,” she said excitedly.
“OK, young lady, that’s it! No more romance novels for you,” he said playfully.
She gently slapped his tummy “Kev, I’m serious. You know it and I know it.”
“Look, babe, they may belong together and all that mushy stuff but you can’t make them open there eyes to it.”
“Oh yeah but I can sure help out,” she said mischievously.
“Please, Jacquie, don’t get too involved. I know Lexie is your best friend in the whole wide world but please-”
“OK, Luscious, for you I will only meddle slightly in there lives.”
“I guess that’s all I can ask for,” he replied uneasily.
~ THE NEXT DAY ~
“So Lexie, how are you doing?” asked Jacquie watching her friend eat a Belgian waffle. Mo< “What do you want, JQ?” Lexie always knew when Jacquie wanted something. She had this.....connection.
“Lex, I don’t want anything. How are you?” she asked again taking a seat next to her.
“I’m good. Nikki and I are going to go shopping later to find something for Howie’s birthday. She wants to get him this briefcase with his initials engraved on it. Isn’t that sweet?” Lexie asked excitedly, her reservations about Jaqs melting away.
“Sound really cool. Can I ask you something personal?” started Jacquie nervously.
“Sure, JQ, what is it?” Lexie asked scrunching up her face.
“Don’t you ever feel left out?”
“What do you mean?” Jacquie shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
“Well I have Kev, Faye has Brian, Nikki has Howie, and Mel has Nick. Don’t you ever feel like the odd one out?” asked Jacquie softly as Lexie sighed.
“I used to. I mean y’all had someone and I didn’t but AJ and I are best friends and so when y’all are with your men AJ and I hang out and watch movies,” she said a tinge of regret in her voice.
“But you want more from AJ don’t you?” Jacquie sympathized.
“Things between AJ and I are.....complicated. I will always have a mad crush on AJ but he’s not ready. Amanda really threw him for a loop. He really cared about her. I can’t make him like me so I’ll settle for being his best friend. I was there when it all went down with Amanda-I was the shoulder he cried on and I’m proud to call him my best friend.”
“Wasn’t Amanda jealous of your relationship?” asked Jacquie taking a sip of her OJ.
“I think so. She never came out and said that. Something about there schedules being too hectic was her reason for breaking it off. Maybe she was, who knows. All I know is that she broke his heart and I’m not too fond of her for that,” finished Lexie bitterly as she got up and put her plate in the sink.
“You’re really protective of him aren’t you?”
“Are you kidding? You know that even before I met him, I was mad about him. I’m just thankful that I’m in the position that I’m in. Being AJ’s best friend is the best thing...,” she trailed off sitting down.
“...next to being his girlfriend,” Jacquie finished for her as she nodded.
“Hey all!” said Nikki walking into the kitchen “Ready, Lex? Oh Jaqs wanna come to the mall with us?”
“No that’s fine, you two go and bond. I’ll stay here,” she stated.
“OK, cool. Come on, Lexie-we’re outta here.”
“Ooh can we take my tracker?” asked Lexie grabbing her purse.
“We’ll just take mine, I think I’m parked behind you anyway,” said Nikki as they walked out of the kitchen.
“Hey J, how is it going?” asked Jacquie finding AJ in Lexie’s room writing.
“Not bad Jaqs, how are you?” asked AJ looking up from his notebook.
“I’m OK, I just came to see where you disappeared too. Sure like to hang in Lexie’s room a lot,” she commented.
“It’s like my home away from home,” he replied smiling.
“You two get along really well, don’t you?”
“We’ve got tons in common. Lexie’s great. I don’t know what you’d do without her,” he stated leaning back in the chair.
“Do you care about her?” asked Jacquie sitting down on Lexie’s bed.
“Are you kidding? Of course. I’d go through hell for that girl. She’s my best friend.”
“What does that mean to you AJ? What does Lexie mean to you?” she pushed.
“You don’t think I see where this conversation is headed, Jacquie? I understand Lexie, she understands me. We know what the other is thinking without having to say a word. I like her a lot Jaqs and I know you are just looking out for her but our relationship is just that, ours,” he stated softly.
“One more question AJ and I swear I’ll leave. Do you love her?”
AJ turned to stare out the picture window watching Faye and Brian horse around in the pool. He let a nervous breath out and looked to Jacquie. “Honestly, JQ, I don’t know but whatever I’m feeling is really strong for her. Maybe I’m scared, maybe I think she’s too good for me but I honestly don’t know.”
“Shut up,” yelled Lexie giggling throwing her blue and purple streaked hair over her shoulder “You are such a guy, AJ!!!!”
“What can I say? I have to make my species proud,” he commented.
“Species is right. What planet are you from again?” she queried sending the room into laughter. Everyone had come back to the girls house and they had ordered pizza. It was storming outside pretty badly so instead of attempting to go home, everyone decided to crash at their place. Right now the gang sat in the living room with candles burning just talking and having a good time playing skeletons in the closet.
“OK Faye. I’ve always wondered this. How in the world did you convince your parents to let you go to the concert in Ohio when we met the guys?”
“I didn’t,” said Faye “I just told you they caved in but I actually just.....ran away. I knew something was going to happen that night. Call it psychic connection but I just knew it.”
“You little bad girl! Why didn’t you say anything?” asked Nikki.
“Hey you wait your turn!” said Lexie loudly “Faye answers one question and the turn is over. Faye, pick your victim.”
JQ leaned over and whispered something in Faye’s ear. Faye’s grin grew as Jacquie kept talking. When she was finished they both slapped high fives.
“AJ, spill it. What exactly are your feelings toward Lexie?” AJ and Lexie both shot dirty looks to Jacquie who just sat next to Kevin snuggling against him. AJ looked at Lex and then back to Faye contemplating what to do. He took one final look at Lexie and said “That’s between Lexie and I, no one else. You guys know that’s the only thing I keep private.”
“He didn’t answer,” commented Nick.
“You’re right he didn’t,” said Faye.
“OK give me the punishment already,” stated AJ.
Faye looked at JQ and smiled “You’ve gotta kiss Lexie for one minute. Real kiss, no stopping.”
AJ and Lexie looked at each other with scared, confused eyes “You’re kidding right?” Lexie asked.
“What, don’t want to kiss her?” questioned JQ.
“Well no, I mean yes I mean....if I would kiss Lexie it wouldn’t be in front of all you guys.”
“Should have thought about that before you refused to answer,” said Faye grabbing Brian’s wrist and looking at his watch. “I’ll start timing when you two start to kiss.”
AJ turned to Lexie and she turned to him. They both stared at each other with pleading eyes. AJ searched Lexie to see what her reaction was and couldn’t find one-she was great at hiding her emotions when she wanted to.
“I’m sorry,” AJ whispered.
“Don’t be. I understand: Let’s just get it over with,” and AJ leaned down to kiss her.
As soon as their lips touched the world around them started to melt away. There was something in the kiss that made them want more, made them demand more. Lexie wrapped an arm around AJ’s neck and he pulled her closer by wrapping an arm around her waist. They both released the pent up emotion and sexual tension in the kiss. It was well past a minute and they still continued to kiss. With one last gentle peck, AJ pulled away and Lexie moved out of his grasp, dazed. The gang just looked at each other and smiled.
“I told you so,” stated JQ into Kevin’s ear.
“So?” asked everyone in unison.
“It was OK,” AJ said seriously as the gang just stared at him open mouthed. AJ didn’t like to throw his emotions out in the open. When he kissed Lexie though he knew it, he felt it. She was the one. He’d always wondered in the back of his mind what it would be like to be with Lexie. He had a thing for her ever since they had met. But the last thing he wanted to do was let them think that he liked her now, which he did. He had felt the spark, it was Lexie all along. AJ looked around at the shocked face and his eyes landed on Lexie. She looked as if she was about to burst into tears. Her face hardened as she looked at him. AJ kicked himself realizing what he had done. She got up and started to walk away.
“Lex, wait!” he exclaimed.
“Screw you, AJ. I can’t believe you would embarrass me like that in front of our friends. Don’t talk to me ever!” she yelled running up the stairs. AJ closed his eyes and swore beneath his breath. Why couldn’t he have said he liked it, that he liked her? He went to follow but Jacquie stopped him.
“Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” she asked.
“Piss off, Jacquie. If you hadn’t made us kiss this wouldn’t have happen.”
“Yeah well if you would have just admitted to liking the kiss and liking her we wouldn't be here. You don’t have to put on this macho act around us, especially Lexie. Out of my way,” said JQ pushing past him and running upstairs.
Lexie had locked herself in her room for about a day. AJ walked to the top of the stairs. Nobody was home and he saw this as his chance to talk with her.
Surprisingly enough the door was open. Lexie stood next to her window, hugging herself. She was listening to the ‘Hope Floats’ soundtrack that he had given her. She touched the window and then put a hand to her face and cried. AJ watched her stare out the window, crying. He so wanted to go to her and hug it all away, tell her it would be alright and nothing could hurt her. But AJ had done the one thing he promised himself he wouldn’t, he hurt the one thing more precious to him than to him than anything. He realized too late that he did love her and now instead of holding her and kissing her, he lost his best friend and soulmate in the process. AJ turned around and walked back down the stairs and out of the house.
~ DAYS LATER ~
"AHCHOO!” sneezed Lexie as Nikki and Mel laughed. The girls were in the attic of the house cleaning it up. It was the last place of the house the girls had to attack. Lexie was in charge of dusting and vacuuming and Nikki and Mel were bring things up “I hate dust.”
“You just hate work,” commented Mel laughing.
“So? Work is just another way for me to break a nail,” stated Lexie playing up to the pampered princess act. Nikki and Mel walked towards the opening that led to the inside of the house.
“We’re going to go get some food at Mickey’s, want anything?” asked Melli.
“I’ll take a super size fry. Be careful, guys. You bump that door and we get locked in!” warned Lex.
“Yes, MOM, we know,” replied Nikki as her and Mel disappeared into the house.
Lexie had been vacuuming out the windowsill. She stopped and turned around just in time to see AJ come up into the attic. He started to close the door and Lexie’s eyes got wide.
“AJ, NO!!!!” she yelled running to the door as it clicked into place. “You moron!”
“What?” he asked confused.
“Your dumb ass just locked us in here! Nikki and Mel went out to get food! Who knows when they’ll get home.”
“I’m sorry, Lex. I didn’t know. I came up here because we need to talk.”
“Talk? You think I’m going to talk to you? After what you did to me you’re lucky that I haven’t beat your sorry ass! You find a way to leave my presence or you're going out that window over there!” she exclaimed walking away.
“Lexie, why are you doing this? Why are you being such a bitch,” he demanded. He had come here trying to make things right and she was laying into him.
“I’m being a what? How dare you! I have every right to be angry with you. Do you know how embarrassed I was when you said what you said? DO YOU! No you don’t. You come here trying to make everything better, not quite. I trusted you, AJ. I trusted you with my heart and my feelings and everything I ever said to you and then you just go and diss me right in front our friends. How dare you!” she said poking him in the chest.
“What did you want me to say, Lexie? Now that I kissed you I realized how madly in love with you I was? Is that what you wanted?” he asked loudly though it was the truth.
"I never want to say anything you don’t mean, you know that. But if you weren’t satisfied with the kiss couldn’t you have lied to save my pride? To save my feelings? No, AJ always has to be AJ. Speaking his mind and being the bad ass! That doesn’t impress me, it never did,” she said angrily.
“I wasn’t looking to impress you,” he said sternly.
“Then why did you say it, knowing that it would hurt me?”
“Did you ever think I was scared? Scared of admitting what that kiss meant and how it made me feel?” said AJ turning his back on her. She stopped shocked. Was is possible that he liked her. What was he so scared of if it wasn’t that? He made his way to the attic window and stared out. Lexie didn’t want to press him so she went over to one of her boxes and did a little inventory. She wrinkled her brow and pulled out some photo albums. A smile formed on her face when she saw the book. She glanced over to AJ and opened the book, paging through the pictures. They were pictures of her and AJ. She gingerly touched one picture of AJ carrying Lex fireman style. Another one of her and AJ showed AJ with his arms wrapped around Lexie’s waist and his head resting on her shoulder. It was at a picnic in the park. Lex remembered that day like it was yesterday. She had been so happy with him. Things weren’t complicated. Everything was peachy.
“What are you looking at?” asked AJ walking over to Lex and crouching down behind her.
“Nothing, just a scrapbook of um...us.”
“Hey this is like the one you gave me,” commented AJ. For Christmas Lexie had given AJ a photo album of pictures with his family, the guys, and of course the girls. What Lexie didn’t know is that it was AJ’s most prized possession. He took it everywhere he went. It was a way of holding onto everyone especially her. He gazed at a picture of the two of them with Goofy at Disney. She had a big little kid smile on her face. Earlier in the day she had taken AJ sunglasses and was wearing them. She also had on his favorite yellow shirt because she had complained of being cold.
“You remember that day?” she asked looking over to him. He scooted closer and looked at the picture in a little more detail.
“Of course, how could I forget. It took me a month to get that shirt back from you,” he commented softly.
“Yeah. Hey remember the time we were at Blockbuster Golf and Games and those girls came up us and you told them I was your wife?” they both laughed.
“Or how about the time we went online and no one believed it was me.”
“That was classic and then the one girl who did believe you gave you her phone number and then you called her up and serenaded her answering machine! That was perfect,” stated Lexie giggling.
“Remember when we were in K-Mart-” started AJ.
“Don’t you mean the Big K?” she asked still giggling.
“Oh yeah sorry, remember when we were in the Big K and we had the lightsabre duel?”
“Yeah I had Darth Maul’s and you had Obi-Wan’s. I whooped up on you,” she stated turning to face AJ better.
“Are you kidding? I kicked your ass!” exclaimed AJ disbelievingly.
“I had the double one-how could you possibly beat me!?” The two continued to argue about who won for quite some time, finally deciding that it was a tie.
“Lex, do you remember that day we were at Disney?” he asked pointing to the picture in the book.
“Yeah, you guys were performing and invited us to go along and watch. You didn’t perform til later so we went around the park and had a good time.”
“Do you remember what I said to you that day?” he asked sort of shy picking at his clothes “That’s the day we made our promises. We stood on the wishing bridge and we promised each other-”
“-that no matter what we’d stay best friends and never let anything come between us,” she finished for him. He looked into her green eyes and sighed. He saw the pain he had put there and it killed him.
“AJ, don’t blame yourself. It was partly my fault for what happened. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It was a mistake,” she said softly.
“You don’t mean that,” he said still staring at her “Even I don’t think it was a mistake. I’m sorry for not protecting you. I never meant to hurt you in any way. You are my best friend in the whole wide world-I never want to hurt you,” he said switching his gaze to the floor.
“AJ, what did you mean earlier? What did you mean when you said you were scared to admit what that kiss meant?” she looked at him expectantly and AJ knew that sooner or later she’d ask.
“Lex, when I kissed you I got this....feeling, this.....electricity. When I looked at you after that, it was like I was looking at you with open eyes. I finally saw how much you meant to me, how beautiful you are, how much I need you in my life. It was like a light suddenly went on saying ‘Dummy, this is her. She’s your one.’ I was scared of admitting all that. I didn’t want to hurt you. You deserve better than a dyed haired, tattoo covered guy who is gone six to ten months out of the year. And sooner or later I rub everyone the wrong way. I just don’t want to lose you,” he replied with barely a whisper.
“AJ, I’ve been friends with you for at least two years. If you were going to ‘rub me the wrong way’ wouldn’t you have done it already? I’ve put up with a lot of your shit because I am your best friend. If it had been anyone else, they would have been long gone by now. Face it, McLean, your stuck with me,” she said shrugging her shoulders.
“Can I ask you something?” she nodded and he continued “Do you love me? Ya know not like a brother loves a sister but like how Jacquie loves Kevin?”
He avoided her gaze and she shifted uncomfortably on the hard floor. She learned forward and lift his chin to look at her. “Actually in all honesty, I love you more.”
A large grin appeared across his face. “I take it that your happy about that answer?” she asked.
“Are you kidding? I never thought you’d ever say that to me. Ya know it took me two years to get to this moment with you and from now on I’m not letting you outta my sight.
“Well, Mr. AJ, do you love me? Not in a brother sister way but-”
She was cut off by AJ’s lips crushing hers. The kiss was demanding and hard but Lexie enjoyed every second. She held onto his neck for support and ran her free hand through his hair. He gripped her waist and slid her onto his lap. Just like the kiss before there was a spark of chemistry of something more exciting to come. AJ leaned her back so that she was almost laying in his lap. They broke the kiss, both breathing heavy. “Does that answer your question?”
“You bet it does,” she replied as he lightly ran his hand against her cheek.
“I love you Alexandra Jasmine.”
“I love you too Alexander James.”
The attic door creaked open at that moment.
“Sorry, we’re so late, Lex, but we meet up with Brian and Nick at the McDonald’s and they insisted we eat with them. How are you-” Nikki stopped dead in her tracks seeing the site before her.
“Move, Tricks, I can’t get into the attic. What’s the-” Mel stopped right next to Nikki looking at the couple.
“Hey guys what’s up?” asked Lexie casually sitting up in AJ’s lap.
“We could ask you the same thing. What went on up here?” demanded Nikki.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” smiled AJ getting up taking Lexie with him heading past them on the way down “Don’t worry it was just some attic confessions.”
