ESTHER LOOKS ON EXCITEDLY AS BRIAN SPEEDS PAST A ROADSIGN STATING, IN BIG BOLD LETTERS, "NOW ENTERING CHICAGO CITY LIMITS." SHE PEERS OUT THE WINDOW
AT THE TALL SKYSCRAPERS THAT SEEM TO TOUCH THE SKY. THE CARS SPEED PAST AS THEY CONTINUE TO DRIVE INTO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.
"WELL," BRIAN BEGINS, GLANCING OVER AT ESTHER. "NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO?"
"I WANNA STOP AND STRETCH!" SHE SIGHS LOUDLY, STRETCHING AS FAR AS SHE CAN IN THE CLOSED CONDITIONS OF THE LITTLE VEHICLE. SHE SLUMPS IN HER SEAT AND
REMINISCES ABOUT HER LAST TRIP TO CHICAGO TO VISIT A RICH UNCLE.
IT HAD TAKEN PLACE SO LONG AGO, BEFORE THE DAYS OF CHOREOGRAPHY, AND COSTUMES, AND THE BACKSTREET BOYS ENTERED HER LIFE. SHE REMEMBERED HOW HE'D RENTED A LIMO AND TOOK THEM ON A TOUR OF THE CITY, POINTING OUT ALL THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND SHE SMILED JUST AT THE THOUGHT OF IT.
SHE INSTANTLY SITS UP IN HER SEAT, AND WHIRLS AROUND TO FACE BRIAN. "LET'S GO VISIT MY UNCLE!" SHE LAUGHS, BOUNCING UP AND DOWN IN HER SEAT LIKE A GIDDY CHILD ON ROUTE TO THE CANDY STORE.
BRIAN SMILES AND PLACES A HAND ON HER SHOULDER. "WHERE'D THAT SUDDEN BURST OF ENERGY COME FROM?" SHE LAUGHS AND HE CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH WITH HER. "YEAH, WE CAN GO VISIT HIM. TELL ME HOW TO GET THERE AND IT'S DONE."
ESTHER BEGINS TO GIVE DIRECTIONS AND THEY SOON FIND THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF HER UNCLE'S HOUSE DEEP IN THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO.
"IT'S KINDA SMALL FOR SOMEONE THAT CAN AFFORD BETTER." ESTHER EXPLAINS, AS SHE GETS OUT OF THE CAR. "BUT IT SETS A HOMEY ATMOSPHERE."
"A HOMEY ATMOSPHERE?"
ESTHER SENSES A IMPERSONATION COMING ON AND IT'S NOT A MOMENT LATER THAT BRIAN COMES UP BEHIND HER AND ASKS, "SO BRO, YOU'S SAYIN' HIS CRIB'S GOT DAT "HOMEY" THING GOING ON?"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, DOOFUS." SHE LAUGHS , AS HE WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER WAIST.
"YO, I'M DOWN WIT DAT!" HE ASSURES, ROCKING HER BACK AND FORTH. HE KISSES HER ON THE CHEEK AND SAYS, "WHY DON'T YOU GO KNOCK ON THE DOOR WHILE I GET THE LUGGAGE, OKAY?"
SHE KISSES HIM BACK AND BRIAN WATCHES AS SHE OPENS THE GATE AND PROCEEDS TO THE FRONT DOORSTEP.
THEY'D FINALLY OPTED TO TAKING A QUICK STOP AT A
LOCAL GAS STATION TO TAKE A RESTROOM BREAK AND PICK UP SOMETHING TO TIDE OVER THE FAMINE THEY'D SUFFERED THROUGH ALL THAT MORNING. KEVIN SIGHS AS HIM AND LAURA HEAD TO THE CHECK-OUT COUNTER WITH THEIR ITEMS.
"NO. THERE'S BEEN A TIME OR TWO THAT WE'VE SKIPPED OUT ON IT. USUALLY, TIM AND THE REST OF THE BAND WILL JUST COVER FOR US WHEN WE DON'T SHOW." HE EXPLAINS WHILE THE CASHIER RINGS UP THE PRICES FOR THEIR PURCHASES.
"HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET THERE IN TIME FOR THE SHOW, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING THE BAND DEFINITELY CAN'T COVER FOR US."
"OH." LAURA FALLS SILENT FOR A MOMENT. "DID HOWIE COME IN WITH US A WHILE AGO, OR NO?"
"NAH, HE'S STILL ASLEEP IN THE CAR." KEVIN REPLIES, PULLING OUT A $20 BILL TO PAY THE CASHIER. "I DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE HIM SO I JUST LEFT HIM THERE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING." THEY PICK UP THEIR PURCHASES AND START WALKING TO THE EXIT.
"WE NEED TO HURRY AND GET UP TO CHICAGO SO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FIND THEM TWO." HE OPENS THE DOOR FOR LAURA AND THEN PROCEEDS TO FOLLOW. "DO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY MIGHT WANT TO GO IN CHICAGO?"
"UH...." LAURA MEDITATES, ROLLING HER EYES TO THE TOP OF HER HEAD. "SHE MENTIONED A RICH UNCLE THAT LIVED THERE ONCE. MAYBE THEY WENT TO VISIT HIM."
"YEAH, MAYBE." KEVIN SIGHS AS HE CONTINUES TO WALK IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR CAR. SUDDENLY, HE NOTICES THAT LAURA HAS STOPPED WALKING AND HE PAUSES TO TURN AROUND AND SEE WHAT IT IS HOLDING HER UP. SHE STANDS AT
FULL ATTENTION, HER EYES WIDE AND STARING STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF HER.
"WHAT'S WRONG?" HE ASKS, WALKING TOWARDS HER.
FOR A MOMENT, SHE STILL STANDS THERE, COMPLETELY SILENT. FINALLY, SHE SQUEAKS, "W-WASN'T OUR CAR PARKED OVER T-THERE?" SHE POINTS IN FRONT OF THEM BOTH, HER EYES STILL WIDE.
KEVIN FOLLOWS HER GAZE AND HIS JAW INSTANTLY DROPS WHEN HIS GAZE FALLS UPON THE EMPTY PARKING SPACE WHERE THEIR CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ONLY MINUTES EARLIER.
"YEAH, I'M FINE." SHE ASSURES, SLOWLY SITTING UP AND STRETCHING. SHE LOOKS UP AT HIM BEFORE SPITTING, "OF COURSE, IT WAS YOUR FAULT I CHOKED IN THE FIRST PLACE."
"WHAT?!" A.J. SPEAKS IN A SHOCKED TONE. "HOW IS IT MY FAULT YOU CHOKED?!"
"WELL, YOU TOLD ME YOU HOPED THAT I CHOKED ON MY PIZZA!" DIANA SNAPS, CROSSING HER ARMS IN FRONT OF HER CHEST.
"WHA..... SO?! HOW COULD THAT HAVE CAUSED YOU TO CHOKE ON IT?!"
DIANA'S EYES GROW WIDE AS SHE BECOMES MORE INFURIATED WITH HIM. "YOU JINXED ME, THAT'S HOW!"
"OH, GIVE ME A BREAK!" A.J. SNORTS, SLAMMING HIS HANDS ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. "I TRY TO DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOU, AND THEN YOU BLAME ME FOR IT?!"
"WELL, IT WAS YOUR FAULT! I'VE NEVER CHOKED ON ANYTHING BEFORE IN MY LIFE!" DIANA SHOUTS BACK, CLENCHING HER FISTS TIGHTLY.
"RIGHT! BECAUSE I SAID I HOPED YOU CHOKED ON YOUR PIZZA!" A.J. GROWLS, GLARING ANGRILY OVER AT HER. "WHAT ARE YOU, SUPERSTITIOUS OR SOMETHING?!"
"IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM OR NOT! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME BACK THERE!" DIANA SNEERS.
"THAT'S BULLSHIT, DIANA! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO BLAME ME FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO?!"
"BECAUSE....... I DUNNO! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" DIANA GROWLS, QUICKLY TURNING HERSELF TOWARDS HER WINDOW. A SILENCE FALLS UPON THEM AS THEY CONTINUE TO DRIVE ALONG A LONG STRETCH OF HIGHWAY.
"DO YOU BELIEVE IN WITCHCRAFT TOO?!"
"OH, JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!"
"....AH, YOU PROBABLY DO AND...."
"....YOU BETTER BE QUIET! DON'T MAKE ME HURT YOU OR........"
".......VOODOO DOLL OF EACH OF US AND STICK PINS IN IT EVERY NIGHT....."
".......YOU WANT ME TO SLUG YOU, DON'T YOU?! I WILL, IF I HAVE TO...."
".....GO ON ROOFTOPS AND LIGHT CANDLES......"
".....OH, JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!!! YOU'RE MAKING ME MAD....."
".....BOIL UP THAT GREEN STUFF UP IN ONE OF THOSE CAUDRALS OR CAULDRONS OR WHATEVER AND....."
"....I'M GONNA SLAP THE SNOT OUT OF YOU IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP! YOU..."
"..... ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU HAD BIG CANINES; SO YOU COULD SUCK BLOOD AND ALL......"
".....BETTER SHUT THAT HOLE IN YOUR FACE BEFORE I STICK MY FIST IN IT, YOU LITTLE...."
"......OH YEAH, REAL SCARY......."
"BE QUIET!!!!"
"........AS A CHILD YOU DUG AROUND IN CLOVER PATCHES LOOKING FOR LEPRECHAUNS WHILE THE OTHER KIDS JUST....."
"......I'M NOT LISTENING TO YOU! LA DA DA, DA DA......."
".....HOWL AT THE FULL MOON AND EAT......"
"....... WANNA EXAMPLE OF HOWLING? THAT SONG, *LAY DOWN BESIDE ME*! WHO SINGS IT AGAIN......."
"...... BE WORKING AT ONE OF THOSE CRYSTAL BALL BOOTHS AT......"
"........ BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHOW I CARE!"
A.J. SLAMS ON THE BRAKES AND THEY COME TO A SCREECHING HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AN AWKWARD SILENCE FOLLOWS AS HE TURNS TO DIANA, HIS EYES WIDE WITH DISBELIEF. DIANA FEELS HER FACE BEGIN TO FLUSH AND QUICKLY TURNS TO FACE THE WINDOW.
"I......" A.J. BEGINS, STUMBLING OVER THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY. "I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU FELT THAT WAY ABOUT......"
"WELL, I DO!" DIANA SNAPS OVER HER SHOULDER, HER FACE GROWING MORE CRIMSON.
"WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" HE ASKS SOFTLY, SCOOTING CLOSER TO HER. HE REACHES UP SLOWLY AND PUTS HIS HANDS ON HER SHOULDERS.
" 'CAUSE I.....I..." DIANA BREATHES HEAVILY, STARTING TO SHAKE. SHE TURNS AROUND TO FIND HIS FACE ONLY INCHES AWAY FROM HERS. SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND SWALLOWS BEFORE SAYING, "I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU FELT THE SAME WAY."
AS IF IN SLOW MOTION, HER BREATH CATCHES IN HER THROAT AS A.J. SLOWLY BRINGS HIS LIPS UP AND BRUSHES THEM SOFTLY AGAINST HERS.
