AJ and Howie started talking up several females, but
most of the ones they had talked to so far were either engaged,
married, or had a boyfriend. Howie wasn't talking much, as AJ encouraged
him to
be more outgoing, but at the age of 25, Howie didn't really want to do
all the flirting anymore. He wanted to meet a girlfriend, someone he
could eventually settle down with, and maybe get married too. He
thought Kelly was that one, but he had been terribly wrong.
"Howie, be more social, you are acting really snotty," AJ told him, as
AJ's eyes landed on a brunette talking with a blond. The brunette was
dressed causally with jeans, and a nice shirt. She was chunky, but AJ
thought she looked sexy. The blond was pretty overweight, but she had
nice hair and eyes would she turned around. "Over there Howie. Two
beautiful woman for us." Howie reluctantly followed him.
"Hello ladies," AJ flirted. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Hi," the blond said with a smile. "Sure. I'll have a screwdriver."
"Two screwdrivers," he told the waitress and she left. "I'm AJ, by the
way. And you're?"
"I'm Leanza," she said with a smile. "This is Dianne."
"Nice to meet you," AJ replied as Howie smiled. "This is Howie."
"Hi Howie," Dianne said shyly and Howie noticed she was nice. "Want to
go talk over there?"
"Sure," Howie agreed and they left.
"So, Leanza, where are you from?" AJ asked her as they got their
drinks.
"Montreal, Quebec," answered Leanza with a smile. "My little sister
dragged me down here to see some group called the Backstreet Boys
perform at the House of Blues next week." Signal signs went off in AJ's
head, but he was happy she was the older sister.
"I'm from Orlando," AJ said. "What do you do?"
"I'm an university student," Leanza sipping her drink. "I'm studying
biochemistry."
"Harsh," AJ commented. He hated science. "I'm a singer."
"Oh yeah? Do you have any albums out?" Leanza asked interested when she
heard a shrill scream. She turned to see her younger sister Catharine,
nicknamed Cat, scream because her older sister was sitting with a
Backstreet Boy.
"Omigosh," Cat screamed and Leanza scowled at her.
"Cat, what is your problem?" Leanza snapped at her.
"It's AJ," Cat yelled and AJ inwardly groaned. "Hi AJ. I'm Cat."
"AJ, so?" Leanza replied shaking her head.
"AJ from the Backstreet Boys," Cat said proudly and Leanza looked at
AJ.
"You're a Backstreet Boy?" Leanza asked him.
"Yes," AJ grunted as Cat threw her arms around him. Cat was about 15
and Leanza looked about 21.
"Great," Leanza commented standing up. "I come to a club and I meet a
Backstreet Boy. Thanks for the drink. Come on Cat, before you have a
heart attack."
"Where are you going?" AJ asked her.
"I don't know," Leanza answered. "I just wish my sister wouldn't have
recognized you. Now, she won't leave us alone at all."
"AJ, is Nick here?" Cat asked him.
"Yes, he's here with his girlfriend," AJ answered hoping she'd get the
hint.
"Girlfriend where?" Cat said shocked. "Nick has a girlfriend?"
"Yes," replied AJ. "I think he's over there somewhere. Maybe you can
dance with him." Cat had an determined look on her face, as she left
and Leanza smiled at him greatly.
Brian and Ariale were thoroughly enjoying each other's
company. They had left the club to be alone, and since then, Brian had
not been recognized once. He was wearing a hat though. Ariale was in
heaven as they held hands, and checked out the many shops lining the
Downtown Disney area.
"So, how's life been since we last saw each other?" Brian asked her as
they entered the All Star sports store.
"It's been okay," Ariale answered putting a sweatshirt up to him. "I
did well on most of my exams, and when we get back on Monday, our final
semester of school starts. My job is okay as well. They were sort of
uptight about me having the weekend off in such short notice, but they
were okay with it."
"That's great," Brian answered. "I've been okay. I mean, the studio is
one of the most stressful parts of my career, and this cold has made it
impossible to sing as well as I wish I would."
"Is this album going to be like the last one?" Ariale asked checking
out the baseball hats.
"In some ways yes and in others no," Brian replied. "Enough about that.
"So, what are we going to do the rest of the weekend?" Ariale smiled at
him.
"Hmm, I wonder," she teased and Brian smiled back, pulling her
close.
"Oh yeah, tell me what you have in mind," Brian teased her and Ariale
led him out of the store.
"Well, first, I would love a walk along the most beautiful beach Disney
has to offer with you by my side," Ariale began as Brian stopped,
pulling her close.
"I think I can arrange that," Brian promised, and their lips met, as
the wind blew Ariale's brown hair around, as she ran her fingers through
Brian's hair and his hands through hers.
"That was incredible," Ariale whispered, as she let go of him. "Oh
Brian, I love you so much."
"I love you too Ariale," Brian whispered back, kissing her on the
forehead. "I love you more than I have ever loved anyone before."
"I'm sure you say that to all the girls," Ariale teased as they settled
to holding hands.
"Maybe," Brian replied and Ariale punched him playfully, as they saw
Howie's ex-girlfriend Kelly walking towards them. She was with a guy,
and they were holding hands. Brian could never get over what Howie
exactly saw in Kelly. She was beautiful with light brown hair, that set
off her olive skin, and all most gray eyes, and a thin build, but her
personality was a bit of a ripoff. "Look who it is."
"Who?" Ariale asked curiously looking around. Emilie nor her had met
Kelly yet.
"Kelly, Howie's ex with another guy," replied Brian shaking his head,
as Kelly recognized him. She tugged her boyfriend's hand to obviously
avoid walking near Brian.
"She's with another guy all ready?" Ariale asked in shock.
"I guess so," Brian said as Kelly and the guy headed the other way.
"Who cares about her though? Don't mention to Howie that we saw her because
he's so down about it."
"I won't," Ariale promised as they headed down, as she noticed an ice
cream parlour. "Want some desert?"
"I thought you were my desert," Brian said slyly.
"I can be if you want," Ariale flirted as Brian and her kissed
again.
"Nah, ice cream sounds better," Brian replied and Ariale laughed. They
went to check out the flavours of ice cream, and Ariale decided on a
blueberry frozen yogurt, as Brian decided on an apple and banana
yogurt.
"That's disgusting," Ariale told him and Brian laughed.
"Try some," Brian replied and he fed her some of it, as Ariale looked
like she was ready to gag.
"As I told her, that's so gross," Ariale commented and Brian smiled.
"You just have no sense of adventure," Brian replied as they sat on a
bench to eat their ice cream.
"Littrell, I could beat your butt in adventure any day," Ariale
challenged. "Name the time and place, and I'll be there." Brian looked
up at the challenge.
"Okay Ari, how about we go to the Magic Kingdown tomorrow and whoever
goes on all the rides the most wins?"
Brian suggested and Ariale agreed.
"I'll be your butt," Ariale warned as she ate her yogurt.
"Sure Ariale, be there or be square," Brian replied looking serious and
Ariale had to laugh.
"This is really stupid," Ariale laughed and Brian laughed as well.
"How about we just take a walk on the beach?" Brian replied and Ariale
answered yes by throwing blueberry yogurt on his cheek, and he dabbed
some of his yogurt on her nose.
"Emilie, want to go to the Virgin Megastore?" Nick asked her, as they
walked past the AMC theaters towards the huge Virgin Megastore that was
two stories big. When you walked, there was cd's of all kind of the
enormous bottom floor, and on the top floor they had magazines, books,
and computer games. Emilie noticed the Backstreet Boys cd cover on a
big poster in the front of the store.
"Sure, I love music," she answered with a smile, as they walked hand in
hand into the store. When Nick went in, he took off his sunglasses and
turned his baseball hat backwards. "Wow. I love this store. I spent
like 50 dollars last year when I came down for Spring Break."
"You've been here before?" Nick wanted to know and Emilie nodded.
"My family and I come down a lot during Spring Break," Emilie answered,
checking out the new Brandy cd. "Look, this cd is cool. I like Brandy.
I think I'll get it."
"Well, I'm going to check out the alternative cd's," Nick said letting
go of her hand. "Meet you in a few." Emilie nodded in agreement, as she
listened to Brandy's and MA$E's smash hit "Sittin' On Top Of The
World". Nick, meanwhile, headed towards the alternative cd's determined to
find
the new Barenaked Ladies cd. He has just heard their new song "One
Week" and had really liked it. He hoped he wouldn't get recognized and he
noticed some of the female cashiers eyeing him carefully. He shrugged
their stares off, and walked over to the cd's.
"Emilie Parker? What are you doing here?" asked someone as she tapped
Emilie on the shoulder. Emilie looked up to see her cousin Julie
standing there.
"Hey Julie, I was just going to ask you the same thing," replied Emilie
smiling. "I'm here with Nick and the guys for the weekend. What about
you?"
"My mom and grandma are here," Julie replied smiling. "Where's Brian?"
"Oh, he's with my friend Ariale," Emilie replied reluctantly. "They are
dating now."
"Really? That's sweet," Julie replied as they walked towards the racks
of cd's. "So, how are things with Nick and you?"
"They are awesome," Emilie answered with a smile. "It's been five
months of so much love. How about you? Are you still dating that hockey
player
guy?"
"Oh, Scott?" replied Julie and she shook her head. "So, are you going
to the House of Blues concert tomorrow night?" Emilie looked at her in
puzzlement.
"Who's playing?" Emilie wanted to know.
"The Backstreet Boys," replied Julie a little too loudly, which made
their whole row of girls turn around.
"Backstreet Boys? They are here somewhere," one of them told Julie and
Emilie. "My friends saw Brian and his girlfriend walking around
outside, and Howie and AJ went at the club according to another girl. Why?
Have
you seen them?" Julie smiled at Emilie.
"No, I haven't," Emilie lied. "If you see them, tell me."
"Sure, no problem," the girl replied with a smile. "But, I get first
dibs on Nick."
"Em, I found it," Nick said coming up to her as the girl stared. "Hi
Julie. How are you?"
"Hi Nick," Julie smiled and the girl screamed, as all most the whole
store turned to stare.
"Nick? Is it really you?" she shrieked and all her friends stared.
"Yeah," Nick replied. "It's me."
"Wow," she cried, as tears flowed down her cheeks. Nick, good-naturedly
gave her a hug, and they took a picture together, as Emilie and Julie
talked about what the concert.
"Ready?" Nick asked Emilie and Julie, and they nodded. Nick took
Emilie's hand, and they walked towards the cashier. "Here, I'll get that
for you." He took the Brandy cd from Emilie and paid for it.
"Nick, you didn't have to get it for me," Emilie protested.
"It's okay," Nick answered smiling at her. "You deserve it."
"Thanks sweetie," Emilie kissed him quickly. "Oh, Julie told me about
the House of Blues concert tomorrow night? Is it true?"
"Yeah it is," Nick answered with a smile. "It was sort of supposed to
be a surprise though."
"I'm sorry I ruined the surprise," Julie apologized as Emilie noticed
Julie's mom and grandma. Emilie waved at them, as Julie left them and
went over to her. Nick and Emilie walked out of the store, as they
turned around to see they were being followed.
"Great," Nick muttered as he caught sight of Ariale and Brian eating
ice cream. "There's Ariale and Brian. Let's go."
"Okay," Emilie agreed and they walked over to them. "Ice cream looks so
good. Want one?"
"Sure," Nick replied. "Mint chocolate chip of course." Emilie smiled at
him.
"Same with me," Emilie replied and she went in to order to small ice
cream cones, as Nick waited with Ariale and Brian outside. That's when
she saw him. There stood her ex-crush in line with his sister and he
turned around to look at her. She wondered what so many people were
doing in Florida. He turned around, and his eyes looked straight into
Emilie's. She looked away, hoping he wouldn't notice her.
"Wow, hey Emilie," yelled his sister.
"Hi," Emilie smiled as the guy glanced at her. She pretended not to
notice him. They soon left, as Emilie breathed a sigh of relief, and
she ordered her ice cream cones. She walked out and handed one to Nick. He
thanked her, and they sat down on the bench.
"So, what have you two troublemakers been up to?" Brian asked them.
"Just causing lots of trouble," Nick answered and Emilie laughed.
"Oh no," Brian said in fake mock horror. "You didn't?"
"We did," Nick answered back and Emilie and Ariale looked at them in
complete puzzlement.
"Did what?" Ariale asked curious.
"Tickled you," Brian replied, and he playfully tickled under her chin.
"Brian, no, we have to be civilized, no stop," Ariale shrieked
laughing. Emilie laughed as well, as she felt the cold air hit her bare arms
hard.
She hadn't noticed how cold it could get in Florida at night,
especially during the winter. The ice cream was also making her cold, so she
threw
it out, and hugged herself close.
"Cold?" Nick wanted to know and Emilie nodded. He put his arms around
her and pulled her close. She was still shivering, and Nick was only
wearing a t-shirt. "Come on, we'll buy you a sweater."
"No, I'm okay," Emilie answered, but Nick insisted on it. The last
thing he wanted was Emilie catching pneumonia or something before their big
gig the next night.
"Em, I can tell you are cold," Nick said as they entered a store and
Nick picked up a nice, flowered cardigan, and bought it for her.
"Nick, I could have bought it," Emilie protested and Nick smiled back.
He wrapped it around her shoulders, and then rubbed then to make sure
she was warm.
"Better?" Nick asked her and Emilie nodded with a big smile...