Chance Of A Lifetime

A few days later we were getting ready for another concert. I had pretty much settled into a routine when it came to setting up and I was having a great time with -that job. After set-up for the concert was done I went back into the dressing room area and was accosted by Aaron, Nick's younger brother. He was with the town for a few dates and I haven't had a chance to meet him yet. He looked up at me, and I said, " Hi, I'm Nicole!"
He answered with a burst of enthusiasm, "Hi, I'm Aaron, Nicks my big brother, do you wanna come play Nintendo with me?"
I just laughed, "Sure!"
So he grabbed my hand and practically dragged me into the dressing room where the Nintendo was. What a little bundle of energy! We played for about a half an hour when Donna popped into the room and said, "I hate to break up what looks like a lor of fun, but Nicole I need you to find A.J. please, if you would. He hasn't been see for a while and I just don't have time to look for him."
"Sure, Donna, I'll go find him right away." I turned to Aaron, "Sorry, buddy, I gotta go. You were beating me anyway."
"That's okay we'll play again sometime," he said, with a cute grin giving me a hug.
"Bye, Aaron," I said, as I closed the door behind me.
I really had no idea where A.J. could be so I just started opening doors and looking into various rooms. I had almost looked into every room when I noticed a door behind me that I hadn't checked yet. I walked over to it and opened it quickly not expecting to find anything. What I saw though made my heart drop to my feet. There, in the semi-darkness, on one of the sofas in the room, was A.J. and some other girl kissing quite deeply. I was in shock to say the least. They jumped apart when they heard the door open and he sat there looking guilty while all she did was sit there with a satisified smile on her face. I suprised myself by being totally calm and I said coldly, "Um, A.J., not that I'm your babysitter or anything, but Donna needs you with the other guys." I turned to walk out the door, he was still speechless.
"And I think she might need you fairly soon, that is if you aren't too involved with something life-threateningly important," I said looking at the girl.
With that I slammed the door behind me and I took off at a jog down the hall. I wasn't looking where I was going so when Kevin rounded one of the corners into the hall I slammed right into him.
"Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked, and then he say the troubled look on my face and asked, "What's wrong?"
I opened my mouth to say nothing but instead the sypathetic look on his face made me burst into tears.
"Hey, hey it's okay what's wrong?" he said as he pulled me into a hug. "Here lets get out of this hall."
He opened the door to one of the rooms and led me over to one of the couches. He just let me cry for a while, while stroking my hair. After a few minutes I calmed down enough to say sorry for drenching his shirt. He just laughed softly and said, "Now do you wanna tell me what's wrong? "
I just caught A.J. kissing some other girl, I was just so suprised..."
Kevin just sighed, "I don't know what to tell ya, Nic. A.J. switches girls a lot, he has never been one for commitment, at least recently anyway. I am suprised though he seemed very serious about his feelings for you. I think you should really talk to him about this. No sense letting it go further if his heart isn't in it."
I dried my eyes as best as I could and said, "Thanks, K, I'll do that. Thanks for listening."
He gave me another hug, "I am always here for you, sweetie!"
I smiled and got up off the couch.
"I better go see if there is anything Donna needs me to do. You guys have got to go get ready, so if I am gonna talk to A.J. it will probably have to wait until after the show."
I walked out the door with him and I took off in search of Donna while he went to the stage for the last part of the soundcheck. I ran into Nick on my wanderings and he when he saw my red eyes he got a concerned look on his face and said, "Hey are you okay? What's wrong?"
I told him the short version of what had happened. He got really mad and after giving me a hug he said, "Man, I love A.J. like a brother, but right now I feel like pounding him."
"Thanks, Nick," I said, with a small laugh. "But he needs to be able to talk to me before you pound his face in."
Nick said, "Well whatever, but you just keep me updated okay? You're one of my best friends. I am always here if you need me."
"Thanks Nick, you're one of my best friends too. Now go get where you're supposed to be."
I found Donna in one of the side rooms and she put me to work doing some paper work. I didn't get to watch the show because it took me forever to finish it.

The guys trickled out onto the stage one by one. Nick asked Kevin while they were waiting, "Hey did Nicole tell you what happened?"
Kevin said, "You mean about A.J.? Yeah I found her right after it happened."
"What's up with him. He was just telling me the other day how much he felt for her and how it was stronger than anything he had ever felt before. Then he goes and does something like this? I can't figure him our and right now I feel like blackening his face for hurting her."
Right at this time A.J. walked onto the stage. He noticed the dirty looks he was getting from Kevin and Nick and walked over to them.
"What's up guys?"
Kevin answered him calmly trying to read him, "Not much, what have you been up to?"
"Um, not much."
Nick then burst out, "Aw get off it man! Nicole told us what happened. What kind of game are you playing?"
A.J. was suprised they had heard and got defensive, "So what she told everyone? Yeah, I was kissing another girl."
"Hey," Nick said, "She wasn't going to tell anyone, but she ran into Kevin and burst into tears. I thought you really cared about her?"
A.J. just sort of deflated and sighed, "I don't know, I do care about her in fact. I think I am almost in love with her. I guess I just got scared of that kind of seriousness. And I swear when I kissed that other girl it was odd because all I could think about it was Nicole."
Nick wasn't pacified as much, "So what are you gonna do about it? You broke her heart."
"I don't know, man, I just don't know. She probably doesnt' even wanna see me."
Seeing how torn apart she was Kevin and Nick eased up a bit and took pity.
Kevin said, "Well, I am sure she is willing to tak but its gonna take some major effort on your part to win back her trust."
"You think so? I hope so, I will try to find her after the show. Thanks guys."
Nick said, "Just make sure you don't screw up again. You don't know how much I wanted to pound your face after seeing her so upset."
A.J. managed a smile, and they finished up the soundcheck.

I got done with the paper work a little bit before the concert ended so I decided to do some much needed reading. I got so caught up in my book that when the door opened I jumped 3 feet. It was A.J. and he looked apologetic as he came in.
"Hey," he said softly, "Mind if I join you?"
I just motioned to the chair across from me."
"What's up," I said guardedly.
"Nicole, look..."
"I interuptted him, and quietly but firmly said, "No A.J. you look. I don't know whats going on with you or even where we stood really before this happened, but I thought we had something going. I can't handle this hurt. If you heart is somewhere else then please let me know. I at least deserve that but don't keep toying with me."
He burst out, obviously upset, "That's justit, I don't know what I feel. I care about you...alot, and we did have something going. I am just not used to these feelings yet and I am confused. That other girl..."
I interupted again, "You don't even need to bring up whoever that was. She is nothing, just a result of something more complicated."
"I know, but even when she and I kissed, all I could see and feel was you."
I was almost in tears again after all this and my voice caught as I said, "Well A.J., I think you need to figure out what you feel. It's not fair to either of us to keep this up. I need to know what's in your heart, I know what's in mine. I think we both need time though. How about we sleep on this for a few days and do some thinking. When you have your feelings worked out let me know, and we'll go from there."
"Fine...fine...," he said, horsely and on the verge of tears as well, "See you later."
We hugged and he left the room.