The next morning I wake to find Nick already awake and watching me.
"Do you know how creepy it is to wake up and find someone watching you?" I laugh, rubbing my eyes to get them to focus.
"Sorry," he smiles.
"How are you?" I ask cautiously, not wanting him to start thinking about yesterday. It doesn't seem to matter though, because he'd obviously been thinking about it all night.
"Fine, I guess," he yawns. "I didn't sleep much last night."
I just nod in response.
"Ally, you knew didn't you?" he asks quietly and calmly.
"Knew what?" I ask, not knowing what he means.
"That A.J. had a thing for you."
I take a deep breath and turn over onto my side to face him, propping my head up with the pillow. "Yeah, I guess I did," I reply honestly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks, sounding hurt.
"Nick," I brush a piece of hair out of his face and place my hand in his. "I didn't want to get in the way of your friendship with A.J. Besides, it's not like anything would have come from A.J. having feelings for me. I love you. And I won't let anything or anyone get in the way of that."
"So nothing ever happened between you two, right?" he asks, looking at me a bit accusingly.
I can feel my stomach turn at the question.
"No, no of course not," I lie.
We'd reached the next city and hotel shortly after Nick and I had woken up. The guys were now at an interview session and Carolyn, Alissa and I were in Carolyn's room watching a movie and eating room service pizza.
"Ally?" Carolyn wipes some pizza sauce from her mouth.
"Yeah?"
"I hope you don't mind me asking but is everything OK, I mean about last night?" she asks, looking a bit concerned.
"Oh, that's OK. Yeah, everything's fine," I answer quickly, not wanting to get into it with her.
"It's just that you normally talk to me about things and you haven't mentioned anything about yesterday. What was the argument about?"
"C, everything is fine. Trust me," I smile. "I would talk to you about it but it's really between Nick and A.J. and I want to respect their privacy, ya know?"
"OK, sure," she smiles. "But if you need to talk, I'm always here for you."
"Thanks," I smile.
Carolyn looks back at the T.V. and Alissa shoots me a that-was-close kind of look.
After finishing the pizza and the movie, Carolyn goes into the bathroom to take a shower, since she'd accidentally spilled coke all over herself.
"So, is everything really OK?" Alissa asks, once we can hear the water from the shower running.
"No," I sigh.
"What happened after we all left you guys in there?" she asks.
"Nick asked A.J. if he had broken up the wedding because he had feelings for me. I mean A.J. would have lied but Nick seemed to already know and he said all this stuff about telling the truth and their friendship and stuff." I shake my head, not wanting to think about it.
"So, what happened?"
"A.J. cracked," I say simply. "He told Nick the truth. I can't blame him, I would have done the same thing in his shoes."
"He didn't tell Nick about you two kissing or that you had feelings for him too at one point, did he?" she asks with a concerned look.
"No, thank God." I take a deep breath to try and relax a bit. "Nick asked me this morning if anything had ever happened between A.J. and I."
"What did you say?"
"I said no. Alissa, I feel so guilty," I whine. "I hate lying to Nick but I know that if I told the truth it would tear us apart." I rest my head on her shoulder.
"I think you did the right thing," she says comfortingly.
"You do?"
"Yup. As long as things between you and A.J. stay strickly platonic from now on, there's no reason to tell Nick about the kiss and all that. It will only hurt him."
"You're right. Thanks Alissa."
After the guys had returned from their interview, we'd all decided to get together in Brian's room and just hang out. Nick hadn't wanted to go, but I'd convinced him that it might be fun.
"Who wants to play twister?" Brian asks, unfolding the colorful mat.
"Where the hell did you get that?" Kevin laughs.
"I bought it in the giftshop," Brian says proudly.
"You are so weird."
Brian laughs.
"I'm up for a game," A.J. volunteers.
"Yeah, I'll play too," Carolyn smiles.
A.J. goes first and spins the colorful wheel. They play for a few minutes laughing the whole time, as the rest of us just chat and watch T.V. Finally, A.J. tips over and Carolyn jumps up in victory.
"Yes! I win!" she exclaims happily.
A.J, who is still laying on the floor, pulls on her leg to make her fall too. She loses her balance and topples down on top of him.
"Hey!" she laughs. "I guess someone's a bit jealous of my twister skills."
"Ha! Jealous? I don't think so. I let you win!" A.J. jokes.
"You did not let me win! I beat you fair and square!" she says, moving to get up off of him.
"I don't think so!" A.J. laughs, pinning her on the floor and tickling her. She starts lauging uncontrollably and trying to push him off.
"Hmmm," Brian smirks. "Looks like twister could be a magical love potion," he says quietly.
"Yeah. They look like they never broke up," Howie adds.
"Maybe, he'll leave you alone now," Nick whispers to me bitterly.
I don't say anything, not knowing how to respond to his comment.
We were now all leaving Brian's room to go to our own rooms for the night. Nick hadn't been feeling well and had gone back to our room earlier to get some extra sleep.
"Hey," I say to A.J. before he goes into his room.
"Hey," he smiles.
"So you and Carolyn seemed pretty cozy tonight," I smile.
"I guess," he shrugs.
"So, how was the interview today?"
"It was fine. Nick pretty much pretended that I didn't exist."
"Hmm. Listen A.J, I need to ask you something," I say a bit nervously.
"Sure. What?" he asks, opening his door and motioning me to go inside. We go into his room and he closes the door.
"Nick asked me this morning if anything had ever happened between you and I." I pause "I lied to him, A.J," I say sadly.
"That's probably best."
"I need to know that you won't tell him about anything that's happened between us."
"Ally, I would never do that to you," he says sweetly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell."
"Thank you." I hug him. "I'm sorry about Nick," I say regretfully.
"You don't need to be sorry. I brought this on myself."
I walk toward the door to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow, k?"
"'Night Ally."