"Hey.. Uh.. Howie.. where's Mary?" asked Ellie.
"Most likely with AJ somewhere, arguing."
She sighed, "Well.. I gotta find her.. apparently, we gotta photo shoot before the conference. We need her."
"What about AJ? Don't we need him too?"
"Oh.." she laughed, "It's just an 'Angel Dust' shoot.
"Oh! Why?!"
"You guys uh... won't wear the nice bracelets.'
Howie pouted, "Weenie."
"Well.. as long as you stick them on.. I'm 'sure' we would all be willing to share our spotlights." she joked, and then her face took on some seriousness, "It's only so we can look all friendly.. kinda difficult.. not to mention 'corny' having nine people dressed in matching outfits.. y'know?!"
"Oh.. I was really looking forward to matching you guys.." he pouted.
Ellie smiled, "Well.. I 'do' have this dress that I think would suit you just fine! I really think you could pull it off with those legs of yours!"
"Really?" he laughed.
"Oh yeah!"
They laughed with uncertainty as they trod off to find AJ and Mary.
After a bit of walking, they spotted the brown haired, tattooed guy in a corner of a secluded room. Howie sighed, "Making out with some girl.. What about Christine!"
He ran over to AJ and pulled him off the girl, only to find that it was Mary.
"M!" cried Ellie, "Dammit! What the hell are you thinking doing that!?"
"It's not what it looks like!" cried AJ, as Howie was roughly shaking him, "Serious!"
"It 'looked' like you kissing Mary.. and cheating on Chris, kissing Mary! A girl I didn't even know you 'liked'! And Mary!
Cheating on Derek! And you 'loathe' AJ! I know that for a fact!"
Mary stared at the ground and muttered, "Okay then.. I guess it 'is' what it looks like."
"I like, can so 'not' believe this! I mean, like, y'know.. AJ.. he's so.. y'know.. and like, you.. you're like so.. y'know.. so like.. just.. oh God! I like so have to sit." Looking around and seeing no chairs, Ellie plopped down onto the floor, "This bites!"
"Well..." Mary came over to her, "that thing you told me about Parker and Derry.."
"That they're bumping?"
"Yeah.. it's true.."
"How do you know?!" asked Ellie, astonished.
"I just saw!"
"Oh shoot.. where?!"
"Just outside.."
"Screwing?"
"No! Making out!"
"I came over, and he was just like, 'What's wrong?' and I was so ticked!"
"Argh!" cried Ellie, "I'm gonna tell Chas and Jenn Jenn.. argh!" she ran for the elevator, "They'll beat his damn head in! I can't 'believe' this!"
Mary shrugged and started to follow, then turned back, remembering AJ and Howie.
Howie stood there yelling at AJ, still, "You 'hit' on her! What the hell is your damn problem man!? You loser! Chris, man! Over a year, and you go mess with someone else! All that gone to waste! If I wasn't your best friend, I'd shoot you! Chris, man.. you're doing the whole damn tour with her! She'll find out!"
"Hey!" shouted AJ, over Howie's voice, "Not like it was anything special.. she doesn't mean a thing to me." Mary's face lit up, "Mary, that is. I hit on her first, but 'she' ran back to me.." Upon hearing her name, her face fell and her eyes stung with tears."
She stormed off wondering how she ever thought he was even the least bit 'human' or that he was at least human enough to comprehend 'emotions'.
Returning to the room where the rest of the band members were, she was met by a lot of, "I can't believe that! What a bastard!" and "Parker! That ho! She's going down!"s. Even the guys were supportive, but just as Mary was re-telling her story, Howie walked in with AJ. Her expression remained frozen as she turned on her heel, and stormed off into make-up.
The shoot was a simple one and quite normal, until the photographer began asking the 'room buddies' to pose together.
Then he began asking for them to touch each other, arms over shoulders.. hand holding.. and if that wasn't bad enough, soon came along the hugging poses..
Then.. they had to kiss.. they couldn't just refuse to do it, after all, they were supposed to be the 'best of friends'.
Mid platonic smooch with Nick, Mary opened her eyes and thought to herself, 'He's not all that bad looking.. I love the blond hair, and damn if I could get lost in those baby blues.. wonder if he has a girlfriend.. I don't think so.. he'd sure make AJ.. I mean.. Derek jealous.'
She held the nervous and trembling guy's hand and stuck her other hand under his chin, then she looked over to where AJ and Jenna were posing, and then lay a big one right on his lips. In turn, AJ pulled Jenna closer and began jokingly waltzing with her. Mary sneered, and then winked at the photographer as she stuck her hands up Nick's shirt and held him close. She could feel his heartbeat quickening, and the heat radiating from him.. his face was so red. However, by the time her gaze returned to AJ and Jenna, AJ had his shirt off and was in a serious looking liplock with the girl, while the others looked on in shock.. what would the fans think! Mary cringed, and turned back to Nick. "Stop!" she suddenly heard, "What do you think you're doing?!"
go...
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