"So, what d'ya say we go take a look at some of your pictures, girl?" AJ asked as he, Howie and Brenna strolled around the decks after breakfast.
"Sounds good to me." Brenna agreed. "Let's go then."
Howie laced his fingers through hers as they turned and walked back in the direction of Brenna's cabin. A few minutes later they reached the door and Brenna unlocked it, ushering Howie and AJ inside.
"C'mon in." She shut the door behind them and walked over to her suitcase where she kept her photos in an old skate box covered in rose cutouts, while Howie and AJ seated themselves on the bed. Box in hand she walked back over to the bed and sat down in between Howie and AJ.
"Hmmm, let's see." Brenna flipped open the box and filed through the envelopes of pictures. "Here's some of the ones I took of Niki for her modeling portfolio." She handed half the stack to Howie and half to AJ.
"Wow, these are awesome, Brenna." Howie said appreciatively, his eyes wide. "Sweetie, you are an excellent photographer."
"Howie's right." AJ chimed in. "These are incredible." His eyes were wide, although not for the same reason Howie's were. Not so much for the pictures themselves as the subject.
Howie glanced at AJ and chuckled, amused at his best friend's reaction to Brenna's best friend.
"AJ, try not to drool all over Brenna's pictures." He quipped.
AJ jerked his head up. "What?!!"
Brenna giggled. "You interested in my best friend, Mr. McLean?"
"Uh..." AJ stammered.
"Niki's single, in case you're wondering." Brenna said, answering the question she knew was on AJ's mind.
"Well, I uh..." AJ's cheeks flushed. "She's really pretty." He managed to get out.
"And I suppose you want me to set you up, huh?"
"Uh, well... yeah." AJ admitted.
"I'll talk to her. See when we can get together. Until then I can give you her e-mail and phone number, if you want."
"Thanks, Brenna. That'd be really cool." AJ grinned. "But seriously, you are a really great photographer."
"Thanks." Brenna flushed and took out another envelope of pictures. "These are from the concert I told you about. Of the band that I'm friends with." She said, handing the pictures to Howie and AJ and replacing the picture of Niki.
"Are they a 'boy band'?" AJ asked, not seeing any instruments.
"Uh, not exactly." Brenna said with a laugh. "They're an a capella band."
"A capella? Sweet." AJ commented. "Are they any good?"
"Oh yeah. They've been doing it for longer than you guys have been Backstreet Boys." Brenna explained.
"I'd sure like the hear them." Howie said, contemplatively.
"You can." Brenna said, gesturing to the CD player. "I have three of their CD's." She got up and retrieved her CD case.
"They have three CD's?" AJ asked, incredulous.
"Well, actually, they have five, but I only have the last three."
AJ's jaw dropped. Brenna giggled at the expression on his face and sat back down on the bed and unzipped her CD case, flipping to the band's CD's.
"Streetnix?" Howie and AJ said in unison.
"Yep, they got the name from an album by the Shuffle Demons, who are, I believe, a sax group." Brenna slid the most recent CD out of the case and placed it in the CD player. She skipped to one of her favourite tracks, "Everybody Knows" and hit play. A second later the sound of Thom Speck's voice filled the cabin.
Howie and AJ looked confused. "This isn't a capella." AJ protested.
"Oh, but it is." Brenna said with a smirk.
"But there's drums." Howie pointed out.
"And bass." AJ added.
"That's what they want you to think." Brenna giggled, pulling out a picture of the whole group. "What you think is drums is really this guy, BJ Harris. And what you think is a bass is this guy, Tony Hughes." Brenna pointed out the two men in the picture.
Howie and AJ looked impressed.
"Whoa. I never woulda thought it." AJ said, shaking his head as he listened intently.
"I know. I still can't figure out how Beej manages to sound so much like a drum set."
"So, who are the other two guys?" Howie asked.
"This is Aaron Genest. He's the one singing background vocals. And this is Thom Speck. He's the one singing lead."
"Totally cool." AJ grinned. "And I think the rest of the guys would be very interested in seeing your pictures, Brenna."
"Are you kidding?" Brenna looked slightly shocked.
"I think it's a great idea." Howie agreed. "I'd love to have you take pictures for us, 'cause not only are you a wonderful photographer, but that'd mean I'd get to see you more." He said, his eyes twinkling.
"I don't know what to say." Brenna said, astonished.
"Say you'll come back to Orlando and at least see if it's something you'd like to do." Howie urged. "And don't worry about where you'd stay." He said, anticipating her next question. "You can stay with me."
"Well." Brenna hesitated for a second before making up her mind. "Okay." She smiled, still amazed at the opportunity she was being given.
Howie and AJ grinned, pleased with her decision.
