I creep into the apartment as quietly as I can and head into my room, shutting the door with a soft click. I check the clock, it’s almost 9am and groan softly. I am exhausted and I have to be at the airport for around 10am. I stagger into the bathroom and have a quick shower, washing everything but my lips. I can still taste JC’s lips on mine and I don’t want to lose that just yet. I pull on a pair of dark denim flared jeans and a white halter-neck top before heading to the kitchen. Ali is already there. I grab a glass and sit opposite her, reaching past her for the OJ and pouring it out. I take a few sips before making eye contact with Ali.
“Hi,” I say cautiously.
“Hi,” she replies.
“Am I gonna get yelled out again?”
“Nup,” she waves her hand lightly. “It’s done with.”
“Ok. I’m sorry though.”
“Yeah me too. I over-reacted. I do that a lot.”
“Oh, uh… Brian rang me last night and he’s flying in today.”
“What?” she stares at me.
“He’ll be here for lunch probably.”
“Brian is comin’ HERE?!” she looks at me angrily. “I don’t BELIEVE you Jade!! The whole point of this was for you and me to spend time together…away from them!”
“Sorry,” I shrug. “But it hasn’t exactly been a great success so far! And it’s Brian’s break from touring. It’s not fair to him for me to refuse to see him. He wants a little down-time in Tampa with his girlfriend and that’s exactly what he’s gonna get.”
“Fine!” Ali stands up. “At least I know where I come on your list of priorities now!”
“Don’t be so childish Alicia!” I stand up as well.
“Oh?! Me, childish?! Bite me!”
“Point proved,” I say smugly and she grunts frustratedly.
“Oh!” she grabs her bowl of cereal and throws it at me.
“What the fuck?!” I scream, milk dripping down my face. “I can’t believe you DID that!” I grab my OJ and throw it over her.
“JADE!” she screams, wiping the juice from her eyes.
I stare at her in shock – I can’t believe I just did that. It was like an impulse thing. Then I start to laugh. She just looks so funny standing there with OJ dripping off her nose. She stares at me and then starts laughing too. We both sit down again, laughing hard.
“Ok, so we’re BOTH childish!”
“Bite me!” I giggle and she laughs even harder. When we both calm down a bit I decide to give her the second part of my news. “Uh, Ali?”
“Yeah?”
“Brian’s kinda bringing Nick with him today,” I steel myself for the explosion but Ali just shrugs.
“I figured he might.”
“You’re ok?”
“Yup. I guess I must miss him.”
“Cool,” Jade says.
“But I’m scared…” I confess after a few minutes silence. “Nick hates me. I can’t face him.” I say, tears forming.
“No, don’t cry, Al. He doesn’t hate you. He’s just a little upset. How would you feel if some strange girl answered his phone?”
“I’d say, ‘Ya betta be his sister or I’m gonna kick some ass,’” I reply, in a tough girl accent.
She laughs, “Oh, that New Yorker accent.”
“Hey! You’re one to talk Miss I’m From Atlanta,” I say, slowly drawing out each word.
“Whatever, anyway I’m picking them up at the airport. You want to come with me?”
“No…I have a better idea. Just drop Nick off at the studio okay?” She looks at me questioningly. “Don’t worry, the guys won’t get to the studio until 2:00, so I’ll be done with Nick in time,” I smirk, and she laughs.
“All right, whatever you say.”
“Okay now, let’s see…” I open my lingerie chest and dig through the layers of underwear. “Red? No…white? No…black!” I exclaim, removing a black lace bra from the drawer and discarding it onto the bed. “Now where’s the match?” I ask myself, tossing the clothing everywhere trying to find the black thong that goes with the bra. “Excellent,” I say, placing the set on top of the dresser.
After my shower I run back into my room, sliding on the underwear, then looking into my closet for my black knee high boots. I snatch a floor-length, black, silk robe from my closet and throw it and the boots into my bag. Dressing in shorts and a tank top, I throw on a pair of shades, grab a CD and my bag then rush into the living room. I hear the tail end of Jade’s conversation with Brian as I apply some lipstick.
“So, what are you gonna do exactly?” Jade asks, putting down the phone. I hold up the burnt CD to let her read, “Alicia’s Favourites”.
“Number seven,” I say slyly, and listen to her giggle as I grab the CD back off her and run out the door and into my car.
At 10, I’ve parked the car and I’m walking along the sidewalk outside the airport Arrivals lounge. I spot two guys in shades and caps. They’re pretending to read a huge newspaper and I giggle to myself. It was all part of their disguise. Buy a paper and then if any girls start paying you attention, bury your head in it and start reading avidly. I head over to them and put my hand over the paper.
“Hey!” Nick says before recognising me and giving me a quick hug, crushing the paper in the process.
“Hey yourself,” I reply. “Good flight?”
“Kinda,” Brian grimaces and then flashes me a big smile before pulling me close for a kiss. I can’t help but compare his kiss to JC’s. It’s different, more familiar somehow, but that’s not to say it’s any less amazing that JC’s.
“We hit turbulence,” says Nick as we walk to my car. “BIG turbulence.”
“It was scary.”
“Aww, you should just think of it as a rollercoaster ride.”
They both give me weird looks.
“Uh, no… Roller coaster bumps don’t spiral you outta control and KILL you,” says Nick seriously and Brian nods. I laugh and unlock the car. We all climb in and I drive off.
“You guys want to go straight to the studios or home?”
“Well, uh, I forgot my house keys so…” Nick says embarrassedly.
“You BETTER make up with Ali then!” I giggle and I see he looks a little worried in my rear-view mirror. “Oh relax. She’s fine. She told me she can’t wait to see ya. Just go in, apologise and don’t mention her birthday or the ten male actors.”
“Sounds easy,” Nick says sarcastically.