I sit on the couch in the changing rooms of Kyri waiting for Ali to model some stuff. The Black & Blue tour ends tomorrow night and the guys are throwing a huge party to celebrate. They’ve hired an exclusive club in LA and a lot of people are coming. It’s gonna be a total blast and we’re all getting new outfits. I’ve already found mine. I bought a gorgeous deep pink dress from Matthew Williamson. He’s a pretty new designer I guess and I think he’s amazing. The dress is just above knee-length, strappy and floaty. Plus I love deep pinks – they make me feel sexy. Ali has found about six dresses by Kyri and is trying them on. After a few minutes, she comes out in a corseted pale blue satiny dress. It’s long and fitted.
“What do you think?” she gives me a twirl and I clap.
“Gorgeous Ali!”
“Really?” she grins and I nod. “I like it. I think this might be THE dress.”
“I think so too,” I grin and she disappears back into the changing room. She re-appears five minutes later in her usual clothes and I follow her over to the counter where the assistant wraps the dress. “Dare I ask how much?”
“Uh…$1500,” she says and I raise my eyebrows slightly. “Hey, our cheques came through,” she defends and I giggle.
“Wasn’t gonna say a word.”
“This party is gonna rock!”
“Totally,” I agree.
After buying shoes and cosmetics, we grab a couple of coffees and take a rest before heading back to the hotel. We eat a couple of cakes in silence.
“Mm, I needed that,” Ali declares happily.
“Me too,” I grin and lean back in my chair. “So, things any better with Nick?”
“Worse,” she pulls a face. “He got kinda mad last night but I couldn’t tell him.”
“You should! He’ll totally understand. I mean, right now he thinks you don’t love him anymore.”
“I know,” she sighs. “I just need to get through this but I will tell him. I need a little time and I’ll be ok. I mean, the tour is almost over and we’ll go back home and I’ll get through this.”
“Ok, I’m done,” I tell Brian as I walk out of the bathroom. I had insisted on getting changed in the bathroom so that he can just see the finished product. He stands up slowly and looks me over with a smile. When he’s done, he walks over and wraps his arms around my waist.
“You look absolutely beautiful Mrs Littrell.”
“Thank you,” I kiss his lips and then look him over. He’s wearing a midnight blue suit with an open-necked shirt. He looks so handsome. “And you look gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” he grins. “Shall we go to the ball Cinderella?”
“Of course,” I giggle and we head towards the door hand-in-hand.
“Promise you won’t go poof after midnight?”
“Promise,” I tell him and he laughs.
“Wow Al,” Nick says softly as I show off my dress to him. “You look amazing.”
“You too,” I approve of his black suit and we look at each other awkwardly.
“Before we go to the party, I wanted to ask something,” he says and walks me over to sit on the couch.
“How do I manage to be so damn sexy?” I joke and he doesn’t laugh. He just looks at me seriously. “Sorry. I’m listening,” I tell him.
“Al, if you decide you don’t want to be with me… just promise you’ll tell me? I can’t fight what I don’t know,” he says slowly.
“Nick…” I blink back my tears. “This isn’t about me leaving you. It’s just that I need a little time for myself. I’m comin’ right back to you baby. I promise.”
“BRITTERS!” I yell as I spot a familiar blonde across the dance floor. She spins round and sees me.
“JADERS!” she yells back and we launch ourselves on each other delightedly. I haven’t seen her since the whole JC fiasco. “I missed you girl,” she says when we both calm down a little.
“Right back at ya,” I grin. “I’m so glad you came tonight.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world!” she declares dramatically and I roll my eyes. “I mean, the never-ending tour is finally over.”
“I know!” I laugh. “I am so looking forward to being back at home.”
“How is that going?”
“Oh great!” I giggle. “It’s just so cool. You have to come visit us.”
“I would love to,” she grins. “Let’s go catch up over a few drinks.”
“Sure,” I agree and we head towards the bar.
“JADY!”
I turn around and see Ali running towards me.
“Whoa, calm down girl,” I giggle as she gets her breath back.
“Sorry! I REALLY need your company,” she says gratefully and then notices Britney. “Oh hi Britney.”
“Hi Ali,” Britney smiles politely. “I’ll head off. Find me before ya hit the bar ok?”
“Sure,” I smile and she heads off. “So?” I look at Ali and she suddenly fills up with tears. “What happened?” I slip my arm around her.
“Nick said the saddest thing,” she whispers and tells me of their last conversation.
“Aw,” I say quietly. “He really loves you girl.”
“I know,” she sniffs. “How can I hurt him so much by telling him about the baby?”
“He needs to know Ali,” I say as Mindi Abair joins us.
“Y’know, I cannot BELIEVE how many famous people are here,” Mindi exclaims. “I mean, it’s just OUR end-of-tour party.”
“I know,” Ali smiles weakly. “It’s cool.”
“Ooh, isn’t that Brad Pitt?!” I exclaim.
“WHERE?!” they both yell and look around like lunatics.
“Made ya look!” I giggle and they both hit me. “Ow!”
“Don’t do that to me!” Mindi sighs and I grin at her.
“Sorry.”
“Is that Joey from *NSync?” Mindi asks.
“Probably. They were all invited.”
“Even JC?” Ali asks me quietly and I nod.
“Uh huh. They’re on the same label and this is officially a Jive party so… It’s cool though.”
“Okies,” she smiles and looks back out into the crowd. “And there’s Britney Spears.”
“Uh huh,” Mindi nods. “What the hell is she WEARING?!”
“Looks like a romper suit,” Ali remarks dryly and I smother a giggle.
“It’s a suit actually. It just looks that way from a distance,” I tell them.
“Ah, okies,” Mindi grins. “You guys are pretty good friends right?”
“Yeah. I like her. She makes me laugh,” I grin. “She’s cool.”
“Ali hates her though,” Mindi states and Ali nods with a laugh. “Why?”
“She turned me down for a photo shoot once,” she tells her and I roll my eyes.
“Ah, a personal slight huh?” Mindi laughs.
“I don’t think Britney is too keen on me either,” Ali adds.
“I’d like to meet her,” Mindi decides. “I loved Slave 4 U.”
“I’ll introduce ya then,” I tell her and the three of us head over to where Britney is dancing. “Hey Brit, I got some people here to say hi.”
“Sure,” she smiles at us all. “Hi, I’m Britney,” she tells Mindi.
“Hi I’m Mindi.”
“Mindi is in the Backstreet Band,” I tell Britney. “And you already know Ali,” I add as the two girls make no attempt to greet each other again.
“Yeah, hi,” Britney flashes her a quick smile. “How you doin’?”
“I’m good. You?”
I spend around twenty minutes chatting with Britney, Ali and Mindi before the two girls head off to the bar, leaving me and Britney alone.
“Jade,” she grabs my arm. “Justin is here.”
“I know. It’s a Jive party.”
“Great. Is he here with that bitch?”
“Jenna? No. They are just friends y’know Brit.”
“How do you know that?” she asks.
“Because he told me and I happen to believe him,” I shrug.
“Oh. I don’t know,” she sighs. “I do love him Jade but… We’ve been together for so long and I’m still growing up in a way and…”
“You need a little time and space?”
“Exactly.”
“Nothin’ wrong with that,” I tell her.
“No. I just wish we could still be friends.”
“Maybe you will be in time. You hurt each other,” I counsel and she nods.
“Anyway, enough of Justin Timberlake,” she shakes her head quickly as though that will erase him from her mind and smiles at me. “Let’s go grab a drink and catch up on things.”