I wander around the garden and smile at people in passing. The party started two hours ago when Howie turned up. He had been disappointed to be the first guest to arrive, saying it was uncool. But Howie’s never exactly been Mr cool. Mr cool himself had rolled up an hour ago wearing the darkest shades and totally charming everyone in sight. The only people missing are Jade and Brian. That pisses me off because Jade had promised to be here and help me get through this. She knows how much I hate this. I guess they just couldn’t drag themselves outta bed long enough to put in an appearance. I walk by the pool and get practically drenched by Aaron’s water gun.
“OH!” I scream as the cold water drips down my back. “I am so gonna get you, you little squirt!”
“Hey!” Aaron giggles and runs away from me.
“You can run but you can’t hide!” I run after him. “I am totally gonna get you!”
“You can’t catch me!” he taunts as he runs around the corner of the house.
“Wanna bet?!” I yell and race after him, running into Jade and almost knocking her over.
“Whoa!” she goes back into Brian who grabs hold of her and steadies her.
“You!” I exclaim and jab my finger at her. “And YOU,” I tell Brian. “Are LATE as HELL!”
“We know. Sorry,” Jade looks apologetic and I fold my arms.
“So excuses? It’s only polite to have a GREAT excuse.”
“Uh, we just lost track of the time,” Brian says lamely.
“That’s an AWFUL excuse.”
“I know,” Jade says apologetically. “Sorry. I really wanted to be here earlier too.”
“Ah it’s ok,” I shrug.
“How’s it going?” Brian looks around.
“Real good. Nick’s family are VERY entertaining when they all get together,” I giggle.
“Is Nick goin’ crazy?” Brian chuckles.
“Uh huh! BJ is sulking, Leslie keeps putting O-Town on the stereo, Aaron is hyper… I think only Angel is in his good books.”
“And you’re ok?” Jade asks carefully.
“I’m ok,” I tell her. “There’s only like three hours before I can leave so…” I shrug and she gives me a quick hug.
“You must be Jade,” Jane Carter joins us. “I’m Jane, Nick’s mom.”
“Hi, it’s good to meet you,” Jade shakes her hand.
“Hi Brian,” she smiles at him. “Congratulations on your marriage,” she tells them. “Nick tells me that you are getting blessed soon.”
“Yeah,” Jade smiles.
“And you got married in Vegas? You have to tell me about it.”
“Ok,” Jade grins and starts to tell her as I head off in search of sanity or a beer. Whichever comes first.
“Hey Ali,” AJ greets her with a hug.
“Hey Aje,” she smiles. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” he grins. “You? You look good.”
“Thank you,” she smiles. “I guess I could say the same about you,” she looks him over. “I mean, at least the hair is ALMOST natural,” she says of his red tipped hair. “And no more tattoos?”
“Not yet,” he chuckles.
“And when are you gonna tell me what happened with Sarah?!” she asks. “I mean, last time I saw you guys together, it was like the relationship of the century and then Jade told me you broke up.”
“Uh yeah, that was a while back,” AJ mutters.
“I know it was but you keep running away whenever I bring it up!” she complains. “Does Denise know?” she asks and he colours up. “She doesn’t! Alexander James!”
“I didn’t want her to worry about me!” he defends.
“She’ll worry more when she finds out you’ve been lying to her,” Ali folds her arms.
“Don’t tell her, please,” AJ gives her his best puppy dog eyes and she ends up laughing.
“Fine, but you promise me you will call her tonight and tell her you broke up.”
“I promise,” he says with a grin. He has always been able to charm Ali…eventually.
“So why’d you split? Was it you or her?”
“Me and it’s a complicated story.”
“Was someone else involved?” Ali asks. “Someone with a name beginning J?”
“Kinda,” he admits. “I didn’t two-time Sarah or anything, I just realised it wasn’t fair to date her when I’d fallen for someone else.”
“Man,” Ali sighs. “Does Jade know why you dumped Sarah?”
“Not really. I told her but I don’t think she really believed me,” he says quietly. “But she’s in love with Brian anyway. She’s out of my reach.”
“Do you love her? I mean, REALLY?” Ali asks and he nods slowly. “Oh Aje,” she murmurs and gives him a quick hug, her heart breaking for her cousin. “You think you can fall OUT of love?”
“I’m trying… I’ve just been feeling this way for so long,” he admits as she lets go of him.
“I know you have,” she sighs. “But I really thought it was just a crush back then. And then you guys slept together… But I thought after that, you’d moved on.”
“I did. Kinda,” he shrugs. “The kidnapping thing brought it all back to me. I mean, I figured I’d always have a place for her in my heart but… I never thought I’d have no room left for anybody else.”
“Oh boy. I don’t know what to tell you Aje,” she admits.
“I didn’t expect you to have some magic answer,” he says dryly. “But thanks for listening.”
“Tell Denise.”
“I don’t want to worry her.”
“She’s your mom. She can help you with this stuff,” Ali says seriously. “Please Aje, talk to her.”
“Ok,” he nods and she hugs him quickly. “Don’t tell Jade, please.”
“I thought she knows?”
“Kinda. I don’t think she believes it,” he shrugs. “I don’t want her to feel sorry for me or any of that crap. Please Ali?”
“Ok,” she agrees.
“Thanks cuz.”
“What the hell is Aaron doing with that barbecue?!” Ali is distracted by Aaron waving a pair of tongs at Kevin who promptly trips over a chair trying to get them off him. “I’d better go save the sausages,” she tells AJ with a wink and heads off to the barbecue.
“Good luck!” AJ calls after her with a laugh.
He feels better for having talked to her about his situation. She is the only person who really knows now. Jade knows of course but he has a feeling that she doesn’t take him seriously. To her he’s just AJ, the guy who will always be there whenever she needs him, the guy who jokes around… She doesn’t see how much he is hurting, how much of his joking is just a cover, a sham, a masquerade.
“AJ dude, I just saw a girl,” Howie walks up behind him and AJ looks at his friend.
“Ya did? Wow, congratulations. A real LIVE girl?!” he asks sarcastically and Howie ignores him.
“A BEAUTIFUL babe of a gal,” he says with a wide grin.
“Here?” AJ looks around as Howie nods.
“Over there. She’s got long black hair.”
“Oh, nice,” AJ approves slowly as he locates the girl. She’s standing by the pool chatting with Jade.
“She is CUTE,” Howie sighs.
“Uh huh,” AJ tries not to stare at Jade and turns back to Howie. “So, what’s her name and where are ya takin’ her tomorrow night?”
“Dude, I haven’t even got that far!”
“Well ya better.”
“What do I say?!”
“Howie, Howie, Howie…” AJ rolls his eyes. Howie is the least smooth person he knows when it comes to chatting up girls he likes. Oh the boy can flirt like crazy but when it’s a girl he seriously likes the look of, he just gets geeky and scared.
“I know, I know,” Howie sighs.