“Oh man, I HATE flying,” moans Ali pulling down the window shutter. “We almost there yet?”
“No idea,” I reply. “Hey, you seen this article?” I hold up a copy of Teen Girl, folded to the page of Ali’s interview.
“Yeah. Kinda embarrassing,” she blushes.
“Breathtaking,” I read teasingly and then laugh.
“They didn’t tell me they’d write it up like that!” she protests. “It was supposed to be a feature about jobs and stuff. Like to help their readers pick a career.”
“It’s a total Ali-fest!” I giggle. “Oh wait, I get mentioned. Where’d they get me from?!”
“I told them we share a place and the writer had heard of you. That’s all.”
“We make a dynamite duo?!” I giggle. “But we’ve never worked together before.”
“I know,” she shrugs. “That writer was embarrassing. She was all gushy and stuff.”
“Teen Girl be gushy?!” I joke sarcastically. “Ya know how I hate having to write in their style.”
“Yup,” Ali starts flicking through the movie channels as I carry on reading. “How long do you think?”
“No idea,” I say distractedly.
“Man, I HATE flying.”
“You said that.”
“Ok, why’s my bag way heavier than yours?” Ali complains dragging her bag along as I swing mine up over my shoulder.
“Cos the idea of light packing just passed you by.”
She sticks her tongue out at me. “So, where do we get a car from?”
“Out front I guess.” We head outside. “Do you have the name of the hotel?”
“I thought you did.”
I stare at her. “I thought you did!”
“Oh c’mon. Stop kiddin’ around.”
“I’m not!”
“Oh Jade!” she stamps her foot. “I’m tired and I’m pissed and now you tell me we don’t know where the fuck we’re staying?!”
“Yeah.”
“Arggh,” she mutters at me. “Oh great, now we’re gonna get murdered or somethin’” I turn around to see a big guy lumbering towards us. “Fuck. And I have the world’s heaviest bag so running’s out.”
“You girls from Tampa?” he asks.
“Uh, yeah,” I say cautiously.
“Jade Greene? Ali McNamara?”
“That’s us,” says Ali. “Who are you?”
“That don’t matter right now. C’mon,” he grabs both of our bags and starts off towards a red car. We follow him. He throws our bags in the trunk and opens a door.
“Uh, why should we get in?” asks Ali.
“Cos I’m from the hotel. I got told to pick you up.”
“Which hotel?” I say.
“The Embassy.”
“Ok,” I say confidently pushing Ali into the car. I follow her as he starts up the engine.
“What was the point of that?!” she hisses. “You don’t even know the damn hotel!”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t know that,” I whisper back.
“Oh geez,” she rolls her eyes.
Thirty minutes later, we roll up to the hotel and head inside to the reception desk. The desk clerk gives us the once-over and then smiles flirtily.
“Well, ladies. How can I help?”
Ali giggles at him and swishes back her hair as I roll my eyes. “Well, hello sir. I guess we’d like a room.”
“I think we have reservations,” I say.
“What are your names?” he says, smiling at Ali.
“Well, I’m Alicia McNamara and this is Jade Greene.”
“Nice to meet you Alicia. I’m Todd,” he reaches for her hand and kisses it. She giggles and ignores the looks I’m shooting her.
“Well, ditto Todd. Maybe you could show me a few things in this city by night?”
“Oh sure Alicia!” He can hardly believe his luck.
“Our reservations?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah,” he checks the computer and then hands us two room cards. “Alicia, you have a room on the fifth floor. Number 508…”
“Remember that number,” she says with a giggle and he reddens.
“I will. And you have a double on the seventh floor. Number 738. Your partner’s already checked in.”
“Oh, ok. Thanks.” I head off to the elevators and press the call button. When it arrives, I turn round and realise Ali is still flirting with Todd. “Ali!”
“Ok!” She blows him a kiss and runs over to the elevator. She presses her floor button and the doors close. I glare at her silently. “Ok, what?!”
“You know what,” I say quietly.
“So? I’m a free agent.”
“You’re not Ali.” She looks at me until the doors open and then steps out without a word. “Call my room when you wanna go eat,” I shout after her.
She nods as the doors close. I sigh and press the button for the seventh floor again. When the elevator arrives, I head to my room and open the door. I drop my bag on the floor and throw myself onto the bed. I’m so tired. Within minutes, I’m asleep.
“Is this over yet?” Brian bounces around the room, annoying Kevin.
“No, now stand still!” Kevin grabs Brian and holds him still for a moment. “We gotta get these pictures done.”
“I wanna keep my shades on,” whines Nick.
“Well you can’t!” says Kevin exasperatedly.
“Not fair!” Nick sulks. “AJ can!”
“It’s my trademark,” AJ says happily.
“So? I need a trademark,” Nick puts his shades on again.
“Get your own.”
“Nick, get those shades off!” Kevin stomps over to him. “Your trademark is showing your baby blues.” He stops and eyes up Nick’s hairstyle. “And havin’ fucked-up hair.”
“Oh man…” Nick throws his shades onto the chair and heads over to Brian. “Up for some b-ball later?”
“Nuh uh,” Brian says happily. “Jade’s here.”
“Oh, c’mon! She’ll be asleep or somethin’.”
“Not ALL night,” Brian grins and starts bouncing again.
“Who plays b-ball at NIGHT?!” whines Nick.
“Ok, if she’s asleep I’ll play ya.” Kevin stomps back over and Brian laughs. “Whoa, somebody needs to take a chill pill.”
“Will you just CALM DOWN!” Kevin yells at Brian who giggles back.
“Sorry bro.”
“Ok, can we all do this damn photo shoot NOW please?!” Kevin turns around and heads onto the set.
The shoot is for the cover of their new single The Call. They line up around Kevin as the photographer starts clicking away and shouting out instructions. In the end, Nick is allowed to wear blue shades – much to his pleasure and Kevin’s disgust. The shoot takes just over two hours with three wardrobe changes. When the photographer finally lets them go they all rush to get changed.
“B-ball Bri?” begs Nick.
“Lemme check on Jade first.”
“Shopping Howie?”
“Yeah, ok AJ.”
AJ looks at him slyly. “I bet you’ve just about run outta those women’s pants…” Howie throws a magazine at him in response. “Owch… Ooh, Ten Ways To Please Your Man…”
“Wanna come shopping Kev?” Howie asks.
“Naw, thanks anyway. I got a game of golf booked with Marcus.” Kevin pulls on his boots and heads off, yelling his goodbyes. “See y’all at dinner!”
“Just throw your bag in and let’s go,” urges Nick, desperate to get onto the basketball court.
“Chill bro,” says Brian, opening his door and heading inside. Closely followed by Nick. Jade is curled up asleep on the bed. Brian smiles at her and drops his bag quietly. He leans over to kiss her head softly.
“Don’t do that! You’ll wake her!” Nick hisses.
“You’re the one who’ll wake her with all your hissing,” Brian stands up and pulls the sheet off the bed so that it’s covering Jade. He grabs his sports bag and the basketball and heads out of the door with Nick, shutting it carefully.