"For the last friggin time AJ, I'm not dying my hair pink with you,"Jessica Donovan told AJ McLean. Jessica streched a long leg out on the barre in the dance studio that she taught at and and leaned over to touch her toes.
"You're no fun,"AJ pouted, leaning againt the barre.
"Oh well,"Jessica rolled her eyes and lifted the other leg up, turning her back to him.
"That looks like it hurts,"AJ said, almost wincing thinking about the pain that would cause his "goods".
"I'm not a guy AJ. This kinda stuff doesn't hurt me,"Jessica told him.
AJ admired her toned body as he spoke,"Have you talked to Nick lately."
Jessica stilled got flustered with the mention of his name. Although it had been three and a half months since they had broken up and two since they had agreed on being friends, it still hurt Jessica to talk about him. "Yeah, he told me about Mandy or Willa or whatever the hell her name is this week."
"Can we say 'bitter',"AJ joked.
Jessica turned around to face him and raised an eyebrow,"Can we say 'ass kicking'."
AJ raised his hands up in mock defeat,"Alright, alright. I'm just playin with ya. No need to get all feisty."
"Whatever. Listen AJ, you better leave soon. The girls are going to be here in a few minutes and I really don't feel like being a part of the riot that would be caused if they found you here."
"Aww why not?"AJ smirked.
Jessica gave him one of her "looks","I'm serious AJ."
"Fine, can you turn around real quick first?"AJ asked her.
Jessica looked confused but turned around anyway. AJ's eyes wandered down to her firm ass. Jessica turned around again and accused,"You were staring at my ass weren't you?"
AJ laughed,"Guilty."
"That's it! Out! Where's Madd Dog?" Jessica asked about AJ's personal bodyguard.
"Dunno."
"You know what? I hope you do get attacked by prepubescent girls on your way out,"Jessica said, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm leaving, I'm leaving,"AJ muttered. "I was only playin. Madd Dog's waiting outside for me. I told him I'd only be a few minutes. I gotta go to Nick's for some get-together he's throwing. I just wanted to stop by and see you. I know we're going to be busy in the next few weeks with the album coming out and all. We have to go to New York and everything."
"Well have fun,"Jessica said, putting an arm around his waist.
"Can I have a kiss?"AJ said, giving her a charming smile.
"You're pushing your luck McLean,"Jessica smirked but gave him a small kiss anyway.
"Hey, we have one more free night until we get really busy. The guys were talking about going out that night. You know with dates and stuff. Since Manda and I are officially over, I thought about you. Wanna be my date,"AJ asked, hopefully.
"Sure why not,"Jessica smiled. "Now get outta here. I don't want to have to get the 12 year olds surgically removed from you."
"I'm going,"AJ said with a smile. "I'll give you a call."
"Sure,"Jessica said, giving him a little shove towards the door.
"One more kiss?"
"BYE AJ!"
"Fine, I see how it's gonna be...not even one?"
"GOOD BYE!"
"Ugh fine, bye love,"he blew her a kiss then walked out of the door.
Jessica groaned then got back to her streching. A few minutes later, a few girls came in, and Jessica prepared herself for her session.
"So Bri, what do you think of Mandy?"Nick asked his best friend, curiously as the guys and their wives layed out by Nick's pool. He was having a little party before the very short break that they had received was over. Even for November, Florida was still as beautiful as ever.
Brian shrugged,"She's nice enough, I guess."
"Don't sound so enthused,"Nick replied sarcastically.
"I don't know Nick. I barely know the girl,"Brian replied. "She's not Jessica if that's what your asking."
"I wasn't asking that,"Nick snapped.
"Well then I don't know. Do you like her?"
"Sure, she's pretty and she can sing. You know she's got a deal with MCA?"Nick said.
"Yeah, you only told me about 15 times,"Brian replied.
Nick could tell right away that Brian had a strong dislike for Mandy. All the guys did. They didn't accept her like they did with Jessica. They were basically civil to her and nothing more. It annoyed Nick that they wouldn't accept his girlfriend. Mandy was his girlfriend now and he wished they would just accept the fact that she was.
"Why don't you guys like her?"
"Huh? Sure we like her Nick."
"No you don't."
Leighanne suddenly sat up from her chair,"I'll tell you what I don't like about her. It's her holier-than-thou attitude."
Nick looked at her,"What are you talking about?"
"She thinks she's better then everyone else. I mean come on now, have a little modesty,"Leighanne said bluntly, peering at Nick from above her sunglasses. "You can do better Nick."
"That was a shitty thing to say about her Leigh,"Nick said, icily.
"Hey, you wanted an opinion. Brian wouldn't give you his so you got mine. I don't like the girl,"Leighanne shrugged, laying back down on the chair.
"Please be nice to her,"Nick whined. "She's coming today and I don't want you guys being all mean."
"Are we ever mean?"Howie chimed in.
"No but-"Nick started.
Kevin cut him off,"Then case closed."
"Ooh Kevin's speaking. Everyone bow your heads,"Nick sarcastically said.
"You know, your jokes are getting really old. Time to grow up Nick,"Kevin said, aggrevated.
Nick ignored him,"Does anyone know if AJ's coming?"
"Yeah he told me he would come after he visited Jessica. She's gotta work today,"Howie said.
Nick narrowed his eyes,"Why's he visiting Jessica?"
"Does it matter?"Kristin, Kevin's wife, asked him.
"Actually yes. I don't think Jessica should be getting involved with him,"Nick replied.
Leighanne laughed a sarcastic laugh,"Talk about shitty things to say Nick. God, is that how you talk about all your friends?"
"NO, it's just I know how AJ can be,"Nick said.
"It's none of your business what he's doing with her,"Kevin said. "I told him to stay out of your personal life before, now I'm telling you. Maybe they're just friends. Maybe they're more. Who cares?"
Nick crossed his arms over his chest and sulked.
"Speaking of Jessica, how come you didn't invite her. I thought you two were friends now?"Kristin replied confused, only to get "looks" from everyone there. They all had to listen to Nick bitch about how much he missed Jessica, they didn't want to hear anymore about it.
"I don't wanna talk about it,"he muttered. "I'm going in the pool." He stood up and jumped into the pool.
"Somebody's in a good mood today,"Brian smirked about Nick. "Time of the month?"
Everyone laughed when they all heard Nick whine,"I heard that!"
Just then, AJ bursted outside from the backdoor,"I'm here!! Now the party can start!"
"Hi,"Nick said blandly.
AJ turned to the others and whispered,"What's with him?"
"Mood swings,"Brian replied.
AJ shrugged and had a big smile on his face,"So what's new."
"What are you all giddy about?"Howie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh nothing much. Jessica said she's be my date for our night out,"AJ smiled.
"Oh really? This should be good..."Brian laughed.
"What?"AJ asked.
"Nick's not exactly too thrilled about you two starting to get interested in eachother,"Kevin said.
"Well I don't give a flying fuck,"AJ replied. "They're not dating anymore."
Nick got out of the pool, oblivious to the converstion about him, and wrapped a towel around his waist,"What's up Bone?"
"Nothin'. Where's your girl?"AJ asked.
"At a photoshoot. She'll be here later,"Nick replied, plopping down on a chair.
"Is she coming with us when we have that free night,"AJ asked, opening a can of beer.
"Yeah,"Nick replied. "Lemme guess, Jessica is gonna grace us all with her presence that night."
"That's it Nick! I've had enough of your shit. She's my best friend, don't you dare talk about her like that. You have some nerve!" Leighanne yelled. "I can't believe you're talking like that about someone you were, and I believe still are, so in love with."
"Leighanne stay out of it,"Nick snapped.
"Whoa guys! What the hell is going on? Did I miss something?"AJ yelled, confused.
"Yeah while you were off trying to get down Jessica's pants,"Nick snapped, glaring at him.
"You know what? Fuck you! You have NO right to tell me what I can and can not do. In case you haven't noticed, you and Jessica are broken up. It's time for you to stop being all high-and-mighty. She's not yours anymore!"
"EVERYONE STOP IT!"Brian yelled. Everyone instintly got quiet. "You two are being pig-headed, immature dumbasses. Jessica isn't an object for you two to fight over. Nick, you have a girlfriend now and it's time to let go and cut the jealousy crap. Do you realize that you're letting a girl tear you two apart. The sad thing is that she doesn't even know what's going on. I'm sure she doesn't want to know either. I suggest you two cut the shit before you end up breaking this group up."
"He's right you know,"Howie said, quietly.
Leighanne put an arm around her husband and kissed his cheek softly and whispered to him,"That was much needed."
Brian muttered back,"Tell me about it."
"Fine, it's forgotten about. Go for Jessica, I don't care,"Nick mumbled.
AJ didn't say anything, he just took a swig of his beer.
Everyone looked around at eachother. The tension was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.
