It was 12:30 and everyone had had a little more then enough to drink.
"You know what's a funny word?"Jessica giggled, holding a wine bottle in her hand. "Window." She, AJ, Nick, and Mandy bursted out laughing.
"You know what's another funny word...window!" Nick exclaimed then they all laughed hysterically again.
The only ones who weren't completely bombed were Howie and Brian.
"Jess, I think that's enough with the liquor babe,"Howie said, taking the bottle out of her hand.
Jessica squinted and blink her eyes,"Howie?!"
"Um yeah,"Howie said, taking a step back cautiously.
"I missed you!"she shrieked, kissing him on the cheek, excitedly.
"Umm...I just saw you a minute ago Sweetie,"Howie said softly.
"Hey,thas my wwwoman,"AJ scolded Howie.
"I'm thirsty,"Jessica practically yelled, stumbling over to Howie to get the bottle out of his hand.
"You know what's another funny word??? PENIS!"Nick said loudly, then laughed while getting up and almost tripping,"Whoa...the ground moved. EARTHQUAKE!!!"
"Nick buddy, calm down ok?"Brian said, coming over with a giggling Leighanne hanging on him.
"You know, you look really sexy Bri,"Leighanne giggled the hiccupped. "Whoops! HAHAHAHA!!"
"Yo Brian, have you seen Kev?"Howie asked.
"Haven't seen him since him and Kristin went in the house an hour ago,"Brian said, struggling to keep Leighanne in a standing position.
"I wonder who discovered the word PENIS? Maybe it was some guy named Dick...thats why it's called that too. Or maybe Cock. Oh shit I dunno,"Nick slurred, throwing his hands up in the air out of frustration, spilling his beer in the process.
"Nicky you made a mess,"Jessica said, wiping his shirt with a napkin.
"Will you lick it up for me?"Nick said, grinning impishly.
Jessica giggled as AJ pulled her on his lap,"Back off. Thas my woman!"
"We could share,"Nick suggested. "You know like have a four way or something."
"Ooook, there will be none of that tonight,"Howie exclaimed almost helplessly.
"Howie you need a bear...oppps I meant beer,"Mandy piped in and laughed loudly. Nick joined in and then the two of them we're laughing hysterically.
Jessica looked at them blankly,"I don't get it."
"Me either,"AJ said slowly. "You wanna go in Nick's house?"
"Ok,"Jessica said stumbling up and grabbing another beer as AJ dragged her into the house.
Jessica groaned as her eyes fluttered open. The sun poured through the blinds, and she looked around slowly. She was definitely not home, her head felt like it had been run over by a truck, and she was completely naked. She panicked until she realized she was in Nick's guest room. Rolling over she came face to face with a sleeping AJ. He had makeup on and his hair was in litte clips. Jessica would've laughed if it were any other situation.
"I don't wanna know,"Jessica muttered sitting up, grabbing her pounding head. She tried to remember the events of the night before but all she could come up with was a lot of alcohol and a lot of laughing.
"AJ,"Jessica said shaking his bare shoulder.
"Go away. Stop yellin',"AJ moaned, closing his eyes tighter.
"Wake up,"Jessica said.
AJ's eyes opened and he stared at Jessica,"I feel like shit. Where are we?"
"Nick's house. Do you remember anything?"Jessica asked, falling back on the bed and closing her eyes. She wished her head would stop throbbing.
AJ looked like he was thinking hard then finally said,"Drinking, laughing, sex."
"So we did?"
"I dunno probably. Why else would we be naked in bed?"AJ groaned and pulled her to him. "I'm glad it was you though Jess."
"Yeah it could've been worse you could've ended up with Howie. Judging by the looks of you though, it's not completely out of the question,"Jessica said, weakly.
"What?"AJ asked, his confusion apparent. He sat up, groaning, the looked in the mirror. "Holy shit."
"I don't know what we did last night so don't even ask,"Jessica said. "We should go find the others."
"I can't get up. I feel like I'm gonna die,"AJ complained.
"Fine, but I'm getting up,"Jessica said,"Close your eyes."
"It's not like I haven't seen you,"AJ half smirked.
"Right but you can't remember it,"Jessica said. "Close 'em."
"Fine,"AJ said closing his eyes reluctantly.
Jessica looked at him then got out of the bed, putting on her jean shorts then AJ's button down shirt. "Ok I'm good."
"I peaked,"AJ smiled.
"Jerk,"Jessica teased.
"Hey Jess,"AJ asked softly.
"Yeah?"
"I hope we didn't do it,"AJ said.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. I want to make it special if we ever do it."
"That's sweet AJ. Well when we do it we'll treat it like the first time."
"Yeah,"AJ smiled. "Oh and another thing?"
"What is it?"
"Can you make some coffee? I think everyone's going to need it,"AJ grinned.
"Yeah you're right,"Jessica smiled back then left the guestroom. She traveled down the long hallway and down the winding stairs. The house was dead quiet. She looked around for anyone she could find. She saw Kevin, with his back facing her, and Kristin lying on the kitchen table, half naked.
"Nick's gonna have a fit,"Jessica giggled, then walked out of the house. She scanned the damage of Nick's backyard. Beer cans, liquor bottles, plates, and cups all littered the lawn, tables, and pool. Leighanne, Brian, and Howie were passed out on chairs by the pool. Nick and Mandy were nowhere to be seen. She sighed loudly and began to pick up plates and cups and put them in the trashcan that was outside. The pounding in her head didn't subsided and she decided to go Advil-hunting. Opening the french doors that led in the house, Jessica spotting Nick.
"Rough night?"she asked softly, coming up beside him. While observing his messy hair, blood shot blue eyes, the slight purple bags under his eyes, Jessica concluded he felt just as bad as her.
"Oh my god...hell yeah,"Nick muttered. "If this weren't my house and everyone still weren't passed out I'd be in my bed until tomorrow sleeping this off."
"Looks like Kev and Kristin had fun,"Jessica laughed nodding her head over to the sleeping couple, tangled together on the kitchen table.
"Just fuckin great. They had sex on my table now I'm gonna have to go buy a new one. There's no way I'm gonna eat off of that now,"Nick groaned, putting his head in his hands.
Jessica put an arm around his waist,"Are you ok?"
"No, I'm physically and mentally feelin like shit,"Nick said, putting his arms around her and leaning his head on her shoulder.
"Whenever you need to talk and you feel like you can't talk to Mandy I'd really like it if you came to me,"Jessica told him sincerely, stroking his messy blond hair.
"Yeah,"Nick said quietly then kissed her cheek and stood up.
"So where's Mandy?"Jessica asked.
"Asleep in my room,"Nick said. "I think we...ya know..."
"Yeah I think AJ and I did too,"Jessica nodded. "It's amazing how being drunk makes people horny."
Nick gave a little laugh,"I can't remember it though."
"Me either,"Jessica replied with a smile. "Nick do you have any asperin? I feel like I got run over by a freight train."
"Yeah I'll be back,"Nick replied and disappeared for a few moments and came back with a bottle of Tylenol.
"Do you think I can take like 6?"Jessica half-joked, reading the back of the bottle.
"I think 2's good,"Nick smiled as Jessica popped 2 pills in her mouth dry and swallowed. "So how's thing's going with you and you're family and stuff?"
"My dad's back in rehab,"Jessica said looking down, tears forming in her ocean blue eyes.
"Oh god Jess,"Nick whispered, pulling her to him. Jessica's dad was a raging alcoholic. She had gotten drunk once, before last night, and hated herself for it because of what her father put her family through.
"He's out of control Nick. My sister's pissed off and really upset, my mom's not talking about it, and my brother's really angry and swearing off alcohol. I don't know what to do. God Nick, he passed out from alcohol poisoning. He could've died,"Jessica cried.
Nick was immediately sorry he had brought it up,"It'll be ok." She smoothed her hair down and kissed the top of her head. He knew the thing he had to do was be there for her and be her friend, not push her away just because she's with AJ now. "I'm here for you."
"Thanks,"Jessica said, pulling away and wiped her eyes.
"I'm going to put the coffee on,"Nick said walking over and set up his coffee machine.
Just then Mandy came dragging into the kitchen,"Damn whata night."
"Morning Mand,"Nick said coming over and kissed her softly.
"Good morning,"Jessica said.
"Morning,"Mandy replied a little nicer then she had been the day before. "I got lost upstairs Nick. I was wandering around looking like a complete idiot."
'That's coz you are one,'Jessica thought to herself as an amused smile crept on her face.
"Well you'll know your way around soon enough,"Nick told her.
Mandy picked up the Tylenol off of the counter and put three into her mouth and swallowed them,"Well don't I feel just peachy fucking keen."
"I think we all feel pretty bad,"Jessica said.
Mumbling coming from Kevin was heard on the kitchen table.
"Would y'all shut up,"he muttered. Nick, Jessica, and Mandy looked over and bursted out laughing. Kevin too had a face full of make up on and his black hair was held back by clips.
"What the hell are you laughing at?"Kevin mumbled and went to run a hand through his hair and stopped when he realized there were clips holding it back. Everyone laughed harder as Kevin, who looked totally confused, took the little purple clips out of his hair.
"I don't know what the hell went on last night but AJ had make up on too. But his clips were green not purple,"Jessica laughed.
"Looks like you had a little drag party last night Kev,"Nick snickered.
"You know what? I don't even want to know what we did last night. Let's just hope the press didn't get a hold of this somehow. That's just all I need. I can see it now, 'Kevin Richardson: The Untold Secrets',"Kevin groaned. He lovingly stroked Kristin's head and whispered 'I love you'.
"Where's Brian?"Kevin asked.
"I saw him, Leighanne, and Howie sleeping on lawnchairs,"Jessica smirked. "Last night must've been quite interesting." The smile quickly faded from her face,"Shit I have work today."
"Call in sick,"Nick said. "Chill with us for a little while."
"I don't know,"Jessica said doubtfully. "I feel like complete crap but I don't know if I can call in sick."
"Well whatever,"Nick shrugged. AJ came into the kitchen in just the bathing suit he had worn the previous day.
"Yo,"AJ muttered coming up and put his arm around Jessica's waist.
"Morning sunshine,"Nick teased.
AJ shot Nick a warning look as Kevin got up off of the table and picked Kristin up. He walked into one of Nick's family rooms and layed her on a soft, brown leather couch. He came back into the kitchen.
"Hey AJ,"Kevin said.
"Yo dude! You had make up on too!"AJ exclaimed.
"Do you have any idea what we did?"Kevin asked cautiously.
"No,"AJ replied.
"Oh thank god,"Kevin said, exhaling deeply.
Everyone looked over and saw Brian opening the french doors followed by Leighanne, whose long blond hair was tangled and her clothes were wrinkled, and a tired Howie.
"You people are impossible you know that?"Howie told them all once he was inside.
"Thanks Howie,"AJ snapped.
Howie turned looked from AJ to Kevin,"Do you two have something to tell us?"
"Shut up,"Kevin and AJ said in unison.
"Anyway, I was up half the night with you lushes. This is getting impossible. I'm disappointed in you guys,"Howie scolded.
"Are you gonna ground us too D?"Nick asked, amused.
"You know what forget it,"Howie said, shaking his head.
"No I'm with Howie. When we have our night out it's gonna be alcohol free got it? I mean, I don't want to have fly to 6 continents and perform in Stockholm with hungover Backstreet Boys. The fans will see right through you guys,"Brian said.
"I agree. You guys need to be totally normal when you go overseas,"Jessica said. "And I'm not going to touch another drink and neither are you."
"Fine by me. To put it bluntly, I feel like roadkill run over 5 times by a pick up truck,"Leighanne complained.
Everyone laughed lightly. AJ said,"Yeah its cool. I gotta stop with the booze anyway. Cigerettes AND alcohol...not good."
"You gotta stop with the smokes too,"Jessica said.
"Yeah, yeah I know,"AJ replied.
"Ok so it's agreed. No more alcohol until after Black and Blue is released,"Howie said.
Everyone was silently relieved. No one wanted another night like the one they just had.
