One week later...

"Opening night in three days. Excited, nervous, panicking?" Lilia questioned, sitting cross-legged on her bed.

"A little of each...not panicking quite yet. I mean, we are pretty well set, and our single is still number one, which is totally exciting. Our album comes out in two weeks, and our video premieres two days before the tour starts. We're flying right now, Baby," Paul said, his voice sounding plasticky over the phone.

"I know, I think it's great. Anyway, I'd better let you go, I've got plans with an anonymous source tonight," Lilia said, knowing that Paul would catch her drift.

"Have fun with AJ, Baby. Remember, practice early tomorrow, and then we have some promo stuff to do. What are you gonna do while we're off?" he questioned. He seemed determined not to leave Lilia out of anything while they handled their busy schedule.

"I'll find something to do. I'm going to go shopping, that's for sure. I'm thinking about roller blades. Could be interesting. Maybe I'll watch the rehearsal tomorrow before I head out," she suggested.

"Perfect. We'll take you out to breakfast, you can go with us, and then head out on your own. I'll leave you my car," he offered.

"That hunk of junk? I don't think so. Never before has public transport been so appealing," she rejected.

"It's a classic, Baby. You know nothing about cars. Just take it, okay?" he demanded. Looks like he's in one of his protective moods today which means that I either accept or die, she thought to herself.

"Okay, you've twisted my arm. But you're paying for gas!" she agreed. After speaking for another few minutes, they finally said good bye and hung up the phone.

"That Paul?" AJ asked, looking up from the magazine he had been so engrossed in.

"Yup. You know him, he's gotta check up on me 24/7 to make sure I'm okay. It gets tiring after awhile, but that's what I get being the youngest," she said, rolling her eyes.

"So, what do you wanna do tonight?" he asked.

"I dunno, anything really. I'm open to suggestion," she replied.

"Bungee jumping?"

"Not that open. Try again."

"Why don't we just go out to eat somewhere and get hopelessly smashed and then see where the world takes us," he suggested.

"Forgetting one thing, my friend," Lilia warned.

"That would be?"

"Well, two things. One, Paul would see to it personally that you were castrated, and two, I'm not legal. Twenty-one is the magic number here, I'm a year shy of that mark," Lilia reminded him.

"Okay then, let's go to our personal favorite spot and watch the night life," he said, giving into what seemed inevitable. For the past couple of nights, almost everyone involved with the tour (band, crew, everyone) had all ended up in a dance club, hanging together.

Ever since the "Ice Brawl" as they so lovingly called it, everyone seemed to have bonded together, and spent a lot of time together. Lilia and AJ had become really good friends, and found themselves spending most of their time together. It was an odd relationship, AJ was a little on the wild side and Lilia the more conservative type, but they got along marvelously. Lilia loved AJ's humour and his spontaneity and his over all easiness.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan. I haven't been dancing in less than twelve hours, and I'm starting to feel the effects of withdrawal," she said.

"As Paul says time and again, sarcasm just isn't your thing, Baby," he said, shaking his head in mock disapointment.

"Don't call me Baby, only special people that have known me my whole life and have many things to bribe me with can call me that," Lilia ordered.

"Anyway, let's hit the club. Betcha can't be in the lobby, ready to go in ten minutes," he said, standing up and making his way to the door.

"I can be ready in 9," she said, slamming the door shut behind him.

* * * *

"Aqua!! Need H2O!" Lilia cried, as she collapsed into a chair.

"It's just packed in here!" AJ commented, as they simultaneously signaled the waiter. After noticing the synchronized action, they lapsed into giggles caused by over exertion via the dance floor.

The frazzled waiter made his way over and they each ordered their choice of beverage. They sat watching other people dance as they caught their breath.

"So, are you touring with us, or are you just around for the opening night?" AJ asked.

"Well, I don't really know...I basically told my aunt that whenever she got tired of running Genuine, to call and I'd head home. I might be around for a few weeks into the tour, depends on how boring things get," Lilia said.

"We'll have to keep them interesting to keep you around," AJ said, causing Lilia to blush with his subtle compliment.

"What is life really like while on tour?" Lilia asked, curiously.

"Sleep deprived. You can never get enough sleep, never. After awhile, all of the meet and greets and interviews with exactly the same questions over and over again can get old, but other than that, the performing is what we live for. I love it," he answered.

"Wow, I can't imagine what it would be like to do that everyday, especially when you love singing so much," Lilia sighed.

"What about you, Lilia? Why don't you love singing?" AJ asked carefully. Lilia looked down and nervously started playing with her napkin, dragging it through drops of water that had fallen from her glass.

"It's not that I don't love singing. In fact, it's the opposite of it. I used to sing for Premiere," she said quietly, shocking AJ a little with her announcement. He had just thought that there was some funny story, of an embarrassing moment that caused her fear of singing that had been so evident that night at the kareoke joint.

"Why did you stop?" he questioned lightly, trying not to push her for more information than she wanted to give.

"I had my reasons. I made a promised that I wouldn't anymore. That's all there is to it," she said, looking up. Her green eyes pleaded with him to leave the subject alone, to let it rest. He smiled and changed the subject.

This night had not been going according to plan. For the past week, he had been getting to know Lilia a little more, and was finding it hard to deny the attraction he felt towards her. At first, she had seemed like a serious, reserved person, but he realized that she was just shy. He watched her drop her shell when she was with Paul, Damon and Sandy, and saw a fun-loving, spontaneous person. He had decided earlier that tonight he was going to try to make a move, to let her know that he liked her.

Or something like that, he thought. He chided himself for the nervousness and giddiness that he felt. You'd think that you were twelve. Just calm down and be smooth.

"Earth to AJ," Lilia said, noticing that his mind seemed to be else where and not on the conversation.

"Hmm?"

"Oh my god, a mob of teenage girls just spotted you and they're headed this way!" she burst out, trying to derail his train of thought.

"Huh?" he asked, turning around to check where she was pointing. Laughing at his gulibility, Lilia informed him that it had been a ruse.

"We do have fans over the age of thirteen, you know," AJ pouted.

"They're just not insane, unlike said thirteen year olds," Lilia said, smiling.

"You have fabulous eyes, you know. No, don't blush and look away, that's too cute. When someone compliments you, you gotta look them in the eye and say thank you," AJ said, guiding her face up so that she could meet his eyes. Her skin tingled where his fingers lay. She timidly meet his gazed.

"Say thank you," he whispered.

"Thank you," she whispered back. AJ lightly brushed a stray hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. Now, AJ's mind screamed at him. He was about to make his move when someone suddenly called out their names.

"AJ! Lilia! There you are!" a familliar voice was calling. Suddenly Howie, Nick, Brian, Damon and Jacki were pulling up chairs, joining them at their table.

"Hi guys," AJ forced a smile, meanwhile shooting his band mates an evil look that they shrugged off.