Chapter 15

Lauren, Katie and Rachel pulled into a parking spot behind the club and hopped out of the shiny yellow convertible.
"Oh I hope the car didn't mess up my hair" Lauren commented, as she felt to see if her hair was still in place. It was in a bun and had two chopsticks going through the middle. Since it was particularly hot that evening, Rachel had put the top down and Lauren had been in the back where it was the windiest.
"Your hair is fine" Katie said, wondering why Lauren cared so much about her looks all the time.
Soon they were all having a great time on the dance floor, moving to the upbeat music. But after about an hour they got tired of dancing with the same people, and decided mutually they would go club hopping rather then staying at one place
"Ohhh, that air feels so good!" Rachel sighed as she let the slight breeze cool her heated face.
"So where should we go next?"
"I'm not sure, how bout we just drive around and stop at whatever looks interesting?"
"Sounds good"
They climbed back in the car headed deeper into the downtown area.
"Well "The Attic" has been there for a while, I heard its good"
"No look, there's a sign that says under 18's night. I don't think that would be to fun"
"Highschool guys can be fun" Rachel joked."Keep driving" Lauren moaned."Ok, what about Pete and Dewey's?"
"Naw, I've been there before, and alot of married, in there 40's men go there. Its kind of sleazy"
"Womanizers can be fun" Lauren smirked, mimicking Rachel's past comment.
"Funny"
"Hey, what about that place?" Katie called out, pointing to a large metal looking building that's florecent sign's power was out, making it hard to read.
"I don't know, it looks kind of shady"
"Oh come on, look at all those people lined up outside. It must be worth it. And besides, we'll waste our whole night just driving around trying to find a club"
"I guess you have a point" Rachel pulled up along the street since she didn't see any signs for a parking lot.
"Ok, lets go see what this place is all about. What is it called anyways?"


"Shannon, my favorite person! So good to see you!" Brian called as he met up with her and Kevin.
"Hi Brian, how's it hangin?"
"A little to the left"
"You're such a weirdo"
"It runs in the family"
"Speak for yourself" Kevin chuckled.
"So guys, should we head in?"
"Shouldn't we wait for AJ?" Shannon asked, not wanting to leave anyone out.
"Oh he's probably still sculpting his goatee or dying his hair a different color, and won't be here for a while"
"Thanks for your confidence in me B" AJ said, coming up behind the three of them.
"No problem" Brian continued, turning around to face him.
"Let's go" Kevin broke in, not wanting to stand outside in the heat any longer.
"Yes sir" AJ and Brian replied at the same time, while saluting Kevin.
"Grow up" Kevin scowled, and headed towards the back door of the club, where someone was waiting to let them in.
"Damn, what's his problem tonight? He's normally in a good mood when we go out"
"He's just got a lot on his mind right now, that's all" Shannon said softly, "It's nothing you did"
AJ smiled and wrapped his arm around Shannon's tiny waist.
"So Shannon, how we feeling tonight?"
"Pretty good. You?"
"Excellent. Never felt better. Where's Bradley tonight, by the way?"
"Oh, he couldn't make it, he's at a chess match"
"What do you see in that guy?"
"He's nice to me"
"That's it?!" AJ started "He's nice to you?"
"Well doesn't that count for anything?"
"Of course, but babe, the guy obviously doesn't excite you? There's no passion in the relationship! Every woman and man need some passion in there lives"
"Your such a hopeless romantic!"
"Well, maybe. But I just don't like seeing one of my most beautiful female friends go to waste. You should be with someone who's your fire, your one desire" AJ shouted, reciting a line from one of there most famous hits.
"Alright alright" Shannon cried as they reached the back door. The music hit their ears as they entered and the adrenaline in their bodies was immediately boosted.
In the front of this same club, Rachel, Lauren and Katie waited to get in.
"I hope it doesn't take too long because I'm getting hot"
"Oh stop whining, we'll be in in a minute"
Just as Rachel said this, the bouncer checked their IDs and let them into the club.
"Wow this place is really jumping"
"Come on!"Lauren exclaimed good heartedly, and pulled her two family members onto the dance area. The three split up and began dancing with various other people. After about 5 songs, Katie reapproached Rachel.
"Hey I'm really thirsty, I think I'll get some water. You wanna come?
"Sure"
Both girls made their way over to the bar, breathing heavily from their intense dancing.
"Hey there's Lauren" Katie said pointing to her cousin, who was sitting on a bar stool, sipping a drink and talking to a short well built man.
"Oh hi girls. Just taking a little break in between songs"
Rachel spotted a half full martini glass in Lauren's right hand, and remembered her promise before coming.
"Lauren I thought you weren't going to drink tonight"
"I know. But Tom here," She replied, introducing the man next her,"Offered to buy me a drink, and I couldn't resist"
"How many has he bought you so far?" Katie asked suspiciously.
"Well one, but I haven't even finished it. Actually I think that's all I will have for tonight. Thanks for the drink Tom" she said smiling."So you wanna get back to dancing?"
"Well actually Katie wanted to get some water, and I need to sit down for a minute, my feet are killing me"
"Ok, will I see you on the dance for later, Tom?"
"Definitely" he said, flashing a cheesy smile. The girls took a table in the upstairs of "The Mix" and sat down to rest awhile. Lauren and Rachel began a conversation about where Lauren was scheduled for her next runway show. Katie didn't take much interest in the subject, and let her eyes wonder over faces of people sitting at the near-by tables. She let out a gasp as her gaze fell upon Brian's profile. She blinked hard and stared closely, not believing who she was really seeing. Lauren and Rachel both looked up at her from there conversation
"Kates, you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost"
"Err...yeah I'm fine, I just swallowed my water the wrong way that's all"
Seeing as there was no emergency the two girls went back to their conversation, and Katie went back to looking at Brian. She noticed AJ was sitting across from him, and there was someone else as well, but she could only see the side of their head. Her eyes went back to Brian, and she noticed a young woman sitting beside him also. She had a red shirt on that complimented her complexion, and she was very pretty, Katie noticed. She had her armed locked onto Brian's as they sat there, and was laughing at something he had said. He began laughing to and as he moved his head to the side he must have noticed Katie also, because his eyes got very wide and his face got very red. Katie quickly looked away.
"Uhh, Rachel?"
"Yep?"
"Does Brian by chance have a girlfriend?"
"No I don't think so, why?"
"No reason, just wondering, cuz you know I would have felt really bad if he did, after what happened Saturday, and all." Kaite then rethought what she had just asked. Why had that question popped into her head before any others? "You can't be jealous Katie! You know you aren't" she said to herself. She really must have just been worryed that Brian's girlfriend, if that's who this woman was, would find out about what happened."Definetly" she reassured herself.

"AJ, I thought you said Rachel was going to a different club than us."
"She was. Casey's I think, why?"
"Because she's sitting over there with Rachel, and I guess that must be her sister"
At that comment, Kevin immediately looked up and over to where Brian's eyes where signaling.
"Well lets go say hi" AJ called.
"No AJ, sit down, I don't want to have to talk to her"
"Well I want to talk to Rachel, Ill be right back" AJ got up out of his seat and walked over to where she was sitting.
"What's all the commotion about those girls over there" Shannon asked, confused at their panicking.
"Well if you really must know, I had a very bad experience with the one in the light blue shirt and blond hair, and Kevin had an unusual experience with the person with their back to us.
"Is that who Lauren is?" Shannon questioned.
"Yeah" Kevin sighed.
"Well go over there and say hi silly, what are you waiting for, you won't get a better chance than this"
"No, no, it's not the right time"
"Kevin!!"
"So you have the hots for her now Kev? I knew there was something more to it then you just being Mr. Nice Guy. You wanted her the minute you saw her"
"Hey don't try to change the subject Bri, I want to know about this bad experience" Shannon said, letting Kevin out of the corner Brian had out him in.

"Hey you" AJ said softly into Rachel's ear as he approached her seat.
"Aj! What are you doing here?" Rachel said, pleasantly surprised by his appearance.
"Oh me and a couple of the guys wanted to go out for one last time before tour starts."
"Gosh, only ten days till that starts. I really should start packing now"
AJ kissed her on the cheek and sat down in the empty chair beside Katie.
"Don't worry, you'll have enough time. Nina normally sends around a list of stuff you'll need."
"So who are you here with?" Lauren interrupted, anxious to know if she would have to face Kevin.
" Kev and Brian. I know you two ladies are wishing it was Howie and Nick, but they couldn't make it, sorry" Katie and Lauren went red in the face, and Rachel kicked AJ under the table.
"Ouch"
"Why would you think we minded them being here AJ? It doesn't bother me" Katie said, to proud to show she was embarrassed.
"Well good then I'll call them over"
"Uh, no, that's ok. I think we were just about to leave and move onto the next club, right Rachel?"
"Well actually I thought I would stay a while longer and dance with AJ" she grinned, deciding to join AJ's teasing.
Both Lauren and Katie didn't know what to say so they agreed. As Rachel and AJ got up to go out on the dance floor, Katie and Lauren decided to give up the promise of no alcohol, and went over to the bar to get a drink.
Kevin saw Lauren coming and so did Shannon, so she gave him a push, and he got up to greet her. Lauren looked surprised that he had gotten up, but smiled anyways.
"Didn't think I'd see you here" she said uncomfortably.
"Yeah."
They both stood there, Lauren looking at the floor and Kevin chewing on his bottom lip, trying to think about what he would say next. Shannon jumped in for him.
"You must be Lauren" she started, reaching her hand out to shake Lauren's,"Kevin's told me alot about you"
Kevin squeezed his eyes shut, hoping Shannon hadn't said the wrong thing, and Lauren's went wide open, in an almost frightened manner.
"What exactly did he tell you?"
Shannon laughed."Just that he was hoping to see you tonight, so that he could ask you to dance with him"
"Kevin looked back at Shannon"I didn't-"
But Lauren didn't let him finish."Well why didn't you just say so Kevin. I'd be happy to dance with you"
He smiled to, and him and Lauren headed to where AJ and Rachel were already laughing and dancing closely together.
Katie had been standing behind Lauren as this whole scene went on, hoping Brian wouldn't notice her. But now that her cousin had deserted her, she was left speechless and wide out in the open.
"Umm hi Brian."
"Hey Katie" he reciprocated, avoiding her eyes.
Shannon was having more fun with all these mixed up relationships, than she had spending time with her boyfriend. She looked at both of them, finding the tension between the two very amusing.
"Brian, are you going to introduce us?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah...yeah..this is Katie. Katie this is Shannon"
Both girls exchanged greetings, and Shannon proceeded.
"So Katie how did you and Brian meet? I know from experience that it is very hard to spend time with him these days, with his busy schedule and all."
"Well Brian and I met at Rachel's party last week."
"Oh, that's where Kevin met Lauren right?"
Brian nodded.
"Damn I should have been invited, maybe I could have met someone better than Brad right?" she joked. She cleared her throat, and decided she would leave the two to talk.
"Well my throat is kind of parched. I think I'll grab a drink."
"I'll join you" Brian said relieved he had found a way out of his confrontation, and began getting out of his seat.
"No no, you stay where you are sweetie, I'll be fine." She got up and left, and Brian decided that was enough.
"Katie, why don't you sit down, I think we need to talk"
"Sure" she sat down in Shannon's seat and prepared herself for what was to come.
"Look I don't want to feel uncomfortable everytime I see you. Your Rachel's cousin, and I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you. So why don't we just put the past behind us?"
"Oh I am so relieved!! You know it's been on my mind for a while. I feel so terrible. If I would have known you had a girlfriend, I would have never let what happened, happen. I feel so bad."
Brian was confused, "I don't have a girlfriend"
"You don't? I thought-" she said, glancing over to where Shannon was sitting.
"Oh you mean Shannon? No, no that's not my girlfriend. She's more of a sister type. She's actually Kev's neighbor, and has become a good friend of the group's."
"Oh good."
A smile played on Brian's lips
"What?" Katie asked self-consciously.
"You're glad that I don't have a girlfriend huh?"
"I didn't mean it like that"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive"
"Ok" he said still smiling.


2 hours later

Mary was lying on her bed, staring at the wall. She had stopped crying now, and couldn't remember why she had started."Why am I so out of it?" she asked herself. The memory of Jake's face flashed before her eyes, and her reason came back to her. She missed him. She missed his love, his touch, his smell. Everything. She missed--the doorbell rang.
"You should glue the keys to your hand Rachel" she said thinking it was her friend. The doorbell rang again as she reached the living room."I'm coming I'm coming!" she called. As the door opened, Mary sucked in her breath. "Howie!"
"Surprised to see me?"
"Just a little"
Concern suddenly swept over Howie's face."You've been crying." He could see the red streaks on her face, from where the tears had fallen."What happened now?"
"Oh nothing. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine."
"I came over here knowing you'd been crying. I'd hoped you'd be ok by the time I'd come over"
"Lauren" she muttered under her breath, remebering her other friends comment about "Not being lonely for long"."Well really, I'm ok now. I just needed some time to think."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, no. Really, lets end my visit on a positive note shall we?"
"Good idea"
"Come in" she said, and he followed her into the apartment.
"Wow this place looks nice when its not full of people and smoke"
"Yeah, I love Rachel's apartment. I wish I could afford somewhere like this."
"So what do you want to do tonight then?"
"Well as you can see by the way I'm dressed that I wasn't planning anything special. You'll have to excuse me. I can go get changed if you want."
"No way. You look perfect the way you are."
"Thanks, but I know you think I look terrible"
"Well I have seen you on better days"
"You can say that again."
"Well, did you want to go out somewhere"
Mary raised her eyebrows.
"Ok, bad idea. Do you have any good movies?"
"I don't think Rachel had time to buy any yet"
"Well let's go get one"
"I can't"
"Oh come on. Noone cares what you're wearing at a video store"
"Like you would know"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You probably have a personal video selector person, right?"
"She's on vacation right now"
"Wow, and I was kidding"
"Well so was I. Now come on, let's go. If it makes you feel any better, I'll wear the ridiculous disguise I keep in my car."
"For me?"
"Of course"
"Ok!" Mary cried, and they headed out the door together.


Nick lay in bed, hands behind his head, and sighed. What a tough night he had had. After the movie ended at the party Korrie made him take her out to another movie, and then back to her place. She kept bringing up the issue of when they were going to sleep together. Didn't she understand that sex was a big deal to him? That he didn't just take it as a casual topic. He had only slept with 2 girls in his life the first being when he was 16, the last one being a big mistake. He, like the other guys, was careful about that sort of thing. One false move, or slip of the tongue from a girlfriend could ruin their whole image. AJ and Brian had already had problems with past girlfriends selling their love stories to the press, and Nick was terrified that would happen to him. Maybe that was one of the reasons he stayed with Korrie. He had a feeling that she would be the type to do that, and after everything she had milked out of Nick about his personal life and the functioning of the group, he was afraid he could ruin them all from just one relationship. But he was so unhappy, and it had only been just over a week that he had been dating Korrie. It finally hit him how miserable he was, and how badly he wanted out of the relationship. A tear fell down his cheek as he thought of this. "You're 19 Nick!! You don't cry anymore. You're too old for that now!" He angrily wiped his cheek with the back of his hand, and turned on his side. He remembered that tour was starting in just over a week, and his mood brightened immediately. This meant that they would be in Europe and far away from his over-bearing girlfriend. Never in his life had he looked so forward to touring. Little did he know that Korrie had other plans in mind. Chapter 16
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A Story is a Wish your Heart Makes