Chapter 23

Later that night

All the girls had met in Rachel's room to get ready for their night out on the town.
"I didn't think you and Kevin were coming," Katie commented while she put hot rollers in her hair.
"I didn't know we were either until this afternoon"
"Hey how did that photo shoot go, by the way?"
"It was alot of fun actually. Everyone was really cool, and it went pretty smoothly until Kevin started making me laugh while they were taking the pictures."
"Oooh, I think someone is falling in love.." Katie teased.
"I am not falling in love with him, he's just alot of fun to be around that's all. But it doesn't hurt that he's so damn sexy."
"Hey Katie, where did you go today?" Rachel asked, looking in the mirror to see if her black pants were complimenting her figure.
"Well I wasn't in the hospital if that's what you're wondering"
Both Lauren and Rachel flashed her odd looks "Noooo...that's not what I was thinking at all, I was just wondering where you were cuz I stopped by to see if you wanted to go some where"
"Oh, well Brian beat you to it, and wanted to know if I wanted to go swimming, so I accepted, and that is where I was. What did you do instead?"
"Played basketball with Nick. That was cool, but it was soo hot out today, all I wanted to do was come back here and take a cold shower. Well I'm going to going to the main desk real quick. Lauren you wanna come? I'm expecting a package from dad"
"A package?"
"Yeah, he said he would send me some of the stuff I needed from back home"
"Sure, why not"
"Alright Kates, be back in a second"
The room became silent after the two left, and Katie was finding it a little creepy, so she slipped the Dru Hill c.d into her portable player, and went back into the bathroom to take out her rollers. As her now curly blond hair bounced at her shoulders, she smiled to herself, pleased with her appearance. She put on some foundation and mascara, and some shimmery lip-gloss to finish it off. She sprayed a little perfume on her neck, and rubbed a little on the under sides of her wrists. "I never understood why woman put it on their wrists" she thought to herself. She walked back into the bedroom, to see if she could find a cool pair of shoes to go with her hardly conservative outfit. She was going all out tonight, wearing a skin-tight leopard print tube top, and a little black skirt to match. As Katie opened the closet, she sucked in her breath. She knew Rachel had a shoe fetish, but she didn't know she was that obsessed. There must have been almost 60 pairs of shoes scattered around on the floor of the wardrobe. As she was trying all the different foot wear, she began humming along with the music, and then singing outloud when her favorite parts came on. "Are you a real freak/Baby tell me/Tell what's it gonna be/ Is it gonna be on the floor by the sofa/ or on the door then back on the floor like we did before/ Baby straddle me by the t.v/ baby tell me are you a real-"
"Woah. Kinky"
Katie spun around to see AJ, standing in the door frame, with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
Her faced turned a shade of red, "Oh, sorry, I didn't know anyone was listening"
"Don't worry bout it. I like this song. Dru Hill right? Worked with them once..."
None the less, Katie felt embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject, "Were you looking for Rachel?"
"Yeah, actually I was. It's really important that I talk to her. Do you know where I could find her?"
"She went down to the main desk for a second with Lauren. She should be back any minute"
"Great, can you tell her to come down to my room?"
"Sure"
"Thanks"
"How did you get in here anyways?" Katie asked curiously.
"Door was left opened a crack"
"Oh I see. Your the goldilocks type. Comes and goes as they please"
"That's me. Except I don't have golden locks"
"Riiiiight" Katie said sarcastically, "Well I'll tell Rachel you stopped by"
"You don't like me very much, do you Katie?"
"I never said that. On the contrary, I find you highly amusing. But ever since you sent me flying into that mud the other day, I've lost all levels of respect for you"
"Oh you're still stuck on that thing huh?"
"Sure am" she laughed
AJ smiled and turned to go back to his room, when he noticed Rachel and Lauren heading his way. Lauren had a large package in her arms, and Rachel was reading off what must have been a letter. She looked up as she heard AJ greet Lauren, but immediately went back to reading. AJ waited patiently for her to finish, and smiled as she looked up.
"Hi"
"Hi" she repeated non-chalantly.
"Can we talk?"
"Well I still have to finish getting ready to go out"
"It will only take a minute"
Rachel turned this over in her head, and figured there was no harm. She looked over at Lauren, "Hey I'll be in in a second"
"No prob" Lauren said, and walked into the room, letting the door close softly behind her.
Rachel stood there expectantly, while AJ picked at the skin around his fingers trying to think of how to start.
"So......?" she prompted.
"So I've been thinking"
"Ok, and what?"
"And I think I was wrong by telling you that she would have some separation time. I was confused that day, had a lot on my mind. I want to be with you Rachel, I need to be with you."
"And you expect me to just come back with open arms?" Rachel asked.
"Only if you want to"
"I do. I'm just afraid you're going to get cold feet again, and this on again off again thing will keep happening"
"It won't. I swear to you"
"I don't know AJ" she looked away from him, for a second, and tried to collect her thoughts. Why this change of heart all of a sudden? What happened to all the guilt about sleeping together so fast? she wondered to herself. It didn't make sense at all. She didn't like to be jerked around either.
"Rach? What are you thinking?"
"Maybe we should remain friends for right now AJ. I'm still a little confused about all of this, and how all of sudden you want us to be back to normal"
"I know I know. But I really do miss you Rachel"
"I'll think about it"
"But Rache-"
"Don't push it McLean. I don't completly trust you right now. One minute you want space, the next minute you want me again. I'm sorry. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, and we'll go from there"
"Alright. If that's what you want"
"It isn't what I want. I want to be close with you right now too. But I can't, so we'll have to wait and see"
"Okay" AJ leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. He smiled shyly and turned to go back to his room and a get ready. Rachel watched him walk away, before going back into her own room.
"What was all that about?" Lauren asked eagerly, from her place on the bed.
"Apparently, AJ wants me back now. He's thought about everything in just over 24 hours, as opposed to 2 weeks, and has decided he made the wrong choice"
"So you guys hooking it up again?"
"Let's just say the balls in my court now"
"And what do you plan on doing with it"
"Letting it stay there for a while. Make him wait for me to make a decision. I've been in too many rocky relationships to get my self into another one, so I'm going to be cautious about this one"
"Good game plan"
"That's what I thought"
"So is everybody ready to go or what?"
"Definitely. Now where are our dates?"
Just as Rachel mentioned that, there was a knock at the door, and two very attractive young men stood at the door with big grins on their faces. "Hi ladies, ready to go clubbing?" Brian asked, Nick leaning against the wall next to him. Both were wearing khakis, and fitted shirts, Brian's accenting his muscular figure, and Nick's accenting his strong, broad chest and nicely toned biceps.
Katie smiled, and grabbed her purse. Brian also smiled when he saw what she was wearing. He had never seen her in something so revealing, and couldn't help but be incredibly pleased she'd be at his side that night. Nick stood up when he saw Rachel walk out in her slimming black dress pants, and shimmery light blue sleeveless shirt with a butterfly print on it. He smiled and joked around with her, like they normally did when they were together. Last but not least, Lauren emerged from the doorway in a slinky light pink summer dress that's hem was about six inches above her knees. She was all legs, and her hair hung down at her shoulders casually. Brian whistled, and before Nick could comment, Rachel slapped him on the chest and whispered. "Contain yourself Nicky, or you'll have a tough time getting past Kevin tonight"
Nick shivered at the thought of having Kevin angry with him, and immediately backed off. Lauren just chuckled and tried not to feel too self-conscience from all the attention.
"So am I going stag tonight?" Lauren asked, when she noted everyone had already paired off.
"Oh, Lauren, Kev said to have you wait here. He's just finishing getting ready."
"Ok, well I'll see you guys there"
"Bye!" Lauren watched as the two couples walk away, and went back into Rachel's room to tidy up a little. She folded some clothes and put away the hair curlers Katie had been using. There was a quiet knock at the door about 10 mins later. Lauren knew it would be Kevin so she quickly checked herself in the mirror, smacked her lips together to even out her lipstick and opened the door.
Kevin immediately noticed her outfit, smiled coyly, and ran his eyes up and down her body before leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek. "Hi" he said softly.
"Hi" she whispered. She was surprised at how giddy and lightheaded she was feeling in the presence of Kevin. There was a thing about him that just sparked something inside her, and sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. No man had ever made her feel like that, and she was beginning to like it.
"This is for you" he said pulling a red rose from behind his back.
"Kevvy! You shouldn't have gotten me this! You're too sweet"
"I can't help it"
"Well thank-you. It's beautiful" she said, wrapping her arms around Kevin and hugging him tightly before pulling away and looking fondly at the delicate flower she had just received.
"So you ready to go?"
"Yeah, let me just go put this in some water"
"Don't worry there will be somewhere for you to put it in the limo." Kevin linked his fingers in hers and she didn't object when he led her into the elevator, out the back door of the hotel and into the limo that was waiting for them. As Kevin had said there was a vase in the limo, already full of red roses.
"Kevin, I can't put my flower in there, otherwise I won't know which one you got me"
"Well they're all for you, so it doesn't matter"
Lauren was overwhelmed and didn't know what to say so she just smiled, and squeezed his hand. They both looked out their windows silently and watched the city buildings fly by. Kevin let his hand slip from hers, and instead rested it on her leg. She smiled timidly, and played with his thumb ring, which she was beginning to make a habit out of. They reached the club, just in time to see AJ and Howie climb out of a limo two cars in front of them. Howie had an attractive woman on his arm, but AJ had come alone and looked rather forlorn. Kevin and Lauren caught up to them and got in line together.

Inside the club, things were just getting started for Brian, Nick and the two girls. They already had had 20 drinks between them, and were feeling pretty good. Rachel had gone off and danced with a guy she had met at the bar, and Katie was being romanced by both Brian and Nick back at their table.
"So Katie, who do you think is a better lay.. me or Nick?" Brian asked, a goofy grin on his lips, and half-full glass of vodka in his hands.
"Hmmmm….well, I think I'll need another drink before I can make an educated decision" she slurred. "Nick whadya say buddy? Should we share our vodka?"
"No!!!" Nick yelled like a little boy, stealing away his drink. "Mine, mine, mine!!"
"I'm sorry boys, I guess you won't get an answer"
Brian looked dolefully down at his drink, and decided it was worth giving it away if he could get the answer to his ever important question. Katie grasped for it eagerly and chugged it back. She threw her head back lazily and sighed, "Well…I've already had a piece of you Mr. Littrell, and I can't complain. But not having any experience with Nick, I don't know. So I'd have to say that having you both at the same time wouldn't be so bad. You two are best friends, you wouldn't mind that kind of threesome thing going would you?"
Brian and Nick looked at eachother, raised their eyebrows and shook their heads profusely.
"Aww you guys are no fun!!' she called out, waving her hand at them. Just then they heard some hoots down near the dance floor. The three glanced over and there stood Rachel, in all her glory, grinding by herself on the top of the bar counter.
"Hey look, its Rachel getting her groove on!!" Katie laughed and pointed.
"She's plastered!!! And we have work tomorrow!! How irresponsible!" Brian yelled, frowning.
"Hey, so are you" Nick pointed out.
Brian looked down at the table full of shot glasses and giggled. "Oopsie, I guess so"
"Well I'm going to go join Rachel on that bar" Nick announced, as he pushed his seat back quickly and stood up. Brian and Katie watched as he made his way clumsely down the club stairs on to the dance floor and over to the bar, as the song "Baby Got Back" started playing. Nick then pulled himself on the counter and began dancing with Rachel. He turned around, bent over and began waving his butt in the air, so Rachel started spanking it, and the crowd went wild.
"Brian I wanna dance!!!" Katie shouted.
"Okay" He got up and pulled her behind him. When they got to the floor, Brian immediately began making a scene. "All the ladies in my house say 'Awwww" he cried, waving his arms in the air. He continued to scream this until people caught on. When all attention was focused in him he grabbed a towel from behind the bar and began pulling it in and out between his legs, and dancing strangely. He then proceeded to hump the floor and attempt at achieving what looked like break dancing. Nick decided to take advantage of the throng of people and jumped off the bar onto the un-expecting arms of the people below, hoping he may be able to body surf all the way to the other side of the club. Instead he was held up for a split second, but was then dropped like a sack of potatoes. He looked rather disappointed, but shook it off and got back onto the bar, pulling Rachel closer to him and guiding her hips to the rhythm of his.

Kevin, AJ, Lauren, and Howie and his date had entered minutes before, and were wondering what the big commotion was. Ironically the crowd opened up, welcoming these new sets of eyes. Kevin and Howie groaned as they saw Brian pouring a bottle of water over his head and shaking his hair so the liquid sprayed everywhere. Lauren gasped when she noticed Rachel on top of the bar, beginning to lift her shirt up. "Don't do it!!" she said loudly, although she knew Rachel couldn't hear her.
"DO IT!!" AJ screamed in his mind as he also noticed the beginning of Rachel's strip tease. But to the relief of Lauren, and the chagrin of AJ, Rachel turned around just before anything was revealed.
"Are those the people you wanted me to meet?" Kevin heard Howie's date, Jackylyn, ask nervously.
"I don't know those people" Howie replied, a look of horror in his eyes.
Kevin chuckled to himself. "We better go stop them before clothes really do start disappearing" he commented to Lauren. She nodded, and they made their way over to where Brian was freaking behind a very scared looking young woman.
Although Kevin had found the situation rather amusing from where they had previously been standing, he became very serious and cross when he caught up with his cousin.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Kevin yelled, grabbing Brian by the arm, and jerking him away from the lady he was dancing with, who now looked very relieved.
"Damn, Kevin, can't I have a little bit of fun for once? Your such a tight ass!!"
"I'm a tight ass, because I don't want our asses in the paper with the headline "Backstreet Boys get smashed and start riot in local club" tomorrow morning"
"That's not going to happen!"
"Just go sit down Brian!! Katie will you go take him to whatever table you guys were sitting at please?" he asked, turning to Katie who had appeared out of nowhere, not knowing she was also drunk.
"Ay, ay captain" she said, saluting him.
Kevin took no notice, and went to collect Nick who was now surrounded by three girls, all trying to dance with him at the same time.
As Lauren was heading to bring Rachel down from her spot on the bar, she noticed AJ had gotten there first and she was draped around his neck.
" I missed you so much baby" she cried, and planted little kisses all over his face, before ending on his moist lips, where she lingered for a little while. "Mmmm, you taste good," she said smiling.
Although AJ loved this new attention from her, he knew that it was probably not what she would be doing, if not under the influence. So he handed her care over to Lauren, and followed Kevin and Nick up to the table they had been sitting at before. Howie and Jackylyn, or Jackie as she said she like to be called, were already sitting down with Katie and Brian, Jackie looking very uncomfortable.
"You're date's hot" Brian blurted out, and Jackie blushed. Howie apologized for him, and he now looked awfully uncomfortable aswell. Kevin had the endless amount of shot glasses removed from the table before pulling up some extra chairs and sitting down next to Lauren. The five sober people at the table tried to carry on a conversation while the three way past their legal limit of alcohol consumption victims, loudly hummed the tune to "Come on Eileen." Brian sang the low part, Katie sang the high, and Nick beat on the table with his hands as if he were playing the drums. Everytime he wanted to pretend to hit the symbol, he would reach over and pat AJ on the head, who would in turn swat away his hand, and punch him in the arm.
After a while, the conversation Kevin was trying to hold was faded out by Brian and the people at the tables around him, who had caught on to his tune and were now singing together. Kevin had to smile at how Brian's voice carried so well, and at how easy he could get a crowd going if he wanted to. Howie and Jackie had left about 5 mins after they had sat down, after they could no longer handle the drunks, and Kevin was thinking of doing the same. His what was supposed to be a fun night had turned into a not so fun night, and he didn't want to keep it that way.
He looked over at AJ, but sighed when he saw the five beer bottles sitting in front of him. "He mustn't have been able to resist the call of the Beer God." Kevin whispered in Lauren's ear.
"What should we do?"
"Send them back to the hotel. Then we can do our own thing"
"Good idea"
So the remaining 7 got up and went back out to the limos. Kevin made sure everyone got in and did up seatbelts, and told the driver to go to the hotel and make sure they got up to their rooms safely. When all seemed well enough to leave, Kevin joined Lauren in the other limousine and decided to take her to one of his favorite spots in downtown Milan, for the night was still young, and there was a lot to get accomplished…

Chapter 24
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A Story is a Wish your Heart Makes