CHAPTER 40 - MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE


"So" the pretty brunette from the bar smiled as she closed the door behind her
AJ slammed his body against the mattress of the king size bed. He'd downed about 5 shots in a span of 5 minutes, and as his head pounded furiously he knew he was gonna pay for that in the morning. His eyes tried to focus on the girl walking up to him, she'd told him her name but he'd be fucked if he could remember.
He wasn't sure what he was doing in the room, or what she was doing here with him, he supposed it all came down to the simple fact he thought Chastity was off with the Eminem. He sighed remorsefully, this wasn't about revenge and it never should be - he knew that, and he knew he didn't care about the thin brunette, hell, he didn't even know her name.
"Ah" he started standing up
"Michelle" she finished, as he struggled to remember her name
"Michelle, look I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lead you on like this, it was wrong of me, I'm sorry, but I think you should leave" he sighed
"Is that what you want?"
AJ nodded slowly, and firmly.
"Well, it's been nice talking to you, though I doubt in the morning, you'll even know who I am" Michelle smiled as she extended her hand.
AJ shook in stupidly, before she turned and walked out the same way she'd come in.

"Oh, I'm sorry" Michelle apologized as she practically ran into Chastity
"No Problem" Chastity shrugged suspiciously
She watched the girl for a while, stroll casually down the corridor to the elevator. She got in and disappeared. Chastity yanked down on the door and opened it hastily. AJ looked up in shock and Chastity marched into the room.
"Who was that?" she inquired directly
"Who? The brunette?"
"Yeah, the brunette, the one with the short skirt and the tanned legs and the d-cup bra, who was it?" she snapped, irritated.
"It's not what you think" AJ began standing up off the bed
"Oh, it's not? Just showing her you're coin collection?"
"Chas, come on" AJ sighed
"Anyway, what does it matter" he snapped back, realizing the reason he'd been talking to that girl in the first place "You were off with you little black wanna-be" he snuffed
"Emmy?" Chastity laughed
"Yeah, cute pet name. Have fun? Good in bed?" AJ retorted
"Oh, come on" Chastity snorted, trying not to break down in laughter "Nothing happened"
"Then why'd you go with him?"
"Cause McLean" Chastity started, pulling a piece of paper from her bag "I always win a bet" she announced handing the phone number to him "I didn't sleep with him, even if I wanted to I couldn't have, the poor dope passed out"
"You mean you didn't?"
"Under normal circumstances I may have gone with him AJ, but this ring means a lot more to me than you give me credit for. I married you remember, and that's what matters the most, I thought you would know me enough to see that"
"Ah shit" AJ sighed as he fell back onto the bed "I'm sorry babe" he added as Chastity sat beside him
"You great loaf" Chastity smiled rubbing his head "You and the brunette didn't, you know?"
AJ shook his head.
"I couldn't, I didn't want to" he mumbled
"Well good" she smiled hugging him tightly

~ THE NEXT MORNING ~

Bianca's eyes looked around the room, the blanket up around her, firmly covering her body from the world. She'd been awake for a while, but had pretended to be asleep to avoid any conversation with Justin. He'd left about 2 minutes ago, presumable to have a shower, as the simple chant of the water beading down was heard from the bathroom.

She lay there silently, contemplating everything, from why she was there, to what she was going to do about it. She slipped out of the bed and hurriedly replaced her clothes, she dressed quickly and quietly before grabbing her bag from where she'd put it, and walking over to the door. She felt sick to her stomach as she looked around, then walked out.

The two caught eyes as they both exited the rooms where they'd spent the night. Nick starred down the corridor as Bianca looked guiltily across at him. As far as she could see, he'd left alone, and she was coming from Justin's room - what else would he think, besides the obvious.

Nick swallowed hard, he'd spent the night alone, sending Tyler to the room next door, he knew what room Bianca was coming from, he'd seen her go in there the night before, and there she was dressed in the same clothes, exiting the room. He turned away, the view to awkward for him to deal with. He rushed hurriedly down the corridor in the opposite direction, and down the stairwell.

~ AN HOUR LATER ~

"So this is goodbye for a while huh?" Brian smiled as him and Arora rode the elevator together
"I suppose so" Arora smiled nestling her head into his shoulder
He kissed her forehead softly
"Last night was amazing" he whispered, though they were the only ones there
The elevator stopped, as a soft beep sounded out before the doors opened.
"I'll miss you" he sighed as they strolled out into the foyer
Most of their gear had already been loaded onto the tour bus, which was waiting, along with the driver, patiently outside for the girls.
"Loaded and locked" Chastity smiled across the foyer
"It wont seem that long" Arora whispered as her palm grazed the side of his face
"I'll be waiting" he smiled as he leant down, kissing her fully and passionately.
"I love you Rose" he quietly spoke, as they pulled away from each other
"Ditto" Arora smiled as Chastity raced up to her grabbing arm
"Yo Rok, do me a favor, put a leash on J, don't let him out of the house" Chastity laughed, as she flicked her wild hair around her finger

~ 10 MINUTES LATER ~

The bus drove steadily through the bustle of the New York traffic heading in the general direction of the first venue. They would spend the day doing an influx of interviews and alike, then do a full rehearsal and start the tour that night.
"So" Chastity smiled flicking through a copy of Cosmo Girl "You had sex last night huh?" she questioned, looking at Arora over the top of her magazine
"What?" Arora gaped, nearly choking on the gum she had in her mouth
"I can tell, you've got that gazed over look, must have been good" Chastity laughed
Arora managed a blushing smile as she concentrated on the notebook in front of her.
"So did you, was I right or was I right?" Chastity inquired
"No comment" Arora smirked
"Oh, come on, dish the dirt" Chastity pleaded
"Fine, yes" Arora laughed
"And……?"
"And what?"
"And was it good?"
"Chastity!"
"What? I wanna know if the little rok man gets you grooving" Chastity laughed as she danced around in the one spot.
"I'm not going to answer that" Arora blushed
"Oh come on, spill"
"He's nice" Arora sighed
"Nice? Is that it?"
"Okay, he's wonderful, amazing, passionate, hot, steamy, engulfing, mesmerizing, and I cant believe I'm telling you this" Arora laughed, closing her notebook, just as Bianca emerged from the bedroom

She flopped down on the opposite side of the bus and pulled a cigarette from the packet, placing it between her lips, she searched her pockets for a lighter.
"What are you doing?" Arora questioned, directly it at Bianca
"Well gee, what does it look like I'm doing?" Bianca replied smarmily as she found the light as lit the cigarette
"I thought you'd quit"
"I thought you wouldn't fuck my boyfriend, shit things change Arora"
"Ouch, that had to hurt" Chastity muttered "You B, don't be a bitch, put the cigarette out"
"Why? Cause Miss perfect wants me to?" Bianca huffed, inhaling the film of smoke around her, she smirked at then, before flicking them the finger and walking out of the lounge.

"Damn, she has something so far up her ass it must be coming out her mouth" Chastity sighed
"Yeah" Arora responded softly, something was wrong with Bianca, something more than met the eye.

Arora stood up, and walked into the room, where Bianca had disappeared to.
"What do you want?" Bianca sulked, as she lay on one of the top bunks
"For you to at least look at me" Arora sighed, sitting down on the bunk opposite
Bianca sat up, the cigarette still in her hand. She glared annoyingly at Arora before opening the window beside her and throwing the lit cigarette out the window.
"There, you can go away now" Bianca responded, flopping her head back down onto the pillow
"It's not about the stupid cigarette Bianca" Arora announced, frustrated
"Then what is it about?" Bianca murmured, sitting back up
"Something's wrong"
"Yeah, you fucked my boyfriend, or ex should I say" Bianca mocked
"It's more than that Bianca"
"How would you know, physic now?"
Arora stood up and walked over the bed where Bianca was sitting
"I made a mistake Bianca, how long are you going to make me pay for it" she whispered, a soft tear emerging from the corner of her eye "How many times can I say I'm sorry Bianca? You don't get it do you, I never meant to hurt you"
"But you did"
"Yes, yes I fucking did, okay, but I made a mistake, the same as you did"
"I was drunk" Bianca retorted
"You know what?" Arora began walking away "I'm not going to argue who did what, and what was worse, I didn't come in here to do that. You can hide away in here as long as you want Bianca, wallowing in your own self pity, but soon or later you gonna realize that everyone that gave a damn about you have given up trying. Make the choice Bianca, feel sorry for yourself for the rest of your fucking life, push away people that really care about you, or wake up and understand I'm not perfect" Arora declared, walking out of the door

Bianca fell softly against her pillow cupping it into her chest as she wept quietly.

~ LATER THAT NIGHT ~

The soft Californian breeze sung softly through the open window, as Tatum read over the script in her hands. She yawned softly as she sat propped up against the wall, on her expansive prestine bed. The wind blew gently against her bare arms as she sat there comfortably in a pair of boxers and a tank top. Her eyes skimmed across the typed words, but she was hardly paying any attention to them, her mind crammed full of other engulfing topics. She had done the last show for the season today, which lifted a great deal from her shoulders. She would have a few weeks off, then fly start on a movie she'd gained a fairly major part in.
Two eyes watched her in the darkness, under a cloud of bushes and darkness he sat, without a sound, without a movement, he watched. Watched as she flicked her blond hair casually behind her ears, he watched as she folded her long legs under each other, seemingly unsure which way was the best to sit. She yawned again, must have been the fifth time in so many minutes - she must be tired, he concluded.

The phone rung out loudly, startling both him and Tatum.
"Hello?" she questioned, picking up the phone
Her voice was quite, but as he crept in closer, her words came to life.

"Miss Lee?" a male voice questioned
"This is she"
"It's Doctor Edge, from Orlando General Hospital"
"What can I do for you Doctor?"
"You're cousin, Alika, she's woken up"
"She's awake? Oh my god" Tatum announced excitedly "Is she okay?"
"A bit groggy, and sore, there's not much she remembers, but she's asking for you"
"I'll fly out tomorrow morning, thank you"
They said their goodbyes and hung up, Tatum replacing the receiver slowly down beside the bed. She smiled softly, finally things seemed to be going right.






Chapter 41
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