"Where are we going?" Catlyn asked as she put the finishing touches on her make-up.
"Tampa, and you're driving," Kyndall said walking past her.
"How can I drive if I have no clue where we are going?" Catlyn complained following Kyndall into the front room.
Kyndall flashed her a smile. Pulling a slip of paper from her pocket, she handed it to Catlyn. "Here's the directions. Now come on. We're going to be late."
"Late for what?" Catlyn exclaimed as they walked out the door.
"Oh shush," Kyndall said shaking her head as she got in the car. "It's a surprise. Do you mind if we listen to a CD?"
"Whatever," Catlyn waved towards the stereo. Looking over at Kyndall as she started the car, Catlyn's expression became extremely thoughtful. "You're acting weird. What kind of happy pills are you on?"
Kyndall laughed. "None. Now go," she nodded. Sliding a CD into the player, Catlyn jumped in surprise as the music to "Larger Than Life" drifted through the speakers. "Don't say a word," Kyndall warned holing up her hand.
"I'm…not," Catlyn grinned. She began subtly dancing as she sped towards Tampa.
"Here you go again," Kyndall teased glancing over. "I still don't think they intended for the driver to be jamming while they were driving."
"Hehe," Catlyn giggled. "It's all good. Been doing this for a while."
"Yeah, I know," Kyndall smiled. "That's what worries me."
The girls settled into a comfortable silence. The first they'd had in a while. The last couple of days since AJ's surprise, they had been talking and hanging out more. They still weren't completely open with each other, and there were moments of tension. But for the most part, things were good with them.
As they got closer to Tampa, Catlyn looked over at Kyndall. "Still not going to tell me where we are going?"
Kyndall looked up from the CDs she was flipping through and smiled. "No. I haven't told you the last million times you've asked, what makes you think that I'm going to tell you now?"
"Argh. You're infuriating," Catlyn pouted.
Kyndall laughed. "I promise you, you'll be glad you came," she winked. Ejecting the Tori Amos CD that they'd been listening to, she slid Poison into the player and pushed the button to track 18.
"Ooers," Catlyn grinned as Bret Michael's voice sang to her.
o~/I spent my life waiting/For that famous final scene/I believe you know the one/Where she falls in love with me/As for you/You've been faking your smile/Filling your time on small talk/Cheap wine/And knowing in your heart there was some place that you'd rather be/So right or wrong/I wrote you this song/To tell you how I feel/Don't put up no fight/You just turn off the lights/Walk over here to me//And lay your body down on me/Down on me/Tonite/Oh yeah/Let your tears fall down on me/Down on me/Tonite/Oh yeah//As for me/I've lied to/Denied to/Fought with/And tried to/Apologized to/For all my ways/To all the women any fool enough to fall/In love with me/You played your role/Like a movie/Forgot your lines/Of who is/Who was/Who would be/Somehow you lost track/While real love slipped away/So for tonite/Just turn off the lights/And let those real feelings show/There's no wrong or right/But until you try/You're never gonna know//And lay your body down on me/Down on me/Tonite/Oh yeah/Let your tears fall down on me/Down on me/Tonite/Oh yeah//Before you was mine/I was so lonely/Ain't it a shame/Your heart must feel pain/Before you get back on your feet again/So let's draw the blinds/Forget wasted time/And let them old demons die/Take a hold of my hand/Then you'll understand/Why love's worth/One more try//And lay your body down on me/Down on me/Tonite/Oh yeah/Let your tears fall down on me/Down on me/Tonite/Oh yeah//~o
"Well, THAT song certainly has meaning," Catlyn said looking over at Kyndall.
"Yeah it does," she said softly.
"Hmm," Catlyn murmured. "Dude. Look at this place," she said staring in awe at the gates to the community.
"Okay, this was a little more than I was expecting," Kyndall commented. "Look on the bottom of that paper. There should be a four-digit number."
"What am I suppose to do with that?" Catlyn asked.
"Punch it into the keypad. It should open the gates."
"Hmm," Catlyn said punching in the numbers. A few seconds later, the gates swung open and the restraining bar lifted. "Groovy," she said driving into the community. "Man, check out these houses," she gasped.
"Can you imagine how much it would cost to build these?" Kyndall said.
"So, I'm assuming we're getting ready to hang out with a member of the Backstreet Boys…and being that we're in Tampa…that means…" she looked over at Kyndall, her eyes wide. "Oh my goodness. We're going to meet Nick," she grinned.
Kyndall laughed. "Something like that yeah," she smiled. "Just remember to be nice to Crystal no matter what you think of her."
"Yeah, I know," Catlyn grumbled. "I'll try," she said as she drove slowly down the street. Making a right, she scanned the addresses. Straight in front of them, at the end of the block, was a large brick house. The yard was massive, immaculate, a gardener's dream. There were about half a dozen cars parked out front, confirming the fact that they'd found the right place. "Oh man, why am I suddenly nervous?"
Kyndall laughed. "Because we don't know these people?" she said.
"Oh yeah," Catlyn grinned. "Are we…are YOU sure you wanna do this?" she pointed at the Black Expedition in the driveway.
Kyndall nodded. "Howie's here. It's all good," she said softly. Catlyn couldn't help but notice the look of longing on her friend's face as they walked past AJ's truck.
