"So this is…Shelly?" Kyndall asked looking at the short, curvaceous blonde Nick had brought to dinner.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you. Oh my goodness, I can't believe I'm here. With two of the Backstreet Boys," Shelly gushed. "You have no idea how lucky you are. I mean, you LIVE with these guys. Oh my gosh, I'm so jealous."
Kyndall could tell it was going to be a long evening. She watched Nick as he completely ignored the poor girl. AJ was busy keeping her entertained, feeling sorry for her being dragged out with Nick only to be shunned. Nick ordered drink after drink, barely touching the food that set in front of him. She wondered briefly what he was thinking about as he stared into his glass. Realizing that Shelly had something to her, she looked over. "What was that hon?" AJ had left the table to go take a phone call, leaving her to take over keeping Shelly occupied. God, I feel like I'm babysitting.
Shelly giggled. "I asked you how long you and AJ have been dating?"
Kyndall smiled. "Well, we've been off and on for a couple of months now."
"Oh?" she asked, her eyes bright.
Kyndall nodded. "We've had quite an interesting relationship," she said watching AJ walk up to the table.
"Tell me," Shelly begged.
"You don't need to hear that," Nick said joining the conversation. "Kyndall doesn't feel like babbling about her and AJ. Just a bunch of mushy nonsense."
"Okay," she said looking at Nick, eyes shining with adoration. "Oh my goodness," she said looking behind Nick. "Isn't that Howie?"
Kyndall looked in the direction Shelly was talking about. "Why yes it is," she said softly, looking back down at the table.
"Awww, is Kyndall jealous. Howie has a new girlfriend," Nick joked cruelly.
AJ looked at Nick. "Shut the fuck up, you're drunk."
"I'm not," Nick denied trying to stand up but falling down beside his chair instead.
Shelly giggled. "Silly boy," she said helping him up.
"Get offa me," he said shaking her off. "I don't need your help," he growled making his way to the door.
"What did I do?" Shelly asked looking at Kyndall, her eyes filling with tears.
"Nothing sweetie," Kyndall shook her head. "Go after him and make sure he gets back to his room without hurting himself," she said.
"Okay," Shelly nodded running after Nick.
"What in the world?" Howie asked as he walked up to the table, barely missing getting knocked over by Nick as he staggered out of the room.
AJ sighed and shook his head. "Nick's drunk."
"Nick?" Howie asked.
"Yeah," AJ mumbled. "Sit down. We've already eaten, but we're going to have a few drinks before retiring." Looking at the girl Howie was with, he smiled. "AJ, nice to meet you."
"Ooops," Howie smiled, blushing slightly. "This is Carmen. Carmen, AJ and Kyndall."
"Nice to meet you," Kyndall smiled at the girl standing before her. She was shorter than Howie, with definite Spanish features.
"Do you mind?" Howie asked Carmen before sitting down.
"No, I think it would be fun," she smiled at him as he held her chair for her.
AJ flagged down the waitress down, and they ordered a round of drinks. "So tell me D," he said taking a swig of his beer. "Is this here, the chick you use to go on and on about when we first got together?"
Howie glanced at Carmen, and then down at his hands. "Uh, yeah. This would be the one," he nodded.
"Ahh, the one who you think of when you sing "Spanish Eyes"?" AJ grinned.
"Yup," he smiled.
Carmen blushed. "I didn't know that he liked me. He never said anything. Everytime I'd walk up to him, he turn and go the other direction. We spent all of high school running away from each other."
Kyndall smiled, looking at Howie. "I'm so happy for you." Howie looked at her and winked.
"Hey guys," Catlyn said walking up to the table.
"Catlyn!" Howie said in surprise.
"Wow, been a while," AJ teased.
Kyndall smiled. "Hey Cat."
"What're ya'll up to?" Catlyn asked looking around the group. "I don't believe we met," she said looking at Carmen. "I'm Catlyn, Kyndall's friend."
"Oh," Carmen said looking at her funny. "I'm Howie's…friend," she smiled. "Carmen."
"Catlyn!" someone called from a table nearby.
"Ungh," Catlyn rolled her eyes. "Gotta run. I'm being summoned. Talk to you guys later." She said walking off.
"She's drunk," AJ noted watching her walk off.
"Yes, yes she is," Kyndall sighed. Justin and JC were sitting at the table that Catlyn walked to, Justin looking upset that Catlyn had been gone.
"Wow," Carmen said. "She's with them? Doesn't that bother you?" she asked looking at AJ and Howie.
AJ shrugged. "To each his own."
Howie nodded. "I don't really think that she'll be with them too long," he smiled sadly. "She's just dealing with some things and they're like the closest thing to an escape she has right now."
"Oh," Carmen said, looking over at Catlyn's table in confusion. Kyndall smiled at her and began telling her what was going on. She stopped in the middle of the story when she heard Catlyn's voice raised in annoyance and seen her storm out of the lounge.
"Ookay," AJ said blinking.
"Yeah," Howie said glancing at Justin who was heading in their direction. "Looks like we're going to have company."
"What the fuck did you say to her?" Justin asked, looking at Kyndall.
"Huh?" she asked in surprise.
"What did you say to her. She was supposed to be coming with us, now she's not. And I know it's your fault," he pointed at her.
"Whoa whoa whoa," AJ said shaking his head and knocking Justin's finger out of Kyndall's face. "Cat didn't say ANYTHING about going with ya'll."
Justin glared at AJ. "Was I talking to you?"
"Doesn't matter," AJ said standing up. "Just go back to your table and leave ours alone."
"I want to know what made her change her mind," Justin demanded.
"Well, sorry, buddy. Don't have the answer for ya," AJ said. "Now, if you don't leave our table, I'll have security escort you away."
"What the fuck ever," Justin laughed. "Sit back down. I'm not going to start anything with you," he said walking off. He stopped and turned back around. "But if I found out it was one of ya'll who made her change her mind, I will find you."
AJ rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Sorry about that," he apologized to Carmen.
"As I was saying," Kyndall smiled. "That's Justin. And that is who Catlyn has decided she wants to be with…or at least HAD decided," she said glancing over at the table. "Right now, I have no clue what's going through her head."
