"ALESHA!!" AJ squealed running towards her and trapping her in a tight embrace.
"You are SO going to get busted by yelling like that," Howie grumbled as he walked up.
"Hey guys," Alesha grinned. "The van's outside waiting. Kevin, Lori, Brian, and Leighanne are already at the venue," she said her voice muffled by AJ's bear hug.
Howie nodded. "Dude, get offa her. You act like she's been gone for a year rather than a couple of days."
"But I miss my Leshers," he said pouting.
"Leshers?" Alesha asked, arching an eyebrow at him. "You've been around Lori for WAY too long."
AJ grinned. Looking over her shoulder at the last groups of people getting off the plane AJ exclaimed, "It's about time you got your slow ass offa the plane."
"Whatever," Nick mumbled. His eyes grew wide when he seen Alesha. "What're you…when did you…who…?"
Alesha smiled softly. "They needed an unknown face to meet you guys at the -" her smiled faded as Sarah walked up to stand behind Nick. "gate," she finished quietly. Sighing she looked at Howie and smiled slightly. "Guess that's everyone then. We can go," she said and walked out the side exit.
Opening the door of the van for them, Alesha ushered them inside. "It's not over," Howie whispered as he climbed in. Alesha pretended not to hear as she shut the door and climbed in the front seat.
"You guys are late…for EVERYTHING," Brian cried dramatically as everyone piled out of the van.
"Shut up BRok," Nick snapped as he swept passed his best friend, Sarah in step right behind him.
"Who popped HIS basketball this morning?" Brian asked watching Nick walk off.
Howie sighed. "They've been fighting all morning."
Lori mumbled, "Glad we had a different flight." She was almost trampled by Nick as she came outside. Kevin, who was following close behind her, nodded in agreement.
"Well, I had to listen to the whole damn thing," AJ whined. He looked at Alesha and pointed. "It's all your fault."
"Mine?" she asked.
"Yeah. He was whining about giving you some star thing of his and now it's gone and he wishes he had it back. But he knew he couldn't have it because you weren't there," AJ said flinging his arms around wildly. "Of course Sarah didn't take too well to that because I guess it has some hidden meaning and she figures she's gonna be dumped again -"
"Which we're all praying happens," Howie murmured.
"Anyway," AJ said looking at Howie. "They've been arguing over that ever since."
"That and something about some book that she was snooping through," Howie added.
"Umm, guys, you're needed in here," Leighanne said poking her head through the door.
Alesha, Lori, and Leighanne were in their lounge waiting to be taken to their seats. All of a sudden the door burst open and a short version of Nick ran in the room shouting, "Where is she?"
Leighanne giggled, "AC! Who ya looking for, honey?"
Aaron grinned, "Hey Leah. I'm looking for Nick's girlfriend."
"I'm right here," Sarah said from behind him.
Aaron turned around and made a nasty face. "Not YOU," he said rolling his eyes. "You aren't his girlfriend anymore." Turning back around he walked over to Lori and Alesha. Studying them intently for a moment, he looked at Lori and said, "You're Kevin's girlfriend." He turned to Alesha. "So that makes you Lesha," he said holding out his hand. "I'm Aaron, Nick's brother."
Alesha smiled and shook his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carter. I've heard so many wonderful things about you."
Aaron grinned. "Nick talks about you all the time. Said you like video games. Is that true?" he asked his big brown eyes, so much like Nick's blue ones, were lit up brightly.
"I love video games," Alesha replied.
"Wanna play?" he said looking up at her hopefully.
"Sure," she said looking at Lori and Leighanne helplessly.
"Cool," Aaron said grabbing her hand and dragging her to the door. He looked at Sarah on the way out and said, "Told you, you weren't."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "You are such a spoiled brat."
Alesha glared at Sarah and growled, "Knock it off."
"Or what?" Sarah asked looking at her. "Not like Nick's gonna say anything. Remember who's keeping him warm at night."
Aaron tugged on Alesha's hand. "Come on Lesh. Don't talk to her. She isn't a very nice person," he said as they walked into the other room.
Walking in the room, Nick almost passed out in shock. There sat Alesha and his little brother playing Mario Kart. Alesha was sitting on the couch. Aaron was sitting in front of her, resting his back against her legs. "He likes her," Nick thought. He watched as Alesha bent down and ruffled Aaron's hair when he won. Aaron grumbled, making a face, trying to fix it. Alesha giggled at him. He looked up at her and smiled. "She adores him, too," Nick thought. Closing his eyes and leaning his head on the wall, he whispered, "Why does she have to be so perfect?"
"THERE you are!" Sarah said loudly walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him. Alesha and Aaron looked over at the sudden noise.
"HEY!!" Aaron said hopping up and dropping his controller on the floor. Squeezing between Sarah and Nick, he pushed her away. "You can't do that. Lesh is his girlfriend. Only SHE can hug him that way."
"Alesha, Aaron, come on. We need to go to our seats," Leighanne called from the hallway.
Aaron looked up and pointed his finger at Sarah. "I mean it," he said grabbing Alesha's hand and following Leighanne to their seats.
