"Hey Taelen," Alesha called up the staircase.
"What Lita?" he asked peeking his head around the corner.
"Ready for your lunch?" she asked, smiling at him.
"Yup," he grinned. She heard the Nintendo controller fall to the floor as he came running out of the room and down the stairs.
"What we havin'?"
"Macaroni and cheese," she smiled.
"Ooh, my favorite!" he exclaimed hurrying to the kitchen. "When's Nick coming home?" he asked as he sat down.
"In about 3 days," she said placing his bowl in front of him. "Milk?" she asked getting a glass from the cabinet.
"Yes please," he said his mouth full of noodles.
"Ready to kick his butt at Nintendo?" she asked pouring his milk and setting it on the table.
Taelen laughed. "Yeah right, not with this dumb thing on my arm," he said holding up his cast.
"How's that feeling?" Alesha asked sitting across from him.
He shrugged. "It's okay. I'll be glad when I can get it off," he sighed.
"I know darlin," she smiled. "Ya know sweetie," she said taking a sip of her iced tea, "we need to get you enrolled in school."
Taelen made a face. "Why? School sucks."
Alesha laughed. "School does NOT suck."
"Yes it does," he mumbled.
"Why? What about school sucks?" she asked hiding a smile.
He shrugged. "No one likes me. They think I'm weird."
"But you are," Alesha laughed.
"Thanks Lita," he said making a face again.
"Watch it. Someone's going to think we're related," she grinned. "Think of it this way, Tae, you're in a new town, new state, and there are new people. I bet they'll LOVE you here," she winked at him.
"Ya think?" he asked looking up from his bowl.
Alesha nodded. "I can almost guarantee you that they'll adore you," she smiled.
"ARGH!!!!" Nick exclaimed throwing his shirts behind him, as he dug through his bag.
"What is wrong with you?" Kevin asked watching him in amusement.
"I can't find my grey button up. Where is Alesha when I need her? She'd know where to find it," he grumbled walking over to his suitcase to dig through it.
"Man, what would you do if she weren't a part of your life?" Kevin asked walking to the closet and pulling the shirt off from the hanger. "Is this what you're looking for?"
"Yes. Where did you find it?" Nick asked grabbing it from him. "And I have no idea. She keeps everything straight for me. And she doesn't even travel with us that much."
Kevin chuckled. "Dude, you have it bad," he said shaking his head.
Nick sighed. "Yeah. So, how are things with you and Carrie?" he asked bending down to tie his shoes.
Kevin smiled. "Wonderful…we're doing great," he said softly, walking over to the other bed and sitting down. "Have you seen AJ and Lori?"
Nick nodded. "How…how you feeling about that?" he asked looking up.
Kevin shrugged. "I'm okay, I guess. I just…I don't know," he sighed.
"Anyone but AJ, right?" Nick asked grinning, standing up. He walked over to the desk and picked up his baseball cap and put it on.
Kevin nodded. "Exactly. Not that there's anything wrong with Bone, but…dammit…."
"I know," Nick said patting his friend on the back. "Come on. The guys are going to begin to wonder about us."
"What's this?" Kevin asked, noticing the small black box laying on the bed.
"Oh. Umm…it's…it's for Lesh," Nick said picking it up and opening it.
"A ring? Nick, are you…are you planning on…" Kevin asked looking at him funny.
Nick nodded looking at the ring. "Yeah. Eventually. I just…I'm just a little nervous about it," he looked up at Kevin. "You think it's a bad idea, don't you?"
"No. Oh hell no. I think it's awesome," Kevin said taking the box from him. "Damn, that's a pretty rock, bro."
"Thanks,"he laughed taking it back and shutting the box. "Think she'll like it?"
"Knowing Lesh, she'd like anything you got her. She's that way," Kevin answered as they walked out the door.
"Hurry up in there," AJ said knocking on the door to the bathroom.
"I AM hurrying impatient butt," Lori laughed. "What do you want? You just came out of here."
"You," he grinned, peeking through a crack in the door.
"Funny," Lori said making a face. "Freak."
"Only for you, baby," he said blowing her a kiss. He closed the door and jumped on the bed with a holler.
"What the hell?" Lori asked walking out of the bathroom. Seeing AJ bouncing on the bed like a little kid she shook her head.
"Okay Nick. What is WITH you today?" she asked walking over next to the bed.
"Nothing. Can't I just be happy?" he asked pulling her over to him. He kissed her neck, causing her to squirm as it tickled.
"Stop it," she said giggling. "AJ. Stop," she tried to push him away.
"Okay," he said. "What are we doing today?" he asked laying back on the bed, looking at her.
Lori shrugged. "I have to call Lesh and see how she's doing. And then I'm going shopping."
"And you weren't going to invite me?" he pouted at her.
"I haven't had a chance yet, brat," she said moving over next to him.
"Well, now's your chance," he said wrapping his arms around her.
"Nah. Think I'll just go by myself," she said laying her head on his chest.
Pushing her off him, he said. "What?!? You don't love me anymore," he whined.
Lori laughed and asked him, her bottom lip sticking out, "AJ darling, love of my life, would you like to come shopping with me?"
He looked at her, eyes narrowed. "I don't know. You aren't very nice."
Lori shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'm going to have fun," she said sitting up, smoothing her hair. "I'm going to all the awesome clothing stores, and then I'm going shopping for sunglasses, and then jewelry, possibly hats…" she checked off her shopping list on her fingers as she stood and walked to the table grabbing her purse.
"Jewelry and sunglasses?" he asked sitting up.
"Yeah. I need some new rings, and Nick's big butt sat on my other glasses and broke them," she grinned to herself.
"Oh, well, in that case, you'll need me to come along so you don't get some really terrible pair of glasses," he said getting up.
Lori laughed. "Whatever. Come on you," she said walking over and kissing him softly.
"Don't," Rebecca said shooing Brian away from her.
"But Becca, I can't see," he said, whining.
"God, I thought Nick was with Kevin," she said moving over.
Howie laughed. "Brian and Nick are a lot alike," he whispered moving closer to Rebecca.
"This movie is dumb," Brian complained.
"Don't you have something to do?" Rebecca asked starting to get annoyed. "I thought you like Jim Carey," she said.
"I do, but this, THIS," he said pointing at the TV. "This is ludicrous."
"Ludicrous? Why? He's portraying the life of one of the greatest comics of all times," Rebecca said surprised.
"Andy Kaufman? Greatest comics? Oookay," Brian said. He turned back to the TV.
Howie laughed. "Ignore him."
Rebecca smiled. "Okay, I'll pay attention to you then," she said kissing him softly.
"I love you baby," he said softly, kissing her back.
"I love you too," she whispered.
"Ick. Disgusting," Brian said getting up. "I'm leaving."
"What?" Rebecca asked looking over at him.
"Nothing," he sighed. "I'm…I'm gonna go call Leighanne," he said walking slowly out the door.
"Poor BRok," Howie said. "He misses her so much. I'll be glad when this movie's over so that she can get back here to be with him."
Rebecca nodded. "Howie, may I…ask you something?" she asked looking over at him.
"Sure baby, what?"
"Why…why me?" she asked.
"Why you what?" he looked at her confused.
"Why did you fall in love with me?"
He laughed nervously. "What do you mean? Why did I fall in love with you?" he asked surprised. "Where did that come from?"
She shrugged and sat up. "I don't know. I was just sitting here thinking. Out of all the girls in the world. Out of all the women you could possibly have and HAVE had…why me?"
He blinked and sat up next to her. "I don't know what you're talking about. There isn't any explanation that I can give you. It just happened. I walked into the elevator, looked into your eyes and bam! It happened."
"But what's going to happen with us? I mean, yeah, everything is all good right now while we're on tour, but what about when we get back to Florida? You'll go back to your friends and to your family and where will that leave me?" she asked quietly.
"What are you saying Bec? I want you to be a part of my friends and family. I want you to meet all of them. I want you to join in the stuff that we do. I love you, why wouldn't I?"
She shrugged. "I was just thinking. I love you Howie, but are you sure?"
He smiled. "You are so silly sometimes."
"I'm silly?" she asked. "Why am I silly."
"You think more than I do. And that's saying a lot," he chuckled softly. "I love you baby, and things will work out just fine."
