Cori looked out the window of the car. She couldn’t believe she was finally meeting her friend. As amazing as it was it had been less than a year they had met. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was. Things like this usually didn’t happen to her. She watched as the mall came in view and the rain hit the windows of the taxi.
    They had agreed to meet at the mall, a public place where they would be safe. Demand of her friends. Cori smiled at the thought. She would finally meet the men that made her friend so happy, not to mention meeting her friend! Finally they arrived at the mall. Cori paid the taxi driver and got out, hurrying inside trying to get away from the rain.
    As she walked in the mall she sighed, running her hands through her curly red hair trying to get the drops of water that had fallen on her head. She smoothed her suit. A knee long white skirt, with light blue flowers over it and a tight long sleeved white blouse, with a V low cut on the chest. She adjusted her blue necklace and digged into her purse looking for her cell phone so she could let Alex know she was here.

    “This guy better not look like a rapist.” Brian said looking around, sipping at his vanilla milkshake. Alex laughed at him.
    “Oh, believe, Cori won’t look like a rapist.”
    “How can you be so sure? Have you seen his pic?” AJ asked moving his eyes from the pretty redhead on the entrance of the mall.
    “No, but eh, gut feeling.” She smiled at them, shrugging.
    “So, wait. How will you know it’s him? And how will he know it’s you?”
    “Oh, Cori has my pic.” She smiled looking around. Brian looked at her strangely.
    “What?” she asked noticing his look
    “Why do I feel like there’s something you’re not telling us?” he asked making AJ look curiously at her somewhat blushing cheeks. She diverted her gaze
    “Alex?” AJ pressed. She finally looked at them.
    “Guys, there’s something I need to tell you. Cori’s actually a-“ *ring* she was interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She excused herself as she answered.
    “Hello.”
    “Alex? Hey girl. Cori here. I’m at the mall already. Where are you?”
    “I’m here too. I’m at the food court Cori. Do you think you can find me?”
    “Eh, probably. What are you wearing though?”
    Alex looked down on herself. “Uh, a blue tank top and dark blue jeans.”
    “Okay, I have your picture with me. Shouldn’t be hard to find you.”
    “I hope so. Cori, this will sound stupid but I’m scared.”
    “It’s not stupid. Believe me, I’ve had butterflies on my stomach for days now. And you wouldn’t believe how fidgety I am right now.” She gave a strained laugh and was joined by Alex.
    “Where are you right now? Let me see if I can find you.”
    “I’m at the entrance. I’m going to the food court right now.”
    “You’re the redhead with the white blouse and skirt?”
    “Yeah, that’s me.” Alex laughed as Cori gave a little wave to no one in particular.
    “Thought so.” She replied laughing
    “Listen, I’ll let you go now. I’ll see you in a bit.”
    “Okay, give me a call if you can’t find us.”
    “K, love ya.”
    “Love ya too.” Alex said hanging her cell phone up. She looked at the boys who was staring at her
    “What?” she asked getting frustrated from their looks
    “Love ya too? I thought you were just friends.” Brian said
    “We are. I love Cori like I love you and J and all the other boys and Leigh and, well you get the point.”
    “Are you sure?” AJ asked with a malicious grin on his face, making Lexy roll her eyes.
    “Believe me, I wouldn’t love Cori like that. Hey, isn’t that Amanda?” Alex asked nodding in the direction of a pretty black haired girl. They all turned to look at her when a guy went up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek, making her smile and turn on his embrace. Lexy and Brian looked over at AJ with sorrowful looks.
    “Yup, that’s her.” He said looking down and playing with the rest of his french fries.
    She looked at Brian with a guitly expression. “Me and my big mouth.” She mumbled so that just Brian could hear her. He softly smiled at her, squeezing her hand that was on her leg. She smiled back at him.
    “So.” Brian said cleaning his throat ending the awkward silence “What was it that you were gonna tell us before you were so rudely interrupted by your phone?”
    She looked at them and shrugged. “Never mind. You guys will find out soon enough.” She said as she watched the redhead head for their table. “It’s now or never.” She mumbled under her breath as Cori got to the table and smiled at her, she smiled back weakly as the boys turned to look at her.
    Alex watched anxiously as Cori’s eyes widened as  she realized who was standing in front of her. The boys smiled sweetly at her.
    “Hello, lady.” AJ said flirtatiously
    “Hi.” Brian said rolling his eyes at AJ “Can we help you?” he asked smiling
    Cori stared at him finally getting out of her state if chock “Uh... you’re Brian Littrell. And you, you’re AJ McLean.” She said dazed.
    Brian chuckled inwardly as he offered his hand. “Yes, We are. Who are you?”
    “Uh, I’m, I’m shocked.” She looked at Alex’s face which now held a grin. “You’re Brian’s Alex? Brian Littrell’s best friend Alex?”
    Alex grinned nodding her head trying to keep her laughter in. Cori glared jokingly at her as she made her way around the table. “You little bitch!” she said with a serious expression which made it even harder for Alex to contain her laughter.
    “Hey now! Who do you think you are? Alex is our friend and just because you’re jealous doesn’t mean you can disrespect her.” AJ said very rudely, dishing his anger towards the scene he had seen earlier onto Cori. She heard his speech with her mouth hanging open as fire set on her eyes.
    “Hey, chill out Bozo! Who do you think YOU are to judge without even knowing the facts? Do I look like a fucking teenybopper to you? I couldn’t care less if you got yourself a cow to date. I don’t know who put a stick up your ass, but you sure should get a woman to take it off!” she said glaring as he glared back.
    “Shut up bitch! What do you expect me to think? You’re the one that came to our table looking for autographs!”
    “Oh holy shit! Self conceited much? To your information I came here to meet my friend! News flash! You’re not the center of the world!”
    “YOU GUYS STOP!” Alex half yelled at the verge of tears. Here in front of her two of her best friends fighting over a stupid misunderstood.
    “Lexy what’s wrong honey?” Brian asked looking into her eyes, which were full of tears. She sniffled softly.
    “You guys this is Cori. Cori this are my friends.” She said as a look of surprise set on both boys’ faces
    “This is Cori?” Brian asked looking at the girl now standing beside Alex
    “Yes I am.” She said glaring at AJ. They all turned to look at Lexy as they heard a gasp
    “Oh God, this is so not what I had expected!” she said as tears dropped from her eyes and she quickly got up leaving the food court rapidly.
    “Great, look what you’ve done!” Cori said glaring at AJ one last time before leaving after Alex.
    “What *I* did?! Fucking bitch!” AJ exclaimed looking at Brian who was looking at him with ‘a look’.  “What?”
    “J, really man. You were a jerk. What’s gotten into you?”
    “Hey, the girl was a bitch. It’s not my fault! Was I supposed to guess SHE was Cori? I thought it was a fucking rapist!”
    “Jesus AJ! What’s gotten into you?” Brian asked exasperated with AJ’s behavior. The boy just lowered his eyes to the table and sighed. He wasn’t like this. It was just that, it was hard for him to see the woman he thought he would marry, with another man. And he dished it on someone who didn’t even know the story. A very beautiful someone. He smiled as he thought about her curvy figure. Gosh, what a loser. He said to himself covering his face with his hands.
    “It was Amanda wasn’t it?” Brian said softly laying a hand on his back
     AJ looked up and sighed, looking away from Brian. “It’s... just so hard to see the woman you love in another man’s arms. I thought I was gonna marry her Bri.” He said sadly, his soft side showing.
     “I know man. But you’ll find someone else. She wasn’t the right one. Everything happens for a reason.”
     AJ smiled weakly at his bud. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, but thanks man.”
     “Anytime, J. Anytime. I wonder if Lexy is okay.”

     Cori walked into the lady’s bathroom  and started looking for Alex. She followed the sniffles and found her on a stool at the end of the bathroom.
     “Hey.” She said softly
     Alex looked at her with a tear stained face and smiled a lopsided grin. “Hi.”
     “That was, uh, interesting?” Cori tried to joke
     “More like scary.” Alex giggled some and looked up at Cori. “It’s nice to finally meet you though.”
     Cori smiled down at her “I can say just the same. Come here, girl!” she said pulling Alex in for a hug. They hugged tightly
     “I’m so glad we could finally meet. I don’t think talking to a screen was doing it anymore.” Alex smiled pulling away
     “You can say that again. But damn girl! Did you need to shock the hell out of me?” Cori said moving out of the way so Alex could go to the sink freshen up
     “I know, I’m sorry. I just... well, I knew you were a big fan and I didn’t want you to like me for knowing them. Besides if I told you,  you probably wouldn’t have believed me.” She said looking at Cori through the mirror.
     “You’re right, I wouldn’t have. Hehe, it’s probably better you didn’t tell me. I would’ve stopped talking to you most surely.”
     “Really?”
     Cori smiled “Yeah, I’m weird. Hehe.”
     “So am I, that’s why we get along so well.” Alex chuckled as she dried her face “So, besides your little cat fight with J, how did you like finally meeting them?”
     “Honestly? I don’t know yet. I’m still too shocked to say. But Brian seemed nice and he seemed like he really cared about you. Is there something I should be hearing about here?”
     “Brian?! What are you talking about girl? Never, that boy is a no no. He’s like my brother, besides he’s got a girl.”
     “He’s still with LeighAnne?”
     “Yeah, and she’s really sweet so be nice.”
     Cori made a shocked face as she glared jokingly at Alex “I’m always nice!”
     “Geesh, I don’t wanna be near when J get you on your bad side then.” Alex said sarcastically as they made their way back to the food court.
     “Hey, he started it!”
     “And you couldn’t have just ignored it?”
     Cori shrugged “I’m a Scorpio, sue me!”
     Alex giggled “He’s usually not like that. He’s really sweet once you get to know him better.”
     “Yeah, that’s something I gotta see to believe.”
     “You’ll see. I bet once you set your differences aside you’ll love each other.”
     “Whatever you say. But there’s one thing the fact he’s a complete jerk didn’t change.”
     “And what’s that.”
     Cori smiled maliciously “The fact that he’s a complete hottie! Damn, he’s just like.. ooh la la.”
     Alex laughed “You’d say that. Hey, there’s the boys. I hope they’re not mad at me.”
     “Mad at you for what?”
     “Not telling them you were a girl.”
     “Somehow I doubt they are.” she said as they approached the table the boys were in. Brian smiled when he saw Alex.
     “They’re coming AJ, be nice.”
     AJ rolled his eyes “When am I not?” he questioned making Brian glare at him “Okay, okay. I’ll be in my best behavior.” He said rolling his eyes again.