The next day, the five guys met up at a basketball court to play a few games. Kevin and Brian would be leaving that evening.
"What's this? I thought the point of this vacation was to get away from each other and everything and here we are, playing b-ball together!" commented Howie.
"What's the matter, D, we're not good enough for you anymore?" joked A.J.
"Uh, that's not it. It's just…umm…"
"Yeah, I know. But old habits die hard. Hey, do any of you guys want to hang out later?"
"A.J., where are you getting all this energy? I'm pooped!" exclaimed Brian.
"I don't know. I guess I'm just happy to be home and eager to live out my non-Backstreet Boy life!"
"I can't. My mom's making me take her shopping."
"Then I guess we won't see you 'till next year! Knowing your mother!" laughed A.J.
"Shut up."
"Sorry, Bone, no can do. I kind of promised my brother, I'd spend time with him, today," explained Nick.
"B-rok? Kev?"
"We're leaving in a few hours. We have to get our stuff ready."
"Fine, be like that," said A.J. disappointed. Then he thought of another idea. "Hey, D, wanna go clubbing tonight?"
"Cool. Just don't get drunk, high, or laid or your mother would kill me!"
"It's a deal."
"Hey," whined Nick, "why didn't you invite me? I won't have anything to do tonight."
"Sorry, Nicky, Orlando clubs are too savage for your innocent eyes to see."
"Shut up! And don't call me Nicky!"
Later that evening, after saying their good-byes, Brian and Kevin left for Kentucky and arrived in Lexington safely a few hours later.
"Brian! Kevin!" shouted Mrs. Littrell at the airport while jumping up and down to get their attention.
"Mom!"
"Aunt Jackie!"
"Awwe, my boys! How are you? I haven't seen you in a such a long time!" she exclaimed as she hugged them.
"We're great! Where's Aunt Ann?"
"Oh she wasn't feeling to well. She wanted to come to see you, Kevin, but I wouldn't hear of it. She's at my house. I told her I'd bring you to her."
"Is she ok?" asked Kevin concerned.
"Yes, I'm sure she is. It's probably just a cold or something. It's been going around, so you boys better protect yourselves. Big stars can't afford to be sick!"
"Yeah, we can. For the next few months, we won't be big stars, just normal people. We'll sleep like everyone else, we'll eat home-cooked meals like everyone else, and we'll catch colds like everyone else!" stated Brian.
"Alright, let's go home!" said Mrs. Littrell grinning from ear to ear.
Mrs. Richardson was sleeping on the couch when they arrived home, but woke up as soon as they walked through the door.
"Kevin!" she said, smiling, as she held out her arms to hug him.
"Hi, Mom. How are you feeling?"
"Oh just fine, now. Brian! Come here and give your aunt a hug!"
"Hi, Aunt Ann. I hope you feel better, soon."
"Thank you, dear."
"Ok, boys, we better let her rest. And I'm sure you're exhausted, too. We'll talk about what you guys have been up to tomorrow. Goodnight, darlings."
"Goodnight, Mom, Aunt Ann."
"Goodnight, Aunt Jackie. Feel better, Mom."
" 'Night, boys."
" 'Night, cuz," said Kevin.
"Ditto," replied Brian, yawning.
Everyone went to bed.
Back in Orlando, Howie and A.J. had gotten to the clubs at ten o' clock at night.
"Yes!" cried A.J. "Girls!"
"Don't you mean women?" corrected Howie.
"Whatever, same thing. Oh whoa! Look at that hottie over there!"
He was referring to a brunette in a tight short Gucci dress, sitting all alone at the bar.
"Oh, come on A.J.! She's gotta be at least thirty! She's way out of your league!"
A.J. didn't hear his comments. He was too busy staring.
"Well, excuse me, while I sweep her off her feet. Wish me luck!" he confidently stated, as he made his way over to her.
"Good luck! You'll need it," Howie mumbled under his breath.
"Hi," A.J. said to the woman sitting at the bar.
"Hello."
"So…what is a beautiful lady like yourself doing here all alone," he began flirting.
"The same thing you are."
"Oh." 'This lady didn't make much of a conversation,' he thought to himself. "So, what's your name?"
"Elena."
"Nice to meet you, Elena. I'm A.J."
"A.J., what does that stand for?"
"Alexander James," he answered sheepishly.
"Cute."
"Thanks." 'Cute?! Oh, jeez, what am I doing wrong?!' he asked himself. "I take it you're not that interested." 'Oh damn it! Why did I have to say that! ' A.J. could have just kicked himself.
"Interested? In you? Sorry to disappoint you, but you seem a little…young."
"Young? I'm 21!"
"And I'm 28!"
"Really? Umm…uh…that's not a lot older."
"Maybe not, but it's enough. Good-bye, A.J. Nice meeting you." She got up and started to leave.
A.J. was left to face the fact that he had been rejected. Elena was about to walk out the door, when something, or let's just say, someone, caught her eye. She looked at the quiet young man sitting alone at a table. His eyes were big and brown, unlike any eyes she had ever seen. His hair was short, dark, and curly. And he was kind of short, but in a cute way.
A.J. looked in her direction and noticed she hadn't left yet. He took this opportunity to try again. He went over to her.
"Hey, I'm glad you didn't leave, listen…"
Elena wasn't listening to a word he was saying. She was staring at the handsome stranger.
"Elena? Hello?"
She finally snapped out of it.
"Huh? What?"
"How was it where you were?"
"Pretty damn fine…" she answered taking another glimpse at her mystery man.
"What? What are you looking at?" A.J. asked following her gaze.
"At that cutie over there," she replied pointing at the table with the hottie.
"Him? That's my friend, Howie."
"You know him?"
"Know him? We're practically brothers!"
"That's great! Can you…uh…introduce us? Please?"
"Umm…sure…come with me," he replied kind of sad that he had been rejected for his best friend. He went over to Howie's table.
"Hey, Howie."
"A.J., nice to see you came back. I guess your mission didn't go so…uh…" Howie just realized Elena was standing there.
"Ahem, Howie, this is Elena. Elena, Howie."
Howie stood up and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Elena." He smiled his a million-dollar grin.
'Oh, damn, he's cute!' Elena thought. But she controlled herself.
"Likewise."
The three of them just stood there, feeling kind of awkward, until A.J. nudged Howie.
"Oh, would you like to dance?" he asked Elena.
"I thought you'd never ask," she smirked.
Howie took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Just then, "Hey, Mr. DJ" started playing. Howie felt uneasy. 'Oh damn, why did this have to come on! I hope she doesn't know! Wait, she doesn't! She would have recognized us by now! This is good…'
He was right. She didn't know, and he wouldn't have preferred it any other way. He didn't want to scare her off because of what he did. But Elena was way past the teenybopper stage. She couldn't tell the difference between BSB and New Kids On the Block, even if they came and pinched her in the butt! So on they grooved, enjoying each other's company, while A.J. sat at the table, alone and confused.
'What does he have that I don't?' A.J. pondered, as he watched them dance.
After a couple of hours of dancing, drinking, and chatting, they all decided it was time to go home.
"I had a great time, Elena. I hope we can stay in touch," said Howie.
"Me, too. Here's my number. Call me, anytime. Maybe we could do something later on."
"That'd be great. Here's mine."
"Cool. Hey, A.J., I'd like yours too. Then we all could hang out, just like today…er, tonight."
A.J. got a piece of paper, scribbled his number down, and handed it to her.
"Ok, thank you. Goodnight, Howie. A.J."
"Goodnight, Elena."
"Yeah, 'night," mumbled A.J.
Then, she left. Howie and A.J walked to Howie's car and got inside.
"Wow, what a night! We should go clubbing more often!" exclaimed Howie.
"Yeah, right," retorted A.J.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Oh come on! You've been pissy since we met Elena."
"Well, what do you expect? You stole my woman!"
"What?! A.J., she's not your woman!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in!"
"A.J., first of all, she was never your woman. Second of all, she clearly wasn't interested in you. And third, YOU introduced ME to HER!"
"She asked me to! I couldn't say no."
"Well, then that was your problem! Don't take your frustration in being rejected out on me because, yes, A.J., there are people in this world that can and will resist you!"
"I know. It's just…she called me young! She said I was too young for her. Seven years isn't a big difference and besides, she's older than you and she still asked you out!"
"There's a big difference between being seven and three years apart from someone."
"Whatever. Let's just go home."
"Fine."
A.J. arrived home at 2am. You'd figure he'd be tired, but for some reason he couldn't sleep. He felt guilty about flipping out on Howie. That wasn't very mature. After all, she picked him. He decided he'd call Howie in the morning and apologize for being such an asshole. His conscience finally let him sleep.
A.J. woke up at one in the afternoon, something he hadn't done in a while. The first thing he remembered was to make the call. He picked up the phone and dialed Howie's number. His mom answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Mrs. Dorough. Is Howie there?"
"A.J.? Hi! Oh, no, Howard's not here. I don't know where he went, but I'd be happy to take a message and tell him when he gets back."
"That's ok. Thanks, but this is something I kind of have to say myself."
"Ok. I'll let him know you called."
"Thank you, bye."
"Bye, dear."
He hung up. 'Well, so much for apologizing!' he thought. 'Let's see, who can I bother now?…Nick!' He dialed Nick's number.
"Hello, you have reached the Carters' residence, how may I be of service?"
"Stop trying to be smart, Nick, and get your blonde ass over here!"
"How did you know it was me? I disguised my voice!"
"You're the only one in your family that's just corny like that! Duh!"
"Shut up! What do you want?"
"Well, I called to see if maybe you wanted to hang out or something."
"Oh, so now you want to hang out with me? Did you find a place that wasn't 'too savage for my innocent eyes to see'?" Nick said sarcastically.
"Ok. I see you don't want to. Fine. Bye." A.J. was about to hang up.
"No! No, no, wait! Jeez, can't you take a joke?! I'll be right there! Ninja Turtles is only fun the first hundred times you play it!"
"I thought so. No need. I'll pick you up. Bye."
"Ciao!"
A.J. and Nick decided to go to the mall. They haven't shopped for a while.
"I need new sunglasses and b-ball jerseys."
"I need to get the new Nintendo game."
"I hope no one recognizes us."
"Well, you might want to take off your sunglasses. That's what you're known for, remember?"
"Oh, yeah."
They both wore baseball caps and this time, Nick wore the sunglasses, and A.J. didn't. Maybe that would fool the fans. Wrong!!!
As soon as they walked out of some guy store, a teenage girl went up to A.J., her eyes wide with excitement.
"Hey! Aren't you A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys?" she asked hyperventilating.
A.J. had a look of fear in his eyes.
"Uh, no," he replied, stupidly.
"Yes! Yes, you are! I'd recognize that goatee anywhere! Ahhh! And you're Nick Carter!" she screamed gawking at Nick. She started yelling hysterically. "OMG!!! It's the BSB!" Soon everyone in the mall noticed. There was a stampede of shrieking girls headed their way.
"Oh my gosh! Nick, RUN!!!" screamed A.J., as he took off, Nick following behind.
They flew out of the mall and into A.J.'s car. He put the pedal to the metal!
"Damn it, A.J.! You and your friggin' goatee!"
"Hey! It wasn't MY fault! They'd recognize us, even if we were dressed as the Spice Girls!"
"Ewwe! Image in head! Get out! Get out!!!" Nick exclaimed as he smacked himself in the head.
"Chill, Kaos! We're safe now! So, where do you want to go now?"
"I dunno."
"Ok, how about we go back to my place, watch a movie, and order a large pie of gooey cheesiness?"
"Great! What movie?"
"How 'bout Scream 2? We could make fun of it and comment on its pointless plot!"
"Cool."
So, they went back to A.J.'s place, stuck in the video, and ordered the pizza. A.J. was cheering for the killer throughout the whole movie.
"Kill her! Kill her! Kill that friggin' slut!" shouted A.J. jumping around.
"A.J., she's not gonna die! She has to live to star in the sequel!"
"I know! I just got caught up in the moment! How the hell does she manage to escape all those times?!"
"By following the script!"
"Stop being so logical!"
"Stop being an idiot! The cheese must have gone to your head and replaced your brain!"
"No, must have been the five glasses of iced tea I just had. I read about the effects of caffeine and sugar on your body! Makes people crazy!"
"You didn't need help with that!"
Just the, a phone ring interrupted their foolish banter. Nick answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Nick, it's Howie. Is A.J. there?"
"Hiya! Yeah, hold on…hey, Bone! It's Howie!" A.J. grabbed the phone.
"Hey, D! Wuz up?"
"Nothing much. Are you still mad about yesterday?"
"No. Actually, I'm sorry about last night. I don't know what got into me. I called you earlier to apologize, but you weren't home."
"Oh, it's ok. I'm sorry, too, for…uh…whatever I did to make you mad."
"It's cool."
"Good, because I kind of went out with her earlier." There was an awkward pause after that. "A.J.?"
"Huh? Oh, really? Cool."
"I was gonna call you to join us, but I didn't know how you'd react, so I thought I'd give you time to cool down."
"Hey, it's ok. Maybe another time. Besides I was hangin' out with Nicky most of the day."
Howie was surprised at how well A.J. was taking it, especially after yesterday. He also heard a "don't call me Nicky!" from Nick and laughed.
"Ok, keep torturing Nick for me!"
"Why don't you come and join the fun? We got pizza…er, umm, well not anymore, but the movie's still playing!"
"No, thanks. I've got stuff to do. Besides I watched Scream 2 already. It really pisses me off how Neve always escapes with her guts in place."
"I know what you mean! Well, alrighty then! Arrivederci!"
"Bye."
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