The next day, Brian, Kevin, A.J., Nick, Lindsay, Howie, and Elena all hopped into Nick's minivan and were off to the beach. The shore was pretty far, so they all had to entertain themselves for an hour. Lindsay sat in front with Nick so they could get to know each other. Howie and Elena were in the middle row and kept themselves busy by, what else?… smooching. Kevin and Brian slept in the backseat, while A.J. was stuck between them.
"Dammit! Why was I stuck with these two?!" whined A.J. as they made a turn and he was squashed by Kevin's muscular body, and slammed into Brian.
"Because Lindsay wanted to ride with me and you know we can't pry Howie and Elena apart," retorted Nick.
"Damn it all!"
They finally got there after what seemed like forever for A.J.
"Yes! Thank you, God!" he shouted after they parked and got everything they needed out.
They all carried their towels, beach chairs, umbrellas, etc. out to a nice spot not too near the breaking waves.
Nick and Lindsay decided to take a swim, and A.J. wanted to surf, while Kevin and Brian went to check out some beach bunnies. Elena and Howie stayed under the umbrellas just chatting.
"So…anything new?" asked Howie attempting to start a conversation, something different from what they usually did which was make out.
"Well, as a matter of fact, yes. I've been graciously assigned to 'experience a behind the scenes look at the life of a rock band.' I have to follow Aerosmith around and interview them and stuff." Elena was a journalist for Music Today, a very popular music magazine.
"Cool! Congratulations!"
"Yeah, thanks. I have to spend two weeks crammed in a tour bus, and stuck backstage at their VERY LOUD concerts. And besides that, they're going to be all around the States, so I'm not going to be in Florida for a while. I have to take a plane to New York to meet with them. Lucky me."
"When are you leaving?"
"This Tuesday."
"Oh. I'll drive you to the airport if you want me to."
"Thanks. You're too sweet."
"Doh, what am I going to do for the next two weeks, without you here?!"
"What you're supposed to be doing! Recording, rehearsing, appearing on TV, making teenage girls cry, hanging with your buds, taking your mom shopping…"
"Alright. I get the point."
"Hey, by the way, did you really buy your mother that red Mustang you promised her?"
"Yes, I did. And I taught her how to drive it, too. I turned her into a road demon! She looks all cool with her shades, driving the car, and blasting BSB from the CD player. It's pretty amusing."
Elena giggled imagining Howie's sweet little mother cruising down the streets. "People must give her weird looks, eh?"
"Yup. That's why I refuse to go anywhere with her when she's in one of those wild moods. You know, the ones A.J. is permanently stuck in?"
"I heard my name!" A.J. jogged up to them, soaked to the bone.
"Wipe out?"
"Uh, yeah. I was doing really well at first! But then this HUGE tidal wave knocked me off my board!"
"Hehe."
"Shut up! Now what were you saying about me?"
"We were just discussing your wildness."
"I'm not wild! I'm simply freaky, funky, and romantic!"
"Ok."
"So, Eelie, what's up?"
"She's leaving me for two weeks," said Howie with a sad puppy face.
"Oh no! TWO WHOLE WEEKS?!!! Don't worry, D, we'll keep you busy to get your mind off her."
"Thanks. Don't worry, I'll try not to kill myself."
Later, the whole group reunited and decided to play volleyball. Howie, Lindsay, and Kevin were against Elena, Nick, and Brian. A.J. didn't want to play, so he decided to just sit and watch and make sure no one cheated.
After a few hours of sunbathing, swimming, surfing, flirting, chillin', and chattin', they all felt it was time to leave the beach and do some shopping, walking, flirting, chillin', and chattin' on the boardwalk and around the town. They sat around a fountain and discussed what they wanted to do.
"Hey, does anyone want to come to the arcade with me?" asked Nick.
"Sure! I'd love to kick your arse in MarioKart!" laughed Lindsay.
"Kick MY ass?! Well, apparently you don't know me very well! I am the king of MarioKart!" proclaimed Nick.
"Sure, Nicky," said Brian sarcastically.
"A.J., I know you like to shop, so would you like to come with me?" asked Elena.
A.J. really didn't feel like it. "Well…" But then Elena gave him a look that said it was really important for him to come. "Ok."
She smiled. "Thanks, A.J."
"I don't know about you guys, but I feel like a pina colada. I'm gonna check out the local bars," informed Kevin. "We can meet here in say, three hours?"
Everyone agreed.
"I'll come with you, cuz. And we might as well search for a place to throw Howie's bachelor party, right, Howie?" Brian grinned.
"Maybe."
Everyone looked surprised, especially Elena. She blushed.
"Let's go, A.J." She pulled him by his arm and they left before anyone could say anything else.
"So, why did you drag me along?" asked A.J. while they hopped from store to store.
"Because I need your help in deciding what to buy Howie for our four-month anniversary!"
"Four months, already?! Wow, how time flies! Doh, that means we only have two months left of our break! Ohhh," moaned A.J.
"Oh, that's right!"
"Do you guys celebrate your anniversaries every month?"
"We might as well! After these two months, you guys will be touring and everything! We'll hardly see each other, so we're gonna make every day count. So…what do you think I should get him? What does he like?" "From you? Anything!"
"Well, be more specific! I wanna get him something that says 'no matter where you are, I'll always be with you, and I love you'."
"Hmm…how about a ring?"
"A ring?"
"Yeah. You can inscribe the words 'I love you' in it, and he'd wear it, so you'll always be with him. Sort of."
"That's a good idea. Like a promise ring."
"Yeah."
"But what happens if some crazy fan pulls it off his finger?"
"For a fan to steal his ring, she'd have to take his whole finger, and I think that's highly unlikely. And anyway, we don't get that close to fans that they can steal our jewelry."
"Thanx, A.J. You are very helpful."
"No problem."
An hour later, Elena came out of a jewelry store with a small black velvet covered box.
"Ooh, let me see!" cried A.J.
She opened the box and inside was a silver ring with 'my (heart shape) stays with you' engraved in the inside. That was the title of Howie's solo.
"Wow! That's really nice!"
"Really? Good! I want to keep it a surprise until our anniversary, so please don't say anything!"
A.J. nodded as he crossed his heart.
"Thank you. So you really think he'll like it?"
"Are you kidding?! He'll flip out! I wonder what he's getting you! Probably a new car, or diamonds, or something like that!"
"Oh my Gawd!"
"Yup. We don't call him Latin Lover for nothing!" Everyone met up at the fountain two hours later. Nick was moping because Lindsay beat him at MarioKart, Mortal Kombat, and Final Fantasy VII seven out of ten times.
"Don't be sad, Nick, you didn't lose that badly!" Lindsay tried comforting Nick.
Nick just snorted.
"Will this help?" She gave Nick a kiss on the cheek. He immediately lightened up. "I thought so," she grinned. "And there will be more where that came from, if you stop acting like a baby, and start acting like the big, bright lad that you are."
"You go, girl!" cheered Elena.
"Ok, guys, we gotta go home. Five of us have to wake up early tomorrow and rehearse for our European tour," reminded Kevin.
"Did you guys finish your new album already?" asked Elena.
"Almost. We just need a few more finishing touches, then we're all done," said Brian.
"Cool! Can't wait!"
The seven of them hopped into the van and went home.
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