Chapter 6

    Amanda and the rest of the girls sat in the front row of the stadium watching the boys rehearse.  Lately Amanda had been feeling more and more tired as the day went on.  Determined to support AJ she brushed off her exhaustion and went to every event the boys were to appear.  Amanda leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.  She opened her eyes to find Kristin sitting next to her.
    "You okay?  You look tired," Kristin said.
    "I'm exhausted.  Being pregnant isn't as easy as it looks.  I feel like I've got a giant basketball in my stomach," Amanda replied, patting her stomach.
    "You really should get some sleep.  Pregnant women need more sleep than normal."
    "I know, but I just feel bad when I don't come to the rehearsals and stuff."
    "I'm sure AJ would understand.  Besides you don't want anything to happen to the baby do you?"  Amanda shook her head. 
"Then get more sleep"
    "Okay I'll try," Amanda said with a loud sigh.
    Just then AJ hopped down from the stage drenched in sweat.  "Hey sexy," he said then kissed her.
    "Sexy?  Not hardly, look at me I'm a human blimp."
    AJ smiled.  "You look fine.  Stop complaining."
    "I'm sorry, I'm just really tired," Amanda replied.
    "We're taking a short break, but they want just me and the guys to work with the harnesses.  Everyone else is going back to the hotel.  Why don't you go get some sleep?  I won't mind."
    "Are you sure?"
    "Baby you haven't gotten a good night's sleep in days and it shows.  I want you to go back to the hotel and sleep.  It's not good for the baby for you to do this," AJ said as he ran his fingers through her hair.
    Amanda hesitated for a moment then gave in.  "All right, I'll go get some sleep."
    "Good, I'll see you tonight after the show," he said then gave her a quick kiss.
    "Hey AJ!" said a female voice in the distance.  Both Amanda and AJ turned around.  There stood Carmen, one of the female dancers.  "Are you coming with us to the club tonight after the concert?" she asked with a flirtatious smile.
    AJ grinned.  "You know it!  It's gonna be fun."
    Carmen walked up to AJ and gave him a hug.  "See you after the concert sexy," she said in a seductive voice and walked away, giving Amanda a dirty look on her way out of the arena.
    Amanda bit her lip to hold back her tears.  "I'll see you later AJ," she said quickly and brushed past him before the tears began to spill.  Swiftly she walked out of the arena and headed toward a limo that was waiting outside.  She was about to get in when she heard someone shout her name.
    "Amanda!  Amanda wait a minute!" said the voice.
    Amanda whirled around to see Kristin running toward her.  Tears were streaming down Amanda's face so she quickly got in the limo, leaving the door open for Kristin to get in.  As soon as Kristin got in and shut the door Amanda burst into tears.  Kristin pulled Amanda in to a hug.
    "What's wrong?  What happened in there?"
    "I knew it!  I just knew it!" Amanda shouted in hysteria.
    "Calm down hon. What did you know?"
    "I knew AJ would turn on me as soon as I started getting too big.  He hates me now!  He doesn't love me!  How could he love someone who looks like...like this!" she said as she pointed to her stomach.
    "Amanda you're pregnant.  You're supposed to be this big."
    "You just watch him.  He'll leave me for that...that slut Carmen!" Amanda stated as she digged through her purse for a tissue.  "Good for nothing bitch!  She's got some nerve stealing my man in front of my face!"
    "Amanda don't you think you're blowing this out of proportion?"
    "Fuck no!"
    "Amanda calm down.  This isn't good for the baby," Kristin said in a soothing voice.
    "Calm down?!  My boyfriend is leaving me and you want me to calm down?!"
    The limo stopped at the hotel entrance.  Kristin opened the door and helped Amanda out.  The two of them got in the elevator and went to their floor.  "I want you to go up to your room and get some sleep.  You're overly tired.  Everything will be fine, you'll see."
    "No, it won't.  I'm big and fat and my love life is going down the tubes," she said as she fished for her room key in her purse.  Her hands were shaking with frustration.
    Kristin took the key from her and opened the door.  She led Amanda to the bed.  "Lay down and go to sleep."
    "There's no way I can sleep now.  I'm too upset."
    "Well, at least lay down.  It'll make you feel better and you'll start to relax a little."
    Amanda wiped the tears from her eyes and laid down on the bed.  Sobbing with pain she cried herself to sleep.  Kristin sat in the chair next to bed and made sure she was asleep.  Thirty minutes later, Kristin wrote a note for Amanda and left it on the night stand.  Quietly she left the room and took a limo back to the arena.  She went inside the arena to find AJ sitting on the stage talking to Carmen. 
    "AJ can I talk to you for a moment," Kristin said in a huffy voice.
    AJ stepped off the stage and walked over to Kristin.  "What's up?"
    "Your girlfriend is back the hotel crying herself to sleep.  That's what's up!"
    "What?  Why is she doing that?"
    "Because you're an insensitive pig that's why!"
    "Me?!  What did I do?" AJ said, dumbfounded.
    "Apparently the way you were talking to Carmen gave Amanda the idea that you're gonna leave her."
    "That's ridiculous.  Why in the world would she think that?"
    "Look I know you and Carmen are just friends and you love Amanda with all your heart.  But Hon she's almost five months pregnant and she needs your support.  Her emotions are all out of whack and the slightest thing you do can me her explode.  I think the best thing for you to do is to stop being so friendly with Carmen and pay extra attention to Amanda.  Let her know you love her she really needs to know that right now.  She's feeling very insecure about herself and only your tender loving care can fix that."
    AJ stood there in shock for a moment.  "Man...I had no idea."
    "You're a man, it's normal for you to be clueless."
    AJ couldn't help but laugh.  "Kristin you are bitch of all bitches sometimes."
    Kristin gave him a smug grin.  "I know and I take pride in that title."
    "So what should I do?  I mean, help me out here."
    Kristin looked AJ straight in the eyes and smiled.  "Well, I think you just took the first step already.  I think you know what you have to do," she said then started walking away.  "Oh!  Flowers are a nice touch," she stated with a wink and walked out of the arena.
    After the concert AJ got in a limo and stopped by a floral shop and bought a dozen long stemmed roses and a bottle of non alcoholic champagne.  He went back to the hotel and went to his room to find no Amanda.  Searching the suite, he found her outside on the balcony.  She was sitting in a chair caressing her stomach.  AJ quietly opened the glass door and walked over to her.  Setting the roses on her lap, she looked up at him with a tear stained face.
    "What are you doing here?  I thought you were going to a club with a beautiful girl."
    AJ sweetly smiled and sat down next to her.  "No," he said softly then kissed her.
Chapter 5 - Chapter 7
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