Chapter 2


After Nick told Brian to go lay down in his bedroom, he motioned for A.J. to meet him outside. Once they got to the backyard Nick closed the door behind them and sat down on the patio.
"It's happening again," Nick sighed.
A.J. looked at him "What's happening again?"
"Brian....he just had one of those nightmares, I told him to go lay down for a while."
"The ones about Michelle?" he asked, starting to get mad, but kept calm. Nick nodded.
"I can't believe this! I feel bad for him, but I mean come on, she died 3 years ago, Nick"
"I know A.J.! But you know he gets like this every year around Christmas, why do you think we always get together? For his sake! He needs to be around family and friends, he gets so depressed and I can't stand to see him like this."
"I'm sorry to say it, but he's getting on my nerves, I think he's getting on everybody's nerves. I know Howie and me can't take it, Kevin....he's his cousin and he lost his dad so he sympathizes, and you.....well Nick are you tired of it?"
Nick looked up at him and thought for a minute, "Yeah I'm a bit sick of it myself."
A.J. nodded, "Then it's settled, tomorrow we're dragging Brian's sorry butt down to the mall to scope out chicks!"
"You think he'll go?"
"Oh he'll go all right or he's going to have to look forward to a good ass kicking from me!"
Nick laughed, "Oh yeah that'll get him going, All fear the mighty A.J.!" "Shut-up!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* (the next day at the mall)

All the guys were sitting in the food court in Orlando Mall (I made this place up, I don't think it exists!)
"Brian what about her?" Kevin asked, pointing to a tall blonde giggling.
"Well, I guess she's OK," Brian said.
"SHE'S OK? Man what are you blind? Hell if you don't like her I'll take her! I'm going to get her number!" A.J. said and got up and approached the girl. Everyone watched as he walked over to her, and talked to her for a minute, then write something down on his hand. He walked back over to the group with a big smile on his face.
"And The Bone works his magic yet again!" he sat down in his seat.
"Lord, A.J. you've got problems, now lets get back to Brian," Howie laughed and starting looking at all the girls that passed by.

~*an hour later*~

"Aw come on Brian! What could possibly be wrong with her?" Nick whined.
Brian studied the brunette for a minute, "Her hair isn't wavy enough and it doesn't have that bounce to it, it isn't like-"
A.J. cut him off, he couldn't take it anymore, "Brian! Don't say it! Do NOT say that she isn't like Michelle! I swear to God Brian if you say that one more time! I'm going to seriously hurt you! She's dead! Get over it!" he yelled, causing a few people to look there way.
Kevin yanked him down in his seat, "A.J.! Could you shut-up, did you happen to forget we are in public, and that we could get recognized?" Kevin said in a hushed yell. A.J. just grumbled and walked off to the Men's room. Kevin then looked at Brian, "I'm sorry about him, I have no idea what his problem his."
"No, it's OK, but can I ask you guys something?" he asked and they nodded, "Am I really that bad?"
They all looked at each other guiltily. Brian got up and started walking towards the door.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Nick asked. "I'm just going to think, I'm sorry for making the last three years hell, I never really thought about it, You're right though it is time to get over her," Brian said then walked outside pulling down his baseball cap. He walked around for a while and found a Starbucks, he decided to get some coffee so he went in.
Brian sipped his third cappichino, "I don't think I'll ever love again, " he sighed and sat back in his seat.
"Ever?" A voice asked from above him, he looked up and saw the most beautiful girl, she wasn't prettier than Michelle according to Brian, but he convinced himself to stop it. Stop trying to make people into Michelle.
"What?"
The girl sat down, "I overheard you say that you don't think you'll ever fall in love again," she said.
"Oh, I was rambling on.....so what made you come over here, Annie?" he asked.
Her eyes went wide, "How did you know my name?"
He laughed at how nervous she got, "Your name tag."
She looked down at her shirt and sure enough there was her name tag, "Oh, I always forget to take that off after work," she laughed and removed her name tag stuffing it in her purse.
"Where do you work?"
"Barnes and Nobles book store, I love books and I love to write so that was the best job right now I could find, what about you?"
"Um...I..uh..work in the entertainment business," he stuttered not wanting to reveal who he was.
She could tell he was uncomfortable about the subject and wondered what could he possibly do in the 'entertainment' business that's so bad, 'Oh my God I wonder if he's...' "You mean like.....a stripper?" she asked.
Brian choked on his drink, "NO!...I mean no, like a singer."
"Oh, just wondering because you didn't seem to want to tell me."
'That's because I don't want to tell you,' he thought
She interrupted his thoughts, "So do you live around here?"
"Actually...."
They talked for the rest of the afternoon until Annie looked at her watch and noticed she had to get home.
"Well, it was nice talking to you, but I really have to get going," she said getting up.
"It was nice talking to you too," Brian said.
She started to look through her purse to stall for time, 'Please ask for my number, please ask for my number, please ask for my number!' she silently pleaded.
'What is wrong with you Brian? Why are you scared? Just ask for her number, she'll say yes,' he reassured himself.
She pulled out her car keys, "Found 'em! Well, OK, I'll be going..."
"Yeah, um..."
"Bye," she started to walk away. 'I thought he liked me.'
'Just say it! Come on do it Brian!' "Um, WAIT!" he called and she turned around.
"Yes?"
"I would really like to talk to you again, could I um..have your number," he asked nervously.
'Oh God!! Don't act desperate, keep it cool,' "OK" she blurted out. 'Oh you idiot! Well, you blew not sounding desperate!' she mentally scolded herself, but kept a smile on her face.
Brian laughed, "OK wait a second, let me get a pen," he patted his coat pockets and pulled out a pen and paper.
"OK it's....it's.....um.....um....OH! I remember, 232-7821,"she said then her and Brian said good bye.
Brian walked out of the coffee shop smiling a mile wide, 'That wasn't too hard, I can't wait to talk to her again!' he thought. He didn't even see the car coming towards him.


Chapter 1 - Chapter 3

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