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» CHAPTER FOUR: A NEW START «

The night of the concert, Tory and Crystal stayed the night at Gwen's. They woke the next morning to find her in the kitchen, on the phone.

"Hello, Howie?" she asked shyly.

"Speaking, whose this?"

"Gwen," she answered.

"Oh, hi" Howie said. "What's up?"

"I'm just calling about last night, about hearing us sing. Please tell me you were serious, or I'll feel so stupid," Gwen blurted out.

"No, I was serious. How about tonight? Around 7?" he asked.

"Sure, sounds great! Is Monica still invited around?" Gwen asked.

"Of course. Listen, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," Gwen said.

"Do you want to go out to lunch or something?" Howie asked.

"Sure, I'd love to. Just give me half an hour to get Monica a sitter, and I'll call you back," Gwen replied.

"Great," Howie said. "Talk to you then. Bye."

"Bye" Gwen said hanging up the phone.

"What he say?" Tory asked.

"Well, we have an audition type thing tonight at 7" Gwen answered.

"Great, then why are you looking for a sitter now?" Crystal asked.

"Because, he wants me to go to lunch with him," Gwen said, smiling.

"Great, good for you," Tory said.

"I don't know. I don't know him that well, and I haven't been on a date for a long time, and what about Monica?" Gwen babbled.

"Don't worry, we'll watch Monica," Crystal offered.

"Yeah, go call Howie and get ready," Tory added.

"Thanks guys, hold on.... hi, Howie.... yeah Crystal and Tory.... an hour, great.... 45 Main St..... ok.... ok....bye."

"Well?" Crystal asked.

"Nothing, he's sending a limo and he told me to wear something nice" Gwen answered.

Howie and the limo showed up an hour later. He stepped out, wearing baggy dockers, a wife beater, and a nice plaid shirt, worn open. He looked more gorgeous than any man Gwen had ever seen. Howie felt the same way about her. She was wearing a long black skirt and a blue tank top. The top was tight and showed a little stomach, she looked good for a mother of a 2 year old. She had her hair blown out straight. Howie took her to a little restaurant in the North End, Boston's Little Italy.

"What's wrong, Gwen? You look amazed" Howie said.

"Oh. Nothing" Gwen said, grabbing his hand. "I just haven't been here since before I had Monica."

"Oh, well I never have," Howie said, holding Gwen's offered hand.

"Then you've never been to a feast, have you?" Gwen asked.

"No. Why is there one?"

"There's always one! We just have to find it!" Gwen said.

They did find a small feast. At the little street fair, they sampled Italian pastry, had some Italian ice cream, and danced to old Italian muisic. Then all off a sudden it was 5:00. Howie and Gwen had to run back to the limo to make back to the hotel by 7:00. At the same time AJ was preparing for his date. He showed up at Kayla's door promptly at 7:00.

"Kayla, I have arrived," he called into the partly open door.

"Oh joy," she called back. She opened the door wearing black jeans and a green tank top.

"Ready?" AJ said. Kayla looked at him, almost blankly. She admired his huge cargos and the way he looked in that tight black tank top.

"I've got something to tell you first. This is my cousin, Kate. She's in med-school and visiting for a while," she said. "So about our date..."

"It's ok," AJ said. "The guys are going to hear a group sing tonight, and I was going to skip out on them. So, why don't you guys come with me? Hi Kate!"

"Great, wanna Kate?" Kayla replied.

"Sure. Hi AJ!" Kate said

"Great, let's go. I think we are already late," AJ said.

¤ Chapter 5: The Audition ¤
REMEMBER to send feedback to the author, Jessica