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“Excuse me, AJ. Was there something you wanted to comment on?” one of their managers asked. “Have any remarks on the plans we have discussed so far?”
AJ stopped himself from gulping there in front of everyone. “Uh, no. Everything sounds great.” Someone in the room had a fit of coughing. As soon as everyone’s attention was off him, AJ looked around until his eyes landed on Brian. His little friend was struggling to keep his laughter silent. Just then Nick yawned again and AJ noticed Brian was about ready to crack up. Evidently AJ wasn’t the only one of them not listening to a damn word their management was saying. He hoped none of it was important. Howie was probably paying attention. AJ could get all the important shit from him later.
Nick prayed to God that the meeting would end soon. He was tired and this wasn’t helping. He kept yawning and couldn’t stop it no matter how he tried. He also knew that his hand’s constant trip to his mouth to stifle another yawn was not fooling any of the others in the room. And now he had AJ yawning, as well. It wasn’t his fault that these things were damn boring. Nothing interesting was ever discussed!
Just then Brian slid a piece of paper in between himself and Nick to a spot where both of them could easily read it. On it was a message:
You bored?
Nick quickly wrote down a reply, hoping no one would notice him.
Duh
Brian covered another snicker and started to write something else down. Nick waited a moment until he was sure no one was looking and then read the sentence to himself.
What if they say something important and we aren’t paying attention?
Nick made a mental shrug as he responded with a “who cares?” Then he thought of something else as he looked around the room and quickly scribbled it down to Brian. Squinting at what Nick had written.
look at Howie
Immediately, Brian glanced over at their friend to discover him asleep. If he was tired enough, Howie could sleep anywhere in any position. Brian envied him, for he could never fall asleep in these damn uncomfortable chairs, but oh how he wished he could. When Brian noticed Howie’s drool-covered lip and chin, though, he almost doubled over in his attempt to keep quiet. By then Nick was ready to squeal in delight. They weren’t going to escape trouble this time. They might have, but Nick’s famous childish snicker let loose, giving them away.
“Brian and Nick. What is it?” Brian looked up at the person who had spoken, then at Kevin only to get his “you’re in this on your own” look, then back to the first person.
“Uh… nothing, David. Nick and I… well…” Just then, David, one of guys from their management team and the one who had spoken, noticed Nick laughing at the paper in front of him. He quickly snatched it before Nick or Brian could try to hide it. Silently scanning the page, Nick could see David’s face turn red. Then the man looked up.
“’Who cares?’ Nick… who cares? I’ll tell you who SHOULD care…!” glancing down at the page again to see what Nick had written, David noticed the last line: look at Howie. Before he could resume the lecture he was about to start, David’s curiosity pulled him into looking at Howie. Everyone else followed his stare.
AJ and Kevin joined in with Brian and Nick’s renewed laughter. David and the rest of the team let out an exasperated sigh that held a note of frustration in it. How were they ever going to get any work done when Nick and Brian were jerking off, AJ was on the verge of sleeping, and Howie was ALREADY sleeping? Kevin appeared to be listening, but they had all witnessed his ability to look completely engrossed in something while he was actually in La-La Land. This whole meeting was a lost cause.
“Well, since you don’t want to listen to what I have to say, is there anything any of YOU would like to mention or ask?” David asked in a last attempt to save this meeting, to say they had actually gotten something accomplished. After remembering that he had mentioned a surprise for Jenny, Nick thought he should make sure his surprise would work as he raised his hand. David just sighed, annoyed that Nick felt the need to act like a child in every possible way.
“Well, whad’about Jenny? Is she gonna watch the concert from da front row for da first show? Or is she gonna be down under the stage wit us like we mentioned once before?” They all thought this over for a moment, then Kevin had a suggestion.
“Why don’t we let her watch the concert from the front row for all the first shows. Then, when we get to the venue closest to her home city, we could let her come under the stage for that one, just during one of the songs-“
“And we could get’er ta come on stage ta sing part of the song or somethin’! I’ve heard her sing; she isn’t bad!” Nick finished, excited and proud of his idea. For the first time ever, David loved one of Nick’s thoughts.
“That’s a great idea! Especially at her hometown! We could have it worked out to get some tickets for her friends to sit in the front row with her, as well.” All of the Boys seemed to be in total agreement with the suggestion.
****************************
Jenny was packing up all of her travel entertainment when a short woman entered the room from behind her. Startled by the sound, Jenny whirled around to be greeted by a person with a cheerful disposition and a smile that suited her well, as if that was the only expression ever meant for her face. Shock and delight marked Jenny’s face.
“Are you Jenny? The fan that gets to hang around with those five guys all summer?” Jenny only nodded, for she was too surprised to speak. “I only hope they don’t scare you too much. Especially that son of mine!” Denise McLean extended her hand in greeting. Jenny gladly took it.
“Hello Mrs. McLean. It is such a pleasure to meet you!”
“Oh, no. Denise, please,” she smiled.
“Denise, then,” Jenny smiled back. With this woman, it was hard not to.
“So what are you up to? And how has it been so far? You’ve only been with them for a day or so, right?” Jenny thought about this and smirked to herself. It sure felt a lot longer than two days. It felt like she had already spent an eternity with them. She wanted to go home. She could never admit that to anyone, though.
“Well, it’s been all right so far. They seem very nice; I have to admit I’m a little overwhelmed,“ Jenny excused her lie because it wasn’t totally untrue: she was overwhelmed, just not because she was spending time with the hottest Boy Group. “Right now I’m just getting all of my things, CDs, books, whatever, together. I think the Boys are going to be back soon, and then we are heading to whatever hotel I’m to stay in for the next week.”
“Nonsense. There is no way they are going to drop you off at some hotel while they all go home. I’ll bet you’ll have a chance to stay with one of them at their house,” Denise insisted, hoping it would please Jenny.
She was far from pleased, though. Outraged, maybe; panicked, for sure; but definitely not pleased! This wasn’t fair! She‘d had plans to rest and spend a few days to herself without being surrounded by a man at all times. Now she was going to be in a house, locked in that house with nowhere to go, trapped with a male. Jenny couldn’t hide the terror from her face. The news had hit her so fast; she only had time to hide it before it was there too long. That was long enough, though, for Denise caught a glimpse of it before it faded. Unlike the Boys, AJ’s mother was definitely not afraid to confront her on her feelings.
“What’s wrong, dear? What has you so worried?”
“Um... oh nothing. Don’t worry about it. Can you just tell them I wanted to be in a hotel…? I mean… just, can you?” Jenny stammered out.
“I could… but I will do no such thing. You should be spending this whole summer with at least one of them at all times! It will be fun!” the woman tried to assure her.
Jenny wasn’t so convinced.
Broken Promises