"What’s going on ? " A.J interrogated sitting up in bed.
Amanda froze in fear.
"Do I have to repeat myself ? " A.J scolded aggressively " It’s freaken’ 1 AM "
Laying down, she pulled the covers over herself "I just got up for a glass of water, that’s all. Good night baby. Turn off the light "
A.J obeyed hesitantly " You know you can tell me anything, don’t you ? "
She didn’t respond. Instead, she let one silent tear drop on her pillow before drifting off into a deep sleep.
**Meanwhile**
I walked back to our room and opened the door only to find Brian was already asleep.
'Darn!' I thought. I was hoping he would still be up, but when I looked at the clock I noticed that it was already 1:30 in the morning. Wow, I must have spent more time in Nicks room then I thought. After changing into my PJ's, I crawled in bed when he woke up.
"Hey" Brian said still half asleep.
"Sorry I'm so late. Nick and I started to watch a movie, and I happened to love it. I stayed till the end, but by then he had already fallen asleep" I rambled getting into bed and facing him.
"That's Ok. Is he feeling better?"
"I think so. I felt his forehead before leaving, and he wasn't as hot as earlier"
"That's good, but I think that I'm starting to get a little fever myself, could you feel my head?" Brian said with a sly grin on his face.
"Your not sick!" Just as I said that Brian grabbed me and started to tickle me.
"I am when your not around!!" he laughed tritely. He continued to tickle me for about 2 minutes until I was almost crying. After he let me go, I fell asleep with the biggest smile on my face. I don't think that my life could get any better. I had a wonderful family, a whole new opportunity with my singing, and the most wonderful guy in the world. Life was good!
**The Next Morning**
AJ woke up at 5 in the morning. He didn't sleep very well all night. He was worried and mad at Amanda, but mostly mad. He just wanted to know what was wrong and it was killing him that she felt that she couldn't confide in him. Just then ,he heard her start to get up.
"AJ?" Amanda called out.
"I'm over here" AJ said as he still kept looking out the window. He'd been there for hours. He couldn't even remember when he first sat down.
"How long have you been over there, honey?" Amanda said coming over to see him.
"A while. Had a good night's sleep?" AJ said with very little sympathy. He was so upset that he couldn't even bare to look at her.
"Okay, AJ what's the matter? You're acting a little strange." She knew that he felt something was up ever since last night.
"Nothing Amanda, simply nothing!! Just leave me alone!!" AJ got up out of the chair and walked to the door. "I'm going to go and get some breakfast, I'll see ya later!" And with that AJ slammed the door and walked to the elevator.
Amanda just stood there in shock. She had never seen him get this angry before and frankly, it scared the shit out of her.
"AJ, I'm so sorry, I never meant to hurt you like this. I love you so much" she whispered before landing in a crying heap on the bed.
**Meanwhile**
"You should have seen her man, she was 'la perfection' " Howie said kissing the tips of his fingers "If only I could find her".
Kevin nodded away at Howie' s babbling. He was getting to the point of wanting to get the FBI to track this mystery woman down...
"Did you see the others?" he said trying to change subjects before he puked.
"No I didn't. They're probably on their way down at this very moment"
"DING"
They both turned "See. Told you" Howie said as both Brian and A.J emerged from the elevator.
Exchanging greetings, Kevin seemed lost "Where's Nick?"
"He was sick last night. Maybe we should let him sleep in. It's not like his presence at the reunion would make a difference" Brian said as a matter of fact.
Howie put one finger up "He speaks the truth... let us leave" and marched off as the others followed.
**Same Time**
"No you have to go to school... Jenna! Stop arguing and get your butt to the bus. No..." I was quibbling with Jenna over the phone when I was interrupted by a knock at the door "Someone's here, I've gotta go. GO!!! kisses" and hung up.
Still in a towel from the shower I had taken, I opened the door "Hey Nick"
'oh god, she's dripping wet' "Um, hey"
He looked a little uneasy "It's just a towel" I laughed.
"Yeah-um-well-d-d-you know where-um Brian or any of the others are?" he asked turning a bright shade a crimson.
"Yeah, they went to a meeting. They left a little while ago."
"Great" he sighed "I sleep in one day and they forget about me"
"Stop being such a baby" I said slapping him playfully on the arm "You can spend the day with me. I was planning on doing some sight seeing."
Nick shrugged "Guess I have no choice"
Glaring, I let him in.
"Make yourself at home while I do a strip tease"
"What?!" Nick yelled practically falling out of his seat.
"I said, make yourself at home while I get rid of these" I repeated pointing at the pile of garbage Brian had left on the table.
Nick let out a breath. This wasn't the time to let his imagination get the best of him.
**A Little Later**
4/5 of The Backstreet Boys were once again assembled in Jane Floyds up town L.A office.
"And guys, good news" she added to what appeared to be the end of their meeting "I think I can easily arrange that Felicity girl as one of your opening acts for the new tour. Keep in mind, it starts real soon." she paused to think "and if I recall correctly my conversation with Miss. Miller from JIVE, she said something about her using 'Angel' as an alias."
"Angel?" all questioned.
Jane smirked scratching her head "Yeah, we're going to have to find out the origins of that one"
**That Afternoon, Down Town**
"I see you're feeling better" I said coyly sipping my milk shake through my straw as Nick had wore his up his nose.
"Guess so" he answered with a smile.
"Do you mind?"
I said a little disgusted, pointing at his nostrils.
"Not at all"
"Well I do"
"Don't you like seals? I'm trying to imitate one... doing a good job at it too"
"Come to think of it, you kinda do remind me of one. The big, fat, ugly, awkward part"
Nick clutched his heart pretending to be hurt "Ah, you can be so cruel"
I laughed. Just as he was about to finally take those blasted things out of his nose, a person passed by our table.
"Excuse me" the young girl said as we turned to her.
'oh great' Nick thought 'a fan'
I answered politely knowing that he wasn't going to talk.
"Where did you get that shirt, it's da bomb" she grinned indicating my chest.
Nick looked back and forth between us while I gave her directions.
"I thought she was a fan" he admitted as she left.
"So did I" Taking the opportunity, I pulled the straws from his nose "Victory!" I yelled spinning around on my stool.
As Eli twirled around, Nick felt that familiar feeling come back to the pit of his stomach. He'd never been able to be so natural with a girl before. Least of all one he had feelings for. And never before had a girl been so normal with him. 'All part of her charm' he thought patting his full belly.
**Back At The Hotel**
"Alex, is that you?" Amanda said anxiously as he walked through the door.
"Yeah, sme"
"How was your day?" she questioned trying to forget about the mornings incident.
With out looking at her, he walked to his suitcase which was laying on the floor.
"We're leaving L.A tomorrow"
"Ok then I'll pack"
"Amanda?"
"Yes?"
Her voice was so tender that he couldn't bring himself to ask "Nothing"
Trying hard to forget, she smiled half heartedly and began to pick up her stuff.
**Same time**
"Are you sure that you can't find the room for a 'Dawn' for me?"
"I'm sorry sir, but with out a last name, I can't do that"
Howie was still trying to locate his dream girl "But could you maybe leave a note for her? Like, if someone checks out under that first name?"
"I'll try sir" the receptionist finally gave in "What name should I leave"
"Tell her that D wants to hear from her again. She can page me at 555-6213"
"Ok sir"
"Thank you very much" and to that, Howie hung up content. He had a gut feeling his extra effort would pay off.
**Same Time**
Nick and I were walking through a clothing store when I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Do you hear that?" I asked turning around.
"What?" he mumbled from under his disguise.
I paused long enough to verify the sound "Oh my god, the radio. Don't you hear? They're playing my song! They're playing my song!"
Still not making it out, Nick tried to find the sound system "Ahah", the closer he got, the more he heard.
"I can't believe it" I shrieked jumping up and down.
"And that was 'Angel' with 'All This Time', a new artist from the people that brought you The Backstreet Boys. Between you and me, this girl is going places"
**Same Time**
"She sure is" Brian grinned proudly at the radio. He tuned in just in time to hear Eli, er, Angel.
He'd spent the time since he'd gotten back to the hotel packing. He hated it, but he had become accustomed to it.
Soon, he turned off the radio and took out his cell.
**Little Later**
"So what time are we leaving tomorrow?"
"We leave some time before noon, and the buses will bring us, well, to where ever the hell we're supposed to go" Kevin answered.
Just then, he heard some laughing "K Kev, I think Eli's back, talk to ya later"
As he turned off his cell, she walked through the door.
"Brian, you'll never guess what" I shrieked leaping into his arms.
"I know, I heard on the radio too" he said holding me tight.
With my arms still around his neck, I continued "Oh it was so great! Nick and I..."
"You were with Nick? " he interrupted.
I pushed him away and looked him straight in the eye "Ya, so? He's my friend. We spent the day together"
"No, I know baby. I just was surprised... usually he likes to stay in and play video games and stuff. Especially when we're in the city, he prefers to stay incognito"
"Oh" I answered sheepishly, a little embarrassed about the way I had reacted.
Spinning around, he pointed at the closed suitcases on the floor "We're leaving early tomorrow, so I'd suggest packing"
"What? But we just got here!" I whined throwing myself down on the bed.
Sighing, Brian lay on the empty space to my right "It's the tour life babe, you'd better get used to it. After all, you're coming with us in about 2 months"
"You're kidding? I'm going on tour with you guys?" I grinned plopping up on my elbows.
"Yup, Jane called to confirm the whole thing"
"I was so worried that we wouldn't be able to see each other any more if we both went on separate tours" I confessed.
With out a word, Brian rolled on top of me and kissed me.
Caught off guard, it took me a while to respond. But when I did, he broke away.
"Nothing could keep me from you" he whispered gently in my ear.
I nodded and he got off "We'd better get to bed" he said pulling off his shirt.
"Yellow Mr. Six Pack!"
"Hush you" he said throwing it at me playfully.
"Eli?!"
"Hmm?"
"What's the deal with you being called Angel?"
"Well..." I began to tell him the whole silly story as we both tried to keep back our laughter.
This Chapter Was Written By: Myself (Andrea) with some parts byTamara Evans (former co-writer)
