Curlers, hairpins and cowboy hats


“I’m so excited!” Cassidy danced around the hallway.
“I know!” Kirstie giggled.
“Ok well we’ve gotta go get ready with Krissy ok?” AJ said kissing Kirstie’s hand.
“What??” The girls stopped.
“We’ve gotta go get ready with Krissy…..so she can make us look hot..” Kevin grinned.
“I’m there…” Becca said.
“Nope, sorry….noone’s allowed in…” AJ shook his head.
“What!” Cassidy asked incredulously.
“It’s the rules….you’ll have to wait…” Nick grinned at her.
“You’re kidding me…” Holly looked at Howie amused.
“It’s the rules babe…” Howie kissed her forehead.
“Why aren’t we allowed??” Becca whined.
“IT’S THE RULES!” The boys yelled at once.
Becca raised her hands up in surrender.
“Ok, ok….it’s the rules…” She mocked them.
“Lucky Krissy….” Cassidy sighed and the boys laughed.
“You guys have to get ready too!” Brian suggested.
The girls looked at each other shocked.
Cassidy looked at her watch.
“4 hours….we’re never gonna make it!!” She gasped.
“Ok…well bye!” Becca said quickly pecking Brian on the lips as Holly, Kirstie and Cassidy did the same.
“We’re going to an awards show!!” The yelled and laughed as they ran down the hall like women possessed into Becca and Cassidy’s room.
“You know, sometimes I worry about those girls…” Kevin laughed.
“Tell me about…..hey you guys wanna go for a quick swim before we meet up with Krissy? We’ve got time…” AJ suggested looking at his watch.
“Yeah sure…” The guys agreed and headed up to the indoor heated pool which was on the second last floor.

“Hey Nadine….” The girls stopped abruptly as they saw Leighanne and Nadine chatting in the hallway.
“Hey yourself…” Nadine said coldly and Leighanne grinned evilly, her plan was working.
“Ummm…..is that your dress for tonight??” Becca asked sweetly at the black case that she was holding.
“Yeah its my outfit…” She rolled her eyes.
“Uhh cool! What’s it like…” Kirstie asked desperately trying to get Nadine to warm up to them.
“Not that you care…..and not like I’ve got anyone to wear it for anyway….actually maybe I do…” Nadine let her gaze fall on Holly for the briefest moment. Holly felt tingles down her spine as she did.
“Look Nadine, we said we’re sorry…..we just want to be friends with you!” Cassidy said exasperated.
“Well had it ever occurred to you that I might not want to be friends with such self absorbed, shallow, desperate people like you…” Nadine spat.
Kirstie, Cassidy and Becca were seriously shocked. Becca looked at her sadly.

“You can’t mean that…” She said quietly.
Nadine looked at Leighanne quickly, almost as if for reassurance. Leighanne nodded ever so slightly.
“Yeah, I do.” Nadine said before her and Leighanne walked off, laughing at a joke that the girls had not heard.
“I feel so bad!” Becca sighed as the four girls headed into Becca and Cassidy’s room to get ready.
“Is there something I should know about Nadine….…” Holly sat down on the edge of Cassidy’s bed.
“Ummm…” Kirstie glanced at Becca and Cassidy.
“No, she’s just a little mad with us…” Cassidy answered quickly, feeling it would just make things even more complicated if Holly knew that Nadine liked Howie.
“Well, yeah I figured that…since she called you self absorbed, shallow etc.…” Holly smiled.
“Come on we’ve only got about 4 hours to get ready…” Kirstie grinned, pulling out a silver, handkerchief tube and silver A-line skirt which went to the floor.
“Ooo!! Gorgeous…why have I never seen this before!!” Cassidy said, holding up Kirstie’s outfit.
“Oh this old thing……got it yesterday!” Kirstie giggled.
“Cass, what are you wearing??” Becca said as she rummaged through her case.
“Ummm I was thinking that black, spaghetti strap dress, with the side split…” Cassidy said “The slinky one?” Becca asked.
“The one and only….” Cassidy grinned, pulling out the dress.
“I have no idea what to wear…Holly, what are you wearing?” Becca turned to Holly, who pulled out a Versace bag.
“Ooo Howie take you shopping?” Cassidy peered into the bag.
“Yeah….he’s such a sweetie…” Holly smiled pulling out a knee length, red chiffon dress, which reflected her tanned skin and blonde hair perfectly.
“I like…” Becca smiled, turning back to her case.
“And Rebecca this evening will be dressed in….” Kirstie began as Becca gently pulled a baby blue, satin dress with tiny embroidered butterflies on the top, from her case.
“Ohh….that is gorgeous!!” Holly gushed.
“I know..” Becca giggled.
“Becca!” Cassidy slapped her playfully.
“Man Brian is gonna love that…” Kirstie shook her head amazed as Becca held the dress up against her and looked in the mirror.
“I hope so..” Becca smiled.

“Sooo….” Kevin looked at Howie as the boys swam lazily in the steaming pool.
“What?” Howie looked at him confused.
“Good reunion last night eh?” AJ winked.
“Uhh…yeah?” Howie replied suspiciously.
“How good?” Nick asked pushing his wet hair back.
“Good..” Howie replied impatiently.
“It better have been, considering all the trouble its caused…” Brian said quietly, and the other guys nodded, except for Howie who had absolutely no idea what they were talking about.
“What trouble?” He asked confused.
“Uhh…you don’t know?” Kevin asked shocked.
“Obviously not….what’s going on guys?” Howie asked with dread in his voice.
“Well…uhh…Nadine…” Nick started looking at the other guys for some support.
“What about Naddy?” Howie replied, not following.
“Well…. ‘Naddy’…has a major crush on you…” AJ said bluntly.
“Which anyone could see except the emotionally blind….yours truly…” Kevin continued, placing a finger on Howie’s chest.
“What??” Howie gasped.
“…So Naddy gets quite upset when her desire’s better half Holly shows up unannounced on tour…” Brian continued ignoring Howie.
“…and begins a bitter feud with Kirstie, Cassidy and Becca because she thinks that they took Holly’s side and were completely insensitive to her about you…” Nick added in.
“…Causing the girls to feel like absolute shit in the process….” AJ pointed out.
“Goes running to her new best friend Leighanne….and well god knows what she’s put into her head…no offense Bri..” Kevin concluded.
“None taken…” Brian put his hands up defensively.

“Soo….yeahh…” The guys looked at Howie who was trying to absorb what his best friends had just told him.

“Oh my god….” Howie breathed. “Its ok man…” Kevin put his hand on Howie’s shoulder.
“What am I going to do…??” Howie asked wide eyed.
“I think you should just let it settle down….maybe everything will work itself out..” Nick suggested. “Yeah ok..” Howie nodded in agreement.
“We’d better start getting out…” Brian looked at his watch.
“Ok….come on heartbreaker…” AJ joked as he pulled a still stunned Howie out of the water.

“You sure this looks ok Krissy??” Nick said insecurely as he straightened his tie in the mirror.
“You look awesome…” She said sincerely and helped him with his tie.
“This hat is sweet man…” AJ said as he placed his red cowboy hat on.
“Sweeeeeeet…” Howie laughed at his impersonation of Cartman.
“Well, its nearly 7….do you think the girls are ready?” Brian asked pushing his hands into the pocket of his black pinstriped suit pants.
“Should be man…..we hope so..” Kevin laughed.
“Let’s go collect the princesses…” Howie laughed good naturally.
“Ok…” All the guys gave Krissy a huge hug and said thankyou as they left the room, waving goodbye to their cool wardrobe mistress, who…by this time was absolutely exhausted.

“Ahhh….that’s them! I’m so nervous!” Cassidy squealed excitedly as she sprayed one last spritz of hair spray on her now curly hair.
“Chill out Cass…..but I so know what you’re talking about…” Becca giggled as well.
“Ok….lets go…” Holly smiled and walked over to the door.
“Man…I suck at walking in high heels….” Kirstie complained motioning to her huge silver stilettos that she was wearing to give her a little bit of height.
“You think we can’t see that??” Cassidy laughed.
“Shutup…” Kirstie poked her tongue at Cassidy.
“Ok here we go….” Holly said as she opened the door.

Cassidy whistled loudly, wrapping her arms around Nick’s waist, “It’s the hair….definitely the hair…” She grinned, kissing his lips lightly as to not smudge her lipstick.
“Mmmm I like this dress…” Nick breathed into her ear.

Kirstie laughed as AJ tipped his red hat, “Evening me lady…”
“My cowboy….” She smiled as he kissed her cheek.
“Ready to go?” He asked.
“Uhh yep!” She smiled, taking his arm.

“Wow!!” Was all Howie could say as Holly stood in the doorway.
“You look great..” Holly smiled.
“Wow!” Howie was dumbfounded. Holly giggled, taking his arm.
“God I’ve missed you…” Holly nuzzled his neck as they walked.

“Becca….” Brian held out his arms to her.
“Can I help you sir….” Becca teased him.
“Ah yes milady….I’m looking for a girl, not just any girl…the most beautiful, sweet loving girl in the world…have you seen her?” He grinned.
“Nope…noone that fits that description…” She shook her head and enveloped him in a hug.

“Guys…” Kevin said softly.
“Hey Kev….aww…man, we’ve really gotta get you a girl..” Becca laughed, linking arms with both Kevin and Brian.
“Tell me something I don’t know…” Kevin rolled his eyes laughing.
As the group waited for the elevator, they made small talk about the night ahead of them. The elevator doors suddenly opened and Leighanne walked out.
“Uhh…hey Leigh..” Kevin acknowledged her.
“Hi…” She said courtly, glancing Becca up and down.
“Sorry you couldn’t come tonight…” Nick said with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Cassidy nudged him slightly and he looked at her questionably.
“Yeah….I’m cool…have a great night….but don’t worry if you don’t win..” Leighanne put a fake smile on her face.
“Umm…we won’t, please don’t worry yourself..” AJ put a sympathetic face on.
“Oh I won’t……You look great…” Leighanne nodded flirtatiously at Brian.
“Thanks…” Brian said, heat rising in his cheeks.
“Lets go guys….see you Leighanne..” Howie waved as they got in the elevator and headed down where two stretch limos were waiting outside.