Chapter 1
Natalie Baker looked out the bus window as it drove down the highway toward Orlando. It was raining to hard she could hardly see a thing outside. But from what she could see, she knew she was getting closer because things were getting more and more familiar. She started to wonder what AJ’s reaction was going to be once he saw her. Today was his birthday and Denise, his mom, thought it would be the greatest present if Natalie came out to see him. Natalie told her she would come, but ever since she was asked she had been a nervous wreck ever since.
The last time she had seen him was about two years ago after she went away to college. They grew up together in the same neighborhood and were inseparable. Then AJ joined a group called the Backstreet Boys and they grew a little farther apart because he was never home, but they were still really close. When it came time for Natalie to go off to college, it was the hardest thing that she had ever done. Leave her friends and family, and leave AJ.
He made sure that he was home that day so he could say his good-byes.
“I’m going to miss you.” She said as she gave him a hug.
“Oh we’ll see each other soon. And I’ll call you whenever I can.” He said as he hugged her tighter.
They slowly pulled apart, and then the unexpected happened. AJ pulled her back to him and kissed her. Before they completely went into make out mode, she pulled back from him and grabbed her things.
“We can’t do this right now.” She said. “Not when I’m going to leave.” Her hands began to shake so she dropped her bag back down on the floor so he wouldn’t see. He had never kissed her before, and she never even thought that he would have feelings for her.
“Ok then when you get back we can talk about this.” He said.
“Ok. That sounds good.”
Natalie was snapped out of her thoughts once the bus reached to a stop at the bus station. Everyone filed outside and once Natalie got her suitcase, she began looking for a familiar face. She wasn’t exactly who was going to be there to pick her up. Then she saw Denise running toward her. Natalie started walking toward Denise, since her suitecase was so heavy, she wasn’t able to go any faster.
“Natalie sweetheart it’s so nice to see you.” Denise said while wrapping her in a hug. “AJ’s going to be so happy to see you.”
“I hope so.” Said Natalie. “We haven’t seen each other in so long.”
“Oh he will be. Let’s get going AJ’s having a party at his place right now and he was expecting me to be there about an hour ago.” When Denise saw the worried look on her face she gave an assuring smile. “You know almost everyone there. Kevin, Howie, Brian, Nick, and some of your old friends from school.”
Denise led Natalie to her car and started driving towards AJ’s house.
Chapter 2
Denise and Natalie talked about everything that had been happening in their lives since they’ve talked to each other last on the way to AJ’s house.. Before Natalie knew it, they were pulling into the driveway of a mansion.
“This is AJ’s house?” she asked disbelieving.
“Yes it is. He moved in about a year ago.” Denise answered. “Come on we’ll get your things later.”
Natalie was so nervous she could hardly open up the door. She managed to, and met up with Denise who was already at the front door. The door was locked and Natalie figured it was so some weird fans didn’t go inside and hide somewhere. Denise rang the bell and within a minute, it swung open and there was Brian. Once he saw Natalie a big smile grew on his face and he pulled her into a hug.
She really wasn’t used to all these hugs but she figured she could get used to it.
“How have you been?” he asked after he pulled back.
“Oh I’ve been hanging in there. How about you?”
“I’ve been great.” He answered. “Come on we have to sneak you inside, I don’t know where he is exactly at the moment so we’re going to have to go fast.”
Brian took her hand and led her inside while Denise went to look for AJ. Brian and Natalie ran through the kitchen and into the den before anyone could really see them. Once they were inside, Brian closed the door.
“We all figured you two didn’t want to have your reunion in front of everybody so we made sure no one came in here.” Brian explained.
Natalie nodded, trying not to show that she was about to pass out because she was so worried about AJ’s reaction.
Brian could pretty much read her like a book.
“Don’t worry. He’s going to be so happy to see you. I should get back out there. It won’t be long.”
Brian then stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Natalie sat down in the closest chair and closed her eyes. She could hear voices get closer and soon realized who’s they were.
Chapter 3
“Mom why did you put it in here?” AJ asked.
“Oh Alex will you just go inside and see what it is?” Denise said.
The door swung open revealing AJ, and his mom close behind him. He scanned the room and finally saw Natalie and immediately his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
“Oh my god.” He said. He smiled and then practically ran over to her, pulling her into a big hug. “It’s so good to see you.” He said.
“I’ve missed you so much.” Natalie said with tears forming in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry I never called you Nat. I feel so terrible.”
“It’s ok, we’re both here now.”
“How long are you going to be here?”
“Well actually I dropped out for the semester because I’m going to move down here. I miss my family and everyone that’s down here.”
AJ’s smile grew wider. “You’re moving here now?”
“Well not now exactly. I came down here for your birthday. I guess I’m supposed to be one of your birthday presents or something.”
“And so far you’re my favorite.” He joked.
Natalie laughed and stopped once AJ looked into her eyes. They stood there in complete silence for a couple minutes and then AJ finally looked away.
“What do you say we go out to the party? All of our old friends are out there and the guys are there too.”
“Ok.” Natalie agreed.
AJ took her hand and led her out of the den and then outside by the pool. The stereo was blasting and there were at least thirty people there. It wasn’t a huge party, but they all seemed to be having a lot of fun.
“Natalie!! I haven’t seen you in so long!” Nick exclaimed as he walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
“Hey Nick it’s so good to see you!”
For the remainder of the party Natalie got to say hi to everyone she hadn’t seen in two years and by the end of the night she was almost hugged out. Everyone had gone home except for Kevin, Brian and Nick.
“Natalie put down that garbage bag. We can clean up.” AJ said as he picked up cups and other various things off the tables.
“No it’s the least I can do really.” Natalie insisted. “Oh great AJ you’re mom left. She has my stuff.”
“No she doesn’t.” said AJ. “It’s upstairs. You’re staying here with me.”
“No I couldn’t impose on you like that.”
“You’re not. This house is too big for me to stay here all by myself. It’s my birthday and you will ruin it if you leave.”
Brian snickered and rolled his eyes as he walked through the sliding glass door and into the house.
“Fine I’ll stay.”
After they were all finished cleaning up. Brian, Nick, and Kevin decided to go home and Natalie and AJ were left alone in the house.
“What to take a tour?” he asked.
“Sure.” She answered.
He took her through every room and saved the bedrooms for last.
“Ok this here is my room.” He said as he swung open the door and turned on the light.
“That is so you.” She laughed. There was leopard print all over the room.
“Yes I love it. Your room is right down the hall. He led her down two rooms and opened the door and turned on the light.
It was a simple white room nothing out of the ordinary. He took her by the hand and led her down the stairs and into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and got out two Pepsi’s. They both sat at the island and started talking just like old times. They caught up on pretty much everything.
“Wow it’s five o’clock. Maybe we should get some sleep.” Natalie said.
They both got up and started up the stairs. Before Natalie got to her room she felt AJ lightly grab her arm.
“You know we pretty much talked about everything but there’s still one thing that never came up.” AJ said softly, his voice was even raspier.
“What’s that?” Natalie asked. She knew exactly what he was talking about but she thought she would let him say it.
“About what happened the last time we saw each other. You know after seeing you and talking to you, all those feelings have come up again.”
Then Natalie did something she never thought she could even attempt to do. She leaned over and kissed him. He didn’t hesitate at all and returned the kiss, while wrapping his arms around her, and she wrapped hers around his neck.
Chapter 4
The next morning Natalie made her way down the stairs and in the kitchen to see AJ sitting there reading some magazine.
“Morning sunshine.” He smiled.
“Good morning.” She said. Once she got some orange juice she went to sit down at the table with him.
“So do you mind hanging with Brian and Tiffany today?” he asked.
“As long as you’re there I’m happy.” She answered.
“Ok then. They’re going to be here in about a half-hour. We’re just going to hang around the pool.”
“Sounds good to me.”
An hour passed and Tiffany and Natalie watched Brian and AJ play water basketball.
“So are you and AJ dating? Or are you just friends? I don’t mean to pry but I’ve never seen you before.” Tiffany said shyly.
“AJ and I are just friends. We’ve grown up together. Yesterday was the first time in two years that we’ve seen each other.”
“Are you two going to come in here or not?” Brian called out from the pool.
The two girls looked at each other and shrugged and got up from their chairs and jumped in. Natalie and Tiffany decided to join in on the guys’ game of water basketball. Natalie was on AJ’s team and Tiffany with Brian. Brian and Tiffany won by two points.
“Oh we let you win didn’t we Nat?” AJ said.
“Yeah. We didn’t want to make you feel bad so we thought we’d just let you win this time.”
“Yeah you just don’t want to admit that we demolished ya’ll.” Brian laughed.
“I’ll be right back guys.” AJ said when he heard the phone ringing.
Once AJ was out of the pool and inside the house, Brian turned back to Natalie.
“Ok so is there something you would like to tell me?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?” Natalie asked confused.
“About last night maybe?”
“How did he manage to tell you about last night? I’ve been around the whole time.”
“We have our ways.”
Tiffany was looking at both of them all confused but decided not to but in so she got out to dry off to give them a little time alone.
“So what about it?” Natalie asked after Tiffany was out of the pool.
“Well does this make you two a couple or was this just a ‘hello haven’t seen ya in awhile kiss’?”
“What’s with all of the questions. Why wouldn’t you just ask AJ?” Natalie was beginning to get a little uncomfortable but she didn’t let Brian see that. This was something that she hoped wouldn’t come up again. But she knew it would.
“Well I did and he’s just as clueless as I am.”
Natalie leaned on the wall with her back to the house.
“I don’t know what that kiss meant really….Well I do but I don’t want anything to come of it because AJ’s my best friend and I just don’t want anything to happen to our relationship.” The last part she said she could hardly understand but by the way Brian was looking at her he could hear her loud and clear, along with AJ who must have been standing right behind her.
Chapters 5-7
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