Chapter 47

"Okay we'll be there in about 20 minutes. Bye, Mom," Stacey said as she hung up. "My parents are taking us out to dinner."

"Oh that's nice of them," A.J. said.

"They're anxious to meet you," Stacey said.

"I'm a little nervous," A.J. said.

"A.J. McLean nervous?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm allowed to get nervous I just don't want them to hate me because. . .well. . .I love you," he said.

"Oh how sweet, Alexander," she said as she kissed him. "Don't worry they won't hate you. They're very open minded. Plus, I have a very good relationship with my parents."

"That's good," A.J. said as they left.

Stacey drove to the hotel that her parents were staying at. They got out and went up to her parents room. She knocked on the door and her dad opened it. He was about 6'1" had a stern face. Stacey wrapped her arms around her dad and gave him a big hug.

"Daddy!" she exclaimed.

"Hi my baby," he said.

"Come in," Stacey's mom said.

Stacey let go of her dad and pulled A.J. in. Her dad closed the door as he looked at A.J..

"Hi Mom," she said as she hugged her.

"Hi baby," she said. Then she looked at A.J.. "Who's this young man?"

"Mom, Dad this is A.J. McLean," she said introducing him.

"Hi, I'm Lisa and this is Matt," Stacey's mom said.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. It's nice to meet you," he said as he shook each of their hands. He really liked Lisa, Stacey's mom, but he wasn't too sure about her dad. He couldn't tell if Matt liked him or not.

"Oh, please call me Lisa," she said.

"You can call me Mr. Edwards," her dad said.

"Dad," Stacey said.

"Oh, all right. You can call me Matt," he said.

They all just stood there looking at each other in silence. Stacey finally said something.

"So are we ready to go out to eat?" she asked.

"Yeah, let's go," her mom said.

Stacey took A.J.'s hand and walked out. They got into the car and drove off. They got to the restaurant and got out. A.J. helped Mrs. Edwards out and then went to Stacey. They walked in and got a table. A.J. pulled Stacey's chair out for her. Then he pushed it in once she sat down. Mr. Edwards was watching his every move.

They were given their menus and then they ordered.

"Mom, Dad I'm sure you figured out by now that A.J. and I are going out," Stacey said excitedly.

"Not a bad choice. He's pretty cute," her mom said approvingly.

"Mom!" Stacey exclaimed as A.J. blushed.

"How did you meet?" her father asked.

"We met at a club," A.J. said.

"Yeah, Janel introduced me to him. He's one of her friends," Stacey explained.

"Oh really," her mom said. "So how long have you two been going out?"

"About a month and two weeks," A.J. said.

"I'm moving in with A.J. after I graduate," she said.

"You mean in a couple of weeks?" her dad asked surprised.

"Yeah," she said.

"But you haven't known him that long," her dad said.

"So? I love him," she said.

"Don't you think you're rushing things with my daughter?" Matt asked A.J..

"No, sir. I don't. Girls like Stacey are hard to come by. I don't want to let her slip away," A.J. explained. "I love her."

"Where are you moving to?" her mom asked.

"Orlando, Florida," Stacey said.

"Florida?" her mom questioned.

"Yeah, A.J. has a house in Florida," she said.

"So you have your own house. What do you do for a living?" her dad asked.

"I'm in the entertainment business," A.J. said.

"What do you do?" Stacey's mom asked.

"I'm a singer in a vocal group," he said.

"Oh really. What's their name?" she asked.

"The Backstreet Boys," he said.

"You guys sing 'I Want It That Way'?" her dad asked shocked.

"Yeah, that's us," A.J. said.

"I love that song. You boys sing wonderfully," her dad said.

A.J. smiled to himself, glad that he was now accepted by her dad. "Thank you," A.J. replied.

"Are you that A.J. that my daugher used to obsess over?" Lisa asked.

"Yes, Mom," Stacey said embarrassed.

"So you can take care of my daugher financially, but what about emotionally? What about when you're not there?" her dad asked.

"That's just something I have to deal with," Stacey said. " I know what I'm getting into. Besides, A.J. and I love each other.

"As long as you're happy," her mom said.

"I am," she said.

"Good," her dad said. "But if I ever hear that you've hurt my daughter, you'll be hearing from me."

"Well, I plan on taking care of Stacey so you have nothing to worry about," A.J. said.

"That's good to hear," Matt said.

The four of them continued to talk until their food arrived. They enjoyed their meal together. Then Stacey took her parents back to the hotel.

The next couple days flew by. We were busy every single day. The girls and I did a little more shopping. Also, Kevin and I began to pack my things up. We also made sure everything was organized for Stacey's graduation party.

It was 5 p.m. and we were all getting dressed up. Afer a while all of us were ready to go. We got into our vehicles and left.

Stacey left to be with her class while we found our seats. A.J. spotted Stacey's parents so we sat with them.

"Hi Lisa and Matt," I said.

"Hi guys, it's nice to see you two again," Lauren said.

"Hi girls," they said as we hugged them.

"I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Kevin Richardson," I said. "This is Stacey's parents, Lisa and Matt Edwards."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Kevin said as she shook their hands.

"And this is my boyfriend, Howie Dorough," Lauren said.

"Hello," Howie said as he also shook their hands.

"You two wouldn't also be part of the Backstreet Boys?" Lisa asked.

"Yes, we are," Howie said.

"Thought so, the names sounded familiar," she said. The guys just smiled.

Then we sat down waiting for the ceremony to begin. Then I saw Rick. He had a gorgeous blonde on his arm.

"Rick!" I yelled.

He looked over towards me. I waved to him and he smiled. Then he came over to us.

"Hi Janel!" he said as he hugged me.

Then they began to start. We quickly sat down.

After the graduation Stacey came and found us. We all hugged her and congratulated her. Then we left for our house. We got there and began to put the food out. Then Stacey's friends began to arrive. Most of her girl friends were interested in talking to Howie, A.J., and Kevin. I just smiled and then went to get myself a Coke.

Then Rick arrived with his date.

"Hey Rick," I said as he walked in.

"Hi Janel," he said as he came over to me. "I'd like you to meet April."

"Hi April," I said.

"Hello," she said.

"So where's Kevin?" he asked.

"In the living room. Stacey's friends are surrounding him," I said smiling. "Come on in," I said. "There's food and drinks in here if you want. If not, there's snacks out there."

"Would you like anything?" Rick asked April.

"No, I'm fine," she said.

"Okay, well come on in," I said.

We walked into the living room where everyone was. Rick and April went to congratulate Stacey while I got Kevin.

"Kevin, can you come here please?" I asked as I grabbed Kevin's hand.

"Sure, Pumpkin," he said. "Excuse me."

We walked up to Rick and April. "Kevin, this is Rick and April," I said.

"Hi Rick. Hi April," Kevin said.

"It's nice to finally meet you Kevin," Rick said.

"Same here," Kevin said. "Rick, I just want to thank you for letting Janel go on tour with me. It meant so much to both of us."

"You're welcome," he said. "Did this guy take care of you?"

"Of course he did," I said, smiling at Kevin.

"Rick, can we go now?" April asked.

"Hold on just a second," Rick said. "So how long are you in town for?"

"Until next Friday," I said.

"Okay good. How about I make you guys dinner this Sunday?" he suggested.

"Sure, that sounds great," Kevin said.

"Okay, about 6 o'clock then," Rick said.

"Sure, we'll be there," I said.

"Well we better get going. It was nice seeing you again Janel," Rick said as he gave me a hug.

"You too," I said. "It was nice meeting you April."

"Same here," she said.

"Good bye Rick," Kevin said as he shook his hand.

"Bye Kevin," he said.

Then he took April's hand and left.

"Was that his girlfriend?" Kevin asked after they had left.

"I have no idea. He never told me about a girlfriend," I said.

"They didn't act like it," Kevin said.

"I know. She looked annoyed to be here," I said.