"I can't do that, AJ," she said softly. He shook his head.
"Yes you can," he replied. "You have to fight this now, Max. The doctors helped you this far, now you've got to help yourself and make yourself FIGHT."
Max smiled. "I have to fight for my life!" AJ nodded his head and grinned at her.
"You go, girl," he said. He then stuck out his right pinky finger at her. Max stared down at it for a few seconds, but sighed and hooked her pinky with his. They shook their arms and Max said, "I promise."
"I can't believe you made the girl do that, AJ!" exclaimed Brian.
"Hey, she needed more encouragement so I gave it to her," he replied. Nick twirled around in his stool and acted like a little kid.
"Whee! This is fun!" Kevin grabbed Nick stool and stopped it. "Hey!" complained Nick. Kevin just gave him his don't-embarrass-me-tonight look. Nick instantly stopped and asked the bar tender for a diet coke.
"But you made Max promise never to die," said Brian.
"I didn't mean it that way, she knows it and you guys know it. I just told her to never let this cancer control her life," AJ snapped back at his usual helpful friend. Brian sighed and shook his head.
"Do you know how hard it must be for Max? A 12-year old to make such a promise like that? She probably doesn't even know how serious this is," mumbled Brian.
"Yes she does!" AJ said loudly. "She knows how serious this can be, she knows more than any of us, Rok. You never had a decent conversation with her, so stop acting like that." Brian's eye brow went up and he opened his mouth to argue with AJ, but Howie interrupted.
"Guys, let's just stop," said the Peace-maker. "Look", Howie said slyly as he pointed to a group of girls. "They all look pretty cute, go ask one to dance!" Everyone but AJ, grinned and nodded.
"I call the red-head!" announced Nick.
"I get the blond!" said Kevin.
"I get the Asian one!" called Brian.
"Hey," said Howie as he nudged AJ. AJ looked up at him. "I guess we get the two brunettes, huh?" AJ just shook his head.
"No, take both, D. I don't feel up to it right now."
"WHAT?!" they all asked in unison. Nick took his palm and laid it agaisnt AJ's forehead. Nick looked puzzled and shook his head at the guys.
"No sign of fever." AJ smiled and pried Nick's sweat-covered hand off his face.
"Why are you guys so surprised?"
"Bone, you're usually the first to ask a gorgeous girl to dance!" AJ shrugged and turned back to his Budweiser. The guys stared at AJ for a few seconds, but decided they couldn't do anything about their fellow bandmember so walked over to the group of girls.