"Excuse me." AJ apologized to the interviewer as he picked up his cell phone. "Hey, babe! How'd shopping go?" He questioned as the interviewer listened to his every word and watched his every move while taking an occasional note. "I found a dress and according to Nick, it's what you would want me to wear. I can't promise that I'll WEAR it at the Grammy's the entire time, but I'll try." Xanda said with a nervous laugh as she watched the road. Nick had already cut other cars off three times in the past half hour causing Xanda to become less trusting of his driving. "I don't get it. You're not going to wear it the entire time? What are you going to do? Bring an extra dress to change into once you get tired of that one?" AJ threw different questions at Xanda as she laughed softly. "No, Hun. I don't mean that I'm going to change my dress once I get there..." "What she means is that her tits are gonna pop out of it!" Nick shouted in the background. "All right! Nick did well." AJ joked. "Yeah, I guess he did. Anyway, we're on our way to Orlando. After Nick drops me off I guess Brian's going to drop him off at the airport." Xanda explained as she gripped the overhead hand rail while Nick swerved around another car. "Oh that's right! He's going back to LA tonight. Well, I don't think this interview is gonna end any time soon so tell him I said thanks for getting you something sexy and I'll call him later."

***

Three hours passed as AJ glanced at the clock on the wall. He scratched at the thick layers of make-up on his skin and groaned when a bright light burst in front of him. "Are we almost done? I have some place I need to be." AJ complained. "Look this way, AJ." A man demanded. AJ rolled his eyes, glanced in the mans direction and waited for the light to flash. "Okay, I think that's it. Six rolls, 3 clothing changes, and we're done!" The man announced as AJ hopped off the chair and ran to the dressing room. Ten minutes later AJ emerged with a freshly washed face, a pair of worn Levi's, and a white t-shirt. "Thanks for your patience, AJ. You know it normally doesn't takes this long." The photographer explained as AJ struggled to put his jewelry on. "Yeah I know, Marc. Sorry I was being such an ass. That interviewer chick, Germania or some shit like that, got under my skin. Some of the questions she asked! And her research...!" AJ complained. "Germanya? She interviewed you and you're only THIS upset? Holy shit, you survived! She's one of Rolling Stone's 'best' interviewers only because she does her homework and she's got bigger balls than any man you'll ever meet. Most artists I photograph after an interview with her are pissed, angry, upset, and some are even crying! She digs up the past, throws the skeletons from your closet on your lap, then sweetly asks you to explain yourself. She's evil, man. Evil." Marc explained to AJ as he put some of his equipment away. "Well, she only found out old rumors from my past and asked me to explain myself. But she promised to throw them out of the interview." AJ replied. Marc shook his head, "Ask RS to let you read the interview before they publish it. I don't trust her."

***

"Okay, we're here! Wake up!" Nick shouted as he pushed Xanda around in her seat. "Huh? Wha?" She murmured as she slowly opened her eyes. "Holy shit! That's a scary sight to wake up to!" Xanda teased as Nick peered into her face. "Screw you!" Nick laughed as he got out of the car. Xanda giggled and slowly followed Nick to the back of the car. "Shoes!" Nick stated as he handed Xanda a bag. "Purse." He added as he handed her another bag. "Make up and hair crap!" Nick finished listing things off as Xanda struggled with the three bags and her large purse. "Oh, one more thing...Dress!" He announced as he placed her dress over her heavily filled arms. "Thanks, Nick, but do you think you could help me with a few of these things?" She complained.

"Nick! You're gonna miss your flight!" Brian shouted to Nick from his front porch. "He's helping me!" Xanda shouted back. "He can help you later. He's gonna miss his flight." Brian stated. "I'm NOT getting' into it with YOU!" Xanda shouted. "Give me a minute, Bri." Nick shouted to Brian as he took Xanda's dress from her. "Nick, we're already ten minutes late." Brian said as he ignored Xanda. "All right Rok, give me five." Nick replied as he walked into Xanda's house.

"You two REALLY need to at least TRY and get along. I mean, if you're gonna tour with us and all." Nick stated as he took a seat on the couch. "Who said I'm going to tour with you guys?" Xanda questioned back with a smirk. "I just assumed you would. I mean, AJ's gonna drive us nuts without you there." Nick replied. "Don't give me that bullshit, Nick. He'll be fine without me. He's a grown man and he's never been dependent on a woman before. The only thing he's ever been dependent on is sex." Xanda shot back. "Like I said, he's gonna drive us nuts." Xanda laughed and leaned over to smack Nick playfully. "Nick, AJ and I are not in love. He'll be fine without me at his side. Anyway, we're not serious. We're just together." Xanda said. "Well, whatever it is between you two, I want to see you on tour. Who will I pick on?" Nick questioned with puppy dog eyes. "Sorry, Bro! You can pick on Brian or AJ or Kevin or the other guy." Xanda stated. "That other guy? Is that all I am to you?" Howie asked from the opened front security door. "Hey D! I saw you standing there the whole time." Xanda grinned as Howie helped him self into the house. "Hey yourself! Have you seen AJ yet? That interview and photo shoot was over more than an hour ago and he's not answering his cell phone." Howie explained as he took a seat on the couch next to Nick. Xanda looked him over and inwardly smiled at how dressed up he looked compared to herself and Nick. Fitted khaki pants and a loose, white, button-down shirt with rolled up sleeves made Howie look very professional, something Xanda was completely and utterly attracted to. Nick flashed a hand in front of Xanda's eyes to get her attention. Xanda mentally kicked herself for thinking of a few things she would have loved to do to her boyfriends best friend before giving her full attention to the two good-looking men who were sitting in her living room. "Sorry, I'm tired. Anyway, no, I haven't heard from AJ since the middle of his interview. He didn't seem too happy." Xanda said.