| Chapter Forty-Two |
| "I need a new look," Ali complained, looking in the mirror at her reflection. The group had gotten to the Plaza Hotel in NYC that morning and were all hanging out in Justin's room. "You could always dye your hair blue," Joey said, pausing the game on the Playstation. "Hey, I was winning that!" Lance said, unpausing the game. "Good Lord, not again," Hallie muttered, moving her game piece three spaces ahead. She and Chris were playing Life out of complete boredom. "Whaddya mean, 'not again?' " Justin asked, taking a good look at his girlfriend and trying to picture her hair blue. "I looked like the Cookie Monster," Ali muttered, trying to make her hair less flat. "That was a bad phase in my life. I wanted to be AJ, as scary as that is. Being fifteen years old was not a fun time to be me." "Somehow I cannot picture you with blue hair," Justin said as Ali sat down on his lap, making herself comfortable. "Let's just say that my teenage years were filled with a lot of angst," Ali said, kissing Justin on the cheek. "Hey Chris, congrads... You have twins," Hallie said, watching Chris land on his third square. "Lovely," he muttered. "Why didn't Danielle tell me?" he asked dramatically. "Maybe she thought you weren't ready to have kids since you still are one," Justin offered. "I'M a kid? Me? Man, I am older than you by ten years. That's a whole friggin decade. And you say that I'M a kid when you're barely legal?" Justin didn't say a word, he was too wrapped up in staring at Ali's profile as she watched Joey and Lance play the Playstation. "Hey JUSTIN!" "What? Chris, did you say something?" "Nothin man, nothin," Chris muttered, looking around the room. "Hey Als, weren't you supposed to meet someone in the Park at like, ten minutes ago?" Ali was snapped back to attention. "Oh my Lord, damnit! Why must I always be late for these things?" she muttered, jumping up from Justin's lap and grabbing her jacket. "I'll be back in a few hours sweetie, bye," she said, kissing Justin quickly and running out the door. "Bye to you too Als," Chris muttered, getting back to Life. ~*~*~ "Where the hell IS she?" Brian asked himself, checking his watch for the tenth time. Suddenly he saw a girl running toward him. He prepared himself for a hysterical fan, taking a deep breath and putting on a smile. "And the million dollar question... How fake can your smile be?" "ALI!" Brian yelled, throwing his arms around her and enveloping her into a hug. "Bri, you know I love you, but I can't breath very well," Ali said into Brian's shoulder. "Sorry," he said, letting go and adjusting his Nike hat. "How have you been? What's up with not visiting us, huh? I thought you were coming back on tour with us." Ali's eyes enlarged. "You don't know?" she asked, not believing. "Don't know what?" ~*~*~ "And that's what happened... I'm in love with Justin." Ali finished her story as Brian finished his coffee. Brian thought a moment. "I think I need a drink." "Brian, spare me," Ali said, rolling her eyes. She was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" Brian asked, scooting his chair closer to hers. "For falling in love? Als, falling in love wasn't your fault... it just happened. And as for Kevin... he may be my cousin but I swear when he comes back I'm gonna beat the living shit out of him." Ali giggled. "Bri, you do not have to do that," she said, shoving him in the shoulder playfully. "But you DO have to come and see Hallie onstage." "I have to go to an 'N Sync concert?" Brian asked with a face. "YES you have to go to an 'N Sync concert... But you can watch with me, on the side of the stage. No teenyboppers can see you, they haven't seen me yet, not to my knowledge, at least. And I will NOT take no for an answer, and you know it." Brian sighed. "When I am ever going to learn how to say no to you?" Back to Index for Close Chapter 43 |