Chapter 8: Lots of Laughs
(AN: There is a new character in this chapter. Her name is Breanne and she will be appearing in the story from now on.)
The group had the best time going on rides like "Top Gun" and "Drop Zone". They went on most of the rides including the splash park. But they still didn't get every ride in when they left the park at its closing time. The two girls were surprised that they weren't bothered by the sound of screaming teenage girls.
The group of fans that did see the group gave Mel and Manda the evil eye because they were holding onto AJ and Brian's hands. There were a few exceptions though. A handful of fans did come up to the group for autographs and took pictures that included Mel and Manda.
"Man, that was so cool!" Nick exclaimed as they exited the park.
"Yeah, we had a great time guys! Thanks!" Mel thanked as they headed to the cars.
"No prob!" AJ said putting his arm around Mel's shoulders.
Kevin turned slightly and said to the group,"Hey guys, don't forget about the press conference we have tomorrow."
"Aww man, Kev do we have to?" AJ whined. Kevin nodded his head.
"Yes AJ, we have to go. It's for the fans," he said sternly.
"Oh, I know that. I just.....well......I--OAUF!" AJ started to say when he got a hand in the stomach.
"AJ just thought he could sleep in!" Mel said as she brought her hand back from AJ's stomach. She wanted to stop him from rambling. Everyone except AJ thought this was funny.
"Hey, that hurt!" AJ exclaimed with a pout.
"Aww I'm sorry," Mel said with an apologetic look. "Do you want me to kiss it better?"
"Wes pwease," AJ said like a two year old. Mel bent down and kissed his stomach.
"Is that better?" she asked standing up. "No," AJ said hoping for another kiss.
Mel smiled. "Awww here," she said, "MOUAH!" She gave AJ a kiss on the cheek.
That was all he was going to get. A smile swept across his face as he said to Kevin, "I know we have to go to that press conference tomorrow. I was just funnin' witcha."
"Aww poor AJ doesn't wanna leave Mel all by herself," Nick teased.
Everyone knew AJ was into Mel and that she was into him but, to the two of them, it wasn't that obvious. (AN: Ya ya, I know Manda, that whole paragrahp stinks of 'In Your Dreams Mel!!' But, oh well!! I can dream if I want to!! It's not like the Web Warden is gonna get me! *inside joke* LOL!)
"Nick, shut up!" Mel and AJ said in unison.
Mel turned to look at Nick. "Do you have to be so immature?"
"Hey, I'm immature. If you don't like it, too bad!" Nick replied,
"Besides, do you have to be so goo goo eyed over AJ?" He said this last part with a devious smirk.
Mel could feel her face turning red. "What in Gods name are you talking about?" she asked.
Nick smirked again. "Well, you--" he started to explain.
"Nick, just drop it," Manda interrupted in a calm voice.
"Ok, I'm sorry," Nick apologized with one of his famous puppy dog look.
"Yeah, whatever. It's ok," Mel said to Nick. She then turned to the rest of the group and asked, "So, anyway, do you guys wanna do something?"
"Yeah sure. Do you wanna hang out in our room?" AJ asked looking at Mel and Manda.
Mel was a little shocked that AJ would invite them to hang out in their room. She really wasn't expecting him to say that. But, she soon got over it. "I'm game if you are," Mel said looking over at Manda.
"I don't know if we should," Manda said with uncertainty. "I mean, you guys have that press conference tomorrow and it's getting kinda late. I don't know?" she trailed off.
"Aww come on! It'll be fun," AJ pouted. Manda smiled.
"Ok, fine, I'll go." Manda and Brian had gotten a little closer over the past day and a half (AN: Yes, I know that's a really short amount of time but, they have, alright?!?). But, she didn't want to jinx anything because she wasn't sure if Brian liked her or not. Getting involved with someone who didn't feel the same way she did was not something she wanted to do.
"So, same cars as before?" Kevin asked as everyone agreed. They arrived at the hotel 90 minutes later. When they arrived at the room, Manda realized that this was the Penthouse Suite.
"Oh Lordy," she gasped as Kevin swiped the keycard to unlock the door. Mel looked around as they entered the suite.
"Nice digs guys," she said bumping hips with AJ.
"No kidding," Manda said as she began to walk around the room.
"Yeah, we like it," a male voice said from the couch.
"My God Howie!" Nick yelped.
"Holy crap! Scare people mu--Wooo, hey Howz, who's the chick?" AJ asked as he noticed a girl sitting with Howie.
"Could you be a little more pig headed?" Mel asked sarcastically.
"Oh my God! Is that Melissa?? And Amanda??" the girl on the couch shrieked. Manda and Mel glanced at each other.
"Yes?who's asking?" Mel asked. Both she and Manda weren't too sure who knew them let alone was sitting alone in an empty Penthouse Suite with Howie.
"It's me, Breanne," the girl said standing to face the two girls.
"Boo!" Manda gasped.
"Oh my God!" Mel gasped too. The two girls hugged Breanne.
Breanne was exactly how Mel remembered her before she moved away. She had shoulder length dark brown curly hair, dark brown eyes and stood about 5'6".
"Ok, I'm happy y'all are having this reunion and all but would you mind fillin' us in as to how you guys know each other?" Brian asked in his cute southern accent.
"Umm?sure," Breanne said with a smile, "Well, Mel, Manda, Jenn, Jo, Kristin and I grew up on the same street and, well, we ended up going to school together and becoming friends. But in grade 7, I had to move away because my parents got divorced and my mom got custody of me. So, we moved to Toronto so my mom could get a job. We all lost contact after a few years," she explained.
The three girls had tears in their eyes. "But, now we're back together," Manda said as they gave each other another hug.
After the hug, Mel turned to Manda and said, "Manda, we met the Backstreet Boys yesterday, then play basketball and have lunch with them today and have now been reunited with our best friend," she then turned to the guys and said, "You guys are amazing!"
With that said, she gave each of the guys a hug.
"No biggie," Nick said as Mel gave him a hug.
Kevin shook his head with a smile. "Nick, you're too cocky for your own good!" he said making the room go up in hysterics. The girls sat on the floor to catch up.
After talking for half and hour, Mel heard AJ talking to Brian and then come into the room the girls were sitting in.
"Man, I'm swiped!" AJ muttered as he plopped down onto the couch in front of the girls.
"Hey AJ, want some company?" Mel asked sincerely.
"Sure babe! C'mere," AJ smiled flirtatiously. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down to sit on his lap.
"EEK!" Mel yelped, "Ok, I wasn't expecting that," she said with a laugh.
"Yeah, well, AJ's unpredictable," AJ said speaking in third person while Mel gave him a weird look. Five minutes later, Brian and Nick walked into the room.
"Hey guys, uh.....are we interrupting?" Brian asked as Nick started to laugh. "Oh, it just looked like you two were doing something," Brian said as everyone started to laugh
. "Brian, do you always have naughty things on the brain?" Mel asked with a devilish grin.
"MEL!" Manda yelped as she started to blush.
"What?" Mel asked innocently, "I was only asking," she added as she turned to smile at AJ.
The 3 girls talked some more for two hours and brought up a touchy subject. "So Bre, how's life been living with your mom?" Manda asked with concern.
Breanne sighed. "Alright I guess. I was really torn up when I had to leave my dad. But my mom got full custody and Daddy didn't even fight for visitations," Breanne said as a single tear slid down her cheek.
"Aww Boo, I'm sorry!" Mel said giving her a big bear hug. Manda soon joined in. The girls stayed for another half-hour before deciding to leave. They thanked Kevin, Howie, and Nick for a great day and gave each one of them a hug.
"Hey Bre," Mel said as they started to leave the Penthouse Suite. Breanne looked over at Mel.
"Yeah?"
"Do you wanna stay over in our hotel room for the night?" Mel asked.
"There's even a fold out couch for you to sleep in," Manda added.
Breanne smiled and nodded. "Besides, we still have catching up to do," she said. Brian and AJ walked the three girls to their door. They said their good-byes and they gave each of the girls a hug.
Take Me Back!!