chapter sixLauren and AJ spent the rest of the day on the couch, watching Christmas special after Christmas special on the TV. She had long-since put her head in his lap. He had unconsciously ran his fingers through her hair.
By 6 o'clock, two out of the three cookie tins were empty, both cartons of egg nog were gone and in the garbage. Lauren was on her seventh cigarette.
Lauren finally sat up and stretched her arms. She picked up the tins and the cluttered ashtray and walked to the kitchen. She emptied the tray and threw away the tins. Lauren then made her way to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and ran a hand through her hair.
"I need a brush," she muttered, looking down at the cluttered bathroom countertop. She found a brush behind a cheesy dye kit ("Blue Hair in Less Than Five Minutes!") and ran it through her hair. She brushed out a few kinks here and there. From downstairs she heard the phone ring and AJ answer it. Lauren couldn't hear who he was talking to, so she snuck closer to hear him.
"...That's cool. Yeah, well, I'd invite ya over, Kaos, but I already have a guest...Yeah, her. It's no big deal. I'll call your cell later tonight, 'kay? Alrighty, Merry Christmas...Peace."
"I thought he was in LA with his family," Lauren said quietly.
AJ almost jumped out of his skin. "I didn't see you there, Lauren." He paused. "His flight was changed and the trip was cut short. So he's coming home tonight. He was on the plane when he called."
"Well, I should go, if you two want to meet," Lauren said, walking past AJ to pick up her keys.
AJ grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Lauren, it's okay. Right now I'd rather see you than him."
"But you've seen my all day. Now you need to spend time with your other friends," she protested.
"Are you cool with this?" AJ asked.
"Goddammit, he's your friend. Whether you want him at your house or not is your choice. Not mine." She smiled a little and stuffed the cigarettes in her purse. "Don't bend over backwards for me, Alex. Go ahead and push me out if you have plans. I'm still the same old Lauren."
"I know, but I don't like seeing you upset," AJ said.
Lauren kissed him and said, "Good-night." Alex pulled her back and she laughed. "What now?"
"Kiss me again so I can suck out some more of that smoke from your lungs. I need a cigarette bad," AJ said.
Lauren laughed. "Bye, Bone. Merry Christmas."
----------------------------- "I hope you're not too pissed at him. He was just kidding around," Lauren said to Kevin later that night. She had called him as soon as she got home.
Lauren had a good relationship with all five Backstreet Boys. Well, she used to. Now just four. They all had their qualities. AJ was Lauren's bad habit, Brian was her brotherly figure, so was Howie. Nick, at one point, was her lover...She didn't know what he was now... But Kevin was definitely a father figure to Lauren. If she needed advice or a strong opinion, Kevin was her first choice.
Lauren liked Kevin. He was serious, but had a hint of humor hidden somewhere in him. He wasn't judgemental and he always lent an ear to her. Lauren loved his overall feeling of mellowness. She felt comfortable when he was in the room. His cousin also inherited that, too.
"Well, I was. The boy is such a pain in the ass sometimes," Kevin said, "but it was funny."
"I never thought it was humanly possible to swear that much in one breath."
"Believe me, I've gotten a lot of practice," Kevin chuckled.
"So, what are you doing right now, Mr. Kev?"
"I'm in bed, looking over some lyrics."
"The man never stops, ladies and gentlemen!" Lauren exclaimed sarcastically. "You getting anywhere?"
"Uh, I guess."
"So...what are you wearing?"
"Spare me, Lauren," Kevin stated, rolling his eyes.
"Seriously, I wanna hear what Mr. Body Beautiful wears to bed."
"A t-shirt and some boxers, ya happy?"
"What color are your boxers?"
Kevin groaned loudly into the phone, so that she knew he was annoyed. "Dark green."
"Oh, good color. Really accentuates your eyes," Lauren teased. "Wanna know what I'm wearing?"
"Not really, but I know you're gonna tell me anyway." Kevin scribbled out a word on his notepad.
"My Joe Boxer boxers. You know, the black ones? And the 'bite me' shirt you gave me like, four years ago."
"You still have it?"
"Sure do. One of my favorites besides my 'Vertically-Challenged' shirt that Howie gave me for my birthday."
"I remember when he gave you that! That was the year of...'97, wasn't it? And he'd gone to Puerto Rico or somewhere and picked it up for you."
"Yeah, that had to be the best birthday I'd ever had."
"Yes. Speaking of which, your birthday is coming up, isn't it? February 24th, right?"
"Uh huh. But we still have a few months to go."
"I think we start touring two weeks after that. Maybe we can throw together something for ya."
"Y'all could get me one of those nice stripper guys," Lauren joked.
"Yeah, maybe...But what's Michael there for then?"
"Hah hah, very funny, Kev. Michael is very serious about his work, he doesn't do that kind of stuff."
"The man is a workaholic," Kevin told her.
"So? He pays the damned bills, doesn't he?"
"I'm just saying. Don't you ever just want him to be with you?"
"Tons of times."
"And how often do you actually see him?" Kevin asked.
"Not often." She paused. "Look, if you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting ---"
"I'm not suggesting anything. But don't you ever wonder?"
"Of course I do. But it's nice having him around. He's a great kisser, did I ever tell you that before?"
"Yes. This is the sixth time tonight."
"Oh, okay. Well, he is. He's very polite and gentle. He likes to listen. Which most guys I've met never even have done before."
"Hey, I listen," Kevin defended himself.
"I said 'most' guys, dumbass."
"Oh. Continue, then."
"Okay...Well...I think he kind of hides this part of himself away from me. Like, he doesn't want to unleash his wild side on me or something."
Kevin switched the phone to his other ear. "Why wouldn't he?"
"I have no clue. But I know it's in there. Maybe he doesn't think I could handle him or something."
"You hang around AJ, don't you?" Kevin laughed. "I haven't met this Michael yet, but from what you told me...Well, I don't think he could handle you."
"Really?"
"He sounds like a wuss," Kevin claimed, "hiding behind those damned papers. That's such a crap excuse he's using! He's not man enough for ya, woman!"
Lauren giggled. "You think I should let him go?"
"Yes, please. And make sure he save the drama for another sitcom, okay?"
"God, aren't you just...what's the word I'm looking for, Kev?"
Kevin put down his pen and leaned back on his bedframe. "Direct? To-the-point? Precise? No-bullshit?"
"Exactly."