�Hey,� Heather greeted as Brian passed.
Brian smiled and said, �Hey. How ya doin�?�
�Fine. How long is this tour again?�
�About 6 months.�
Her shoulders drooped. �I have to be with AJ for 6 MONTHS?�
�I thought you guys were best friends,� Nick said, joining the conversation.
Heather scoffed, �Best friends? Nuh uh. I don�t think so! He gets SO much on my nerves!�
�Then why�d you date him?� Brian asked.
She sighed. �That was only for a WEEK Bri. He was such a jerk after that.�
Nick and Brian looked at each other and shrugged.
�What?� she asked, not sure of what they were shrugging at.
�He�s not a jerk you know,� Nick said.
�Really? Then why would he pick me up, let his stupid dog shred up my sock, then throw me down the road at 90 miles per hour?�
They smiled tightly, trying not to laugh. But they did anyway. Soon, they had Heather laughing along with them. She was first to stop though, as AJ got on the bus.
�What?� he asked, not knowing what the laughter was about.
Heather smiled and said, �Nothing.�
�Sure.�
***
�Can we get off NOW?� Jessie asked, almost in tears with boredom.
�No,� Howie said for the millionth time, flipping through an issue of J-14 magazine. �We�re not there yet.�
Heather and Jessie groaned and looked up at the ceiling of the tour bus.
�How many times have you looked through that magazine?� Jessie asked, eyeing the familiar cover.
�Once.�
�Nuh uh!� Heather argued. �This is about the 10th time! I swear you look at it just to see your face.�
Howie dropped the magazine and looked at her. �Well thank you for making me feel con-ceited.�
Heather smiled. �Pleasure.�
After Howie walked out she muttered, �Gay.�
Jessie laughed and stopped when Nick came into the room.
�What�s so funny?� Nick asked, sitting down the opposite side of them.
�Nothing.�
�Is it just me or am I hearing that a lot today?�
�It�s just you,� the girls said together.
***
�WE�RE FREE!!� Jessie cried, jumping out of the bus and running around the deserted Dairy Queen.
�God Jessie stop that,� Nick said. �You�re so embarrassing.�
She stopped abruptly and walked over to him. �I�m EMBARRASSING?�
Nick�s eyes widened and he stuttered, �Uh��
�Well! I guess I dent your picture perfect image, don�t I?� she sniffled. Then she turned and walked to the Dairy Queen.
�Jess! Wait!� Nick cried, feeling guilty.
Heather walked up to Nick and said, �There�s a lot you have to learn about women Nicky.�
Nick just sighed and joined the other guys.
Heather ran into the empty Dairy Queen, where Jessie was sitting in the corner eating a dipped ice cream cone.
�That was GOOD!� Heather laughed, sliding into the seat.
Jessie smiled. �I know. You should�ve seen the look on his face!�
Heather laughed. �He looked so pitiful. I can�t believe you got him.�
�Oh here they come!� Jessie cried. She smiled and made a show of becoming sad when Nick looked over at her.
Heather tried hard to hold her laughter, letting giggles escape her mouth.
Nick sighed sadly and turned to the cashier to take his order. He was used to the looks they gave him, but from the look THIS cashier gave him, it seemed that this one was an NSYNC fan.
�Can I help you?� she asked.
�Uh yeah. Can I get a chocolate ice cream cone?�
She forced a smile and said, �Your total�s 1.15.�
Nick paid her the 2 bucks and she gave him the cone.
He walked towards the guys, but stopped and stood next to the girls� table. �Can I sit here?�
Heather looked up and smiled. �Sure.� She slid over and Nick sat down.
Jessie concentrated on licking her cone, because if she looked at Nick�s face, she knew she would break out in laughter.
�Jessie?� Nick asked.
She fought to keep her face serious. �Hmm?
�I�m sorry.�
�Really?�
�Yeah. I didn�t mean to hurt your feelings,� he apologized.
Jessie�s face stayed straight, but then cracked into a smile. �Ok.�
Nick looked surprised. �OK?� He wasn�t sure if this was a trick or not, but past times, he would literally have to beg for her forgiveness.
�Yup.�
Then, her and Heather broke out into laughter, making everyone look at them strangely.
�What�s so funny?� Howie asked, taking the question out of the other guys� mouths.
�Nothing.�
�It�s not just me,� Nick said. �I�m hearing NOTHING everywhere!�
The rest of the night they talked like old friends. Which they were.