| CHAPTER 17 |
| "I'm hungry," AJ said sticking his belly out as far as he could and poke it. He sucked it back in, "See! Its eating itself." Dillan laughed. "I'm hungry..." She was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Too," she said as she opened the door. "Hey Baker. Wanna go get some grub with us?" He entered the room and began to inspect the place. Dillan and AJ looked at each other. "Baker, wha-whatcha doin'?" "Yea man. Your room looks and has everything ours does." "Just routine, kids." Collin Baker had been in the police force for about 12 years. As soon as he graduated from high school he joined. He has a wife who is a paramedic part-time. The coupleo has a 3 year old daughter and a 4 month old son. "I'm just checking for bugs or bombs or the like. We don't know what this crazy guy will do." They had just got to the elevator as the Boys' manager stopped them. "We're meeting in an hour to go to the studio. The sooner we get there the sooner everyone will be able to go home." He looked at AJ and pointed his finger at him. Dillan looked at AJ and gave him the same look as when he's seemed to have done something wrong. "What," he questioned raising his arms. "Nothing." They stepped into the elevator and Dillan smirked at the satisfation that someone had confronted him about his tardiness. ~*~*~*~ The Boys were in and out of the studio for 3 days. On the third night they stayed up all night. In a way they joined AJ in his world. They were all in the Rec Hall of the hotel; Mark, a body guard, and AJ against Brian and Nick at pool, while Baker and a couple other body guards play airhockey. Kevin was in the corner trying to make up with Kristin about a fight they had earlier. Howie emerged from the pool area with a towel wrapped around his waist and sat on the bar stool next to Dillan. "How are you doing, sweetie," Howie asked with much concern in his voice. "Alright, I guess." "Tired?" "A little." "You want me to get AJ or Baker so you can go up and sleep?" "No, I think I can make it up there myself. Thanks, D." She headed to AJ who was waiting patiently for his turn. "Awe, Marky Mark. You blew that shot man!" He was drunk out of his mind. He took a drink of his beer and put his arm around Dillan. He kissed her but she pushed him away. "You know I don't like to kiss you when you drink, especially when you drink beer." Her face cringed at the smell. She licked her lips. "I thought you quit smoking." "Yo, AJ. Your turn man." He moved away from Dillan and took his shot. He missed and returned back to his original position: left arm around Dillan, and in the right hand a beer. "I'm gonna go up to bed now." He sat his beer down on the table behind him. "You want me to go with," he asked as he leaned in to kiss her ear. She giggled a little be declinde. "Nah, I just want to sleep." "Alright. Baker! Yo, Bake!" "No, its alright. I can go up to the room without anyone with me. I can take care of myself." She turned and headed out the door. Baker turned to AJ and he nodded for him to go with her. She pushed the button to the elevator. She could hear the music coming from the Rec Hall, but it was faint. The solitude was almost scary to Dillan. The doors finally open; she steps in and presses number 5. Baker comes just in time to greet the closing doors. He takes the stairs and reaches the top as she gets off the elevator. Dillan hears the quiet sound of the elevator doors closing, followed by another door. She turns her head to view a man following her out of the corner of her eye. She whips around and sees Baker trailing behind. "Dillan, I can't leave you alone. You know its my job not to." No answer from her. "I know you want to be by yourself, but this is for you safety." Still no answer from her. She finally reaches her room. Baker catches up to her and stands behind her. She finally turns to him. "Stay out here. I want privacy." A few minutes later her room phone rings. After her call has ended she opens the door and Baker finds a teary-eyed Dillan. They weren't tears of saddness, but of tears of happiness. "They found him," she whispered as she gave Baker a hug. Chapter 18 Featured Stories Main Page |