| CHAPTER 2 |
| "Why can't I have a normal relationship?" Brittnee plopped a scoop of scrambled eggs on her plate. She headed for the table as Gracie poured herself a glass of juice. "Why can't I just have a boyfriend who I enjoy to be around, who enjoys to be around me, have a few things in common, and the biggest thing we have to worry about is what we are going to have for dinner?" Gracie laughs at her cynical friend. "What is normal anyway? I mean, seriously, every relationship is different and maybe this is yours and Monroe's thing. You guys can't stand each other but connect sexually. There's nothing wrong with that." "Yea but I want more, G. I just can't because I'm cursed I guess. I'm gonna stop it all. All of it! No more messing around. I'm just gonna focus on my career and maybe pick up a hobby." "Yea okay, girl. After last night you just proved that you couldn't say no to him. I don't want to say it but you have no will power against Monroe." Brittnee took a bite and thought a moment. "You're right." "I am," Gracie asked shocked and almost choked on her juice. "Yes. I have no will power against him. So I have to just get over it. Leave him alone and don't make contact." "We hang out at the same places. That is not going to work." "Well we can be friends... NOT "friends" but just friends. I can be friends with guys. No sex! That's all." Gracie got up from the table and put her dishes in the dishwasher. "Is your Gucci skirt that you wore last night in your room or did you leave it at Monroe's?" "UGH!! My poor skirt. Some guy bumped into me and spilled my drink on it." "Did you kick his butt?" "Almost but he was kinda cute and really not worth it." "Damn. I wanted to wear it tonight. I met the new bartender last night and he's Gucci-skirt-unzipping pretty." "Well don't go and get all Brittnee and Monroe on me now. I can barely handle me." Brittnee went into her room and a few hours later emerged with Sunday's column. This weekend's article was the first she'd ever written about herself. Understanding the Relations in a Relationship is her take on trying to succumb to asking for help. ~*~*~*~ That night at Atlantic Taxi was just as great as the night before. Gracie and Brittnee arrived at their normal time and once again did not have to wait in line. Before Brittnee could even take a sip of her first drink Monroe was in sight and was headed her way. "Be strong," Gracie says as she gets up from the bar. "Think willpower." She hurries away to find her bartender as Monroe takes her seat. "I thought I'd see you here tonight." Monroe ordered a drink and put his hand on the small of Brittnee's back. "Maybe I can see you again later at my place?" "Don't count on it," she said as she took his hand off of her. "I'm done with the games and I'm moving on." She excused herself leaving him bewildered. ~*~ "Gracie!" Keith turned into one big smile when Gracie sat in front of him at his side of the bar. "Its good to see you again." "I'm finding that it is always great to see you, Keith." Gracie was never shy in flirting department. "How is the cutest bartender in the club doing? Wait... I mean cutest bartender in all of the clubs." "I love it here. Not only do I get to be in the most popular place in town, but I get to spend my time serving beautiful girls named Gracie Korg. German?" "Yes. My Grandpa and Grandma came over when they found out they were going to have my dad." "Well I'm glad they did because you might not have been here last night and I would have never have met you." Keith leaned over the bar and got so close to her face she could feel his warm breath. "How about breakfast tomorrow morning?" "Sounds good. Where," she asked staring at his lips. "My place. I make a mean breakfast in bed." She bit the bait and kissed him softly. As they parted Gracie could see the sparkle in his eyes and she knew that she had it in hers as well. "Well its good that you like to make breakfast in bed because I love to receive it." "So are you athletic?" "Depends on what you are talking about when you say 'athletic.'" "Maybe tomorrow we can go rollerblading in the park and have a picnic for lunch." He took a drink order from a couple and returned quickly. "You think you'd be up for that, cutie?" "I haven't gone rollerblading in so many years but I will give it a try. The last time put on some blades was before I had my driver's license." "Well, I will catch you if you fall. I will not let that sexy butt get hurt." "How can I pass up time with you and a picnic in a park? You sure know how to get a girl." ~*~ "BRITT!" "GRACE!!" Gracie found Brittnee playing pool with a couple guys. "I just wanted to let you know that I wasn't going to be home tonight." "Keith?" "Keith!" She smiled really big and jumped up and down. "He's so cute. And tomorrow we're going blading in the park and we're gonna have a picnic." "Aww, that is too cute." Brittnee made the gagging face. "I'm gonna go and get another drink, wanna come?" "Yea, I'll have one more." They headed to the closest bar and ordered two Vodka Cranberries. As they waited for their drinks they looked around the club. On the other side of the floor was the main entrance to the VIP room. "Who do you think is here tonight?" "It looks just as busy as it was last night so its gotta be someone big. Let's crash." Gracie knows one of the VIP bouncers by way of a friend's brother-in-law so the two girls scooted right into the room, again proving their free reign on the whole club. As they enter the room they look around for anyone famous. Girls scantily clad were all they saw until Brittnee saw a face from the night before. She looked around for anyone else but no one caught her eye. "It might just be for a rented out party. No celebs that I can see," Brittnee says as she takes a chug of her drink. "Well, isn't he someone?" "Who?" Gracie points to tall blonde guy. "He's a boy band guy, isn't he?" "Hun, I wouldn't know. I wanna get out of here. The punk that spilled my drink on my Gucci skirt is here." "Ooooo, where? Let's make him pay for it!" "Gracie no. Let's just go play some pool, okay?" As the girls turned around to leave the room, the guy who spilled the drink noticed Brittnee. He left his group of girls and ran after them. Brittnee and Gracie found an empty table and start to rack up the balls. "Excuse me," the guy says as he taps Brittnee's arm. "You're the girl from last night? Hey, I'm really sorry about your skirt." "Yea, well there's nothing you can do about it now. Excuse me, we're about to play." "I offered to buy you another one, and that offer still stands." "She'll take it," Gracie says as she hands him a pool cue. "I have to go check in with Keith to make sure he isn't getting seduced by the mass amounts of skanks here tonight." "Oh, sorry about that. Nick is attract those types," he said as she walked away. "So... you want to break or me?" "I'll break, thank you." Brittnee broke and made two in, both solids. "You're stripes," she said as she aimed for the bottom corner pocket. She made the next shot but missed the next. "You're up." As he pondered what ball he should go for he noticed Brittnee staring at him. "What?" "Nothing." "It's gotta be something. It's always something when a girl says its nothing." He missed. "How long does it take you to shave your goatee like that?" "Too long." She sank one more ball and then missed. "Don't you get tired of doing it everyday?" "Fuck yea! I only do this when I'm out in the public." There was a long pause of what felt like awkward silence. "I'm a singer if you haven't noticed who I am." "I have no clue who you are. 'And frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!' It's your shot!" "Right." He made the next 4 balls. "So what is your name?" "Brittnee. What's yours?" "You can call me AJ. Can I get you another drink, Brittnee?" "Actually, yes. Vodka Cran please." He smiled and headed to the bar. She watched him walk all the way there and all the way back. Something about him bugged her but she didn't know what it was. Could be his matter-of-fact personality, or the way he carries himself with confidence, or his hoarse voice. Whatever it was she couldn't resist it. "Thank you," she said as she took the glass from him. "What do you do?" "I'm a writer." "What do you write?" They weren't playing pool anymore. Brittnee was leaning against the table and AJ was leaning on it too, very close. She shifted away from him a little. "I am the Opinion Editor for one of the local newspaper." "What paper, maybe I've read your work." "The Whims Bay Times." "Oh, you're Brittnee Mac!! I have read your columns. You have a horrific opinion on certain things." "Well, thank you. I think." "I really agree with you about schools not focusing on what is really important and not taking enough care of the kids these days." "You read that and remember it? That was from months ago." She smiled and tucked her blonde hair behind her ear. "Oh yea! I read that paper on tour and that was the most recent one I received." "Wow. I'm shocked and impressed and embarrassed. So what do you do sing when you are on tour, AJ?" "You really don't know who I am?" "No I don't. I obviously don't listen to your music. I'm sorry." "Well, we sing pop stuff. But you haven't seen me anywhere? Not on MTV or anything?" "I don't watch MTV. Its a crap station." AJ chuckled. "Well, I can't say that because that station brought us a lot of success. So its been good to me." "Who is us?' "I'm a part of the Backstreet Boys." "HA!" She covered her mouth, shocked that she let it slip out. "I'm sorry. It just slipped. I..." "Its okay. You don't have to apoligize. Its your opinion. I should be getting back in the room now." He set his drink down on the end of the table and held out his hand. She stood up and looked shocked. "I didn't mean to offend you." "Hey, you didn't. Don't worry about it, babe. It was nice talking to you." He took her hand and kissed it. "Maybe I will see you again soon." Brittnee just stood there shocked and sad that he had left just like that. Chapter 3 Featured Stories Main Page |