| "AJ!! Come on! Get out of bed," Dillan yelled to him as she walked into the hotel bathroom. She gathered all her hair products and stuffed them into her bag. "On the road again," she sung to herself. She walked out of the bathroom and dropped her bag by her other 3 packed suitcases. She stomped her foot, "God damn it, Bone! Get the fuck out of that bed! I do NOT want to be left behind again! Now get up!" He turned away from her, "The press can wait for us. Just 5 more minutes." He pulled the pillow over his head and it made Dillan even more furious. She made a loud growl and headed out of the room slaming the door behind her. She pounded on Kevin's hotel room door, and Brian answered. Dillan looked sad, almost like she was going to cry. "He won't get up," she whined. Brian pulled her in the room and gave her a hug. "He'll get up, Dill. Don't worry. Nick's plan never fails." He grinned to Nick, "Let's go bro." They both filed out of the room and Kevin patted the bed for her to sit next to him. "I wish that he'd take better care of himself," she said as she put her head on his shoulder. "Well, why don't you help him?" He put his arm around her to comfort her. "I've tried. It's just so hard! He won't let me. And what can I do? I just sit back and watch him tear his body up. All I've ever done was love him, okay, maybe because he was a Backstreet Boy. But Kev, I swear to you I liked him before I knew he was in BSB, you've heard the story right?" "Dillan, you're rambling. I know you love him for who he is. I think its best that we just be there for him, and pray for the day that he comes to us for help." The two both jumped as they heard a thump from the room next door, Dillan and AJ's. Howie and two security guards were knocking on AJ's door as Dillan and Kevin peeked out of the door. "D, what's happening," Kevin said walking to him. "We don't know. But we're gonna find out," Howie demanded. He pounded once more on the door. A breathless Nick opened the door slowing. The group plowed past him and found the mattress to the bed halfway off the box spring and AJ on the floor holding his head. Dillan ran to his side and put his head on her lap. "What happened?" Nick caught his breath, "Our old plan didn't work." "So we had to devise a new plan," Brian said taking one last deep breath. "He hit his head on the floor, I think." "AJ, baby, can you hear me? Open you eyes, J." Dillan became worried. "AJ, please, come on! Talk to me!" He slowly opened his eyes. "5 more minutes and I would have woken up." He sat up and glared at Dillan. "I'm okay. I can take care of myself, Dillan." "AJ, maybe we should take you to the doctor. Have him check you out," Howie said helping him up. "Yea, you took a hard fall, man," Brian added. "No," AJ snapped at his worried brothers. "Just get out of our room and let us be." With that the guys left the room. AJ walked to the bathroom and began to brush his teeth. Noticing no movement in the room, he looked through the doorway and saw Dillan still on the ground with her knees pressed to her chest. He spit and wiped his mouth. "Dill," AJ said sitting in front of her. "Dillan." She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I want you to quit." "Quit what?" "I want you to quit drinking!" AJ lost his eye contact. "I'm serious, J." She took his face in her hands forcing eye contact. "You need help, baby." "Dill..." "No let me finish." She relesed his face. "Before I was your girlfriend, I had heard rumors that you'd drink too much but I never thought you'd be like this. I thought you said you're happy when you are performing?" "I am." "Then why the alcohol?" AJ didn't answer. He got up from the floor and walked out onto the balcony. Dillan stood in the doorway. "Do you want help?" "I don't have a problem," AJ said with his raspy voice. Dillan's head fell in disappointment. She turn and walked out the front door. AJ looked at the people walking on the street 6 stories down. "I wonder if any of their families think they have problems," AJ said to himself. The door opened and Dillan returned with a bell-boy and a body guard. "Hold the elevator for me boys," she said as she walked slowly back to AJ. She half smiled and tried to hold back her tears. "I think its time for me to go back home." AJ's eyes widened. "There's only a few more concerts left so just please be safe, for me." "Dillan, please don't go," he begged. She motioned for him not to come any closer. She shut the door to the balcony and stared at him through the glass. She kissed her fingers and pressed them to the glass. ~*~*~*~ AJ's limo dropped him off at his house at the quarter to 1 in the morning two weeks later. He had not talked to Dillan since she left. The tour was finally over and he was happy to be home. He put his key in the lock but it was unlocked. "Mom, you know that you're supposed to lock it after you leave," AJ said to himself as he put his luggage near the staircase. He opened the back door for his dogs to come inside but they didn't come. He walked up the stairs and passed the bathroom. He noticed that it smelled like Dillan's shampoo. He thought for a second, and peeked in the guest room. "Dillan?" Heartbroken, AJ fumbles into his room, tripping over one of his dogs. "There you are," he whispers as pets her back to sleep. He reaches for his lighter in his pocket and lit his candles sitting on his dresser. He kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed. He found the most beautiful thing sleeping in his bed. He creeped up behind her and pulled her close to him. He kissed her as she nuzzled under his chin. "I love you, AJ," she said as she kissed him back. "I love you too, Dillan." Chapter 10 Featured Stories Main Page |
| CHAPTER 9 |