7.
~*~ Three Weeks Later ~*~

    AJ loved to look at Brittany. Every minute he was with her, he discovered something more that he would miss when he left. Like her barely-there freckles and the little flecks of green in her eyes. The way she always smelled like strawberries. The way her skin was so soft. In early November the Backstreet Boys were scheduled to fly out to Stockholm to do some writing and recording at Polar Studios. It was three weeks into the month of October and, with knowledge of this, AJ and Brittany tried to spend as much time as they could together before he would have to leave.
    "You played really good tonight at your game," AJ said as he joined Brittany in front of the unlit fireplace, laying down in the floor. She climbed on top of him, straddling his hips.
    "Thanks. I'm pretty sore though," she reached for his hand. 
    "Aww, really, where?" he moved and positioned himself under her, supporting his
weight on his forearms.
    "My legs..." Brittany guided the hand she held down the side of her leg, wondering what sort of rise she could get out of him. And it wasn't long before Brittany could detect the lust clouding AJ's eyes. She leaned down as far as she could and touched his soft lips with hers. AJ cupped her face in his hands and deepened their kiss. They reached this amazingly intimate depth they had never shared before.
    "I'm really gonna miss you when you leave," Brittany said breathlessly and touched her nose to his. AJ kissed her again.
    "I'll be back," he assured her.
    "Good," was Brittany's hushed reply. After a short pause she added, "But before you go there's this... gift I wanted to give to you."
    His eyebrows raised slightly. "Really?"
    "Yeah... it's something I had been holding onto for a long time. I want you to have it."
    AJ smiled, completely clueless as to what she meant. "Whatever it is I'll cherish it for the rest of my life."
    Brittany slowly unbuttoned her rust-orange shirt and slid it off, throwing it to the floor. "I want us to make love."
    "What?"
    "AJ, I want you to be my first."
    As sweet as those words sounded coming from her lips, AJ had to decline her offer. For the first time in his entire life, the sight of a beautiful girl undressing in front of him did not excite him. This time, it worried him. She was fifteen and they had been together for barely a month and she was already completely prepared to give it to him? No way in hell. Her virginity was one 'gift' AJ knew she was not ready to part with. She was fifteen, naive, and felt compelled to give it to him. Like she owed him something. AJ could not make love to her if her heart was not in it. So until the right moment came.... they could not have sex. It was probably the first time he had ever turned down a willing girl... in his life. "Brittany... sweetheart, put your shirt back on." He sat up straight reaching for her shirt. He slipped it back on her, one arm at a time.
    Brittany's eyes widened, "Excuse me?" She was appalled.... and mortified! She could not believe AJ was turning her down.
    "I can't do this with you," his eyes were apologetic.
    "Why not?" her brow crinkled.
    "Because, you aren't ready.... Look at you, you're scared to death."
    Brittany glanced down at her trembling hands then back up at AJ. She got to her feet, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. She went up the stairs and sat alone in the lonely dark of the guest bedroom. She lay down on the bed and was surprised to feel something creeping down her cheek. Not bothering to brush it from her face Brittany soon tasted her own bittersweet tears.

       
    AJ felt bad. Even though he knew what he'd done was right, he felt so bad inside. She'd looked so hurt. And now he would be leaving and she would be upset with him. He could not let the night end on such a sour note. He had to go upstairs and talk to her. But what the hell did you say to someone you had just rejected in the worse way? AJ knew it would all come to him once he laid eyes on her again.
    "Britt..." he whispered softly, once he had gone up the steps, "are you asleep?" He pressed the door to the guest room open. No answer. AJ flipped on the lights and saw Brittany quickly wipe her eyes. "Brittany, please talk to me..."
    "Fuck you... how the fuck's that?"
    AJ's eyes widened. He'd never heard her swear before. Nor had he ever seen her mad.
    "You know what, I think I should go. I'll call Asia and tell her to come get me."
Brittany got up off the bed and tried to leave the room but AJ caught her by the waist and pulled her to him.
    "Brittany, I love you."
    Brittany felt a very bad case of Butterflyz attack her belly and she was
light-headed, giddy. "You do?"
    He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I love you so much... and that's why I think we should wait to do this. 'Cause I care for you.. and I care for you enough to say that I want our first time together to be beautiful." 

   Brittany swallowed hard. What could she reply to that? All she could think of was how good it had felt so heard him say it and just rested her head against his chest and pulled him closer. "I love you too."

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