"Kayla!! Slow down!" Chel watched her friend, about three stores ahead of her. She's gone mad, she thought. It was a Saturday afternoon and somehow, Kayla had managed to talk Chel into a long afternoon of shopping. Chel was beginning to regret agreeing to coming. She hated shopping and knew her friend got downright scary in a mall. Kayla had gone into a store and Chel was just walking in.
"CHEL!! Look at this!!" Kayla shouted across the store to her friend. She had found the most adorable dress. It was short, landing well above her knees, and was a dark red color. It had a low neckline and spaghetti straps. Holding it up now, she realized it wasnt a dark red, more of a burgandy color, and it had a black lace over wrap. She had already tried it on and it fit her perfectly. She imagined herself next to AJ while wearing the dress. Dammit, no AJ thoughts today, she thought to herself.
Chel had come up behind her, bringing her away from her thoughts for the time being. "Ive got to have it, Chel!" Chel looked down at the dress, then back up at Kayla. It was a beautiful dress, no doubt her friend looked great in it, but it looked very expensive. "How much is it?" She asked, knowing that to her friend, price never really mattered. She was a shop-a-holic. "Um, wow, its almost $200." Kayla smiled at Chel, "But im still gonna buy it. You just never know when it will come in handy." Again, Kaylas thoughts went to AJ. In the few days since the barbecue, Kayla hadnt really seen AJ. It wasnt that she was avoiding him, she wanted time to get used to her feelings towards him. They had only one practice since then and aside from small talk, hadnt really talked. She found herself getting lost in her dancing. As soon as the practice was over, she left. She talked to him that night on the phone, but again, it was small talk. She knew AJ wanted more, but he didnt push. She also wasnt sure why she couldnt bring herself to admit her feelings, it was just hard for her. She pushed the AJ thoughts from her mind for the second time that day, and walked up to the counter, dress in hand.
After buying the dress, the girls decided it was time for lunch. They headed to the food court in the middle of the mall. On the way, they passed a record store and Kayla stopped Chel. "I'll be right back." Chel gave her a curious look and waited.
Kayla quickly ran into the store, secretly glad Chel hadnt followed her in. She thought to herself, If she knew what i was going to buy, i would never live it down. She headed over to the popular music section and found the "B" artists. She looked over her shoulder, almost embarrassed, then laughed to herself. "Why am i embarrassed? Its not like its bad music, just not my type." She looked down the list until she saw the band she was looking for. She grabbed the two cds and walked up to the counter. On the way to the counter, she spotted a video tape. Homecoming, it was called. Smiling to herself, she grabbed that too.
At the counter the salesgirl, who was around 17, gave Kayla a knowing smile. "I love BSB too. Brian is just so..." Kayla cut her off, shaking her head. "I dont love them. I just found out who they were and..." She gave up when she realized the girl was still going on and on about Brian. Kayla laughed. If she only knew, she thought. All she said was, "Can i have my change please?" The girl gave Kayla a pissed look, as if mad that she interrupted her. She gave her her change and her bag and went back to talking about Brian. Wow, Kayla thought as she walked out of the store, obsessed much?
Kayla gave Chel a huge smile as she walked out of the store. "What did you just do?" She asked her, laughing. Kayla echoed her laughter and began walking. "Lets go eat!" She said over her shoulder. Chel rolled her eyes and hurried after her friend. "Kay! Wait up! What did you buy? KAYLA!!" She had to run to catch up with her friend, who was making a mad dash for the McDonalds inside the mall.
Grabbing Kaylas shoulder, Chel asked her, "Alright, spill it. What did you buy in there? What ever it is, its making you act crazy.....well, crazier than usual." Kayla looked at Chel and stayed quiet. She could see that Chel was almost ready to murder her. She ordered her quarter pounder with cheese value meal, getting a vanilla shake instead of a soda. Popping a fry into her mouth, she said to Chel, "I will show you when we sit down." Chel watched her friend walk towards a table. She never understood how her friend could eat McDonalds day after day. Doesnt she ever get sick of it, she thought while ordering a slice of cheese pizza and a coke from the pizza place next door. She got to the table Kayla was already sitting at and sat down.
"For the last time, whats in the bag?" Kayla handed her the bag saying, "You just dont give up do you?" Chel shook her head. "Nope." She looked into the bag and broke into a fit of giggles. There, in her hardcore music loving friend's bag, were both the self titled Backstreet Boys cd and Millennium. Dumping the contents on the table, she also saw the Live in Orlando, Homecoming concert video tape. It was too much for Chel, who in between laughing, looked at her friend. Kayla was giving her an unamused look. "Dont you dare even say it!" Chel knew this was too good to pass up and that she had to tease her friend. " I cant believe you bought these! You have got it so bad." She stopped and Kayla noticed a surprised look appear on her face. Chel was staring at something behind Kayla. Kayla started to turn around, but felt two hands cover her eyes. "Guess who?"
Kayla felt an electric shock flow all the way down to her toes. She knew it was AJ, but decided to tease him. She pretended to think hard. "Um, well, i know, its Jim. Wait no, it cant be Jim, Steven!! yeah its Steven. No, its Mike. Yup, gotta be Mike." She laughed as she felt herself being turned around to face him. "Who's Mike? And Steven? And Jim?" For a second, she thought she saw hurt in his eyes, but it disappeared almost as soon as she saw it. Kayla asked him with a smile playing on her lips, "Why AJ, is that jealousy i hear?" She saw his eyes quickly shift down, then he stared right into hers. "No, not jealousy, just...." He paused, desperately wanting to change the subject.
He looked down again, towards the table. "Oh My God!!" He said, stealing one of her fries. "Somebody has converted to being a BSB fan. Must be my wit and charm, not to mention my good looks." He grinned devilishly. Kayla shook her head. "No way! It was the fact that all of you have kick-ass voices and can put together slamming tracks." She heard Nick laughing behind her,obviously thinking her joke was funny. She turned and gave him a thumbs up sign. He had taken the seat next to Chel and they had begun talking. She turned back to AJ, who was giving her puppy dog eyes. "It wont work, dont even try...." She was interrupted as three young girls approached the table.
"Excuse me!" One of the girl stated. They were all staring intently at AJ and Nick. The girls whispered to each other and finally, one of them asked, looking straight at Nick. "Are you Nick Carter?" Chel watched as Nick smiled and nodded. He said quietly, "Yeah. Whats your name?" The girls looked at each other, not believing that THE Nick Carter had asked one of their names. "OMIGOD!! YOURE AJ!!!" One of the girls exclaimed, a little too loudly. They all looked around to see if it had been noticed. In the noise of the mall, nobody had heard the statement. The guys had been trying to lay low. They were dressed down, both sporting baseball caps worn low on their heads. Nick had on a pair of navy blue Nike warm up pants and a white shirt. AJ was wearing a huge pair of jeans and a large black and grey sweater. He had on almost no jewelry.
Chel and Kayla watched them talk to the three girls for a few minutes, then give them all autographs. They gave them hugs and watched as the girls ran back to their parents, who had been making sure the girls werent too pushy. One of the mothers looked at them and mouthed, Thank You. They could hear the girls talking excitedly about what just happened. Kayla looked at AJ. "Do you guys ever get tired with stuff like that?" She asked. "Sometimes, you dont realize....Why are they so excited? Its just me. Its awesome and we all dreamed about this. It does get tedious sometimes, like when all i wanna do is be me, just AJ. Not a Backstreet Boy. But i love it." He finished his statement by stealing another fry. Kayla laughed and smacked his hand. "Hands off, I dont share!" He grabbed a few more and shoved them in his mouth. Chel watched the scene and had to comment." Oooohhh, AJ, i wouldnt do that. Its a sin to steal her fries. You may not live to see tomorrow." They all laughed at her joke.
Kayla finished her lunch and decided to check out a few more stores. Chel groaned and told her that she was gonna stay right where she was. Nick added, "Im staying here too." He looked at Chel and smiled. Kayla was glad to see the two of them had become so close. She stood up and watched as AJ stood up also. "HM, i think i need to do alittle shopping too." His eyes were on Kayla and she looked down, feeling her face turn red. He walked over to her as she started walking. "I need to talk to you." She looked at him, slightly confused. As they began walking, Aj grabbed her hand. "Is everything ok? I mean, between us?" The question caught Kayla offguard. She didnt even know there was an "us" between the two of them. She nodded her head, "Yeah Bone, everythings cool. Why wouldnt it be? We havent known each other long enough to have a fight yet." She smiled and he seemed to be happy with her answer.
As they continued walking, Kayla noticed that he had not let go of her hand. They stopped in a few stores, not really finding anything. "I cant believe im saying this", Kayla said to him, "But for once in my life, i'm all shopped out." AJ laughed, then was surprised as Kayla ran into Kay-bee toy store. "Ok, i am not shopped out until i hit the toy store." She added. Kayla watched as AJ walked behind her through the aisles. She loved toy stores, they were so fun. She laughed at AJ, who trying on various pairs of huge sunglasses. He left on a pair of very ugly rhinestone studded plastic bright red sunglasses and walked over to her. "Whattya think? Are they me?"
Unable to control herself, she took off the sunglasses, then gave him a small kiss. Before he could say anything, she ran up to the counter and bought the sunglasses. As she walked out of the store, she saw AJ was no longer right next to her. She was confused, not only by his absence but by what she had just done. She thought to herself, why did i just kiss him? Am i insane? Looking at the front of the store, she saw him come walking out, a bag in his hand and a huge smile on his face. "This...is for you." He said handing her the bag.
Kayla looked at him, the surprise registering on her face. "and this, is for you..." She muttered as she handed him the bag with the sunglasses in it. She opened the bag that he had given her, still shocked he had bought her something and looked inside. She pulled out a small, bright yellow stuffed animal dog. It was so funny looking that it was adorable. Kayla loved stuffed animals, and loved the color yellow. She turned it over, then noticed that it wore a tag. She read the tag, then looked back at AJ. Confusing thoughts filled her head, again. "AJ, I dont know what to say." The tag read, simply "I wuff you". He grabbed her hand again and pulled her in closer. "You dont have to say anything. That doesnt have to mean anything yet. I just wanted you to know that i do have feelings for you. And, well, the puppy was calling to me. I couldnt resist." He grinned at her, brought his lips down and returned her kiss. She felt herself melting, the kiss was so soft. When he was done, she looked at him. They both knew there was no turning back now.
They continued walking back to where they had left Chel and Nick. Kayla was bursting inside, she had to tell Chel. ~We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?~ Kayla was jarred from her thoughts and stopped quickly. She looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from. AJ stopped also, shook his head and laughed. "Kayla, what may i ask, are you looking for?" "Thats my song, theyre playing it!!" AJ listened and realized it was a really old song, Bob Seger, if he remembered correctly. He looked at her. "You like this song?" He was surprised that she would.
The song ended and her face fell. She nodded, "Yeah, it's my favorite song. I cant find it anywhere though, believe me i have looked. And whenever i hear it, i turn into a maniac." She laughed, "Ask Chel, shes seen me at my worst." He gave her a huge smile. "You? At your worst? Looking forward to it." Kayla playfully smacked him, secretly glad the kiss hadnt changed anything. "Your a pain, AJ."
They continued walking, AJ again taking Kaylas hand. They approached the food court and saw Nick and Chel in the exact same spot as when they left. They were deep in conversation and hadnt noticed them approach. AJ mouthed to Kayla to stay behind him and stay quiet. She did as he said, not knowing what he was gonna do. They walked over to the pizza place and AJ asked for a cup of ice. "AJ, you are evil!" Kayla whispered to him. Her only answer was the shout of, "You are so dead Bone! Come on Chel, lets get them." Kayla had been laughing at AJ, who had put a few ice cubes down Nicks back. When she heard what Nick said, Kayla protested. "Wait, Im innocent. What do you mean, get them?"
She watched the scene unfold. Nick had gotten ahold of AJ and was holding him, while Chel put ice down his back. Nick was smiling and she heard him say, "AH!! Payback!!" Poor AJ, she thought as she noticed he looked over at her, pleading. Instinctively, she grabbed her soda cup and started towards them. She reached Nick first. He was still trying to hold a squirming AJ. She grabbed a small handful of ice and said, "Let him go, or else!!" Nick let AJ go, but what Kayla didnt realize was that this gave Nick two free hands. She watched as AJ ran after Chel throwing ice cubes at her. As she watched, she felt Nick grab her. "Oh shit. No Nick!! Please!!" He was grinning evilly and she saw that he was holding a cup filled with ice above her head. "AJ!! HELP!!!" It was too late and she felt the ice slide down her back.
By this time, Chel had noticed, the four of them were in hysterics. God, people must think we are crazy, she thought, Four adults acting like children in the middle of a crowded mall on a saturday afternoon. Chel didnt care, they were having fun. She was already happy from the question that Nick had asked her while Kayla and AJ were gone. He asked her if she would want to go on the tour with him. It took her by surprise, but she had agreed. She couldnt wait to tell Kayla.
Twenty minutes later, Chel and Kayla were on their way home. They had agreed to meet the guys that night at a club that had just opened. Kayla had told Chel that her and AJ had kissed and Chel told Kayla that she was going on the tour. Kayla smiled then said, "See, the mall can be fun!! That is so awesome! We are going to have such a great time!!" Kayla didnt tell her but she was glad for a different reason. Although her and AJ had kissed, Kayla was still confused. There was something holding her back from expressing her true feelings for him. She knew she had liked him alot, but she didnt want to rush into anything. She had been nervous about seeing him every day, but with Chel there, she knew it would be fine. Concentrating on the night of partying ahead of them, Kayla parked the car and they walked into their apartment to get ready.
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