AD12

Chapter 12: Reunited

�So where are we headed tomorrow?� I asked.

It was later that night and everyone was in the entertainment room watching tv.

�The L.A. Amphitheatre,� AJ answered.

�L.A.?� I questioned as I gave Kayla a worried glance. She had the same trepidation in her eyes that I had.

�Hey, isn�t that where--� Kass started, but quickly cut off before Juliet slapped her arm. �What was that for?�

�Oh, uh, there was a bug,� Juliet covered.

The guys looked at the girls suspiciously, but quickly passed it off.

�Wait! Stop, this is my favorite show,� I exclaimed.

�What is it?� Nick asked as he stopped on the WB.

�Buffy the Vampire Slayer!� Kayla and I said in unison.

�That was kinda scary,� Howie said, looking from me to Kayla.

�Yeah, actually, it kind of was,� I said, looking at my sister.

�Now hush. I want to watch the show,� Kayla said.

She and I sat, staring intently at the tv.

�Do they always get like this?� Brian asked as he glanced worriedly at Kayla and I.

�This is nothing,� Juliet said.

�Yeah, you should see them when it�s a new episode,� Kass remarked.

�Hey, I could tell them about all of your �videos� and how you get when you watch them,� I said, referring to her hours and hours of BSB clips.

Kass just gave me a look like �you wouldn�t dare�. I just smiled mischievously at her and continued to watch my show. A few seconds later there was a click and the tv shut off.

�Hey!� Kayla and I exclaimed.

�What was that for?� I asked, glaring at Nick.

�That has to be the stupidest show I�ve ever seen!�

�What?! How dare you mock Buffy!� I said, standing up.

�Admit it, it�s dumb,� Nick argued.

�Dumb huh? I�ll show you dumb,� I said as I jumped and kicked the remote out of Nick�s hand, sending it flying. Before he had a chance to respond the remote fell back down and I caught it without looking.

Everyone sat there shocked. Kayla and I had smug looks on our faces.

�Where did you learn to do that Princess?� Nick asked, wide eyed.

�If you paid attention to the show you�d know,� I replied, tossing him the remote.

�That was impressive. As an apology, I�ll cook dinner,� Nick said, heading for the kitchen.

�You call that an apology!? It sounds more like torture to me,� I said.

�Hey! Nick�s a good cook,� Kayla said.

�You�re just defending your boyfriend,� Kass remarked.

�So?� Kayla said, wrapping her arms around Nick�s waist.

�I just wanted to make sure you realized that,� Kass replied.

�So what are you gonna cook Nick?� Howie asked as Nick rummaged through the fridge.

�I don�t know. We need to go shopping.�

After a few minutes of searching the cupboards, he pulled out a blue box.

�Find something?� Kevin asked.

�Frick�s favorite. Mac and cheese,� Nick said holding up a box.

�Score!� Brian exclaimed.

�Wait a minute Nick, that box says Easy Mac,� I pointed out.

�I know. We�re out of milk.�

�That�s nice,� Kevin said.

�Gotta love it,� I replied.

�We�ll go get food tomorrow. Right now let�s pop these bad boys in the microwave and eat,� Nick said as he put five pouches of macaroni into a bowl and tossed it in the microwave.

�Is that safe?� Kass asked.

�Sure. I do it all the time,� Nick said.

We all looked at each other skeptically as Nick started the microwave.

A few minutes later a beeping signaled to us the food was done.

�See, I told you it would be fine,� Nick said as he opened the microwave. He pulled out the bowl, realizing too late how hot it would be. �Ow!� he cried as the bowl crashed to the floor.

�Honey, are you okay?� Kayla cried, running over to him.

�That was smooth Nicky,� I said.

Everyone sat there trying not to laugh, but it was too hard not to. I looked around at the laughing people and realized something.

�Where�s AJ?� I asked.

�I think he�s still in the entertainment room,� Nick replied with a smile. �Why don�t you go get him.�

�Alright. I will,� I said, smirking back at Nick and walked off.

I walked down the hall to the entertainment room and knocked on the door. There was no response so I knocked again.

What is he doing? I wondered when my knock was greeted by silence.

�AJ, are you in here?� I asked as I opened the door. I walked in the room and my eyes widened. �Oh my god!�

*******************

�So what are we gonna do now?� Juliet asked, looking at the pile of macaroni on the floor.

�I don�t know,� Nick replied as he started to pick up the mess.

�I�d cook, but there�s not much to work with,� Howie offered.

�Here, we�ll have this,� Kevin said, pulling a box out of the freezer.

�What is it?� Kassandra asked.

�Frozen pizza,� Kevin replied.

�Kevin the problem solver,� Kayla said. �Way to be.�

Kevin just smiled and handed the box to Brian.

�Then it�s settled. Pizza it is,� Brian said as he threw the pizza in the oven.

********************

I looked around the room and couldn�t believe my eyes. The room was lit only by candles and the scent of incense filled the air. Soft music could be heard in the background. AJ was standing there holding a single pink rose.

�I know pink�s your favorite color so...� his voice trailed off as he handed me the flower.

I took the rose and looked around in amazement. I glance up at him, tears filling my eyes.

�Honey, what�s wrong?� he asked, wiping away a stray tear.

�This is so beautiful. I can�t believe you did all this just for me.�

�I can�t believe it either,� he said. �I�ve never done anything like this before. I guess it�s because I�ve never been in a serious relationship before. I�m kind of new at this.�

�You mean you never did anything like this for Ally?� I asked skeptically.

AJ grimaced at the sound of her name.

�Ally and I weren�t serious. We didn�t love each other. She just liked having a famous boyfriend and she looked good on my arm at ward shows and what not.�

I just nodded, wishing I hadn�t brought it up.

�One things for sure,� he said as he tilted my head up, �I love you and this is serious. More serious then I�ve ever been in my life.�

With that he leaned down and kissed me, slowly entangling his tongue with mine. I broke away from his kiss and smiled up at him.

�You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that,� I said. �Now, out of curiosity, why did you do all this for me?�

�Well I figured you had a rough day yesterday and you needed a night to relax,� he said as he led me over to the couch.

I sat down with him behind me. Slowly he started to massage my back and neck with his strong hands.

�AJ, that feels so good,� I moaned.

�You like that?� he questioned, moving his hands lower down my back.

�Yes, I do.�

�How about this?� he asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck.

�That�s nice too,� I said, sinking into him.

�And what about this?� he asked as he laid me down on the couch, lowering himself to kiss my lips.

I could get way too used to this, I thought as he started sucking on my lower lip.

His hands roamed over my body, finally finding the buttons to my shirt. He had half of them undone when a knock sounded at the door and someone stuck their head in.

�Pizza�s ready if you guys want some,� Nick said. �Oh, did I interrupt something?� he asked, taking in AJ and I in our disheveled state.

�No, Nick, not at all,� AJ grumbled, getting off of me.

I sat up and buttoned my shirt.

�We�ll be right there Nick,� I said once I had fixed my shirt.

�Sorry,� he apologized then shut the door.

�That kid has the best timing, I swear,� AJ complained as he ran his fingers through his hair.

�You know,� I said, a smile forming on my lips, �We get to the hotel in a few hours. Once we�re there you have the whole night off. Deadbolt the door, unplug the phone, no distractions.�

�Girl, I like the way you think,� he said, throwing me back on the couch and kissing me one last time.

******The Next Morning******

�So what do you want to do today?� I asked AJ as we walked down the street hand in hand.

Everyone had decided to do their own thing for the day. Nick and Kayla were at the hotel by the pool, Kevin, Brian and Howie went to buy some much need groceries and Juliet and Kassandra went shopping.

�Well I had an idea if you�re up for the challenge,� he said with a mysterious grin.

�Bring it on, baby.�

�Alright,� he said. �Close your eyes.�

I did as I was told and a few minutes later I could feel him walk me into a building.

�Okay, you can open.�

I opened my eyes and looked at my surroundings. After taking it all in I looked back at AJ.

�AJ, this is crazy.�

�So you won�t do it?�

�Oh, I�ll do it, but it�s still crazy.�

�You are amazing,� he said as he dragged me to the front desk.

*******************

�There are so many cool stores around here,� Kassandra commented.

�Yeah. Why don�t we have places like this back home?� Juliet asked.

�Because Rochester sucks,� Kass answered.

�Oh yeah.�

The girls were looking in a store window when a tall, auburn hair girl came up behind them.

�Juliet? Kassandra? Is that really you?� she asked.

Juliet and Kassandra turned around, surprised to hear their names. They both looked at the girl and immediately recognized her.

�Anya!�