AD7

Chapter 7: New Beginnings

Once on the bus we all picked out bunks and which drawers we wanted to put our things in. Afterwards, everyone went to the entertainment room, but I hung back.

As I put my new things in my drawer I thought about Drew. Why did he have to call me now? It�s been two weeks since I�ve talked to him. I thought I was over him. I thought I was over that situation. All these thoughts and questions flooded my head. I couldn�t handle it and I started sobbing. I stopped quickly though when I heard someone come in behind me.

�I didn�t know one person could own so many clothes from Abercrombie and Fitch,� Nick said, gazing at all the empty bags.

�I�m spoiled, what can I say,� I replied, drying my eyes.

�A regular princess, huh?�

�Something like that,� I said turning around to face him.

Nick looked into my eyes which were puffy and bloodshot from crying most of the day. Concern filled Nicks face. He reached down and took my hand.

�So Princess, mind telling me what�s wrong?� he asked.

I looked up at him. His big, blue eyes were full of worry. For some reason I felt very close to him, like I had known him my whole life. But the tension from what happened earlier broke free and I started to cry again.

�Shh, don�t cry,� Nick said, cradling me in his arms. �Just tell me what�s wrong.�

I couldn�t keep things bottled up anymore. I had to tell someone how I was feeling so I explained to Nick the whole episode with Drew. AS I went on Nick sat and listened attentively. By the time I finished, my mascara had run down to my cheeks and my face and hair were soaked with tears.

�And after hearing all that you probably think I�m crazy,� I said looking up at him.

�No, I think you�re just someone who fell in love, maybe with the wrong person,� Nick answered.

�But that�s the thing. I don�t think he is the wrong person,� I said pensively. �Maybe it was just the wrong time.�

�Well Princess, I hope you figure things out,� he said as he looked at his watch. �Look, it�s getting late, you should get some sleep. We have a long trip ahead of us.�

�Yeah, good idea,� I said while Nick started out. �Hey, Nick,� I called after him.

�Yeah?�

�Thanks for listening.�

�No problem, Princess. I�m here anytime you need me.�

�I appreciate that. By the way, you can call me Eve.�

�I know, but I like Princess.�

�So do I,� I smiled at him then went to the entertainment room to get the girls and go to bed.

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

The next morning I woke up and momentarily forgot were I was. I looked around and remembered I was now on the Backstreet Boys tour.

I can�t believe I agreed to this, I thought as I got out of my bunk. I walked down to the entertainment room where I found Kevin, AJ and Nick.

Kevin looked up from his paper and smiled.

�Well good morning Eve. Glad you could join us,� he said.

�Mornings are not my friend,� I mumbled, curling up on the couch between him and AJ.

�So we see,� AJ said, looking at me in my disheveled state.

�Feeling any better, Princess?� Nick questioned, not even looking up from his Nintendo.

�A little,� I said.

He looked up from his game and smiled at me.

�Where are the girls?� I asked.

�They�re up front making breakfast with Brian and Howie,� Kevin answered.

�You let them cook! You guys are brave, brave men,� I exclaimed.

�They can�t be worse then Brian and Howie,� AJ said.

�Let�s put it this way, they once tried to make cheesecake, but forgot to put the eggs in.�

�I bet that tasted good,� Nick commented.

�Oh, you have absolutely no idea,� I said.

�Hey everyone, breakfast is ready,� Kayla called as she carried a tray of pancakes into the entertainment room. Juliet, Kassandra, Brian and Howie followed her, carrying plates, silverware, condiments and juice.

AJ, Kevin, Nick and I all looked at the pancakes, then the girls, then each other.

�Um, I think I�ll pass,� AJ said.

�Yeah, me too,� said Nick.

�I�ll just stick to coffee,� Kevin said, looking apprehensively at the pancakes.
I looked at Kayla who looked confused as to why the boys didn�t want any of the pancakes.

�Are you sure? They�re really good,� Kassandra coaxed.

�Come on guys, have a few,� Brian said.

�Yeah, the girls spent all this time making breakfast, you could at least try it,� Howie commented.

�Did you remember to put the eggs in?� Nick asked.

With that comment Kevin, AJ and I started laughing so hard that I fell over onto Kevin.

�Eve, what did you tell them?� Kayla asked angrily.

�Nothing,� I laughed.

�You must have said something Eve. What was it?� Juliet started.

The three girls stood there, hands on hips, looking really pissed.

�I just said that one time when you guys were cooking you forgot to put the eggs in,� I said.

�Eve!� the girls exclaimed.

�I�m sorry,� I said, still laughing.

�You�re gonna be,� Kayla cried as she picked up a pancake and threw it at me.
I ducked down behind Kevins paper and the pancake hit him square in the face.

Everyone burst out laughing. Kevin looked down at me laughing in his lap.

�I think this was meant for you,� he said as he smeared the pancake in my face.

�Hey!� I cried.

�That�s a good look for you Princess,� Nick laughed.

�Really? Ya think?� I said.

�Oh definitely.�

�Why don�t you try it?� I said and threw a pancake at him.

Nick looked stunned as he rubbed pancake off his face.

�Suits you much better, Nicky poo,� I said.

�Come on guys. The pancakes were made for eating, not throwing,� Brian chastised.

�But this is so much more fun� AJ said, picking up a pancake and grounding it in my hair.

�Hey!� I screamed.

�I see what you mean,� Brian said and threw a pancake at me.

�What is this, �pick on Eve� day?� I cried.

�Why not?� Kevin said as he pinned me to the couch so AJ could rub pancakes in my face.

�That�s what you get for making fun of our cooking,� Kassandra yelled over my screams.

�Okay, okay, I�m sorry!� I cried.

�Kevin, AJ, you guys can get ff her now,� Howie said.

AJ smeared one last pancake in my face then he and Kevin got off of me. I sat up and ran my hand through my hair. I could feel the pancake bits matted in to it.

This is so gross, I thought.

"I�m going to take a shower,� I said, getting off the couch.

�Need any help?� AJ and Kevin asked in unison. They turned and gave each other looks to say �she�s mine, don�t even think it�.

�It�s just a shower guys. I think I can manage,� I said and walked out of the room.

�Well, I think some people have a crush on Eve,� Howie said, referring to Kevin and AJ.

The two guys just sat there and stared at each other pensively.

�So you like Eve?� AJ directed to Kevin.

�Yeah, I do,� he said. �You like her?�

�Yeah, I do,� AJ replied coolly.

�This should be interesting,� Juliet commented.

�Well, let the competition begin,� AJ said.

�And may the best man win,� Kevin said and smiled to himself.