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Chapter 9: Winners Circle

�Hey Brian,� Kevin said as he walked into the kitchen area.

�Hey,� Brian said as he stared out the window.

Kevin sat down at the table, across from his cousin.

�Yeah so, AJ and I want and talked to Eve.�

�Uh-huh,� Brian said, still staring out the window.

�She chose AJ.�

�That�s nice.�

�And then the back of the bus faded into a land of pixies and unicorns and they skipped off singing zippity-do-da.�

�How lovel--wait, what was that?� Brian asked, looking away from the window.

�I thought that would get your attention. What�s up?�

�I was just thinking.�

�About?�

�Juliet.�

Kevin rolled his eyes. �Let me guess. You like her?�

�Yeah.�

�Then ask her out.�

�I want to, but I just broke up with Leighanne and I don�t know if I should get involved with someone so soon.�

�Brian, do you like the girl?�

�I just told you yes.�

�Then just ask her out. You have nothing to lose,� Kevin advised.

�You know what? I think I will. I mean, Howie�s taking Kass out after the show tonight and I think he plans on asking her out. I�m gonna do it. thanks Kev,� Brain said as he got up and left the room.

Great, thought Kevin, I can help my friends get the girls they want, but I can�t get the girl I want. How ironic.

******Meanwhile******

Juliet and Kassandra sat in the living area wondering what just happened.

�I wonder what Nick had to say that was so urgent,� Kassandra commented.

�I don�t know, but it must be important,� Juliet said. �Anyway. So are you excited about your date with Howie tonight?�

�Yeah, but I�m also really nervous. I really like him and I�m afraid I�ll do something stupid to make him not like me.�

�Whatever, Kass. The boy is head-over-heals for you. I mean he�s always holding your hand, cuddling with you when we watch t.v., he wants you.�

�Let�s just hope I don�t mess things up.�

�You won�t,� Juliet reassured her friend.

Just then, Brian walked into the room.

�Hey girls,� he said.

�Hey Brian, what�s up?� Juliet asked.

�Um, can I talk to you for a sec?� he asked nervously.

Kass took that as her cue to leave.

�I�ll go to the kitchen and get something to drink now,� she said, giving Juliet a look before she left the room.

�So what�s up?� Juliet asked.

�Well I�ve been thinking and I was wondering if you.....if you.....if you were going to be at the show tonight?�

�I�ll be there. Why?�

�Because.....because, uh, we, um, got new costumes and I wanted you to see them. I gotta go. Bye,� Brian stuttered and left the room.

New costumes? That was so lame, Brian chastised himself. He walked into the kitchen just as Kassandra was walking out. Kevin looked up at him as he walked into the room.

�So what did she say?� Kevin asked.

�Well, she, um, she didn�t know--�

�You didn�t ask her, did you?� Kevin cut him off.

�No. I chickened out.�

�Brian!� Kevin reprimanded.

�I know, I know! I�ll ask her, eventually.�

�Well you better do it before it�s too late,� Kevin advised, thinking of his own experience.

******That Night******

�So, who�s the lucky group that gets to open for the Backstreet Boys tonight?� I asked. Practically every show the Boys had a new opening act.

�Westlife?� AJ said, more of a question then and answer.

�No, they�re next week,� Kevin said. �I know they�re a new group of male performers.�

�Boy band,� Kassandra said.

Kevin shot her an evil look. He absolutely hated the term �boy band�.

�It�s No...No...No something,� Nick said.

�No Authority?� I questioned.

�That�s it! How�d you know?� he asked.

�They�re good friends of mine,� I exclaimed.

�Really? How did you meet them?� Brian asked.

�A friend of mine met them at a fair or something and became good friends with them so I made her introduce me. Danny and I actually went out a few times,� I explained.

�Oh really?� AJ questioned, raising an eyebrow.

�Yes really,� I said, pushing him.

�You should go say hi, Eve,� Kayla suggested.

�Good idea. I think I will. I�ll be right back,� I said as I got up and left the boys dressing room.

�I think I�ll go with her,� AJ said, running after me.

When he caught up with me he asked, �So how serious were you and this Danny guy?�

�Why if I didn�t know better I�d say you were jealous AJ McLean.�

�I�m not jealous. I�m just.....curious.�

�Well we weren�t serious. We just went on a few dates.�

I looked over at AJ and he looked relieved. When we reached the No Authority dressing room I knocked on the door. After doing so, AJ reached down and held my hand. I looked over at him and smiled. A few seconds later the dressing room door opened.

Eric stood there for a second, then yelled back into the room, �Hey guys, I didn�t know you ordered a stripper.�

�Oh, Eric, you are funny. You should�ve been a comedian,� I said sarcastically.

�I�m just kidding, Eve. Wow, it is so good to see you. What are you doing here?�

�I�m with him,� I said, pointing to AJ.

�You�re AJ right? I�m Eric. Nice to meet you.�

�Nice to meet you too,� AJ replied, shaking his hand.

�Well come in. I know someone who will be glad to see you Eve,� Eric said as he led us into the room. �Hey guys, look who�s here.�

�Oh my god, Eve, what�s up?� Tommy asked.

�Not to much. How are you guys?�

�Not to bad, Eve,� Ricky said, coming over to give me a hug.

�Hi Danny,� I said, looking over at him.

�Hey Eve. It�s nice to see you. You�re looking good,� he replied, looking me over.

�Thanks. So are you.�

�Uh-hem,� AJ cleared his throat.

�Oh, guys, this is AJ. AJ this is Tommy, Ricky, Danny and you met Eric.�

Everyone exchanged hellos and shook hands.

�So Eve, what are you doing here?� Ricky asked.

�She�s with me,� AJ said, putting his arm around my shoulder.

I glanced up at him, then over at Danny. He adverted his eyes, though, when I looked at him.

�Are you touring with them?� Ricky asked.

�You could say that. Kayla, Juliet, Kassandra and I are being �groupies�.�

�You guys are more then groupies,� AJ said, looking at me.

�I know,� I said, giving him a look. For some reason I didn�t want Danny to know I was AJ�s girlfriend, although I�m sure it was obvious with the way AJ was acting.

�Are you gonna be at the show?� Danny asked.

�Yup. Front row as always.�

�Speaking of the show, we should get going,� AJ said, looking at his watch.

�Okay, you go on and I�ll catch up in a sec. I want to say good bye.�

�Alright,� AJ said, skeptically. �Good luck guys.�

�Thanks,� the guys said in unison.

AJ walked out the door, but he didn�t go far. He knew it was wrong, but he wanted to hear what Eve had to say to them.

�It was so good to see you all. I�ve really missed you,� I said, giving them all a hug.

�We�ve missed you too,� Danny said.

�Danny, here�s my cell number. Give me a call,� I said as I handed him a slip of paper.

Outside the room AJ walked off. He didn�t need to hear anymore. He had heard enough.

******After the Show******

�AJ, I think you�re over-reacting,� Nick said.

It was after the show and Brian, Nick and Kevin were chilling in AJ and Howies� hotel room.

�Yeah, it�s not like she told him to meet her at her hotel room after the show,� Kevin advised.

�How do you know that�s not what she�ll tell him when he calls,� AJ questioned.

�Because I know Eve and I know she likes you,� Nick assured him.

AJ looked at his friends skeptically.

�I�ve never seen you so worked up over a girl before,� Kevin observed. �You really like her, don�t you?�

�Yes, I do.�

�The you should trust her,� Brian said.

�Do you think I should talk to her about it?�

�If you think it will help,� Kevin said.

�I think it will help if I hear it from her,� AJ said as he got up and left the room.

******Meanwhile******

�You gave him your number!?� Kayla exclaimed. �What did AJ think?�

Kayla, Juliet and I were sitting in our room discussing what had happened with Danny.

�He doesn�t know,� I said timidly. �I gave it to Danny after he left.�

�You�re not thinking of starting something with him, are you?� Juliet asked.

�No, of course not,� I said. �I�m happy with AJ. I just thought it would be nice if Danny and I kept in touch.�

Just then there was a knock on our door. I dot up to go open it. When I did I found AJ on the other side.

�Hey honey,� I said, reaching up to kiss his cheek.

When he didn�t respond I knew something was up.

�What�s wrong?� I asked.

�Eve, I need to talk to you,� he said, pulling me into the hall.

�Okay,� I said, a bit worried.

He took off his sunglasses and stared into my eyes as if he was searching for an answer to his questions.

�What�s really going on with you and Danny?� he asked.

�Nothing. What made you think there was something going on?� I questioned, perhaps a little too defensively.

�I heard you give him your cell number.�

�AJ, he�s my friend. I just want to keep in touch with him,� I replied, glad that, that was all this was about.

�And that�s all?�

�That�s all.�

AJ looked at me relieved.

�Honey, you have to learn to trust me,� I said. �We�ve only been together a day and we�re having problems. I hope that will be the only one.�

�It will,� he assured me. �I�ve never felt so strongly about anyone before. I guess I was just worried I�d lose you so soon.

�Losing me is the last thing you have to worry about,� I said as I reached up and kissed his lips.