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| Chapter 8 �Why is it that when you have to look good you can never find anything to wear?� Arizona pawed through all the clothes she had hanging in her closet. Although she had many possibilities, the choice was still excruciatingly difficult. This was, after all, dinner with the Backstreet Boys. And how she had managed to pull that off would always be a mystery to her. She searched for a few more minutes before finally pulling out a red, just-below-the-knees, dress. It had spaghetti straps and a low cut front to extenuate her long neck. After getting ready she headed down the hall to Paige�s room to see if she was done as well. She knocked on the door and waited for a response. The door opened a few seconds later to reveal Paige dressed the same as she was for the shoot. �Aren�t you going to get dressed?� Z asked, slightly confused. �I�m sorry Arizona, but I can�t go.� Z stood there with an incredulous look on her face. �What do you mean you can�t go?� Paige looked down at the floor, refusing to meet Arizona�s eyes, �It�s really rather difficult, but I don�t know if I can handle being in the same room as AJ.� �You were in a room with him all day today.� �I know,� she stammered, �but that was because I had a job to do. This is dinner. This is conversation. This is having to face him.� Whatever it was that this girl went through with him, it must have been a lot. And Z could totally relate to the situation. Lord knows if this had been her and Trent she would have flat out refused. �I understand,� Z replied. �I wouldn�t want to force you into it.� Paige looked up and caught her eye, �Thank you, Z.� �No problem. Looks like it�s just me and Carter. Carter and me. Oh joy.� �I did hear that you know,� Carter said, coming out of his room. His eyes ran over Paige and he noticed she wasn�t ready yet. �Not coming?� he asked her. �No. I just can�t face him yet,� she replied solemnly. �You know you are going to have to eventually,� Arizona said remorsefully. �I know,� Paige replied. �I�m just not ready yet.� �Well for now, don�t worry about it. Just relax for the night. Come on Carter,� Z said as she looped her arm through Carter�s and led him out the door. ******************** �Well hello Arizona. It�s a pleasure to see you again.� Arizona blushed a little and responded, �It�s only been a few hours Phoenix, but it�s nice to see you as well.� Phoenix pulled out a chair and Z took it graciously. Carter pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. �Where�s Paige?� �Excuse me?� Arizona looked up to find AJ staring at her expectantly. �Why isn�t Paige here?� he asked. �Oh, um, she wasn�t feeling very well after the shoot. I told her to lay down for awhile,� Z replied. �Right,� AJ said, scowling. �AJ, cool it,� Kevin whispered to his friend. �She�s avoiding me Kev. How am I supposed to react?� he hissed back. �Just give her some time, AJ,� Howie interjected. �Give her time?� AJ asked incredulously. �I�ve given her almost two years!� �She�s been through a lot. I�m sure it wasn�t easy on her,� Howie said sympathetically. �How would you know what she went through?� AJ asked, eyeing Howie suspiciously. �Well, I, um, I don�t. I could just imagine,� Howie stuttered, picking up his glass and taking a long drink. �Sure,� AJ replied, turning his attention back to the rest of the table. �So Arizona, how long have you been a photographer?� Arizona was chatting with Phoenix and was surprised to hear her name. She looked over and discovered AJ staring at her. �Oh, um, how long have I been a photographer?� Z thought a second. �About five years now. I got this job right after high school. It was an amazing opportunity.� AJ nodded, as if he was satisfied by her answer. �How long have Carter and Paige been your assistants?� he asked. �Carter has been with me for two years now and Paige just started a couple days ago,� Z answered. �And how would you feel about doing another shoot with us?� AJ asked. �Actually, Phoenix and I were just discussing that. You guys are great to photograph and I think doing another shoot would be wonderful,� she beamed. �Perfect,� AJ smiled. He reached over and picked up his glass. �To another shoot.� Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together. �To another shoot.� ******************** �Whoa, Howie, wait up!� Howie let out a sigh and turned around to wait for AJ. He knew what was coming and had been dreading it for two years now. He knew it would come sooner or later, he just hoped later. With his little slip up during dinner he knew it would be coming sooner. �What�s up AJ?� he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. �What was that all about?� AJ asked. �What was what all about?� �Howie, you know what I�m talking about. Don�t act like you don�t,� AJ replied, scowling a bit. �I think we need to have a talk. Follow me back to my place.� The two men walked to their cars and got on the empty expressway. Howie mentally cursed himself for that slip. He had been the only one Paige had talked to before she went to LA. She needed someone to confide in and Howie was there to lend a sympathetic ear. She had even called him a few times from LA to let him know that she was doing alright. He was sworn to secrecy, however. No one was to know anything she told him. Especially AJ. And now everything was about to come out. Secrets that had been kept for almost two years were about to shatter someone�s world. Howie sighed as he drove along the highway, following AJ back to his place. He shouldn�t be the one to tell him. That should be Paige�s job. It should be Paige�s responsibility. Now he had to break the news to his best friend and while doing that he was breaking another friends trust. Damn it Paige, why couldn�t you have told him from the beginning? he cursed silently. AJ put on his blinker and turned into the driveway, pulling up to the gate. After punching in a few numbers the gates creaked open and the two cars drove through. This is going to be a long night, Howie thought as he parked his car next to AJ�s and got out. I just hope we make it through it. |
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