Chapter 16
The show seemed to be going well. All the boys were on their cues, and their harmonies were spot on. But yet, there was something off. Howie and AJ were reluctant to get too near to each other, and AJ, although he played it up to the crowd, seemed to the others to be putting on more of an act than usual. Normally he was a natural ham, playing up to the crowd, and enjoying every second of it. But tonight it seemed almost as if it was more forced, as if he was trying too hard. Not that the crowd had noticed, it was way too subtle for that, but the others did.
Howie however, was the only one who picked up on something else. Throughout the night he felt eyes on him, watching him. Not unusual, considering he was up on stage in front of 20,000 people. But this was different, and it took him till half way through 'Show Me The Meaning' to pinpoint the source of the stare- it was AJ. From then on Howie was aware that AJ was watching most of the time, and he would glance to his side and see AJ looking at him. It was unnerving. He didn't know what to make of it. AJ had avoided him since the dressing room incident, and he had thought that AJ had hated him because of what had almost happened; yet the stare held no malice, no ill will. It was as if AJ had never seen him before and was looking at him, studying him, looking for an answer to something.
AJ watched Howie sing 'How Did I Fall In Love You.' He was still confused. Over the course of his pool game, he had rationalised that whatever it was that had nearly happened between him and Howie had happened because he was feeling lonely and rejected and his emotions were just a little out of whack. After all what else could it have been?
But as he stood up on the stage, watching Howie sing his heart out to the crowd, he found he was no longer as sure as he had been. Instead he found himself watching Howie, almost unable to tear his eyes away. He played it up to the crowd, but he wasn't looking for their reaction, he was watching for Howie's. He was looking for something, but the problem was he had no idea what it was.
This continued for the rest of the show, AJ watched Howie, and Howie wondered what the hell was going on, whilst the other three, for once, remained unaware of what was happening.