Chapter 40
Inside the arena Howie and AJ were shown straight into their dressing room. Once the door closed behind them they were in each other's arms, trying to stifle their laughter.
They heard someone coming down the corridor and immediately split apart, heading for opposite sides of the room. Howie sat on the sofa, his back to AJ who was checking out the hospitality food.
Brian came into the room, looking like a man on a mission, followed closely by Brian and Nick. Howie ignored them, and flicked through the TV channels trying to find something to watch, and AJ didn't even turn around.
"Look guys..." Brian began, trying to get their attention.
Howie and AJ ignored him completely. Nick and Kevin headed over to the other sofa in the room, getting ringside seats.
"Look. I'm sorry okay." Brian said sincerely.
The other two ignored him still.
"I was only trying to help." Brian tried to defend his actions.
AJ and Howie both snorted, acting completely unimpressed.
"Are either of you going to talk to me?" Brian asked.
AJ put his plate down and turned around to face them, his expression one of anger.
"After what you did? Why should we?" He said.
"I just want you guys to be happy. You love each other, why can't you see it?"
"That's not the point Brian." Howie told him. "You're our brother but you've got to back off. Let us work our own problems out. Stop trying so hard to help us. It doesn't work and we need to do it ourselves."
"I'm sorry alright." Brian replied sincerely.
"Fine. Promise you'll back off?"
"I promise."
"Good." AJ told him as he slowly moved over to Howie and sat down, trailing his fingers lightly down his arm. Howie shivered at the sensation and AJ smiled and winked at Nick and Kevin, who saw it and grinned. Brian was still looking at the floor.
"Oh and Brian?" AJ continued.
"Yeah Jay?"
"Promise never to phone when we're in the middle of making out again." AJ smirked.
"I promise." Brian told him. He suddenly realised what AJ had said and his head shot up. "WHAT!?"
Howie and AJ couldn't hold their laughter anymore, and broke down into fits of giggles. Nick and Kevin took one look at Brian's face and began to laugh as well. Brian stood there shocked as Howie and AJ wound their arms around each other and pulled closer together, AJ laughing into Howie's neck as Howie buried his face in AJ's chest and giggled. Finally even Brian broke into laughter as he realised that they were just kidding him around.
Eventually Nick and Kevin got their laughter under control and Kevin stood up and went over to his cousin.
"They got ya good cuz." He smirked, looking over Brian's shoulder at them.
"Yeah. But I guess it serves me right huh?"
"I think so. Besides, I don't think they need any more help from us." He gestured for Brian to turn around and look. Howie and AJ had stopped laughing and were now in the middle of a very hot kiss. Kevin coughed to try and get their attention, but they ignored him. Nick came and stood beside Brian.
"You know what Bri?" Nick asked.
"What?"
"If they keep up like that, you won't ever be able to call them or else you'll break your promise."
"What promise? Brian asked confused.
"The one you just made never to call them when they were making out." Kevin reminded him.
"I didn't..." Brian began.
"Oh yes you did." AJ and Howie chorused, before breaking into giggles again.
"You little..."
Howie and AJ wrapped their arms around each other and just smiled, the perfect picture of innocence. Brian was having none of it though, and he grabbed a cushion off a chair before launching himself at the pair, starting an all out pillow fight. Nick stood next to Kevin, watching Howie and AJ team up on Brian and give him a good beating, whilst laughing hysterically.
"Looks like Rok could use some help." Nick said to Kevin, smiling maniacally.
"Yeah. It does doesn't it." He smiled back.
Nick grinned again and then grabbed two cushions, handing one to Kevin before heading for the fight.
Kevin looked at his four friends, who were now rolling around on the floor, laughing so hard they were crying. It was a picture he hadn't seen in a long time. Finally Howie and AJ were happy, and it looked as if everything would finally work out. A pillow came flying at him and hit him in the face, bringing him out of his reverie.
"Hey Kev c'mon old man." AJ called.
"That's it. McLean you are going down." Kevin grinned as he strode over to them. AJ yelped and hid behind Howie.
"Don't worry Aje, I won't let the scary old man get you." He giggled again, making everybody laugh.
"You two are soooo dead." Kevin told them, before launching his deadly pillow assault on the pair. Within seconds there was all out war as everybody beat everyone else.
Marcus opened the door to see what all the noise was about and smiled at the scene in front of him. He could see that AJ had a look of pure happiness on his face, and he was ecstatic for him. He guessed that he and Howie had sorted things out. He saw Howie corner AJ and pull him into a quick kiss and grinned. 'Yep. They're fine.' He thought to himself. He turned and shut the door behind him, giving them their privacy, the faintest smile lingering on his lips as he thought to himself: 'It's about bloody time."
THE END.