Joey stretched. �So! Who�s up for a lil clubbin�? Katie? I know you are!� Katie shook her head. �Nope, not me.�
�What?!�
�Sorry, Joey, I�m not really in a party mood.� Ali looked at her and pouted. �Aww, c�mon, K.� Justin nodded. �Yeah, ya gotta go, at least tonight.� She sighed. �I�m not gonna win, am I?� Joey smiled happily. �Nope! And, ahem, if you pull any tricks tonight that make me end up alone, you�re gonna get it, and I�m not talkin� throwing you in the pool, either�� Katie rolled her eyes. �Ooh, I�m terrified.� Lance smiled. �You should be.� Katie laughed. �Ok, ok, fine, but I for one am going to change.� Ali nodded. �Same here.� Katie looked at her. �Why?� Ali just shrugged. �Cuz.� Katie nodded and walked off humming. She walked into the dressing room and sighed. �What should I wear?� Ali smiled.
�I call blue!� Katie shook her head. �Ok, then.� She put on a pair of dark jeans and a red sparkly top and grabbed a pair of shoes. �Hmm, hair.� She took it down, letting it curl, slightly around her shoulders. �Let�s go.� Ali came out wearing a blue dress, with her blond hair half-up. �Gee, don�t dress up or anything.� Katie shrugged. �I haven�t worn jeans in awhile, leave me alone.� Ali walked outside to where the others were waiting. Katie followed her and sighed. �I�m not planning on getting up tomorrow.� Justin grinned. �Oh yes you are, and at 7 in the morning too.� Katie groaned. �I can�t believe I�m going� are we walking?� Joey nodded. �Yep.� Katie rolled her neck to get the kinks out. �At least I wore decent shoes that won�t break.� JC laughed. Confused, the others glanced at them.
�What?� Justin asked curiously. �Um, inside joke.� Katie said giggling. �Guess so.� said Lance. They reached the club, and Joey is already bouncing off the walls. �Here we are! Looks happenin�!� Ali grinned. �Yay! We gonna have fun! Oh, c�mon, K, ya know we will!�
�Just don�t go off and leave me.� came the reply. They walked in and the usual 3- Joey, Lance and Chris headed off, leaving JC, Katie, Justin and Ali. �Well, now what?� asked Katie. Ali smiled. �Lighten up!�
�Ok, ok, geeze.� Ali pointed her head to the bar. �I�m gonna get me a drink, ya comin�?� Katie cocked her head to the side, bored. �I have nothing better to do, now do I?� Justin shook his finger. �Ooh, sarcasm is no fun.� Katie looked away. �Sorry, I�m just� nevermind.� She heard Blink 182 coming from the speakers. �Gee, Josh should be here.� Ali sighed. �Ok, ok, I give up, I need to cheer you up. Jackie and Josh are meeting up with us in Orlando.� Katie stared at her friend for a moment, before lighting up. �Really?!� Ali nodded. �Yes, really.� Katie smiled brightly. �Ok, now I�m in a dancing mood.� She saw a guy walk by. �Hey, you! Let�s dance.�
�Sure!� he said. Justin shook his head. �Why is my cousin insane?� Ali smiled. �I�ve been trying to figure that out for about 6 yrs. now. But at least I cheered her up.� She glanced over at JC. �Come on.� She pulled him out to the floor. He laughed. �I guess I need cheering up, too, eh?�
�Eh?! Don�t say that! My old Spanish teacher used to say that all the time and I can�t stand it.� She said. �EH?!� he said smiling. She groaned. �Quit it. And yes, you need cheering up too. I probably should not be saying this, but� she likes you. She won�t admit it, but she does. She�s just confused right now. But let me give you a piece of advice- don�t give up. She�s the most stubborn person in the world, but she�ll eventually crack.�
�What about��
�Matt? I hate to say it, but I don�t think he�s gonna be in the picture much longer� after yesterday and the whole song thing� trust me, he isn�t gonna last very long.� JC sighed. �I wish it were that simple.�
�It is. But she hasn�t had the easiest time, either. I mean, she had to grow up fast� the only reason she didn�t try out for MMC, was because she faked sick during auditions.� His mouth dropped open. �She faked sick?!� She nodded. �Yep.� He ran his fingers through his hair. �Man.�
�Her mom is way too over-bearing, dragging her to and forth singing lessons, talent shows, etc. Heck, Katie was barely able to go to Prom because of something her mom set up, but Katie went anyway. Got in a heck of a lot of trouble, too. The point is, she loves to sing, but she loves to write. She�s written everything from poems to songs. She�s more of that studio-type. And she�d kill me for telling you all this- so it�s just between us, got it?� He nodded. �Got it.� She nodded. �Good.� They walked back to where Justin and Katie are now waiting. �What was that all about?� Justin asked curiously. Ali shook her head. �Nothing, c�mon.� She grabbed his hand and pulled him away. Katie watched them and chuckled. �Hey, Katie?� She looked at him. �Hmm?�
�Can you tell them I went back?� She nodded. �Sure.� He smiled. �Thanks.� He turned around, is stopped by Katie�s voice. �Wait, I�ll come. This is getting old.� They head outside. �You seem happy knowing your friends are coming.� She nodded. �Yeah, I�ve missed them and their endless fighting.�
�Why�d you get so upset the other day when Matt�s song came on?� She sighed. �I honestly don�t know� maybe cuz, it was just making it worse, that I can�t be at home.� He nodded. �Oh.�
(Back at hotel)
She looked at him. �Can I tell you something?� He nodded. �Sure.� She took a deep breath. �Ok, I need to get this out�� She�s interrupted by Justin and Ali who come walking up. Ali smiled. �Heya.� Katie looked at her. �Um, hey.� JC gave Justin a death look. �Hi.�
�Why�re you guys back?� Katie asked. Ali smiled. �We decided to watch a movie.� Katie snickered. �Yeah, right. Just keep the heavy breathing down, please.� Ali smacked her. �You are gross!� Justin shook his head. �Katie, that�s just wrong.� She grinned. �Sorry, geeze. I was kiddin� ya�ll.� JC laughed. Justin and Ali headed into his room, leaving them alone once again. Katie shook her head. �She�s not coming back and I�m gonna be bored, wanna come in?� He shrugged. �Sure.� She unlocked the door and walked in. She turned on the TV and flicked through the channels. �Ooh. Yes. Star Wars. Sorry, I�m watchin� this.� She sat down on the bed, with her back against the frame. JC plopped down next to her. �Shame we don�t have any popcorn.� She nodded. �Very big shame. Joey prolly has some in his room, but I am way too lazy to get up.� He nodded solemnly. �Amen to that.� She laughed.
20 min. later they�re both asleep
Thirteen