C&C will ensure the survival of this brand new arrival.

    AJ looked at his friends in horror, "You are NOT serious."

    "It's Halloween man." Kevin grinned and held up the dreaded costume.

    "It's a DRESS!"

    "That's the idea." Howie started forward and AJ backed away.

    Nick pleaded and gave his most convincing kicked puppy look, "Pleeeeease?"

    Before he could get a word in edgewise Brian cut him off, "All of us are going as girls, that's the theme of the party. Guys as girls, girls as guys."

    "I'm not doing this." He insisted.

    They advanced.

    "I'm NOT doing this!"

    They pounced.

    AJ now stood in the middle of Madonna's ball room with waxed legs, a clean shaven face, and an outfit that he swore he would get the others back for. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

    "You look like a whore."

    He half sighed and half growled but kept his voice higher in a feminine mockary, "I feel like one too." He turned to the stranger and froze. SHIT! What was Eminem doing here?! No way would he live this down if he got caught!

    "Deep voice for a girl. You one of the little monkey fags the bitch got to jump through hoops for her?"

    "I don't jump through anyone's hoops."

    That must have been the right answer because the white rapper grinned and offered his hand, "I'm Marshall."

    "Marshal Mathers."

    "Damn. Should I be worried that you know who I am?"

    Lightning flashed across AJ's dark eyes, "I don't know, you still like violence?"

    "Whoa! cool down bitch I was jus' playin'!" He held up his hands in mock defense. "What say we make a truce. Just for tonight." He smiled then, "I'm an ok guy once you get to know me."

    The Backstreet boy didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he was getting hit on by Emenim, while in drag and saddly sober.

    "Well?"

    "You're full of shit."

    "Something else too."

    AJ rolled his eyes and turned to walked away but tripped on the ridiculous heals they had him in. Before he hit the ground, surprisingly strong arms caught him. He looked up in slight shock at Mathers, "Uh. . . thanks."

    "You don't dress up much do you."

    "It show's?" He asked sarcastically, "Why did anyone ever invent these stupid things?!"

    "Tourcher. Must'a been a sadist."

    "Like you?"

    "Hey I'm not THAT cruel!"

    He blushed and cursed silently, "Um. . . you can let go now."

    "No, I don't think I will." He leaned closer and began to sway, "Dance with me."

    "I might scream."

    "Want me to kiss you ta shut you up?"

    He was quiet.

    "God, you must really have something against me!"

    "You're vulgar."

    "I can tone it down."

    "You're homophobic."

    "Only on tape, why, you a lesbian?"

    "NO!" He blushed again.

    "Anything else?"

    "You hate the Backstreet Boys."

    "You a tinnie bopper?"

    "No."

    "Then why do you care?"

    He could only glower.

    "Can you keep a secret?"

    "Maybe."

    "I think the Backstreet Boys are an ok group."

    AJ quirked a brow, "You're joking."

    "Hey. Dre likes 'em, and they are kinda cute."

    He choaked, "WHAT?!"

    "I can't say that? Shocked?"

    "Your songs are so homophobic and your interviews. . ."

    "So you do listen to my music."

    "You act like a bastard."

    "Oh I am a bastard. Seriously. But that isn't all I can be."

    "When did we enter the twilight zone?"

    "While ago."

    "You're not really Emenim are you. You're in costume too."

    "Could be."

    "You gonna tell me your real name?"

    "Marshal."

    "Coincidence?"

    "Maybe."

    "I'm Alex."

    "Short for something?"

    "Maybe." He smiled. This was beggining to feel. . . nice.

    "You want to stop?"

    AJ looked at his dance partner carefully and then shook his head. "No. Not really."
________________

    Nick looked over at the dance floor and spit his punch all over the floor. "HOLY!"

    Patting his partner's back Brian looked conserned, "What?"

    Nick pointed to the dance floor and Kevin, Brian, and Howie all froze, "Is that. . .?"

    "And AJ's. . ."

    Brian started to snicker, then chuckle, then it broke into a full blown laugh!

    "What's so funny?"

    "You don't really think that's him do you?"

    "Huh?"

    "Boys as girls, girls as boys. remember?"

    The blond blushed and looked at the floor, "I forgot."

    "Man can you imagine if the real Emenim was here?!"

    "He'd have a field day with this one."

    "So who do you think that is?"

    "No clue." Brian shrugged, "Great costume though."
__________________

    Marshal monopolized AJ for the rest of the night and after quite a few drinks the tipsy BSB was getting a little more friendly than he should have allowed in that situation.

    "Which one is cutest."

    Marshal smiled at his very drunk companion and let his arm slip across the back of the couch and the pale shoulders resting against it. "Which one?"

    "Backstreet Boy."

    He grinned, "AJ."

    The 'girl' giggled and snuggled closer and Marshal almost laughed out loud. His new friend's voice had lowered a little more with each drink until it was back to his regular Tenor. 'Alex' or AJ as the world knew him, was three sheets to the wind and really getting into the part of his costume.

    "You're really drunk."

    "Mmm. Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaah."

    "Do you need a ride home?"

    "You're gonna ride me home?"

    He chuckled and grinned, "Maybe once we get there I'll give you a ride, but I really think my car would get us their faster."

    "You wanna ride your car?!"

    He sighed and helped the giggly boy to his feet, thanking whoever was responible that he'd removed those heels.

    "Wow. You live here?"

    Marshall smiled and flicked the lights on. "I like things ta feel like home."

    "You have a lot of toys." AJ giggled and sagged back in Marshall's arms. The blond grunted under the sudden weight shift.

    "They're my daughters."

    "You're married. I don't do that shit."

    He smiled, "Divorced. Hailey comes to visit me sometimes."
 
    "Mmm. Ok." He smiled and promptly passed out.

    "Fuckin' Shit."

    With a small amount of effort Marshall managed to get AJ upstairs and into the bed. He flopped down to sit and pulled the sleeping man's borrowed shoes from his feet. "You're a really drunk popper aren't you." He stripped off the nylons and the skanky blue dress and covered him up. "Fucked up is what that is. Shit. You know how fuckin' in love with you guys Hailey is? This is fuckin' wrong."

    "Hmm?"

    "Nothin' sleep it off."

    "'k." He mumbled and melted into sleep again.

    Marshal looked at the bed for a few minuets and finally shrugged, "Screw this, It's my bed."

    He pushed the Backstreet Boy over a bit and climbed in beside him. It wasn't like he wasn't dressed or anything. They were just sleeping, right? Right. And if he just happened to say, slip a little closer in his sleep then it wasn't his fault was it? I mean he wasn't gey or anything right?

    Right?

    Shit.

~tbc~