*Mary’s View*
“Pretty Damn comfortable!” I thought. “It’s really nice Rachel.” I said.
“Gee, thanks. Your approval means everything to me… Just kidding” She smiled.
“You’re so funny Rachel.” I was afraid she was going to get on the subject of my staying with her and why and stuff like that. I was soooo good.
“So… what’s going on that you had to come see me?” She questioned as discreetly as she could.
“I was afraid you’d ask that.” I groaned.
“Come on. I’m your sister. Tell me everything… NOW!” She tried to act like a drill sergeant which reminded me of Ryan and I laughed.
“Okay. If you must know. Brian and me broke up.” I frowned. “He was cheating on me.”
“Brian? Church-boy Brian? Our Brian?” Rachel was bewildered.
I looked over at Rachel desperately searching for a way to change the subject. I found it at her navel. “You pierced your belly button?” I knew she always wanted to do that, but she couldn’t because of certain parental units (AKA “mom”).
“Uh, yeah. You like?”
“I do. I like a lot.”
“I got a tattoo on my back too!” I think she sensed I really wasn’t in the mood to talk about him. She leaned forward and lifted up the back of her shirt, while driving, revealing a unicorn head.
“Ooooh. I like. Nice and little, yet tasteful.” It was really cute. It made me feel ambitious. “You know, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting my tongue pierced lately.”
“Yeah! Let’s do it! We can go to the same place I went for my belly and tattoo. I’ve been wanting to get another one anyways!”
“Impulsive much?” I giggled.
“Yeah, ever since I went out with A-- yeah.” So she turned really quick. In five minutes we were in a dank tattoo/piercing parlor. There were bongs everywhere, but you know you can’t call them that. I found that out a long time ago. Forty-five minutes later we were walking out. Rachel, admiring and new armband tattoo and me, with a numb and pierced tongue. I finally arrived at what would be my home for whatever undetermined time. It was huge!
“Pretty damn comfortable.” I laughed to Rachel. It was this awesome beach house. Tall and just all around good looking.
“Yeah… very comfortable.” She smiled. “Want to meet my friend So’Cy?”
“Uh, I guess so.”
“She’s a Backstreet fanatic. Fair warning okay?”
“Thanks for the heads up.”
“Follow me and I’ll take you to your room.” She walked into the house, up the spiral stairs and down a long corridor, and opened the third door on the right. It was huge! It had a bay window, which I have been fond of. The bed was huge too.
“Okay Rach. I have to ask. What exactly do you do to afford this house? Or should I ask who did you do?”
“Haha. I trade stocks online.”
“Oh. All that computer time pays you now huh? Did you do this because of Matt Buss?”
“It was an idea. Yeah.”
“Coolness. So where is this So’Cy character?” I wondered.
“She might be in the pool. Put on your suit and we’ll go swimming.”
“Hey… you don’t have to ask me twice!” In five minutes we were down by the pool. Sure enough So’Cy was there.
“Hey Rach. Did you get a new tattoo or am I just seein’ things?”
“Yeah I just got the impulse while taking Mary here from the airport. This is her by the way.” She shoved me into the pool. Grr… like that.
“Hi So’Cy.” I smiled when I surfaced. My voice was kind of odd because of the tongue ring.
“I’m thinking that’s a new piercing.” She observed.
“Just a little.” I smiled. I saw she had a navel piercing too. “Do I have to get one of those to stay in this house?” I asked.
“Yes you do.” Rachel said sarcastically.
“You have a week and then you’re outta here!” So’Cy joked.
“You all are a bunch of comedians huh? I’m gonna love it here!” I was really glad to be away from chaos. “Rachel? Can I use the phone to let ‘em know I got home safe?”
“Yeah, sure.” She showed me to the phone and then left me alone.
“Hey, AJ?” I asked when I heard the phone pick up.
“Mary? What’s up chick?”
“I got home safe. I just thought you’d like to know.” I was trying to keep my words from slurring, but I wasn’t doing too well.
“Something is different about your voice. Are you drunk?”
“No! I got my tongue pierced. Rachel paid for it.”
“Rachel? What’s she up to lately?”
“Nothin’ much.” I said casually.
“Does she still hate me?”
“She didn’t say anything about you.” I said honestly.
“Oh.” He sounded kind of disappointed. Poor baby.
“She came really close though. She was about to say she’s become more impulsive since she met you.” I tried to salvage the situation.
“Really?” He sounded intrigued.
“Yeah, but listen, I gotta go. This is long distance you know.”
“Yeah. I’ll tell everyone you said hi.”
“Everyone, but Brian.” I said under my breath.
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. Talk to you later.”
“Bye.” After hanging up I went back to the pool.
“Who did you have to call?” So’Cy asked.
“AJ.”
“Did he mention me?” Rachel asked.
“He asked about you.”
“Wait a sec… what AJ? I only know of one AJ.” So’Cy interrupted.
“Well, that’s the AJ you’re thinking about.” Rachel replied.
“How come you never told me about this?”
“You know, I didn’t think it was that important. It’s in the past you know.” She defended.
“Oh, but anything boy band related is important.” She grinned. “So, how do you fit into the boy band puzzle.” She turned to me.
“Uh. You see, I was Brian’s girlfriend…” I trailed off.
“Was?”
“Hey! Look at the time! We have to decide what to have for supper.” Rachel busted in cheerfully. I was thankful for the relief.
*AJ’s View*
I was happy to hear from Mary. I thought the rest of the guys might like to know that she survived the flight. So I started by going to Nick’s room. I knocked on the door. “Yo dude! Open the door.” I called
“What do you want?” Nick didn’t look very happy.
“I just got a call from Mary and she says hi and that she’s safe. She got her tongue pierced too.”
“Innocent little Mary got her tongue pierced? Wow.”
“That’s what I thought. I gotta keep making my rounds.” I joked. Next I went to see Howie. “Hey D!”
“Yes AJ?”
“I just got a call from Mary. She said she’s doin fine and she got home safe.”
“Good to know.” Howie yawned. “Can I get back to my nap now?”
“Sure. I just thought you might care a little that she called. And she’s staying with Rachel.”
“Oh no… here we go. Anything you want to talk about?” He tried to look interested. I hated when people fake being interested. At least when Kevin talks I don’t act interested, because I’m not! I usually try to catch up on some lost sleep. Since I wear the sunglasses no one notices. It also helps that I move in my sleep.
“Nevermind.” I said finally.
“No really. What did she have to say about you.” Awww, now Howie’s being sincere.
“Well, Mary said she didn’t mention me, but she almost did.”
“AJ, you’re acting like… a teenybopper.”
“Take that back!” I yelled. I hated being compared to those little people. I guess I was though. “Fine, D. I’m just gonna go tell Kev now. See ya.”
He yawned again. “Bye J.”