�What the hell is it?� MyKenna asked.
�A fish.� MyKenna made a face. �What?�
�DJ ain�t a big fan of fish. She likes dolphins though.�
�That�s a fish.�
�It�s a mammal.� She grinned.
�Don�t get smart.�
�Sorry.�
�What else does she like?�
�Mostly anything.� She spied something in a class case and walked over to it.
�Why are you getting her something anyway?�
�Because she is my friend and I want to thank her for bringing me here for my birthday.� She looked at the object in the case. �I found it. That�s it.� Aaron walked over to her.
�What�s �it�?�
�That.� She pointed to the crystal dolphin she spied. �She�ll love it.� She looked it over. �It even has �best friends� on it.�
�And it�s $150.� MyKenna made a face.
�Forget that then. I can�t afford that.� She walked away from the case and continued looking around.
�Kenna, ya know it�s not the price, but the thought that counts.�
�I know. I want something special for her.� Aaron looked at her, as she picked up an angel. �She�s like my sister. She�s helped me out a lot since we met and is very special to me.�
�I understand.� She put the angel down and walked away. Aaron looked back at the dolphin and then at MyKenna. He walked over to her and put his arm around her. �How about I get the dolphin and then you can pay me back later on?�
�No!�
�Why not?�
�Because it ain�t fair to you. I can find something else.�
�You�re just as special as she is and I want to do this for you. If I wasn�t serious about I wouldn�t have suggested it.�
�It�s a nice offer, Aaron, but I can�t accept it. It wouldn�t be right.�
�You�re just going to borrow the money from me and then pay me back later on.� She shook her head.
�I can�t and that�s my final answer.� Aaron just looked at her. �I�ll show it to Deej and maybe she�ll want to split the difference.�
�Alright.�
�It was nice of you though.� Aaron nodded and she walked back over to where the angel stuff was. She looked in the spinning glass case and stopped it from moving. �What do you think about that?�
�That�s nice.�
�Ya think?�
�Yeah, she�ll like it.�
�Yeah she would.� She smiled.
�May I help you with something?� a lady asked and MyKenna and Aaron looked.
�Yeah,� MyKenna said. �I�d like to purchase that angel bracelet there.�
�Which one?�
�The one with the flower.� The lady opened the case.
�That�s a rose.�
�I guess it is.�
�A yellow rose for friendship.�
�That�s it then.� The lady took it from the case and handed it to MyKenna and she looked at it. �She�ll love it.�
�I�m sure she will,� Aaron said smiling.
�I�m going to go pay for this,� MyKenna said. �I�ll be right back.�
�Alright.� Aaron said. He watched MyKenna walk away then looked at the lady, as she was ready to walk away. �Excuse me.� The lady looked at him. �I�d like to make a purchase myself.� The lady nodded and Aaron smiled.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Dakota�s going to love this bracelet,� MyKenna said putting it in her bag, as her and Aaron sat in the hotel lobby waiting for Dakota and Nickolas.
�Of course she will,� Aaron said. �You got it for her.� MyKenna smiled and zipped her bag. �You�re a great girl.�
�Thanks.� She leaned over and kissed him.
�You have any plans for tonight?�
�Not at the moment. Why?�
�Well mom�s making dinner tonight and I was wondering if you would like to join us?�
�She might just want it a family thing.�
�Nah, BJ and Angel are bringing their boyfriends. I don�t think it would matter if I bring you along.�
�I guess so. I�m sure DJ won�t mind.�
�Nick probably asked her to join anyway.�
�Probably.�
�What time is it?�
�Um�� MyKenna looked at her watch. �Going on 12.�
�I wonder where they are.� He got out his cell phone just as it rang. He turned it on and out his ear to it. �Hello?�
�Where the hell are you guys?� came Nickolas� angry voice.
�In the lobby,� Aaron replied. �Waiting for you guys.�
�You said you were going to be in the gift shop.�
�Well we�re in the lobby.�
�Stay there, we�re coming to you.�
�Alright, we�ll be waiting.� He turned off the phone. �They�re coming. We�re supposed to stay here.�
�Right,� MyKenna said, as they spied a bunch of girls running into the building and to the front desk. �Someone�s excited. Elvis must be in the building.�
�Maybe.� They laughed.
�We heard Aaron Carter was in the building,� one of the girls practically yelled and Aaron and MyKenna quickly got up. Aaron looked around and spied Nickolas and Dakota walking to them. Aaron grabbed MyKenna�s hand and ran over to his brother.
�Go, go go!� Aaron said pushing his brother and Dakota to the door.
�What are you doing?� Nickolas asked, as a bunch of girls screamed and he looked. �Oh.� They started running and the screaming girls followed. They went out the door and made a left.
�Faster, Nick!� Aaron yelled.
�I�m hurrying,� Nickolas yelled back.
�Why are we running?� Dakota asked.
�Because,� Aaron said.
�In here,� MyKenna said pulling Aaron into a shop and Dakota and Nickolas followed. The screaming girls followed and the quartet ran to the back of the shop.
�Here, here, here!� Dakota said pointing to the dressing stalls. They ran in that direction and opened the doors. �Get in.� Dakota pushed Nickolas in.
�Go!� MyKenna yelled pushing Aaron inside and her and Dakota joined the two guys and closed the doors. They listened and could here the screaming fans.
�Where�d they go?� one of the girls asked.
�I don�t know,� another girl replied. �I thought they came this way.�
�How long does this usually last?� MyKenna whispered to Aaron.
�I don�t know,� Aaron said laughing silently. �I never ran from fans before.�
�Then why did you now?�
�To see what it feels like. It gives ya a rush.� MyKenna nodded.
�This is a pretty tight squeeze.�
�Yeah it is. I guess that�s why they say only one at a time.� They laughed silently. �Even if there is just one person in here, I don�t see how they can try anything on.�
�Ya got me. I�d have bruises all over me.�
�Same here.� They listened and still head the fans. �Don�t they have better things to do than stalk you guys?�
�Most likely, but they prefer not to do it until after they scare the shit out of us.�
�I see. When you come overseas I don�t waste my time and go stalk ya.�
�That�s good.�
�I just try to hunt ya down.�
�Is that so?�
�Yeah.� She chuckled. �I�m kidding. When you�re in town I got school to attend and coursework so I can�t waste my time to go look for ya. I won�t be anything in life if I do that.�
�Well I hope you�ll change your mind now.�
�Maybe. Depends on how the rest of this week goes.�
�I�m sure it�ll be worth your while.�
�I hope so.� She smiled. �You�re pretty slick for a 14 year old.�
�It doesn�t seem to be bothering you any.� She shrugged. �I�m pretty grown up and mature for being 14 and a male.�
�You are a male that�s for sure.�
�What�s that supposed to mean? I ain�t the one that kissed you first.�
�Someone had to make the first move and it had to be me. You�re making the rest of the moves. It takes the pressure off me.� Aaron nodded and kissed her, as the store radio started playing �Wherever You Will Go� by The Calling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile Dakota and Nickolas were in the dressing stall three doors down. They could still here the fans waiting for them outside the stalls. Dakota sighed and Nickolas looked at her. She looked at him with a little grin and shook her head.
What?� Nickolas asked.
�Why are we hiding again?� Dakota asked.
�Because of Aaron and his brainy ideas.�
�Right, when word of this gets out there�ll be a lot of stories told about what was going on in here.�
�Oh well, ya kind of get use to it after awhile.�
�You can�t tell me you�re cool with the stories, because I do read.� Nickolas looked at her. �Like people criticizing your outside appearance.� He didn�t say anything. �I know that upsets you and it�well it upsets me.� He looked at her. �I�m serious. You don�t deserve to be criticized, because it�s what�s on the inside that counts. That�s what I look at.� He gave his side smile and she smiled in return.
�Thank you.�
�You�re welcome.� Dakota drowned out the screaming fans and listened to what song was on the radio. �I like this song.�
�What song?�
��Wherever You Will Go� by The Calling.�
�It�s a pretty good song.� Dakota nodded. �People say that the singer guy looks like me. What do you think?�
�Uh�� She made a face. �Not as much as they make it sound. You�re a hell of a lot hotter.� Nickolas shook his head and listened to the song.
�If I could/then I would/I�ll go wherever you will go�� Dakota looked at him, as he sang. �Way up high or down low/I�ll go wherever you will go/run away with my heart/run away with my hope/run away with my love�� Dakota shook her head. �What? Don�t ya like my singing?�
�I love your singing. A guy never sang to me before.�
�There�s a first for everything.�
�Yeah.� He leaned closer.
�Like sharing a kiss or two or a few in a dressing room stall while there�s screaming fans waiting outside for you.�
�Yeah.� He leaned a little closer.
�Why not take advantage of this while ya can and not care who catches ya.� Dakota just nodded her head and Nickolas kissed her.
CHAPTER 9