Brian stretched out on the tour bus couch and sighed. It had been a long day for all of them, and it was turning into an even longer night. He was still a little mad because, instead of trying to help, Billie Ross had decided to hitch a ride back to the hotel. It was probably better that she was gone. He was so tired, he probably would have done something to her he’d later regret. Ever since she became the new road manager, she had caused him nothing but problems. He closed his eyes to take a nap.
"Hey! Wake up!" he heard someone yell. He opened his eyes to see Tessa standing above him with a smile on her face. He returned her smile and sat up. Without warning, he grabbed her and jerked her down onto the couch.
"So, what did your roommates say?" he asked as he laid back down.
Tessa rested her head on his chest. "I kept getting the answering machine," she said. "But, on the fifth try, Kristin finally answered the phone. I told her what had happened, and she started laughing. She thought the whole situation was funny. Then I had to explain to her which one AJ was."
"So, she’s not expecting you home tonight?" Brian asked as he stroked Tessa’s red hair.
"No. She said that she, Skylar, and Megan can manage, but she wants details as soon as we get home."
Brian laughed. "I think it’s funny that you had to explain who AJ was. You guys really didn’t know who we were, did you? And you and Kristin work in a summer day camp."
Tessa raised her head and looked at him. "Well, I think all of us had heard of the Backstreet Boys before (well, at least I had), but we didn’t know who you were individually. I guess that’s why it hurt so much when I found out from Billie instead of you." Then, without warning, she reached up and playfully hit him in the stomach. Brian pretended that her playful punch hurt.
"What was that for?" he questioned.
"How come you didn’t tell me to begin with?" she demanded.
Brian leaned his head back and looked up at the ceiling. "I was enjoying the fact that you didn’t know me. It had been so long since I had been treated like a normal guy that I just didn’t want it to end. I know; I should have told you sooner."
Tessa sighed. "Yeah, but I suppose what’s done is done. Besides, I’ve forgiven you, and we can move on."
They lie there in silence, both very close to falling asleep. Brian was just about there when Tessa’s sudden movement caused him to wake up. He opened his eyes to see her sitting up.
What are you doing?" he asked.
"We need to stay awake and keep trying to find a locksmith or someone." She stood up. "I’m going to try the phone numbers again."
Brian sat up. "But nobody’s open at this hour."
Tessa tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I know, but maybe if they have an answering machine, I can leave a ton of urgent messages," she reasoned.
Brian stood up and draped his arm around her. "Okay, you use the bus phone, and I’ll use my cell phone. We can divide up the list."
Tessa grinned. "Alright," she agreed.
With his arm still around her, Brian and Tessa walked towards the front of the bus to make the calls.
AJ opened his eyes and looked around. He took in the beautiful woman who was sitting across from him. Zoey looked so peaceful when she was fast asleep. After getting to forty-five bottles, they had both fallen asleep.
He sat there and debated on whether or not he should wake her up. This was the nicest she had been all night. Just as he had decided to nudge her, her eyelids fluttered open.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," he greeted her.
She blinked a few times and wiped the sleep out of her eyes. "Is it time to get out of here yet?" she asked. As if to answer her own question, she glanced at her watch. Her shoulders slumped. "It’s only 3:30 am," she groaned.
Zoey sighed as she lowered her watch. "I can’t sleep anymore, can you?"
AJ shook his head. "No. Maybe we could try finishing the song?"
Zoey laughed. "Oh, I think I’m just about tired of bottles of beer. Is there anything else we can do?"
AJ looked up at the ceiling and thought. Then a huge grin spread across his face. He looked back at Zoey and stood up. "May I have this dance?"
Zoey gave him a puzzled look. "What? There’s no music."
"Who needs music when you have a Backstreet Boy?"
Zoey rolled her eyes and smiled. "You’re serious about this, aren’t you?"
AJ returned her smile and held out his hand to her. "Of course."
Zoey laughed and took the offered hand. He helped her to her feet and led her to the middle of the bathroom floor. He locked his left hand in her right hand and wrapped his right arm around her waist. She placed her left hand on his shoulder. Softly, he began to sing:
It's a place I've never been And it comes from deep within
And it's telling me that I'm about to win first prize
Knowing all I have to do
Is reach out my hand to you
Anytime I want to look into your
Spanish eyes
Together, they glided across the small dance space, oblivious to the fact that they were in a Coliseum bathroom. AJ continued to sing and smiled when he saw Zoey’s eyes light up. She returned his smile and was apparently enjoying the impromtu dance.
It's a place I've never been And it comes from deep within
And it's telling me that I'm about to win first prize
Knowing all I have to do
Is reach out my hand to you
Anytime I want to look into your
Spanish eyes
Gaining a little more confidence, AJ slowly pulled her close to him. She didn’t seem to mind. Their dancing pace slowed a little as he started into the verse that he usually sang.
AJ began to hum the last chorus of the song. Zoey looked like she was so into the dance that she was oblivious to anything else around her. She was so beautiful, even with the attitude. The attitude actually made her more appealing, a challenge.
They were mere inches away from each other. AJ leaned in and his lips brushed hers. Her warm, soft lips responded by kissing him. He kissed back, and the kiss deepened.
Then the spell was broken. Zoey abruptly pulled away and stepped back. She almost backed into her wall.
AJ just stood there confused. "What? What did I do?" he asked. Then he launched into as many apologies as he could think of. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry for moving so fast. Maybe you have a boyfriend. Oh, man, I didn’t even think of that. I didn’t step on your toes, did I?"
"Alex, Alex, calm down. It’s not you. It’s just…I’m sorry, but I can’t do this. I’m sorry." Zoey sank to the floor with an exasperated sigh.
AJ sat down next to her. "Is it anything you can tell me? Sometimes it helps to talk," he suggested.
"Not right now. Just give me a few minutes." By then, tears had begun to slide down her cheeks. Without thinking, AJ wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.