I'm soooo sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I'm hoping this type of delay won't happen anymore. I hope you that you enjoy this chapter. Lemme know what you think. I haven't been getting many responses so I'm dismayed that maybe you're losing interest. PLEASE lemme know.
Also, my friend Cubby is running a site and the girl she runs it with is grounded and can't contribute. I was wondering if any of ya'll could visit the site.
http://virtue.nu/frustration
Only do it if you've got the time to, though. She's under stress and is being people to visit hehe. Thought I'd help her a bit.
ANYWAYS! Email me with your comments, questions, or hateful letters : chords4@yahoo.com
Lata (lance moment), Jay
Chapter 14
AJ woke up to arms encircling his body. He sighed and cuddled further into the embrace. It felt right and familiar. His head was pounding inside his skull. He winced in pain as he felt yesterday coming up his throat. He left the warm refuge and ran to the bathroom as yesterday was emptied into the toilet and flushed into oblivion. He wiped his mouth and splashed cold water onto his face while downing two extra strength tylenol he found in the cabinet.
"How do I know where everything is?" he asked out loud. He went back into the bedroom. He practically screamed in horror when he saw Kevin sleeping peacefully. He tried to remember what happened the night before but he couldn't. His brain had erased the memory. AJ grabbed his clothes and pulled them on as quickly as possible. He found his car keys and slammed the door behind him. He jumped into his car and peeled out of the driveway.
"What have I done?"
After his shower and revelation, Jeremy got dressed and wandered down the stairs. Expecting it to be empty, Nick was sitting on a stool with a far off look in his eye.
"Hey Nick," Jeremy greeted.
"Oh, Hey Jay."
"What'cha thinking about?"
"Lisa," Nick sighed with a smile.
"You really like her, huh?"
"Like her, Jay, I think I'm falling in love with her. She's so perfect." Jeremy poured a cup of coffee and sat down on the counter, facing Nick.
"Cool."
"She is so sweet. I swear, if you could change the name of candy, they would name it 'Lisa'. She listens to me when I'm really upset. She takes care of me when I need to be taken care of. I take care of her when she needs it. And when we make love, it's the most magical experience."
"You've fallen hard."
"Yeah, I know but she's worth everything. And she's so understanding about my career. She barely complains about me being gone just as long as I call her everyday. This is what she said to me once, 'I want you to be happy. If that means that you're going to be gone 9 months out of the year, than so be it. As long as I'm the one your thinking about at night and as long as I'm the one your holding when you're here' I swear, Jeremy, she's so wonderful and perfect."
"I believe you, Nicky," Jeremy smiled as they heard some fumbling at the door. The two looked at each other, confused, before getting up and opening the door. AJ's sad face peered up at the two of them.
"AJ? Where have you been?" Jeremy asked as he wrapped his arm around AJ's shoulder and pulled him into the house.
"Yeah, man. We've been worried about you." AJ looked from Nick to Jeremy before bursting into tears.
"AJ, you okay?" Jeremy asked pulling AJ into a hug. AJ just shook his head. "Come on, let's get you to the couch." Nick helped him half drag half carry AJ to the couch. They lay down his convulsing form. "Go get him some coffee, Nick," Jeremy told him as he knelt down next to AJ. "What happened?"
"I-I," AJ continued to cry helplessly. Jeremy pulled him into another hug.
"Shh. It's okay. You can tell me," he cooed. "Did you get drunk last night?" AJ nodded as he cried into his hands. Nick came back with a mug in his hands. "Can you drink some coffee?" AJ nodded and sat up. He took the mug from Nick's hands and quietly sipped the brown liquid, sniffing and snorting. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I got drunk last night and that's all I remember. But, when I woke up this morning," he started to shake. Jeremy sat behind him and wrapped his arms around his friend's shoulders.
"Please, tell us AJ," he pleaded.
"I woke up naked next to Kevin."
"You what?! Are you insane?" Nick shouted.
"Nick," Jeremy warned.
"AJ how could you be so stupid?"
"Nick, go into the kitchen and make some breakfast," Jeremy ordered.
"No, I'm gonna sta-"
"Now!" Nick grumbled and sauntered into the kitchen.
"He's right," AJ sniffed. "It was stupid. God, I'm such an idiot."
"No, you're not. You didn't know what you were doing. You were drunk. How were you supposed to know that you would sleep with Kevin?" Jeremy tried to reason with him.
"I know."
"And I bet a lot of it was just instinct. Have you ever gone out and gotten drunk before?" AJ shamefully nodded. "Where do you go after you get drunk."
"Back to mine and Kev's house."
"Exactly and what do you normally do after you get home?"
"Make love to him."
"See, it was all instinct. Your brain did what it had been programmed to do. After you get drunk, go home, make love to your boyfriend." AJ smiled.
"You're right. My body took control. I had no idea what I was doing."
"Right."
"Than why do I still feel like shit?" Jeremy laughed.
"I don't know, I really dunno."
Mica yawned as she looked out the open window. Sun streamed through it and landed across the carpet. She smiled and stretched. Brian was curled up in a little ball on the other side of the bed. She sighed and found herself staring at him. 'He's so wonderful and perfect.' She thought. 'I wish I could be with him but I can't. Even if he does have feelings for me. It would, no doubt, ruin our friendship.' She sighed. 'Damn me and my rationality.'
Howie yawned as he walked down the stairs into the living room. He found AJ and Jeremy laughing together on the couch.
"AJ! You're back. Where were you?" AJ looked at Jeremy helplessly.
"Uh, just around. I crashed at a friend's house last night."
"Okay, well I'm just glad your safe." Howie bent down and kissed Jeremy before making his way into the kitchen. "Nicky is cooking? Dear god what has this world come to?" he chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. See if you get any," Nick stuck his tongue out at him.
"Of the food you cook? No thank you! I'll cook my own."
"Suit yourself." AJ and Jeremy joined them in the kitchen, both jumped onto the opposite counter.
"What'cha making?" AJ asked.
"I'm making french toast," Nick replied with a satisfied grin.
"Howie, what you makin'?"
"Eggs and toast."
"Make some for me would you?" AJ asked.
"Yeah, sure. Jay?"
"I'll take a chance and put my trust in Nicky's cooking." They both gasped.
"I hope you like burnt french toast."
"I have faith in our Nick's cooking."
"Even I have to say, your nuts," Nick told him.
"Why don't I make it easier, I'll cook for you guys."
"You can cook?" Howie asked.
"Nope, but it'll keep us all from fighting over who has worse cooking. I guarantee that my cooking is worse than Nick's."
"Why doesn't Howie make it. Howie can cook the best out of all of us," AJ nominated.
"How did I come into this?"
"Would you?" Nick pouted.
"I guess. As long as it means I get to save Jay from your cooking."
"Woo hoo," Nick yelled and ran from the kitchen. "Hey AJ, Nintendo?"
"Later guys," AJ slid from the counter and followed Nick.
"So, how'd you sleep?" Howie asked as he cracked an egg into a bowl.
"Alright. Had a freaky dream but what else is new?" he laughed. "What about you?"
"Would've been better if you were with me."
"Aw, you make it sound so tempting."
"Sleep with me tonight?" he pleaded with his eyes. Jeremy shook his head.
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"I'm not ready for that."
"But it's just innocent sleep."
"Innocent sleep can turn into more."
"I promise it won't though," Howie tried to convince him.
"The answer is 'no', Howie. Please don't push me. I'll sleep with you when I feel like I'm ready." Howie just snorted and poured the large bowl of egg yokes into the frying pan. The smell of frying egg mixed with hot coffee filled their souls. "Please believe me, Howie. I just got out of a relationship and I'm not ready for anything extremely serious."
"Are you referring to the relationship between you and Kevin? As I remember, you slept with him on the first night."
"Slept, yes, sex, no. As for that, I was asleep. And no, that isn't the relationship I'm talking about." Howie cut the eggs into pieces as they cooked.
"I'm guessing there's a part of your past that you haven't told me about."
"It never came up."
"It is now. Would you tell me?"
"Tonight, the eggs are done and I don't want to see what Nick and AJ are like when they don't get their food."
"Pillow talk?" Howie asked with a hopeful smile.
"I'll take these two plates out to them," Jeremy slid down and took the only two prepared plates, kissed Howie quickly and left him in the kitchen, confused and feeling left out.
Lisa woke up to find Nick gone. She pulled on the clothes she wore that night and tip toed down the stairs. She heard her Nick and AJ playing video games in the other room. Howie and Jeremy were in the kitchen. Perfect. She silently walked to the kitchen and listened to Howie and Jeremy argue. She ducked down behind the counter on the side they were talking. Jeremy's butt was blocking her view. She waited until there was a pause in the argument. She looked up and to her luck, they were locked in a kiss. She took a quick picture and ducked back down. She watched Jeremy leave the kitchen and darted back up the stairs.
She closed the door behind her and fished out her cell phone. The polaroid was starting to develop as she dialed a familiar number.
"National Inquirer, most accurate tabloid in the us, how can I direct your call?"
"Yes, I'd like to speak to the editor, please."
"Who may I say is calling?"
"Lisa Diflippo."
"I'll put you through."
"Thank you." She listened to the annoying music until there was another dial tone.
"Hello? Ed Harris here."
"What would you say if I told you that I have proof that Howard Dorough, Alex McLean, and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys, were gay?"
Back In Ohio
"Hi, I'm not home right now but if you leave a message I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Bye."
"Jeremy? I'm positive I have the right number. Why haven't you called me back? I haven't heard from you in a month. I'd really like to know what's going on in your life, man. God, best friends for 26 years and not even a phone call? Guess I know who my real friends are, huh? Well, if you ever get the time in your 'busy' schedule, I'd like to hear from you. Bye."
Jeremy and Howie were sitting behind Nick and AJ as they battled mystical monsters in Final Fantasy Viii. Mica silently came down and sat next to Jeremy. He saw the sad look in his friends' eyes.
"Brian?" he mouthed. She just nodded. He put a comforting arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
"Hi everyone," Lisa smiled, coming down the stairs. Nick dropped his video game controller and wrapped her in a hug. "Shame on you, Nicholas. Letting me sleep so late."
"I'm sorry, baby."
"Can we go baby? I wanna be in fresh clothes and you could use a shower," she whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, sure just let me finish up my game with AJ." She sighed and nodded. She sat down between Howie and Jeremy who were wedged together. This caused a shift as Jeremy and Mica were pushed over to the unused portion of the sofa as Howie was squashed against the arm on the opposite side.
"That's better," she grinned from Jeremy to Howie and down to Nick who, to her exquisite pleasure, hadn't seen it. She noticed Howie and Jeremy's half filled coffee cups. She took the two, poured half of Jeremy's into Howie's and sat back into the couch cushions and contently started to drink and savor the taste. Jeremy's mouth fell open at this act. He opened his mouth but Mica's hand closed around it, keeping him from saying anything. He frowned at her.
"For Nick," she mouthed. He sighed, crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. 'BITCH!' he screamed in his head.
"Hey guys," a sleepy looking Brian said coming into the room. Mica made room for him on the couch. She couldn't help but grin at his disheveled appearance. His hair standing up in several directions, the morning grin on his face, and the sleepy look in his eye. He pulled her against him and sighed. Nick hit the 'save' button and turned off the nintendo.
"We'll be seeing you guys," he said with a smile.
"See you, Frack."
"Bye Frick. Bye Howie, bye AJ, bye Jeremy, take care of Howie for me, C-ya Mica." Lisa got up and shot a smile in Jeremy and Howie's direction.
"Bye all," she mooched and left the house.
"Bye guys," Nick called as he followed her.
"What a fucking bitch!" Jeremy hollered. He had bottled it up for Nick's sake but he was gone.
"You can say that again," Mica grumbled.
"What happened?" AJ asked. Mica grinned and stood up.
"I'll demonstrate. You two get back to the way you were." Jeremy and Howie gladly cuddled back up together. Mica reenacted Lisa's performance including, mimicking the coffee situation.
"She really did that?" Brian asked. They all nodded.
"What a bitch," AJ concluded.
Thanks for reading! I hope you liked! Lemme know! Chords4@yahoo.com Jay chords (jayc)