Wrong Number


written by Mary and Lisa

Chapter 5

Liane sighed and took the dishes and glasses to the sink to wash them. This was crazy! This sort of thing didn't happen to people like her! She turned on NPR to catch the news as she washed.

’And now in local news: a snowstorm of possible record breaking strength is on its way to the great lakes region: be prepared...'

Liane flicked off the radio. Oh, no. Please... let them get to Chicago! She was thinking very un-Liane like thoughts about AJ... 'what about it babygirl, we on?' ai yi yi the man DID trip her trigger and that was no lie. It was strange... she always thought of herself as attracted to the more genteel academic type... but then, she had been out with a number of academic types and they never made her feel like this crazy pop star with the tattoos. She wondered what sort of tattoo she should get... maybe she'd really be crazy and let AJ decide.

After she cleaned up she packed a few things and went to bed, Kafre curling at the side. "Oh, Kaf, I wish you could go too..." she said ruffling his soft fur and hearing his purr.

Denise found her way into her apartment and ransacked her hall closet looking for her overnight bag. The place was almost too quiet after the giggling and chatting earlier. She slipped a cd into the bedside player and settled into throwing things in the bag as the strains of BSB filled the small room. Laying out her outfit for the next day, she finally crawled into bed shortly after midnight. She didn't know how she'd ever go to sleep. Flashes and images of Howie during their chat kept popping into her head and she smiled to herself.

"Old girl....you better have some gumption tomorrow," she thought to herself, hoping she didn't freeze up when she finally did come face to face with Howie. His smile and teasing and prodding had melted her heart. "Down girl..." she laughed quietly before turning out the light and trying to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The blaring alarm woke Denise at 9:00 the next morning. She jumped up and hit the shower, hurrying to get everything ready. She knew she should have gotten up earlier, but she just couldn't make herself climb out of the warm flannel sheets. As 10:30 crept nearer, she gave herself a once over in the mirror before heading out and driving towards Liane's place once again.

"Good lord woman! I just tried calling you! YOU are late!" Liane fussed as she met her at the door.

"I know, I know! I just couldn't decide on nail polish," Dee groaned. "I brought another couple of colors with me...it will give me something to do in the car on the way," she added.

"Jesus Dee...you'd think you were getting married or something the way you worry. You look fine! Now hurry up, the limo will be here any minute. Did you hear that there is a snow storm on the way? Sounds like we may bump into some white stuff on the way there."

"News? No, hon, I try to stay away from reality based... HO LEE SHIT!"

Liane looked up and saw a huge gleaming black limo pull up. "That is the biggest limo I have ever seen!" said Liane, mouth agape. The limo stopped and the driver came out, a nice looking middled aged man.

"Are you Denise and Liane?"

"You bet your tushie we are!" squeeled Denise racing around the car.

The driver smiled. "I'm George. If you want, I'll put your bags in the trunk while you ladies settle in."

Liane nodded and tugged again on the hem of her little black dress. She hadn't wanted to wear it all day, but wasn't sure of they would have time to change before the show. Denise was in her skintight catsuited glory.

"I heard there may be snow..." said Liane nervously to the driver as the car purred from the sidewalk. Denise stuck her fingers in her ears and said "Lalalalallalalaaaaa... I hear nothing.... lalalalala." Li laughed and smacked her playfully.

"Yes, there is a big storm coming." confirmed George. "But don't worry, I'll take care of you ladies. There's a TV, videos, a bar and munchies back there. Knock yourselves out."

Liane ran her hand over the buttery leather of the seat. "Beautiful car, George."

"Thank you, Ma'am!" he grinned back.

"Ooooh... macadamia nuts." sighed Denise opening a can with a hiss. "Very chic."

"Tres chic." corrected Liane as she got some orange juice from the tiny fridge. "Ah... now this is living."

"Don't get too used to it," laughed Denise, "Remember we have to come home again."

"Yeah, but just for this weekend, let's be princesses."

The women smiled and shook on it. About at the Indiana border the snow began to fall. Halfway across Indiana it was thick as a blanket. Liane was nervous, but she tried not to show it. Denise was playing with all the gadgets, making George chuckle.

The two were watching videos with Denise singing at the top of her lungs when they heard a phone ring. Denise reached over and grabbed the receiver, taking a huge sip of champagne before answering. "Hello?"

"Hello? Who is this?" she heard the male voice on the other end of the line.

"This is Domino's Pizza! Who's this?" she fought the urge to giggle.

"Damn Kev...you gave me the wrong number," she heard AJ mumble as he placed his hand over the speaker. "Where's that piece of paper."

"AJ? AJ!! It's Denise you goof," she continued to laugh.

"Denise? Damn woman....I owe you one for that...you better keep an eye out or hide behind Howie a lot! What are you two doing?"

"Well, we are on our way. About half way through Indiana and it is snowing like nobodies business. But we are kicked back relaxing..."

"Dee has already had half a bottle of bubbly!" Liane yelled across the small space.

"Half a bottle? By yourself? Damn little girl....Howie man, your chick has already polished off half a bottle....yeah...." she could hear AJ laughing. "Howie says hurry up and get your butt here girl!"

"George is doing his best...." Denise smiled. "We should be there just in time for the show. Tell Howie I brought some ice cream..."

She heard AJ attempt to cover the receiver again, "Damn Howie...you've got a live one...says to tell you she brought ice cream...Dee, Howie says just you wait! Now...we have to go soundcheck, so we will see you ladies when we come out."

"You bet your sexy tushie you will!" Denise laughed before hanging up.

"God, I feel sick with nerves."

"Nursie Dee say take some bubbly with some bubbly. It will help."

Liane laughed, and poured herself a glass. The car suddenly slowed down. "George?" said Liane nervously.

"It's OK, ladies, just an accident ahead so the rubberneckers are slowing."

"I HATE that." said Denise.

Liane peered out the window and saw a jackknifed semi. "Oh, Gosh, the poor guy."

"No weather to be driving in." agreed george. 'But don't worry, we're almost to Gary, and then before you know it we'll be at the Rosemont Horizon."

Liane looked at Denise and smiled. "Can you believe it?"

"Actually... no." they laughed.

Geeorge turned on his weather station radio. "You'll be snowed in for sure... hope they don't cancel the concert."

"I hope not!" said Liane, "I hadn't thought of that...."

"Hmmmm... snowed in with Howie at a luxury hotel in Chicago...." purred Denise.

An hour later the Limo pulled up to the Rosemont. "OK, ladies, have fun. I'm going to take your things to the hotel."

"Oh, George, thank you so much!"

"My pleasure, he said, opening the doors for the women."

"Ohhh, it's cold." shivered Denise.

"You think YOU'RE cold... sheesh at least your legs are covered in Velvet." Replied Li, tugging at her dress. They walked up to the front of the line and were handed backstage passes and tickets, and allowed in. Some of the cold teenyboppers glared at them. Denise grinned and fluttered her fingers to them.

"Dee, don't be mean. Let's get out of this wind!" said Liane, pulling her velvet wrap closer around her shoulders. "I should have brought a coat."

The girls made their way inside and found their seats quickly as the regular throng of fans were let in. "Front row....holy crap," Denise murmured in awe. She turned to one of the teeny bops lucky enough to have front row with them. "Hey, do you know who is opening?" she asked the little girl.

"I heard they couldn't get here because of the weather, so I think we get lucky. Who wants to see Willa-beast sing anyway?" the little girl groaned. "Did you win a contest too?" the girl pointed to their passes before showing hers.

"Sort of," Denise smiled to the little girl. "Who's your favorite? No wait, let me guess..." she looked at the girl like she was trying to decide. "Is it Nick?"

"Yep! How did you know?" the girl laughed.

"Lucky guess! Oh look...the lights are going down!!" Denise grabbed Liane's arm and screamed like the teeny boppers. A moment later the guys were flying in over everyone's heads. The girls watched as they got unhooked from their harnesses and tore into Larger Than Life, playing to each side of the stage. They could tell the guys were squinting into the front row on each side, trying to find them. When they reached the final side where the girls were, AJ and Howie grinned ear to ear and waved their fingers to them.

"Oh my god....Howie waved to you," the little girl said as she tugged on Denise's sleeve.

"You want to wave to Nick? Come here," she said and she picked up the little girl who couldnt have been more than 6 or 7. "Here he comes...big smile and wave REALLY hard!" she told the girl. She obeyed and was rewarded with a wave and a smile from Nick.

"Thank you," the girl's mother told Denise. "You have made her year," the lady laughed.

The rest of the show went by in a blur of music and activity, the guys playing to the girls whenever they were on that side of the stage. Howie had even made sure to drop his final rose from the flying segment right down to Denise. The show was over and fans began filing out, leaving Denise and Liane waiting. Finally a security guard came for them.

"Ladies, I think you are supposed to follow me," and he led them out of the arena and down a long narrow corridor, finally stopping and opening a door to small greenroom. "The boys can't wait to meet you, however they have a meet and greet first. They should be back in about half an hour," she informed them before closing the door.

"Oh my god....this is it Li. Any time now...." Denise said, fidgeting nervously.

Liane laughed at her friend. "Now who's nervous!" she chuckled. She was feeling pretty butterflyish in the tum herself... AJ on stage was so... vital so alive so... outrageous and sexy... she felt her insides flip-flop. Was she really up for this? Standing she walked around the small room.

"Good lord, sit woman." said Dee who was pacing, too. They looked at each other and cracked up. Denise put the rose to her nose and inhaled, closing her eyes. When she opened them again she was looking right into the biggest, brownest, sexiest eyes she had ever seen.

"Hi Denise." said Howie a smile playing over his lips.

"Hi..."

Liane turned all of the guys were piling into the little room. AJ came up to her, took her hand, and kissed it, causing her insides to turn to utter goo.

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