Five
Men, A Kid, And A Baby
Story by Daisy
~~*Chapter Five*~~
“We’re going to a place nearby! Gotta go!” The Boys sang, then dropped below the stage for a quick costume change. AJ ran to Hope. She threw him a shirt and helped him unbutton the one he was wearing right then. Hope was also one of the behind-scenes crew that helped with not only the hair but the dressing too. AJ unbuttoned his pants and slipped them off easily. He grabbed for a pair of pants and stared straight into Lexy’s eyes.
“Hi!” He managed between gasps. He quickly pulled on his pants, not
wanting to expose too much of himself to the girl. Hope finished pulling on
AJ’s shirt and ran her fingers through his hair, touching it up.
“AJ?” Lexy’s voice was quiet and he barely heard it. AJ turned to
her, half listening to her and half listening to his the music that was playing,
signaling that his cue was close.
“We’re hungry.” AJ looked at her, but couldn’t say anything
because his time to reappear was almost there. He turned and gave Hope a
pleading look. He jumped into his space and flew back onstage.
The concert wasn’t long after that. There were only a few more songs
that the Boys had to sing before the show was over. AJ dropped below the stage
one last time and turned to run through the back exit. He stopped, midway out
the door, and turned to see Lexy standing alone with Ally. He ran back to them.
“Lexy, listen,” He grabbed the child by the hand and whisked Ally
into his arms. “We have to run fast onto the bus okay? No matter what happens,
stay with me.” AJ turned and began to run, listening to the pitter-patter of
feet following closely behind him.
They had only hesitated for a second, but that second turned out to be
AJ’s worst mistake. As he ran out the back entrance, he was immediately
swarmed by fans that had left before the encore to stake them out. The guys had
left before and all the security was with them. AJ was left to fend for himself.
He cupped Ally’s head in his hand and began to push his way through the crowd.
“AJ! Oh my gosh it’s AJ!” Girls were screaming everywhere around
him. AJ looked down when he felt a small hand clutching his leg desperately.
Lexy stared up at him, her eyes filled with fear.
“Stay with me, Lexy!” AJ shouted, reaching for her. Just as he did, a
swarm of fans pushed her out of the way and she disappeared into the sea of
faces.
“LEXY!” AJ shouted her name, but it was no use. The screams were
beginning to mount as he continued to stall and shout for the girl. Suddenly
Hope was by his side. “Hope, she’s gone!”
“Who?”
“Lexy!” AJ had never been more scared in his life. He frantically
searched the crowd but saw no sign of her. Hope grabbed his arm and put her lips
just below his ear.
“She’s probably okay. Just go to the bus and I’ll stay and look for her!” AJ turned to her and shook his head fiercely.
“As soon as I get on that bus, they’re gonna take off. I can’t
leave without her. She’s too little.” AJ thought quickly and came up with
only one decision. “Hope, tell the bus what happened and tell them to leave.
I’ll be all right. Get on there with them.” Hope stared at him, wondering
what he had in mind, and left in search of the bus.
“Girls! Girls! Please! If you’ll just be quiet for one minute!” AJ
called. The girls quieted in a wave that started in the very front and traveled
to the back of the sea. “I’m willing to sign everyone’s autograph. But you
have to be patient!” Squeals of excitement immediately filled the air and pens
were shoved at him. He peeked at Ally who was beaming brightly into the crowd.
He took the pen and began the long signing of autographs.
He wrote hurriedly, taking very little time with each girl. He was
signing a hat when he felt a hand wrap around the crook of his elbow.
“I told them, but they didn’t leave. They went to the hotel and said
to call them when you’re ready.” Hope’s voice came in his ear. He looked
at her momentarily, relief filling his eyes.
“You stayed.” He commented. She nodded. He turned back to the signing
and wrote quickly. It took him a little less than an hour, which was record
timing. Through all the girls that he saw, none of them was Lexy. As the crowd
had begun to thin, AJ began to lose hope and his eyes began to tear at the
thought of losing such a small child.
“What do we do now?” Hope asked after the last person had left. Ally
was resting peacefully in her arms. AJ stroked the baby’s head, deep in
thought. “AJ, it’s gonna be okay.” AJ looked at her.
“Is it really?” He demanded. “I just lost a four year old girl!
Hope, she was my daughter. What am I going to do?”
“Wanna try the arena security?” He nodded and they walked together
into the arena, making their way towards the security.
“Have you seen a little girl wandering around here?” AJ asked the
amazed security guard. “She’s four and has long dark hair and blue eyes?”
The security guard finally found his voice. “Yes, sir. Right this
way.” Hope and AJ followed him into a back room. He opened the door to reveal
Lexy calmly eating a ham sandwich.
“Lexy!” AJ said, running to her. He knelt down in front of her and
wrapped her in his arms. “Where were you?” He suddenly exploded.
“AJ…” Hope began.
“Why didn’t you stick around and try to find me? How did you end up
here?” The girl set down her sandwich.
“Mommy always told me to find a policeman if I ever needed help.
That’s what I did.” She looked him in the eye so determinedly that AJ hugged
her with relief.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” He whispered.
“I didn’t think you cared.” Her voice wobbled when she spoke.
“Lexy,” AJ brushed stray hairs away from her cute face. “I may have
gotten mad at you before and I may not have been the easiest person to live with
but that doesn’t mean I don’t care.” He inhaled deeply. “It just means
that I’m struggling to adjust to living with kids. Understand?”
Lexy nodded and he hugged her again. “Can we go home now?” AJ nodded
and took her hand. She grabbed her sandwich and hopped off the chair. AJ walked
to Hope who still held Ally in her arms. They walked silently out the door,
thanking the guard on their way out.