Five
Men, A Kid, And A Baby
Story by Daisy
~~*Chapter Eight*~~
“Hi.” Hope said coldly, waiting for AJ to sit down in the chair to
have his hair done. They hadn’t spoken in nearly a week and it was killing her
inside. She grabbed a brush from the table and began to roughly pull it through
his hair. In the mirror she could see his jaw tighten and knew that she was
hurting him. She ignored it.
“Spikes?” She asked picking up some gel.
“Yeah.” He answered. He wanted to talk to her some more but
couldn’t think of anything except how he had gotten so mad at her for
practically nothing. So instead he sat silently for thirty minutes while she
spiked his hair perfectly. He smiled politely and then went to join the other
guys for their first costume change.
“What’s been up with you and Hope, man?” Nick asked, poking AJ in
the ribs with his elbow.
“Nothing,” he replied pulling on a pair of pants.
“Come on, man! A few days ago you two were close. I’d never seen you
talk to her so much. And don’t try to tell me that I didn’t walk in on
something that one day on the bus.” Nick pulled a shirt over his head and AJ
closed his eyes remembering the nearly shared kiss.
“Nothing happened.” He pulled on his own shirt.
“Please.”
“Fine,” AJ gave in and turned to Nick, whispering. “I…I liked
her, man. She was so cool. But then when the tabloids started to exploit us as a
secret family with Lexy and Ally…I just blew up at her.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought she was ruining my image.” AJ shrugged. “I feel
really horrible about it now though.” They heard the music begin to play and
AJ rushed for his place. He inhaled deeply just as he was whisked onstage.
Hope watched him from the dark and listened as the crowd roared their
approval. Tears burned in her eyes. She hated watching him now that she had lost
him.
She waited around under the stage for the next costume change. Even
though they weren’t talking, Hope still helped AJ get ready. She walked
rigidly over to him, carrying a shirt and a pair of pants in her hand. She threw
the pants to AJ and began working on his shirt as if everything was normal
between them.
AJ glanced quickly up at her before his cue, his eyes meeting her for a
brief moment before going back up onstage. As AJ sang the songs he thought about
Hope and made a resolution to make up with her.
He flew back downstage for yet another costume change and once again was
helped by Hope. He quickly changed his pants and let her work on his shirt. He
watched her eyes as she fixed his sweaty hair. He reached up and grabbed her
small hand in his.
“Hope,” He whispered, his voice lost to everyone but her because of
the loud screams from the crowd. It was all he could say before the music began
to play, signaling his cue. He leaned over impulsively and kissed Hope on the
lips. He slid his hand through her soft hair and cupped her head with his hand.
He kissed her like he had wanted to before.
He broke away, smiled at her and rushed to the stage screaming, “Miss
me?” It was the only cue that he had ever been late for. And he had a good
excuse.