Too Late
Story by Daisy

~~*Chapter One*~~

“I’m never getting married,” AJ said, taking a sip of his Coke. “You’ve gotta stay with one woman for the rest of your life and that’s just not for me.”

          “Me either.” Nick nodded his head in agreement.

          “Shut up, Nick,” Kevin said, smiling. “You’re only fourteen. How do you know you’re not gonna get married? You haven’t even had a girlfriend yet!”

          “Shut up!” Nick threw the ball he’d been playing with hard at Kevin’s head, but to his dismay, Kevin caught it and heaved it back.

          “I think that I wanna see the world. Women don’t like doing that sort of thing.” Brian said thoughtfully, looking out the window at the clear sky.

          “I don’t wanna wife. All they ever do is complain and boss you around and ask you if they look fat.” Howie said, frowning at the mental picture he had.

          “Hey guys,” Kevin said, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “Why don’t we make a pact?” Brian turned away from the window to look at Kevin. Nick stopped playing with the ball, AJ stopped picking at his fingernails, and Howie stopped frowning at the picture of a woman bossing him around. They all looked intently at Kevin.         

          “What do you mean, Kev?” Brian asked timidly.

          “Just what I said. Since none of us think we want to get married, how about we make a pact. Just with the five of us.” He paused dramatically, then continued when he knew that he had everyone’s full attention. “Never get married.” All the guys nodded in agreement.

          “How about we make this a little bit more interesting?” AJ asked, mischief in his eyes. “Why don’t we make a bet?”

          “A bet?” Nick asked quietly.

          “Let’s make a bet to see which one of us really will be a bachelor our whole lives. In ten years, we’ll see who the last one of us standing is.”

          “And what if none of us is still standing?” Howie asked him.

          “Then we’re all losers who went back on our word.”

          “And what if we’re all standing?”

          “Then we’ll wait to see who lasts the longest.” AJ seemed to have thought of everything.

          “What’s the winner get?” Kevin asked the question that was on every one of their minds.

          AJ shrugged knowingly. “A million bucks. The rest of the guys have to split it four ways and pays the winner a million buckaroos.” He paused to let the guys think about it. “So, are you guys in on it?”

          The four other guys exchanged glances, then said, “Yes!” in unison. They grabbed each other’s hands and shook them vigorously, each of them determined to win that million dollars.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

~~*Nine years and eleven months later!!! *~~

          “Pass me the popcorn, Autumn.” AJ reached out his arm for the popcorn without taking his eyes off the TV screen. He gripped the bowl that was pressed into his hand and began to shove handfuls into his hungry mouth.

          “You’re such a pig.” Autumn shook her head at the sight of AJ, her shoulder-length dark brown hair bobbing with the movement. She gave a small laugh and then turned back to the movie. She wasn’t really watching it though as she began to think of how she and AJ had met. He had been running late to one of his many dates and his car had collided with hers.

          “My new car!” He had screamed, his hands on his head. He looked at Autumn who had just stepped out of her own, totaled car. She looked at the car silently and shook her head. She had just gotten her driver’s license the day before and was taking her mom’s car for a drive. After exchanging insurance information with AJ, they immediately became friends. They hung out all the time and now, seven years later, they were watching a TV movie at AJ’s house.

          “AJ, I gotta go.” Autumn slid off the couch and stretched. AJ got up with her.

          “Why?”

          “This is boring. Sorry, buddy, but it is.” She gestured towards the TV. “Watching lame low-budget movies on TV is not what I would call having fun on the weekends.”

          “Wanna hang out with one a the guys?” He grabbed the cordless phone, ready to dial.

          “I guess so.” She sat back down on the couch and waited while AJ made plans with one of the guys.

          “We got plans to go out with the whole group.” He slid on the couch next to her. “We’re gonna go to eat and then to the movies.”

          “Ok.”

          “Well, don’t you have to get dressed or something?” AJ asked her. “You could stand to take a shower.”

          “AJ! I wouldn’t be talking!” She slapped his arm and got up from the couch. “I’m using your shower so don’t come in.” AJ turned his attention back to the TV as he heard the door to his bedroom shut.

          An hour and a half later, the group was finally seated at the Olive Garden. Kevin brought his wife Kristin, Brian brought his wife Leighanne, Howie brought his wife Claudia, AJ came with Autumn, and Nick came alone.

          “So, Autumn, wearing the thong I got you?” Nick whispered in her ear. She smiled wickedly. She knew that Nick liked her and loved the attention. She smiled, her stomach whirling as she felt Nick’s hand lying lightly on her thigh.

          “No,” she whispered back. “I’m not wearing anything at all.” Nick slammed his wine glass down with an awkward thump, coughing as he choked. Autumn laughed.

          “Come on, Autumn, leave the guy alone. Don’t whisper any more dirty nothings in his ear.” AJ said, handing her the bread. “Unless of course, you like him.” He pulled back the bread before she could get it. “Do you?”

          “Come on, AJ.” She smiled, blushing slightly at the question.

          “Huh?”

          “Okay, fine. A little.” She grabbed the bread and concentrated on buttering it as AJ snickered.

          “Why don’t you go out with him?” AJ asked, buttering his own bread.

          She shrugged. “Cuz, I don’t know. It’s more of a ‘look and don’t touch’ sort of deal. The mystery’s gone if I date him.”

          “Hey guys! Guess what I just remembered?” Kevin asked, his arm wrapped loosely around Kristin’s shoulders. “Our bet.”

          “What?” Nick asked, now fully recovered from his choking.

          “Remember how we bet to see who would be the last bachelor standing in ten years? It’s been ten years.” The table got quiet for a moment until AJ broke the silence.

          “Alright!” He yelled, ignoring the stares from the other diners. “I’m still left!”

          “Me too!” Nick smiled.

          “In one month, we’ll know who wins. One of you’s gotta get married in order for someone to win. Otherwise, we just wait it out.” Kevin took a sip from his wine glass.

          AJ looked at Nick out of the corner of his eye, vowing that if it were the last thing he did, he would win this bet.

Chapter Two
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