Chapter Eleven
The six of them met up with Howie and AJ in the food court and got their food. When they were finished, they wandered through the mall. By that time, it was almost six o'clock p.m.
"Well?"AJ said reluctantly. "Guys, we gotta go."
"Go where?" asked Drew.
"Well, since we got those extra two days off, Donna wants us to rehearse a little." Nick said.
"Yeah, she even booked us a studio for a couple of hours, starting at six p.m." Howie said.
"Oh. I guess we'll see you later, then." Tanna said.
"Hey. Can we watch you guys practice?" asked Mackenzie. "I mean, you perform in front of millions, I'm sure that practicing in front of three won't kill you."
The guys looked at each other. After a moment, they all shrugged as it to say 'I don't care - you?'.
"Great! Let's go." Mackenzie grinned.
"We don't want you guys to be late!" Drew agreed.
As they arrived at the studio, Tanna mentioned to Brian, "You know, both Drew and Mackenzie have seen you perform live. But this will be my first time."
"Really?" he answered. "Well, then we'll have to be especially good!"
Tanna wasn't sure how to respond to that, but she was saved from having to by AJ calling to Brian.
"Come on, man! We'll change and meet the girls in a minute." The guys disappeared, leaving Mackenzie, Drew, and Tanna sitting in an empty studio.
"So things are getting really serious between you and Kevin, eh Mackie?" Drew asked as they sat down.
"Yeah, I guess so. Most of the time, Kev seems enthusiastic about us, and maybe this relationship will go somewhere. Other times, it seems like he doesn't want an 'us' at all! I'm so confused!" Mackenzie explained.
"Maybe he's concerned about the age difference." Tanna suggested. "12 years is a big gap."
"Yeah, that could be it." Mackenzie conceded. "But what do I do to convince him that it doesn't matter to me, and that it shouldn't matter to him, either?"
As Drew was about to answer her, the boys walked back into the room. Nick was wearing sweatpants and a football jersey. Kevin was wearing jogging pants with a T-shirt. Brian was wearing tear-aways with a basketball jersey over a white T-shirt. Howie and AJ were both wearing workout pants, Howie with an Adidas T-shirt and AJ with a tank top.
Drew whistled. When they looked surprised, she shrugged and said, "Isn't that the response you usually get when you walk on stage? I'm trying to make it seem as much like home as possible."
"Well, we don't usually practice in front of screaming fans?" Nick said.
"And we never expected that response from you guys." Brian finished.
"Ah!" Drew answered. Then the opening music to 'As Long As You Love Me' started. The boys got into position and started to practice.
Mackenzie, Drew, and Tanna all watched in silence. Tanna was amazed. She had never thought that seeing them perform live (even if it was just a practice) would be that way. Drew looked over and chuckled.
"Close your mouth!" She nudged Tanna's arm. "You'll make them think they're good, or some such nonsense."
"But they are good!" Tanna replied.
"Yeah, but we're not supposed to notice. We're the ones who keep their feet on the ground, remember? That's why they like us."
"Oh yeah. I'm sure that's the only reason that Nick loves you." Mackenzie said.
"Well, okay, they like us for other reasons, too." She giggled.
For the next two hours, the girls watched in relative silence, with only a snide remark here and there. The boys performed most of their repertoire, except for 'Set Adrift On Memory Bliss', 'Boys Will Be Boys', and 'Hey Mr. DJ'. When they were finished, the girls gave them a round of applause. They bowed theatrically.
"Thank you, thank you! Please, don't throw money!" AJ bowed his head regally. The girls laughed, and Tanna threw a towel at him.
"No money? Darn! And I was so looking forward to throwing a hard object at you!" Tanna rolled her eyes and laughed at him. "Give it up, you ego-maniac!"
"Well, I'm seriously crushed!" He returned the towel after wiping his face on it.
"Eeew! Oh, I'm sure you are." Tanna picked up the towel gingerly.
"We'll change and be right out." Nick said as he bent to kiss Drew.
"Not until you shower!" Drew placed her hand in front of his face. "Ugh! You smell!" Nick snorted and they made their way to go change.
"Now I see why all those girls go ape over them. They've got incredible stage presence." Tanna commented after a few mintues.
"Yeah, but I still think that all those girls are only nuts over them because they're good-looking." Mackenzie agreed.
"You think we're good-looking?"Kevin came up behind Mackenzie and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Well, in an oddball, obscure kind of way." She looked up and all three girls laughed.
"Harumph!" Kevin replied.
"I think we shoud be insulted, boys!" Brian said from behind Kevin, where they had heard Mackenzie's comment.
"Nah." Tanna said with a laugh. "We meant it in the nicest possible way." Her eyes twinkled.
"Speak for yourself! I meant it just the way it sounded!!" Drew winked at Nick, who grinned back. He was used to this type of ribbing.
As they gathered their things, the girls laughed at the stories that Howie was telling.
"You should have seen the expression on AJ's face when he opened his closet to find it empty. It was priceless! He looked for his clothes, but he couldn't find them anywhere. It turned out that Nick had hidden them under the sink in the bathroom." As Howie retold the story, AJ was blushing, and Nick was looking around in self-congratulation. "But that's not to say that Nick didn't get his come-uppance. The next night, we were in Germany somewhere, and we got him back!
"He was changing, and was standing only in his underwear. We called him to the door to show him something?"
"Supposedly!" Nick interrupted. Now it was his turn to blush.
"?to supposedly see something at the door. Before he came, he wrapped a towel around his waist. He got to the door and looked out. He groaned when he saw the pack of screaming girls heading his way. He tried to draw back, but we shoved him forward, grabbed his towel away, and locked the door behind him!" Howie had to stop, because he was laughing to hard. AJ picked up the story.
"It so funny to see Nick out there in his briefs, mobbed by a bunch of German teenage girls! It totally made up for having my clothes swiped. Eventually though, we relented and opened the door for him."
"But not before seeing him get kissed full on the lips by one of the screamers." Brian added.
"Oh, really?" Drew asked.
"Yeah, but I was too busy defending myself to really enjoy it!" Nick answered mischeviously, then flinched as Drew swatted his arm.
"Jerk!"
By that time, they had reached the hotel, and it was about nine o'clock. Kevin had his arm around Mackenzie's shoulder, and Nick was holding Drew's hand. Brian was standing just to the side of Tanna, close, but not touching. Howie and AJ were on her other side.
"Okay, well, goodnight." Said Howie.
"You need another ride home?" Brian asked Tanna.
"No, I'm spending the night here. I was supposed to last night, but my mum wouldn't let me for some strange, unknown reason. But thanks anyway." She replied with a smile.
While Tanna hugged him, Howie and AJ goodnight, Nick had pulled Drew to the side a little.
"Sweet dreams." He said as he bent and kissed her.
At the same time, Kevin wished Mackenzie a good night and kissed her cheek. As he was pulling away, she turned her head and kissed him quickly on the lips.
"Well, goodnight, all!" AJ said as the boys walked away, waving. The girls waved back.