Chapter Thirteen
When they arrived at the Gateway Theatre, there were a few people outside, and virtually no lineups.
"Bonus!" said AJ. "No waiting." They all got out of the car and walked across the parking lot. As they reached the door, a young girl of about 13 came rushing up to them.
"Are you guys the Backstreet Boys?" Her green eyes were wide.
"Yup." Nick answered.
"Omigod! Can I have your autographs? Please?" She thrust a Tribute magazine in front of them.
"Sure, no prob." Brian borrowed a pen from Tanna, and took the magazine. "What's your name?"
"N?Natasha."
"But do us a favor, Natasha, and don't spread it around that we're here, okay?" AJ turned up the charm.
"Y?yeah, okay." Her voice trembled. Tanna, Drew and Mackenzie had to smother giggles behind their hands. Drew stepped behind Nick and buried her face in his shoulder to keep from laughing aloud.
The boys finished signing, and waved as the girl scurried to a waiting car. As soon as it was out of sight, the girls burst out laughing.
"You guys really get a kick out of that, don't you?" Mackenzie asked.
"Oh, yeah, we live for it!" Brian smiled. "It's such an ego boost."
"Like you need one!" Tanna and Drew said together. By that time, they had bought tickets and were walking to the theatre. Before they sat down, they stopped at the concession stand, and bought pop, popcorn, and Gummi Bears.
"Where does everybody like to sit?" Kevin asked.
"The back." Drew said quickly. Tanna gave her a puzzled glance, and Drew narrowed her eyes as if daring Tanna to say anything. Tanna shrugged.
"I like the middle." Tanna said. Brian, Howie, and AJ agreed.
"I prefer the front," Mackenzie said.
"Hmmm. How about everybody sits where they like, and we'll meet up again at the end?" Tanna suggested.
"Okay, let's go, Nick." Drew headed to the back row, Nick in tow. Mackenzie led Kevin to the front, and AJ led to the middle seats.
"What are you looking at?" Mackenzie asked impatiently as Kevin kept glancing toward the back of the theatre.
"I'm just wondering if was a smart idea to let Nick and Drew go back there alone." As Kevin answered, the lights dimmed, and the previews started.
"Well, there's nothing you can do about it now. Come and enjoy the movie." Mackenzie lifted his arm and put it around her shoulders.
"I like that plan." He drew her closer to him.
Tanna and Brian sat in the middle of the row; Howie and AJ sat directly behind them. The previews were just beginning and the four of them took off their jackets. Tanna pulled out a travel-sized box of Kleenex.
"Kleenex? You're not going to get all sappy on us, are you?" AJ leaned forward.
"Nah, I brought them for you guys." Tanna answered. AJ scoffed and Brian grinned. "Are you telling me that you won't cry? At all?"
"Maybe. Now, shhh? It's starting." Brian indicated the screen.
Drew and Nick sat in the very back row, in the middle. Nick took her left hand in his right and leaned close.
"Why do you like to sit back here?" He asked. "It's harder to see the screen."
"Well, it's a tradition. I only sit here when I'm not planning to watch much of the movie." Drew answered coyly.
"Oh? And how often does that happen?" Nick looked slightly affronted.
"Actually, I was hoping that I could start that tradition right now. You know, whenever you take me to the movies." Drew leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips.
"Ah. I suppose that could be arranged." Nick said softly when the kiss ended. They both smiled, and kissed again. This time, Nick's hands moved to her back, and began to roam, and Drew's fingers became entwined in his hair.
The first part of the movie went by uneventfully for AJ, Howie, Tanna, and Brian (the same could not be said for the other four). The only disturbance came when AJ choked on his popcorn, after seeing the portrait of Rose naked. Tanna and Brian turned to see Howie pounding helpfully on AJ's back. They chuckled and turned back to the screen.
Soon after, Tanna felt Brian take her hand. She glanced over at him. He smiled, and she returned it.
At the scene where you see a hand come up and smear the fogged-up car window, Howie let out a low whistle. Brian grinned, AJ laughed softly, and Tanna shot them all looks. That just made the boys laugh harder. Tanna rolled her eyes, and decided to ignore them.
Down in the front row, Kevin and Mackenzie were starting to get serious. Kevin's hand was partway up her shirt and was kissing her. They broke the kiss, and looked up at the screen. In the movie, Jack and Rose were kissing on the deck as Titanic hit the iceberg.
They looked at each other, and Mackenzie asked. "Have you seen the movie before?"
"No, this is the first time." Kevin answered.
"Maybe we should watch it then." Mackenzie suggested.
"Nah, I've got other things I'd rather be doing." Kevin pulled her to him again.
"And they lived, happily ever after, in the land of eternal youth?"
Two tears ran down Tanna's cheeks as she listened to the mother tell a bedtime story to her children. Several tears followed the first two. She sniffed, and heard and answering sniff behind her. She turned to see both Howie and AJ furtively brush tears from their cheeks. With a small smile, she wordlessly held out the box of Kleenex. They each took a handful.
When she turned back, Brian raised his arm, put it around her shoulder, and pulled her toward him. She lay her head on his shoulder.
By the time the movie got to the point where Rose promises Jack that she will never let go, Brian was also crying openly. Tanna lifted her head and took another tissue. As she discreetly blew her nose, Howie's arm reached past her to grab another couple of Kleenexes. Tanna glanced up and noticed a tear on Brian's cheek. She reached up and dabbed at it with a tissue. Brian smiled his thanks.
Celine Dion's song, 'My Heart Will Go On' had half finished before Drew looked up and noticed that the movie had ended.
"We'd better meet up with the others." She suggested.
Nick looked at her in protest, "We could just wait until they come and find us." He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. He looked into her eyes and grinned mischievously. His hand slid up her shirt and as his head moved closer to her lips Drew tenderly placed her hand on his cheek.
"Are you sure that's a wise choice?"
"True. Kevin might not be too happy to find us like this." Nick agreed. Then moved her hand and pressed his lips to hers. She gave a cry of forfeit and kissed him back. After a moment she pushed him away and looked into his eyes.
"You know, Kevin will be here soon. We better stop before things go too far."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure that he's got other things on his mind at the moment." One glance at the front of the theatre confirmed his suspicions. He removed his hand from her shirt and hit her playfully for pushing him away then smiled, "But let's go anyway."
"Umm?" AJ paused. "If anyone hears about us crying like babies here?I'd have to create serious bodily harm."
"Calm down, AJ. No one would think less of you just because you cried. In fact, I'm sure that Beth would be impressed. Girls think that sensitive guys are very attractive." Tanna reassured him.
"Still?" AJ persisted, and the other two nodded in agreement.
"Fine, no one will hear it from me." Tanna shrugged. "Let's go find the others."
"Nick and Drew are heading down here, but Kevin and Mackenzie are still up front." Brian answered.
"I'll go get them." Howie volunteered. He walked down to right behind the pair.
Kevin and Mackenzie were kissing when Mackenzie felt a piece of popcorn bounce off her nose. She broke away from Kevin and looked up to see a grinning Howie standing ever them holding a bag of leftover popcorn.
"I wondered when you two would come up for air," He said with a smirk. Kevin turned a dark red.
"Get out of here, Howie!" Kevin growled.
"Touché!" Howie backed off a little. "The others are waiting up there for you." Mackenzie and Kevin gathered their coats and followed Howie. They arrived up there still slightly pink.
"Let's blow this popstand!" Shannon said when they were all there.
"Blow who?" Nick asked, and the boys laughed.
"It means let's get out of here." said Drew. "She says it all the time, so I actually had to learn what it meant."
"Don't you hate when you have to learn something?" AJ mocked Drew.