CHAPTER TEN-“Magic Secrets Revealed”

 

“No, my favorite was when they did ‘As Long As You Love Me’.” Lina said as we made our way back to the tour bus after the concert.  “I don’t care how old that song is I love it.”

 

“I still think ‘I Want It That Way’ is the best.”  I said.  “Oh, but you know what was hot?  BABY..”

 

She joined in, “IT’S THE WAY YOU MAKE ME KINDA MAKE ME GO CRAZY NEVER WANNA STOP.  IT’S GOTTA BE YOU…A HUH A HUH.”

 

We laughed, opening the door to the bus.

 

“Well you two had a good time tonight.”  John said as we entered.

 

“Yeah, it was great.”  I said.

 

“They’re the best.”  Lina told him as she headed back to where the bunks were.

 

“So maybe I should check it out one of these day, heh Miss?  He asked me.

 

“Yes, you should.” I told him.  “You’ll love it.  This is like my second time seeing it, and I’m planning to watch it every night they perform.”  I said making him laugh at my exaggeration. 

 

He got up and took his coat from behind the driver’s seat.  “See you later Miss,” he said heading out the door. 

 

“Ok, bye.”  I said wondering where he would be going at this time of night.  It was around eleven thirty at night.

 

“So, I guess it’s just us tonight Lina.”  I told her.  “Let’s watch a movie.”

 

“Um, sorry.”  She called back as she came forth changed in a simple, black miniskirt, and a skintight, white tank top, with a black jacket.

 

“Where are you going?”  I asked her surprise at her quick change.

 

“No where.”  She said.  “Just out with AJ.  He invited me to go out with him.”

 

  “On a date?”  I asked.

 

“No, it’s not a date.”

 

“So, who else is going?’  I asked derisively.

 

“No one else is going.”  She mimicked.

 

“So it’s a date.”  I said.

 

“It’s not a date.”  She said smiling from cheek to cheek.

 

“Ok,” I said.  “It’s not a date.”

 

“Well, see you later.”  She said, taking one last look at herself in the rear view mirror.  “Don’t wait up.”

 

“Bye.”

 

She hadn’t been gone more than five minutes, when four Backstreet Boys ambushed my bus.

 

“Hey!”  Nick said making his way past me and on to the back room.  “Mind if we come in?’  He joked.  He was already sitting down in the back.

 

“Thought you might like a little company tonight, seeing as Angelina just left on her date.”  Howie said.

 

“Oh, it’s not a date.”  I said sarcastically.

 

They laughed.  “Yeah, we know.  AJ told us too.”

 

“Yo, c’mon,” Nick said coming out of the room.  “I’ve waited a month for this, and I’m like dying to find out who the masked magician is.”

 

I looked at Nick with interest.

 

“They were going to reveal who the masked magician is tonight.  They gave Magic secrets revealed one, two, three, and four on channel five.”

 

“Oh,” I said.  “Didn’t that start at like eight?”

 

“Yeah,” he said lifting up a black videocassette.

 

“He recorded it.”  Brian said holding up his hand like he had a tape in it and making a really dorky looking face.

 

“Four hours, Baybee!”  Nick hollered going back to the room.  I could have sworn I saw him skip in his excitement. 

 

Howie went back, and so did Kevin. I reached for the box of Pop Secret Popcorn, and put all three bags into the microwave, of course, not at the same time.

 

“I’m sure it’s going to be a long night.”  I said.

 

Brian laughed.  “Yeah, thanks to Nick.”

 

Brian went under the counter, and grabbed a gigantic bowl so we could put the popcorn in there.

 

“Wow” I said.  “I didn’t even know that was there.”

 

“These buses are all identical.”  He said grabbing five cups and filling them with ice.  “I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the exact same bus we rode in at some time or another.”

 

“Really,” I said curious to find out if that could be true.

 

“Yeah,” he continued.  “I think this is the bus we used on our first US promo tour.  As a matter of fact, I think I remember Nick writing the date and the name of the song, that went to number one while we were on this bus.”  Then he went over to the table.  “Look, check under here.  I think he carved it there or something.”

 

How exciting I thought.  It would be so cool if we found out this had actually been there bus at one time.  I got on my knees, and took a look under the dinette table.  “Brian, I don’t see anything.”

 

“I’m sure this is the same bus.”

 

I went in even further.  “Nope, I don’t see a thing.”

 

“Well I see something.”  He said with a laugh.

 

“Where? I don’t.”

 

He laughed even harder.

 

“Ugh!”  I said as I quickly got out and up from under the table, putting an end to his nice view of my rear.

 

I laughed sarcastically as I rolled my eyes.  I walked over to him as he continued to laugh, to playfully shove him.  “Funny Brian.”

 

But before I could softly push back his shoulder, he gently grabbed my wrist, pulling me lightly towards him.  I smiled coyly back at him.  For the second time we were so close that I could see speckles of gray and dark green in his gemstone blue eyes as they stared into mine.

 

I wanted to shout at him.  ‘Brian you are engaged!  Why do you keep doing this!’  But something told me not to.  His eyes were saying ‘Let me touch you.  Let me take you into my arms, and just hold you.’

 

He let go of my wrist, but didn’t move away.  He wanted to see if I’d move away first.  He smiled when I didn’t, and slipped his hands around my waist. Not once did he break eye contact.  He tilted his head and moved in, I felt his warm breath on my lips.

 

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

 

We both parted, and looked towards the microwave.  The popcorn was done, and so was the intense moment.  His hands slowly slid off my waist, as I walked towards the microwave.  I then emptied the popcorn into the bowl, and Brian grabbed the cups of ice, and brought along a bottle of soda, as we went in to join the others.

 

Nick had already started the video, not that I really cared to watch four full hours of Magic Secrets Revealed.  I sat down in between Howie and Kevin, and Kevin felt it necessary, to inform me of what I had missed.  I laughed at how he found these old magicians’ tricks fascinating.

 

“Shhh,” Nick would say if Kevin got too loud.  Nick was just staring at the TV screen.  The only time he would budge would be to either reach for his coke, or the popcorn.  Brian didn’t say much, he was over by Nick.  And Howie just interjected, when Kevin couldn’t think of a word.

 

We heard the bus door open and close.  Nick actually looked up as we wondered who it could be.  We heard footsteps walking towards us and Leighanne entered the room.  She looked around, and said, “Hi everyone, sorry.”  Then she looked over at Brian.  “Bri, can I talk to you?”

 

“Sure.”  Brian said getting up quickly and walking out with her.

 

We continued to watch the magic thing, Nick would every so often get up and fast-forward the commercials.  Kevin continued telling me how intriguing this trick would be or how difficult that other one was.

 

“Shhh, she doesn’t care.”  Nick said.

 

Kevin looked at him.  Then smiled at me, I smiled, but he stayed quiet.  I did want him to be quiet.  Not because I wasn’t really interested, but because I was straining my hearing to see if I could catch what Brian and Leighanne were doing.  God, I’m nosey.  I though.  But I continued to try to listen.  Of course I couldn’t hear a thing, they were in the kitchen.  But soon their voices started becoming louder, and I didn’t have to strain when they began yelling.

 

“Fuck.”  Nick said looking out the door.  “They’re at it again.”

 

Kevin looked at Howie, and then back to the television.  But I could feel Howie’s eyes on me. 

 

“Yo, can ya shut up or take it somewhere else!  We’re trying to watch something here.”

 

“Nick mind your fucking business.”  Came Leighanne’s response as she slammed the door that divided the kitchen and the bunkroom.

 

Nick got up and slammed the leisure room door.  “Bitch.”  He said.  And went back to watching television. We heard one more door slam, as Leighanne and Brian left the bus.

 

The next day, I got up around eleven, and showered.  Lina didn’t get back till after the guys had left, and they left around three in the morning.  Kevin and Howie had fallen asleep, and Nick and I just kept watching till they revealed who the magician was. 

 

I went into the back room and put everything back where it belonged.  I knew it was our place to enjoy, but I still felt the need to keep it looking clean in case Yvonne dropped in.  I heard the bathroom door close, and that was my indication that Lina was here.  When she came out she changed into some old jeans and a tee shirt.

 

We walked into the kitchen, in silence.  She looked like shit; she had been drinking.

 

Unfortunately, there were no doughnuts left for us on the table. “Ok,” I said looking through the fridge and cabinets.  “We’ve got eggs, English muffins, bacon, cheese, ham, bread, and a box of strawberry pop tarts.  We both looked at each other.  “Pop Tarts.”  We both said at the same time, truly not in the mood to cook.

 

I took the box out and threw four tarts in the microwave, set for twenty seconds.  Lina put water into the Mr. Coffee pot, and it began to brew.  BEEP! Went the microwave letting us know our breakfast was done.  Funny I though, how yesterday when it beeped, it sounded more like a warning signal.

 

“How was last night, with AJ?”  I asked her.  She was sitting down at the table, and had her head down over the table.

 

“We had such a blast.”  She said.  “We didn’t stop dancing for a second.”

 

“Where did you guy’s go?”

 

“First we went to this house where one of his friends was staying, and was throwing a party.  There were so many people there, Isa.  And the music was blaring.  After we got tired of that we went to this club close by, with some people from the party.  We weren’t going to leave.  But when they started playing house.  That’s when we said it was time to go.  It was like five thirty in the morning I think.

 

“Sounds like you guys had fun.”

 

“We did.”  She said putting her head back down.  I went to the counter, and grabbed some aspirins and brought them back to her.  I also got her some coffee.

 

“Thanks.”  Then she said.  “He kissed me last night.”

 

I smiled.  I knew that was coming.

 

“Really?”  I said to keep her going.

 

“Yeah, well, when he dropped me off in front of the bus, he kissed me.”

 

“Well, did you kiss back?”

 

“Of Course!”  She said.

 

I laughed.  “Of course.  Was it still not a date at that point.”

 

She laughed.  “He was so sweet, Isa.  He…” Before she could finish, we heard a knock on the door.  “It’s open.”  She yelled.

 

“Hey, sweet thang.”  AJ said coming in. Howie, Nick, Brian and Kevin followed.

 

“Hey.”  We both said, noticing the McDonald’s bags in their hands.

 

“Breakfast time.”  Nick said taking a seat next to me, making me move over by the window.  AJ took a seat next to Lina giving her a kiss on the cheek.

 

Kevin, Brian and Howie started handing out Egg McMuffins, hashbrowns, Big Breakfast plates and anything and everything they’d bought. 

 

“You guys are great.”  I said as Nick placed a Big Breakfast meal in front of me. 

 

“Yeah, ya are.  But you didn’t have to go and do this.”  Lina said.

 

“Yes we did.”  Nick said.  “Remember, today’s our last day in Philadelphia.”

 

“Oh right, the breakfast thing.  Don’t mind me guys.  I feel like crap.”

 

AJ whispered something to her and she shook her head yes.  He took a small bottle out of his black pants.  Opened it up, and handed Lina two pills.  He looked at me when he noticed I was watching with concern.

 

“Their just energy pills.  Don’t worry a lot of people take them. Nick sometimes takes them.  And so does Kevin.” He told me.

 

“Ok,” I said looking over at Kevin.  He nodded. I watched as Lina took them with her coffee.

 

“Whoa.”  She said. “What’s wrong with Brian.  He looks almost as bad as me.”

 

“Thanks.”  Brian said sarcastically, taking a seat up on the counter.

 

“Don’t pay attention to him.  He just woke up like that.”  AJ told Lina.

 

“No, it’s cause Leighanne is leaving.”  Nick said, a smile on his face.

 

“What?”  AJ said.  “Leighanne’s leaving you?”  He asked not sure what was going on.

 

“I wish.”  Nick said laughing.  “That’s why she was bitchin’ last night.”

 

“Shut up, Frack.”  Brian said, melancholy in his voice.  “We were just arguing about the fact that she’s being inconsiderate.  How are you just going to get up and leave?  Especially for Christmas, and my mom was expecting to see and congratulate us.  I don’t know, I just don’t think that’s right.”

 

“She’s just leaving till February.  They decided that some of the shots for the movie Olive Juice just weren’t going to work, so they need to re-shoot them.  She’s flying out to L.A. once we get to New York.  She’s not even coming down for Christmas.  She’s going to spend it over at one of her sister’s house.”  Kevin explained.

 

“But didn’t you buy her moms a plane ticket to come out to New York?”  AJ asked.

 

“Yeah,” Brian said taking a sip of his OJ through a straw.  “And now they won’t give me a refund on it or anything.  They don’t do that for holiday sales.  But I think she’s going to come up anyways.  She has another daughter who lives in Staten Island. She will probably end up staying with her.”  Brian sighed.

 

Coincidentally, our bus door opened, and in walked Leighanne.

 

“Sorry I’m late guys she said walking over to where Brian was and giving him a kiss on the lips.  She grabbed a breakfast sandwich.  “You guys forgot to tell me where you were going to have breakfast at.  I waited back on our bus.”

 

“Oh,” Kevin said.  “We told Nick to let you know we were coming over to Angelina’s bus.  He must have forgotten.”

 

Nick looked innocently around the room.  “Forgot, my ass.”  He whispered to Lina, AJ, and me.  “Sorry,” he said to Leighanne.

 

“Don’t worry about it.”  She said.  “It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve forgotten.” 

 

Nick rolled his eyes.  “Yeah, whatever.”  He mouthed to himself.

 

The phone rang breaking the tension in the room.  Kevin picked it up, and handed it over to me.  “Hello?…Oh, hi…sure I’ll tell her…ok, bye.”  I said handing the phone back to Kevin, where he hung it up.

 

“Yvonne, right?”  Lina said guessing correctly.  “I have to go now?”

 

“Yeah.”  I said. 

 

“Alrighty then,” she said finishing her coffee and getting up from the table.  “I’ll see you guys later.”

 

“Bye.”  AJ said to us.  Walking out with her.

 

“Is it me, or are those two getting a bit too close?”  Nick asked.

 

“It’s just you.”  Kevin said letting Nick know he should just stay out of it.

 

“Yo, c’mon lets go to the arena.”  Brian said.  “I feel like playing some ball.”

 

“Ok.”  Nick said shooting up from his seat.

 

“I don’t really feel like shooting some ball right now.”  Kevin said.

 

“C’mon grandpa.”  Nick said patting him on the back as he stepped off the bus.  “You need the exercise.” 

 

Kevin laughed to himself.  “Little twerp.”  He got off the bus and took after Nick.

 

Brian, Leighanne and Howie followed. But before Howie got off, he said.  “Isabelle, you coming?”

 

“Yeah sure.”  I said getting up from the table.  “Just let me clean up here.  I’ll join you guys in a while.”  I started throwing away all the McDonald bags, cup, and plates. 

 

“Here, let me help you.”  Howie said.

 

“Thanks.”

 

When Howie and I got to the small park behind the arena, the game was already started.  Regardless of how cold it was, they took off their coats and sweaters, playing in tee shirts.

 

I sat down by a set of small bleachers.

 

“Aren’t you going to play?”  Howie asked taking his sweater off.

 

“I’m not much of a basket ball player.”  I admitted honestly.

 

“Oh that’s ok…we’d put you on B-Rok’s team.  Not like it would make a difference.” 

 

I smiled. “No thanks.”

 

“Ok,” he said going over to join the guys.

 

“It was two on two.  Kevin and Brian, against Nick and Howie.”

 

“Hi,” Leighanne said as she sat down next to me.

 

“Hi,” I said, not taking my eyes away from the game.

 

“So, how old are you again, Isabelle?” 

 

“I’ll be turning nineteen in June.” 

 

“So you’re eighteen.”  She said. 

 

“Yup.”  I still didn’t turn to face her.

 

“So what grade are you in?  Oh nevermind, that’s right.  You’re a freshman.”

 

“Yeah, I am, in college.”  I said.

 

“So do you have a boyfriend?”

 

For the first time, I turned to face her.  “What?”

 

“Well, did you leave anyone behind back in Canada?” 

 

“No,” I spat out.  She was annoying me.  “Excuse me.”  I said getting up to leave.

 

“Isabelle.”  She called back.  “You know Brian’s mine, right.”

 

I stared at her as callous as I could.  But her stare was malicious.  It was enough to burn a hole through a brick wall.  I turned around and walked away.  I was going back to the bus.  Ugh! I swear that bitch has some nerve.  Like what on earth makes her think I’m interested in her man.  I’m not.  I like Kevin, not Brian. I like Kevin.  Don’t I?

 

 

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