“Amy how could you not tell me that you put that picture out in the open!” Brenda exclaimed walking behind the loveseat to a table pushed up against it. She picked up an old picture of Amy and her when they were in school together. Brenda put the picture back in it’s spot.
“That picture is so ugly! My hair’s all sticking up and you’re acting stupid in it.” AJ looked behind him at the picture on the table behind him. ‘I thought she saw me.’ AJ thought shaking his head. Amy snapped back into reality.
“Oh…the picture! I thought it would always remind us of how goofy we used to be.” Amy looked at AJ and watched as he shook his head. She could tell he was upset that Brenda hadn’t seen him.
“Well lets get going!” Nick said walking to the door. “We have to go before the mall gets packed. I can’t be out in crowded places without a bodyguard and so since the bodyguards are off duty right now I’ve got to be sneaky.” Nick held the door open for Amy and Brenda. AJ barely slipped through the door as Nick shut it.
“Did you feel that cold breeze?” Nick said shivering.
“No. What are you talking about? It’s burning up hot.” Amy said covering up that AJ had just ran by Nick.
“Your right. Come on guys let’s go.” Nick brushed off the feeling and they all took off for the mall.
~ At the mall ~
“Hey let’s go in here!” Nick said pulling Brenda and Amy into a store.
“This looks like an AJ store.” Brenda said looking around.
“She’s right.” AJ said to himself picking up a hat and trying it on. Amy looked in the mirror and saw the hat floating in the air then she looked behind her and saw AJ with it on his head. She grabbed the hat off of his head just before Brenda turned around.
“Hey Amy do you like this shirt?” Brenda said holding up a shirt. Amy smile shaking her head yes so that Brenda would turn back around.
“AJ don’t do that! Brenda or Nick or any other customer could have seen you and gone crazy thinking they were seeing things flying around.”
“Oops!” AJ said trying to play it off. “I promise I won’t do it again.”
“Remember only I can see you sweetie.”
“What did you call me?” AJ said surprised to hear that from Amy.
“Don’t let it go to your head ok.” Amy said smiling.
“Hey Amy who are you talking to?” Nick said tapping Amy on the shoulder.
“Oh no one. Was I talking? It must have been to myself. I have to pep talk myself when I want to buy something.”
“Oh.” Nick said with a weird look on his face. “Um I’m going to go find Brenda.” Nick rushed off trying not to laugh. AJ burst out into laughter. Amy pushed him so that he’d quit laughing.
“See what you did. Now Nick thinks I’m nuts.” AJ composed himself before talking to Amy.
“Well you could have thought of a better explanation than a…a…pep…talk.” AJ tried not to laugh but he burst into more laughter after he said pep talk.
“Oh shut up AJ.” Amy said trying to be serious. She tried not to laugh but when she saw AJ cracking up and she actually started to think about what had just happened she began to laugh too.
“What’s so funny?” Brenda said showing up with Nick beside her.
“Oh nothing.” Amy said still laughing.
“Nothing but a pep talk.” AJ commented between laughs and snickers. Amy busted out into another fit of laughs as she heard AJ mention it again. Brenda and Nick looked at Amy as she nearly fell on the floor laughing. Amy finally stopped laughing when she noticed Brenda’s face and the weird looks she was getting from customers.
“Ahem. I’m ready to go. Don’t look at me like that, guys. It was just an inside joke.” Amy said turning and walking towards the exit. Brenda and Nick shrugged it off and followed Amy towards the door. As they were walking to the next store Nick got stopped by a group of girls and they bombarded him with things to sign. He graciously stopped and signed everything. Amy watched as AJ gazed at the girls with a solemn look on his face. She knew he missed all the action, the autographs, and the attention. She walked up behind him and squeezed his hand. He smiled at Amy and kissed her on the cheek.
“I miss that. I miss everything.” AJ said looking at the girls and their pens and papers. Amy shook her head in agreeance. She understood. AJ let go of Amy’s hand.
“Go with Nick and Brenda. When you guys get ready to leave I’ll meet you where we got dropped off.” Amy watched as AJ jogged. Amy noticed the tears in his eyes as he said he missed everything but she didn’t say anything. ‘I don’t feel I belong here. Amy doesn’t need me and either does anyone else.’ AJ thought as he looked around outside. He wiped his tears and looked up at the sky.
“Take me back!” He yelled. “I don’t belong here. Take me back to heaven.” Then a bright light blinded him.
