The stage had been cleared, and the boys were in the back cleaning up after their show. All of the girls who had won, and Denise, sat around in one of the back rooms and chatted.
"I thought it was good," Melissa said, referring to the music video for "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely".
"So what do you think, Jennifer?"
"Ugh!" she exclaimed, disgusted. "It's the worst thing I've ever seen by them. They kept flashing the name 'Denniz' throughout the whole video and they never even spelled it right once! What is with that? And who is this Dennis guy anyway?"
The circle of girls fell silent as they all attempted to contain their laughter.
"Jennifer," Lauren said gently. "Denniz Pop is the name of the man who helped write a lot of songs on the first album for BSB...he passed away not very long ago. The video is dedicated to him."
"Oh," she said haughtily, flipping her blond hair and looking away. "Hey, here they come!" she exclaimed.
The door to the small room opened as Kevin, Howie, AJ, and Brian stepped in. AJ came over to Lauren and the others paired off as well.
"Where's Nick?" Jennifer asked with a pout.
"Oh, he's just...finishing up." Kevin said, trying to hide the fact that Nick was just attempting to make his time with her shorter in any way that he could.
Once again, Lauren noticed that AJ couldn't stop staring at Jennifer. "She looks so lonely," he said wistfully.
"Well why don't you just go over there and say hi?" Lauren suggested, thinking to herself, Yeah, just leave me for the dumb blond. Whatever.
"Ya think so?" AJ asked, his eyes sparking to life.
"Oh, it's fine," she reassured him.
And with that, AJ made his way across the room in grand fashion to strike up a conversation with Jennifer. Lauren looked on as they seemed to be hitting it off really well.
Ugh...she groaned and leaned back against the door hinge, holding her can of Coke. Lauren felt the door hinges slowly begin to turn. She jumped back, startled, and was suddenly standing next to Nick, who had quietly slipped into the room. He mentally surveyed the room, and let out a "yessss" under his breath when he saw Jennifer chatting with AJ.
"Hey there," he said, turning to Lauren and grabbing the can of Coke out of her hand. He finished it off in two swigs.
"That's disgusting!" she exclaimed, staring up at him in awe. Nick flashed her one of those million dollar smiles and sent the Coke sailing into a trash can. "I was thirsty." he explained. "So...uh...how come you aren't over there getting to know AJ?"
Lauren groaned. "He's done nothing but stare at that Jennifer chick all afternoon. I think he finally found the nerve to actually talk to her too. Now I'm all over here by myself."
"No you're not," he said, a smile slowly starting to spread across his face again.
"I might as well be," Lauren said under her breath, turning away from Nick and taking a couple of steps away from him.
He followed her. "Look, if this is about the Coke," he began seriously. "I can buy you another one."
Lauren smiled, but then a frown creased her face again. "No, it's not that. It's just that I actually win a date with this guy and then he's off macking all over some other girl...oh wait, I guess you feel the same way, huh?"
Nick let out a breath of air. "Actually...I mean, just look at her. She comes and she practically plasters herself to me on the stage, and what do I do? Just nod and smile politely?"
"Oh," Lauren said quietly. "I see."
"I mean, this whole thing is crazy." Nick continued. "I should be at home with my little brother tonight, playing video games or something. I shou--" he stopped mid-sentence and a smile began to play across his lips.
"What? What is it?" Lauren asked, beginning to smile herself.
He grinned down at her nervously. "I just had a really cool idea," he said.
"Well go ahead! Out with it!" she exclaimed.
She could see Nick tense up a little as he spoke, "Well...um...how would you feel if...well, maybe instead of going with AJ....." Nick trailed off.
"Yeah, what?" Lauren asked, smiling and trying to prod the truth out of him.
He paused for a few moments, with a serious look on his face when he looked back at her. "Would you maybe like to go with me instead? I mean, I know that AJ would definately be happier, and I know...I would..."
Lauren was shocked. Did he just say what I think he said? She asked herself over and over. Her heart beat a thousand times a minute as she ran a hand through her mid-length brown hair. "Oh come on, Nick..." she said, grinning. "Don't tell me you'd rather spend an evening with me than that Hooters poster girl over there!"
He laughed. "Hey, if you wanna talk about Hooters poster girls, then let's talk Leighanne!" he exclaimed.
"Okay Frack I heard that and it wasn't funny!" Brian shouted from across the room. "I'll make you pay for that one!"
Nick laughed again, but once again got serious when it died down. "So whaddya say, Lauren?" he asked gently.
yes, Yes, YES!!!!! Her brain screamed at her. "Ummm...okay." she stammered out.
