AJ and Michelle had dropped off the other guys and were now on their way to AJ�s house.
When they got there, they were met by AJ�s mother.
�Alex! It�s so good to see you!�
He hugged her and then his grandparents.
�We�re going out now, there�s a bingo game, so you and Michelle�ll have to manage without us. Bye!�
AJ stared after them. �Well, that was interesting. Since when did they start playing bingo?�
Michelle laughed at him. �They�ve always played bingo, you fool!�
AJ grinned at her. �Oh.�
She laughed again. �Come on...I�ll try and help you unpack.�
She helped AJ lift all his bags and rubbish upstairs. She opened the door to his room.
�AJ? Who cleaned your room?�
�What?� he asked from behind her.
The room was a mess. Clothes were everywhere, the bed was unmade, and books littered the empty spaces.
She raised her eyebrows at him. �What did you do? Tell your mother to stay out of here?�
AJ nodded. �Of course!� he walked into the room and through himself down on his bed. �It�s so nice to be home!� he said, sighing contentedly.
Michelle rolled her eyes. �You�re so dramatic!�
�Yes, but that�s why you love me!�
Michelle laughed at him. �OK, AJ.�
AJ sighed. Sure, she loved him...as a best friend.
�AJ? What�s wrong?� she asked, worriedly, as she sat down on the bed, next to him.
He stared at her, and his stomach twisted. She was close enough for him to kiss.
Stop it! He told himself. She�s your best friend. You can�t do this.
�AJ?� she asked again. She moved closer and looked into his eyes.
His heartbeat quickened. Gently, she touched his cheek. He sighed. Her touch was so soft.
�AJ? What�s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?�
He smiled weakly. �Uhhh...I think it�s just jet-lag or something.�
She gave him a strange look. �Are you sure?� she asked not convinced.
�What? Yeah...yeah, I�ll be fine.�
�Do you want me to go?�
�No! I mean...no, it�s ok, stay with me. You can tell me all about what you�ve been doing for the past I don�t know how many months.�
She laughed lightly. Inwardly, he groaned in frustration. This was going to get very complicated.
~Meanwhile~
Calista sighed. She glanced at Nick again. What was she going to do now?
�Cally are you sure you�re ok? You look really pale!� Nick sounded concerned.
�I�m fine. Just glad that your back.�
Nick grinned at her. �Tomorrow, you can meet all the other guys...or did I already introduce you to them?�
Calista shook her head at him. �I�ve talked to some of them on the phone...as for having met them? No, I haven�t met them, not even one!� she said, faking hurt.
Nick laughed. �OK, ok. I�ll see you tomorrow then!�
Calista looked up and realized that they were at her front door. She sighed. She didn�t want to get out of the car.
�Want to come in for a while?�
He shook his head. �Can�t. Promised I�d be home for dinner.�
�Oh...Ok, Nick. I�ll see you tomorrow?�
�Yeah. I�ll call you. Bye Callie!�
��Bye Nick.�
She watched his car speed away, millions of emotions hitting her at the same time.
She sighed and stared at the sky. Why did I have to think about this?
~At AJ�s house~
�Well, I went to school, went to the moview, just you know...stuff.�
�Any boyfriends?� asked AJ, hinting, yet not really wanting to know.
Michelle shrugged. �A few, but we didn�t really get along too well.�
AJ nodded. �So...how�s your brother?�
�Step-brother, and I don�t know. He�s supposed to be in rehab, but...�
�What about Sarah?�
�My step-mom? Yeah, she�s alright. She�s really upset about HIM though.�
AJ laughed at the way she accented him. She hated mentioning her step-brother�s name.
�What about you, AJ? Any girlfriends?�
AJ felt his cheeks get hot. �No, not really...we�re not there long enough to actually do anything.�
Michelle cracked up at his choice of words. �Aren�t you there for at least a night?�
He gave her a look and she shut up.
�Why did you want to know?� asked AJ, hoping she maybe felt the way he did.
She gave him a strange look. �Your my best friend. I think I would want to know, if you were going to get married to someone, or whatever.�
AJ nodded. �Oooookkkkayyyy!� he said in a sing-song voice.
Michelle burst out laughing. �You�re so weird!�
He laughed to, sitting up to hug her. He sighed, knowing that he would probably never get to hold her as anything but her friend.
She looked at him carefully. �I think your ill.�
�What?�
�You haven�t been talking my ear off about nothing. What gives?�
�Oh...you know...�
Michelle raised her eyebrows. �Who is she?�
�What?�
�Come on! Our only like this if you�re hung up about a girl. So, who is she? Marissa again?�
AJ frowned. He hadn�t thought of Marissa in a long time.
�Well?�
�Uhhh...I don�t think it�s Marissa.�
�You don�t think?� she echoed.
He shrugged.
Just then, Michelle glanced at the clock.
She sighed. �We�ll have to continue this conversation later, my dear friend. I have to get home.�
AJ got up and walked her to the door.
�I�ll call you later. I think the guys want to get together, or something.�
�Oh yeah! Then I can meet this famout Nick Carter!�
AJ rolled his eyes. This was definately NOT GOOD.
Kim wrote this chapter. E-mail her questions and/or comments at