~~AJ~~
It was almost time for me to release my solo CD, a time for me to do my own thing, by myself without the boys. They had all done it. Brian had had his time. Nick did his thing. Kevin just flat out left...I suppose Howie was still in my boat. Now the record label wants us to do more tour dates throughout November and work on a new album after that which means my solo CD will be pushed back AGAIN probably until like February.
“No Johnny I mean that’s fine I guess…we always said the group comes first before us individually.”I said rubbing my forehead from the massive headache I felt coming on as I was sitting at the bar in the kitchen.
“AJ I don’t want you to be upset with this. You guys just had so much success on this tour I want ya to ride it out you know.”Johnny said sighing. He knew I was upset and how hard I had been working on this CD.
“I said it’s fine man.”I said watching Caroline outside laying out. She had been doing that a lot lately. I was still really upset about last night. I had made this perfect night for us and she was out having dinner and drinks with Nick.
“Alright dude I’ll talk to you later then.”he said and I hung up the phone. I laid my head down on the counter as Caroline walked in from outside sliding the door shut behind her.
“What’s wrong babe?”she asked walking over to me. We hadn’t really spoken the rest of the night last night or this morning…really until this moment.
“Johnny called…”I said picking my head up to look at her. “They want to push my solo album back so I can go back into the studio with the boys and they scheduled more dates throughout the rest of this month and November.”she walked over and sat at the barstool next to me.
“So did you ask him when exactly you were supposed to take the time to get better…”she said looking over at me.
“No…”I said as she grabbed my hand. “Because I didn’t tell him in the first place.”I felt her grip loosen as she looked over at me angrily.
“You know you’re not taking this very seriously.”she said sighing. “I’m beginning to think you don’t want to get better.”
“How could you even say that?”I asked watching her stand up. She walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a water bottle.
“Because you’re not acting like it.”she said and walked past me into the bedroom. I got up off of my stool and followed her because if I didn’t we wouldn’t speak for the rest of the day and we had plans.
“When are Brian and Leighanne coming here?”I asked changing the subject. She was slowly undressing by the closet and I couldn’t help but get turned on.
“In the next little bit so you need to get ready.”she said turning around to look at me exposing her naked chest. We hadn’t had sex since we moved in a week ago. I guess we’d just been busy I don’t know. We were supposed to go out on Nick’s boat today, something the two of them had set up last night on their stupid dinner because Brian was flying in today for us to start brainstorming for the next album.
“I’m ready.”I said dropping my pants so I was in just my underwear. She looked over at me and slightly smiled while rolling her eyes. “Come here.”I said holding my hand out to her. “I’m sorry I didn’t meet you yesterday like I said.”I said trailing my fingers down her sides. I leaned down to kiss her and rested my hand on the side of her face.
“I guess you’ll have to make it up to me right…”she said pulling away from me. She leaned back on the bed spreading her legs open as she leaned against the headboard. I walked over to her and began to kiss the inside of her thighs as the doorbell rang. I sighed and fell back on the bed WHY?!?
“I told you soon.”she said walking over to the closet to pull on her bathing suit. I walked out into the living room and opened the door to see Brian and Leighanne and Baylee all ready to go out on the boat. Nick was going to drive his boat over here and pick us up on my dock.
“What’s up guys?”I said clearing the way for them to come in.
“Nice new place you got.”Brian said pulling me into a hug.
“What’s up little man?”I said bending down to give Baylee a high five.
“Mom got me brand new floats to use on the lake today! I can’t wait!”he said as his hand slapped up to mine.
“Awesome!”I said and his parents laughed as Caroline came out to greet them. Her phone rang on the counter and she walked into the other room to answer it. Weird.
“Nick’s already outside.”she said walking back into where we were. Why did he call her and not me? Maybe my phone is off…nope I thought pulling my phone out of my pocket to see if I had a missed call. Hmmmm.
~~Caroline~~
AJ had been acting really weird the whole time we were on the boat. I guess we had all been drinking the Coronas Nick had brought and he had to look at that the whole time…maybe that had something to do with it. I don’t know. Everytime I talked to Nick or even got near him he freaked out.
“You wanna drive the boat in?”Nick asked looking over at me.
“Me oh no I don’t wanna have to pay for another one when I crash into it.”I said and he smiled. AJ’s arm tightened around me almost not letting me move to get up to go drive.
“Come on. It’s easy.”he said patting his leg. I was hesitant about sitting on his lap. How weird would that be? I sat on the edge of his knee barely even touching him as I guided the boat back into the harbor.
“YOU DID IT!”Baylee said clapping as the boat came to a stop.
“I did didn’t I!”I said laughing with him. I looked over at AJ to see if he was proud. He only looked like he wanted to die. What was his problem today?
“Babe you want me to go grab the burgers and stuff?”I said as I grabbed AJ’s hand for him to pull me out of the boat.
“I’ll get it.”he said not smiling. Normally he was so into me and today he was just so ugh emotionless. It was really starting to get to me.
“Don’t let it get to you.”Nick said coming up behind me as AJ brushed past us to go back up to his place. They had a cookout area in his apartment near the water area which was covered with sand and a little playground where Baylee could play so we decided to grill out there for a late lunch. We had stayed out on the lake all day. It was nearly five now.
“Don’t you think he’s being weird?”I said as Nick caught the football Brian was throwing him from the other side of the yard.
“Very.”Leighanne said answering my question as she walked by.
~~AJ~~
As I walked out into the sand from apartment building I couldn’t help but feel jealous watching her playing football with Nick and Brian. I just can’t help but to be jealous. These were not feelings I was use to with other girls I had dated. I guess I just didn’t care. Nick just tackled her and was now sitting on top her not getting off.
“Hey! Let’s get these going!”I said walking towards them with the plate full of patties.
“Just be patient man.”Brian said throwing the ball towards me knocking me in the stomach as the all laughed.
“Nick I don’t even have the ball!”Caroline squeeled as he tickled her still lightly sitting on top of her. I threw the ball and it hit Nick directly in the head. He stood up off of her confused at why I had done that. He wasn’t the smartest guy in the world.
“That’s what you get! TOUCHDOWN MOTHER FUCKER!!!”Caroline yelled running with the ball to the other side dodging Brian.
“I’ll get you back later.”Nick said smiling at her as he gave her a high five.
“So you didn’t wanna wear your eyeliner onto the lake?”Caroline asked walking up to me smiling trying to catch her breath.
“I ran out.”I said and she laughed.
“You don’t wanna play with us…I could use a teammate. I’m getting doubleteamed by those jerks.”she said and I laughed at her choice of words.
“Yea I’ll play…let’s switch up the teams though. Rok you’re on my team.”I said that way I could be the one doing the tackling.
“Ready….”Caroline said bending over in front of Nick to hike the ball…maybe I should have been on her team .
“Nick pay attention!”Caroline yelled as the ball smacked him in his chest. He was too busy staring at her ass to focus on getting the ball. Ass. She grabbed it off the ground and ran towards me full force. I grabbed her and lightly threw her to the ground sitting on top of her lap.
“Gotcha.”I said as our faces were so close our noses were touching.
“You don’t got nothing.”she said smiling as she pushed me off of her. Was that a medifore for our relationship? I grabbed her hand as I pulled her back down on top of me.
“I got you.”I said leaning up to kiss her as I was laying back on the grass holding onto both of her hands.
“Come on we got kids here!”Nick said yelling at us to break it apart. Why was it so awkward being around them right now? There was some serious tension going on between them.
~~Nick~~
Why was I feeling like this? Why had I even yelled at them to stop making out on the ground? It was like word vomit seriously I didn’t even think before I yelled. Why did I care that they, as a serious couple, were making out?
“You like her.”Leighanne said sitting beside me on the picnic table.
“What?”I asked surprised. I did not.
“You like her.”she said again giving me the duh look.
“I do not. She’s with my best friend.”I said shaking my head no.
“You’re lying. You like her.”she said smiling.
“Stop it!”I said laughing watching the two of them start to cook the burgers. She wasn’t my type. No way. To many tattoos and too much black. Just not me.
“Well you do. I’m not an idiot and neither is AJ so you better straighten it out.”she said. Leighanne was always the relationship counselor. I guess her and Brian had a perfect one so she felt compelled to let everyone know how she felt about everyone else’s relationships. “She wears her heart on her sleeve Nick. Don’t be stupid about this.”I guess that was her warning to not fuck it up for her and AJ.
“I wasn’t going to.”I said and she rolled her eyes.
“I’ve known you long enough Nicky. You always want what you can’t have.”she said stuffing a chip in her mouth as she walked away to go get Baylee ready to eat. Was she right? I mean I guess so…with every girlfriend I have had they’ve been with other guys and I have stolen them away then gotten bored and broken it off. Oh my God. She was totally right.
Author's Chapter Notes:
This isn't going to turn into a Nick story...so keep on reading although it may appear that way :) and review dammit!
