Chapter One-Hundred-Eleven
When Stacy had gotten back in the store she could see that it was calm again. She walked over to the little Mc Donald's that they have in the Wal-Mart where she spotted her three best friends. The moment they saw her all three glared.
"Oh look Hilary, Alana…It's Stacy the back-stabbing friend of ours!" Brianne announced angrily. Stacy rolled her eyes.
"Oh don't be a baby Bree…he isn't worth an autograph anyway."
"Just because you have issues with him it doesn't mean that the rest of us have to!" Alana argued.
"Yeah!' Hillary agreed.
"Well if you three hadn't freaked out the way you did, maybe you would have gotten one! It's your fault the whole stupid mob happened in the first place. I just saved your precious Aaron Carter's ass you should be thanking me!"
"Yeah…well…he just gave us a surprise, that's all! It's not every day that celebrities walk up to us and say hi! We live in kentucky after all." Hillary reasoned.
"He looked like he was more interested in Stacy then the rest of us." Brianne replied, grinning at her friend. Stacy rolled her eyes.
"Oh whatever he was not."
"He was too, he was totally checking you out." Alana replied.
"Well he can just forget it. Because I'm not interested."
"You used to be."
"I was never interested in Aaron Carter. I've always thought of him as a conceited arrogant jerk — you can add stupid to the list now too. Any other celebrity would have known better then to walk right up to a bunch of teenage girls…at least not without security there!"
"You did too used to like him, you've just spent so much time hating him, you've blocked that part of your life out. You used to have posters all over your walls, you used to listen to his music all the time, and all you ever talked about was him. I remember it."
"We all remember it," Hillary agreed.
"Why did you stop liking him Stace? There has to be a reason."
"I've already told you. I grew out of it. Can we drop the subject now?" Stacy asked indifferently, and she walked away to order some fries leaving Alana, Hillary, and Bree to all stand there staring after her in confusion and worry. They all know they just hit a nerve — but what nerve? They all sat there exchanging looks for a few minutes, then when Stacy returned she had a tray of four boxes of large fries. She sat it down on the table and drew her legs to her chest as she sat in her chair quietly eating her fries. Alana, Hillary, and Brianne all sat there watching her — all of them noticing that in the short time that she was waiting in line Stacy's eyes had filled up with tears, though none of them were falling because she is willing them not to. When she noticed her friends staring, she looked at them pretending to be confused.
"What?" She asked innocently. When none of them answered, she got up and picked up her box of fries. "Come on lets go to the park," She suggested, and she walked off. They all watched her go, then they picked up their own fries and followed suit.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, Aaron who had managed to sneak back into the store, found Kevin, Denise, Riley, Harold, Jackie, and Marcus. He walked up to them and Kevin grinned a little.
"Ah, well it's good to see that you are still in one piece there, Air."
"Haha, very funny." Aaron replied sarcastically, and he looked toward Marcus with hope in his eyes. Marcus who knew exactly what he wanted rolled his eyes.
'Yes, yes, I will protect you. But you are going to have to stick with these people because I'm not going to follow you around all over this store."
"But what about Angel?"
"I'm sure she will do just fine. She's not gonna go off and cause mobs or anything, she obviously knows better."
"But…"
"Aaron I have to stick with Kevin. The fans saw you and now they all have their eyes open for celebrities. If they see Kevin, things will get crazy again."
"What about AJ? And Howie? They have small children with them."
"Obviously I can't be two places at once and there is only one bodyguard here, so I've called them up and warned them to be careful — they already knew. Luckily they have experience with keeping a low profile." Marcus explained, and with that he continued to follow the Littrells — and Kevin, Riley, and Denise around the store. Aaron rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Marcus behind his back.
"I saw that," Marcus informed him, causing him to jump a little. "I see all," he added, answering the questioning look on the young boy's face. Aaron scowled and then hurried to catch up. The last thing he needs is to linger behind and lose Marcus. As Aaron followed them around the store, his mind went back to the beautiful — yet rude blonde that he was dying to talk to earlier. All he wanted was to get to know her, how was he supposed to know that her loud friends would blow his cover? And why did she have to be so rude? What did he ever do to her? Seriously. See if I ever talk to her again… he thought quietly to himself. But then he took his left hand into his and rubbed his finger over the palm of it where Stacy's hand had been. God she had such a soft and gentle touch…he could have sworn he's felt that touch before. But how could he have? He just met her…he's never seen her before in his life. Sure he's seen a lot of girls, and often forgets he has because he's seen so many, but not Stacy…no. She is gorgeous, he knows he would never forget seeing her... Right?
"Hey Air, are you okay?" Aaron heard Marcus' voice break into his thoughts, and he felt an arm wrap around his shoulders. Aaron looked up at him.
"Huh? What?" He asked, trying to snap himself out of planet Stacy even though he doesn't want to.
"I told you I see all…and it's clearly obvious that something is troubling you." Marcus answered. Aaron looked around to see that they've stopped and Harold and Jackie are buying a turkey. He realized then that he was standing at a distance from everybody else and Kevin and Riley were looking back at him and Marcus a little concerned.
"Oh…um…I'm fine," Aaron answered unconvincingly, and he looked down at his left hand that he was still holding. Marcus looked at it too and Aaron quickly dropped it. "I'm fine…really. I was just…day dreaming."
"This wouldn't have anything to do with that girl we saw you running with earlier, would it? Was she the one you blew your cover for?"
"Her? …No of course not! No…she was just helping me get away. I have no idea who she is." Marcus smiled knowingly.
"Really? Well that's too bad…because she was pretty cute for a thirteen-year-old. If I were you Id be crushing on her big time." He told her, and then walked away smiling; leaving Aaron to look back at him confused. How could he possibly know that? he wondered to himself, unaware that he's had the exact same conversation with Nick many times in the past.
"What's wrong with him?" Kevin questioned when Marcus rejoined him and Riley.
"Ah nothing, he's fine. He's just crushing big time on the girl we saw running with him earlier — and he's in complete denial about it. He was day dreaming."
"Oh," Kevin replied while chuckling a little bit.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, back at the Littrell house, Brian, Ashley, Nick, and the kids had just finished eating breakfast and Brian was clearing the table and getting ready to do dishes when Nick spoke up.
"Need help with the dishes Bri?" He asked softly.
"No, you're going to sit there and relax." Nick rolled his eyes.
"You act like I'm your pregnant wife and not capable of doing things."
"This whole breakfast was a treat for you. I just don't want you to have to do anything." Nick sighed.
"Fine…" He said, and Brian grinned in satisfaction and then continued what he was doing. Nick sat there watching him for a couple of moments, and then spoke up again, though very quietly — quiet enough that it was almost a whisper. "It was good Bri…thanks." He told him, and then scooped Dakota and Elenore up before taking them out into the front yard to play and Josh and Sarah followed with the puppies. Ashley, who remained behind, turned her head and looked at Brian with a small smile on her face. Brian smiled back before turning to do the dishes.
"You'll have him fully talking to you in no time," she told him reassuringly. "He is trying his very hardest to be stubborn but he can only go so long without talking to his Frick."
"I know," Brian nodded. "I know how he works and I know I almost have him. I just need to continue sucking up a little while longer."
"What other plans do you have in store for him?" Ashley asked, while grabbing up the butter and putting the lid on it before putting it back in the refrigerator.
"I don't know yet, but I will think of something." She then went over and attempted to help him with the dishes but he grabbed her hands to stop her.
"I wouldn't let Nick do the dishes, what makes you think I'm going to let you?"
"Because your sucking up to him not me?" Ashley asked, smiling at him sweetly.
"Nice try," Brian laughed. "But no, I can't let you help me. Go outside with Nick or something." Ashley scowled.
"But–"
"–Now honey," Brian ordered gently, and he turned and looked at her smiling at her sweetly. He pulled her into a hug then. "As much as I love you…I don't want your help with the dishes okay? He's alone with the kids. That can't be a good thing."
"Q went out there with him," Ashley replied, laughing a little.
"Q isn't much better," Brian teased, and Laney laughed at this.
"Ain't that the truth." Brian looked at Ashley pleadingly.
"Pleeeease?" he begged, and he began tickling her, causing Ashley to giggle.
"Brian don't that tickles, that tickles!"
"Say you'll go outside then."
"But-"
"-Pleeeeeease?" he pleaded, tickling her even more.
"Okay, okay just stop tickling me!" she laughed. Brian smirked and did as told.
"I knew you would see it my way." Ashley stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed and did it right back. She turned then and left the kitchen and Laney dutifully followed. When the two of them got outside they found that Nick had drawn a hopscotch area for the kids and Dakota, Elenore, and Sarah are playing it. While they do that, Josh is sitting by himself secretly writing something on the sidewalk in an area that people don't normally go in and while she played with Dakota, Elenore was watching him curiously. Nick is playing with the kids and Q is standing off to the side watching and laughing at Nick. Laney went over and joined him and Ashley decided to go and check on Josh to make sure he isn't doing anything that he's not supposed to — after all, the way he's secluding himself, it does look highly suspicious. When she got over to him, she looked over his shoulder and smiled a little as she could she that he is copying what she had done last night, except he's writing "Joshy loves Kota" on it. He had written it in a circle just like she did and everything. Josh looked up at him and his face turned bright red as he jumped forward and laid across it in attempt to cover it up.
"Go away…please. I don't want Kota or Ellie to see it." Ashley smiled at him sweetly and crouched down next to him.
"Your secret is safe with me, don't worry." Josh looked at him warily for a moment, and then finally sat back up again.
"Don'ts you dare tell Kota."
"I won't, I promise."
"You better not…I know how close you are with her."
"I'm very good at keeping secrets buddy, trust me." Ashley replied, reaching over and ruffling his hair. "I have plenty of experience in that department." She reassured.
"Kay…"
"I thought you hated the nickname Joshy."
"Well it grew on me…specially since Kota likes calling me that." Ashley smiled a little bit.
"I think the crush you have on her is cute. Don't be ashamed about it."
"Do you think she'll ever like me back?" Josh asked softly. "I mean in that way? …You're close to her and all, she tells you things."
"Well Kota is four years old and probably hasn't even reached the stage you have yet. Most six year old boys don't even feel the way you do…you're a little more mature then they are when it comes to that. But in time when she gets a little older….why not? What's not to like?"
"I can find plenty of reasons for her not to like me…" Josh replied softly. "I'm a mean bully who can't control his anger."
"You aren't a mean bully anymore…and yeah you have a hard time with anger management a lot of the time, but something tells me that Kota sees past that. She's always liked you Josh, despite how mean you were to her. She's been trying to be your friend since she could talk. She's a very special girl you see…she sees the good in people…she loves unconditionally, no matter what their problems may be."
"She isn't that way with Sarah…"
"Yeah well…she will be in time. She's a little jealous of her right now…but when she gets used to sharing her daddy she'll come around." Josh looked back down at his drawing then and Ashley rubbed her hand over his back. He looked up at her again after awhile and she spoke up.
"Give her sometime to grow up buddy…I have a feeling that when she does, you two are going to be really cute together." She reassured, and she winked at him before getting up and looking around the yard. When she did, she noticed Abbie sniffing the area around the gate and she raised her eyebrow and headed toward that direction to see what her puppy is up to.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
