Chapter One-Hundred-Fifteen
The moment AJ arrived at the Littrell House, he opened the gate with his own remote control. When it opened, he went inside, and he closed it again before hurrying up the porch and into the house. As soon as he was in the house, Jackie, Harold, Harry, and Denise all looked at him curiously. The moment his mother took one look at him she knew something was up.
"Honey what's wrong?"
"I'm going to go be with Brooke in New York for awhile," was all AJ said, and he headed for the stairs.
"Wait what?" She asked confused, and she got up from her spot on the couch and went after him.
"Alex hold up, slow down, back up — explain this all to me."
"I can't mom, there's no time if I want to make the next flight out to New York."
"You will make time to explain to your momma what is going on," Denise demanded.
"Call one of the guys, they'll explain it to you," was all AJ said and he continued to make his way up the stairs. Denise gently grabbed his arm making him stop, and she went up and stood in front of him so he could no longer walk away from her unless he turned around.
"I want to hear it from you. If you actually have a reason for going to Brooke other than love sickness, I'll personally drive you to the airport myself." AJ stopped and considered this. He really could use a ride…he can't take one of the vans otherwise the guys won't have transportation.
"Brooke is having a melt down. She is having a hard time telling her family about her secret and I have a bad feeling in my stomach. I have to get to her Momma or I won't sleep at night." Denise looked into her son's eyes, and when she saw just how serious he is, she knows she has to let him go. He'll just be a pain all week if she doesn't. She knows how deeply he's been in love with Brooke for years and she is happy for him — she loves Brooke.
"You are coming back right?" AJ nodded.
"When things are better with Brooke again. I promise." Denise stepped aside and allowed him to go up the stairs, and he did just that. She turned and followed him up there.
"Maybe you should leave Laila with me — I will baby sit her while you are gone," Denise suggested when they got into his and Howie's room.
"No mom I want to take her with me. She'll just cry the whole time I'm gone," AJ insisted, as he set Laila on the bed before racing around and gathering up baby stuff as well as his own. He got enough stuff to last them two days and Denise helped him pack it all into a backpack.
"Are you sure? Because I'm a mother I know I will be able to handle her." She asked, as she sat on the bed and scooped Laila — who was bouncing up and down on the bed, into her arms and cradled her, and she leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Laila squirmed about until she was able to escape her arms and she got up and continued to jump up and down, giggling every time she landed on her bottom, and getting back up to do it all over again.
"I'm sure mom. I can't go two days without her myself, and anyway I need the company on the plane." Denise watched her for a couple of seconds, than she looked at AJ who was just walking out of the bathroom with two tooth brushes in his hand, tooth paste, and Laila's brush.
"How much candy did you feed this baby?" she asked, looking at her son and knowing him all too well.
"Just an M&M or two…." He answered, smiling some. Denise shook her head, knowing that's an understatement.
"On second thought, you can take her," she told him.
"I wan' more M's J, pease," Laila suddenly spoke up, as she jumped up and down on the bed some more. AJ chuckled.
"No more honey, your going to get a tummy ache if I feed you more." He told her, and he scooped her up into his arms then, as he has his backpack on. He grabbed up her favorite blanket and covered her up in it as he turned and headed downstairs. Denise followed him down there.
"I'll come with you Denise," Jackie suddenly spoke up. "We'll take my car," She added and she grabbed her keys and followed Denise and AJ out of the house.
"Thanks Jackie, I appreciate this." Denise replied.
"It's no problem, really," Jackie replied, as she watched AJ get Laila's car seat and stroller out of the van and place it in Jackie's car.
"What will you need that stroller for? You are just going to be there for a day or two." Denise asked curiously, as they all got into the car and drove out of the yard and headed for the airport — AJ sitting in the back with Laila while Denise and Jackie sat in the front — Jackie driving, and Denise in the passenger's seat.
"Well you never know," AJ replied while shrugging his shoulders. "I'm just being prepared," he added, and he looked at Laila who was sitting there quietly looking at him. He gave her that goofy look that always makes her laugh and she giggled. "Are you ready to go on an airplane ride Miss Laila?"
"Yeah," Laila answered, smiling big. AJ smirked and leaned over and kissed her cheek, than he sat back and listened as his mom explained to Jackie Brooke's situation. As he did, it suddenly occurred to him that he doesn't know how to get to Brooke's house when he gets there.
"Shit…" he muttered under his breath.
"Alexander James, watch your language!" Denise suddenly scolded from the passenger's seat.
"Sorry," AJ smirked.
"Next thing we know it, she's going to be repeating that too." AJ turned and looked at Laila.
"You didn't hear that," he told her, leaning forward and placing his nose to hers. Laila smiled big. When he pulled away, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He opened it up, pushed the number 2-speed dial button, and placed it to his ear. He waited a couple of seconds, and then Riley's voice was heard over the phone.
"I was wondering when you were going to call me."
"Why?" AJ asked, playing dumb.
"Because you don't know your way to Brooke's house once you get there." AJ blushed a little.
"Okaaay so are you going to tell me how?"
"Mhm…" Riley laughed, and she began giving him directions after he had scrambled for a notepad and pen.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, in New York, when Brooke arrived at her table where Jaime, Peyton, and her worst nightmare were all sitting they looked at her curiously.
"Where'd you go? We looked over at the Chick-Fil-A line and you weren't standing in it," Peyton interrogated.
"I had to use the bathroom," Brooke lied, as she sat her tray in the spot next to Jaime and she pulled her chair there and sat down.
"Oh…well anyway, look who we ran into in the Panda Express line," Peyton replied cheerfully, and she indicated toward Thadius.
"Yeah…I see that…"
"Hi Brookie…how have you been? It's been so long since I've seen you!" Thadius replied, smiling at her as if nothing ever happened between the two of them years ago.
"It's Brooke actually, and I've been fine." Brooke replied shortly, as she avoided eye contact with him.
"Brooke owns an orphanage now and everything," Peyton announced proudly. "And has a Backstreet Boy for a boyfriend too."
"Peyton…"
"What? It's the truth."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Yet."
"So…Thad…what has the most popular guy in school been doing with his life these days?" Brooke asked casually, noticing the looks she's receiving from her brother and realizing she's not doing a very good job at playing it cool. Thadius chuckled slightly.
"That was a long time ago, Brooke."
"Yeah well, it seems just like yesterday to me," Brooke replied rather seriously, and she could feel the suppressed anger boiling inside her. How can he sit here in front of her brother and pretend like nothing ever happened? Thadius shifted uncomfortably in his seat a little, as he knows perfectly well what she means by that.
"Nothing too special really…I have a job at an auto dealership shop. When I'm not fixing or selling cars, I'm just chilling with friends. I hang out with Jaime every once in awhile, when he can drive out here from school to visit."
"You always did like your cars," Brooke replied, staring into him hard, though on the inside she is wondering where this courage is coming from. Maybe it's because Jaime is right there and she knows he won't hurt her in front of him…who knows. "I remember the last time we hung out like it were just yesterday…remember that Thad? When you showed me your car of the month?" she asked, and she watched as Thadius once again shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and she could just see him starting to sweat. Jaime and Peyton looked back and fourth at the two of them, both of them completely lost. Brooke never broke eye contact with him as she could just feel the satisfaction inside her, as she tortures Thadius. It's about time you feel as scared as I am she thought to herself. There is no way in hell she is going to let him just sit there and act like nothing ever happened.
"Vaguely…I mean it was a long time ago, like I said." Thadius replied, clinging onto the little cool that he has left inside him.
"Really? Hmm…I can never seem to forget it." Brooke asked, and she turned her attention back on her lunch. They all sat there in silence for a couple of minutes, Jaime eyeing Thadius now. He doesn't know what's going on, but Brooke is obviously bothered by him.
"Soooo…anyway, I have to go. I was just hanging out here before work, but I'm going to be late if I don't get going." Thadius spoke up suddenly.
"Okay…see you later Thad."
"Yeah, see you. We should hang out sometime since you're here all week." Thadius nodded.
"I'll see what I can do," He replied, and Thadius got up and left. Jaime rounded on Brooke then.
"Do you want to tell me what that was all about?"
"Nope," Brooke answered honestly, and she avoided eye contact with him. She will tell him what that was all about, but not yet. She needs to work up the courage to do it, and she wants to wait until they are in the safety of her home and her parents are around to hear it too. Because she doesn't want to have to repeat it a hundred times when she does.
"You've been acting weird all day. Something is obviously bothering you, so why don't you just tell us what it is?" Peyton joined in on the interrogation. Brooke shrugged.
"I guess being on a plane all day and then staying up all night has really had an effect on me. We've had a long day here, why don't we finish our lunch and head on home? I could use a nap."
"Kay…" Peyton replied softly, and the three siblings ate their lunch in silence — Peyton giving her wary looks every now and then as if she were an alien and Jaime slid his hand into hers and gently squeezed it. He knows something is up with her and up until now he thought she knew she could come to him for anything.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Brian and Kevin finished up their tours around town, and then they took the kids to the playground so that they could play. They hung out there for a couple of hours, and then they headed on back to the Littrell House. When they got there, they went inside to discover that Harold and Harry are the only two people there. Kevin raised his eyebrow.
"Hey Uncle Harold, where is Denise and Aunt Jackie?"
"They went to take AJ to the airport. They will be back soon — Jackie is picking up pizza for dinner on the way back — she doesn't feel like cooking tonight."
"Ah okay cool."
"Is Laila coming back with AJ's mom? Is she going to baby-sit for him?" Ryan suddenly spoke up, as he knows his baby sister went with AJ earlier — he saw him leave with her.
"No buddy Aje is taking her with him. He knew she would just cry the whole time he was gone so he didn't want to risk it." Harry spoke up. Ryan stood there staring at him in disbelief for a moment, than he rolled his eyes irritably and turned and immediately stormed up the stairs and a few moments later, they heard a bedroom door slam.
"What the…" Harry trailed off, and Howie shook his head.
"I'm sensing some protective big brother issues going on here," he announced, and he turned and went after him. Elenore rolled her eyes, and then took Dakota and Spencer's hands and she looked back at Sarah who was standing next to Nick holding onto his pantleg, though she is watching Dakota and Elenore curiously as if waiting to see what exciting thing they are going to do next.
"Come on Sarah, let's goes outside." She told her, and she pulled her friends toward the backyard. Sarah's eyes widened and she froze where she was. She's getting invited to come play? That's something new…what's the catch? There must be a catch. She looked up at Nick then, who was smiling down at her.
"Go on, go play." He encouraged. "It'll be okay I promise." She did as told and followed the kids outside, her notepad and pen clutched tight in her hand and Q and Marcus followed behind her.
"Where'd Joshy go?" Dakota asked suddenly, as she, Dakota, Spencer, and Sarah got outside. She's had him by her side all day long, and now it's a little weird that he's not. Elenore shrugged.
"Don'ts know…I saw him goes upstairs. Let's play jump rope though okay?"
"Okay!" Dakota replied cheerfully. Elenore turned to Sarah as she picked up the jump rope.
"Sarah, do you mind turning the rope with Spencer? Kota and I can start out jumping an' then we'll switch." She asked nicely, and she could just see Dakota giving her confused looks. Sarah shook her head indicating that she doesn't mind, than she stuffed her notepad and pen in the pocket of her overalls, before handing the other end to Spencer. She and Spencer both moved apart from one another so that they were spread out, and Dakota and Elenore got in the middle so that they could jump. As soon as Spencer and Sarah started spinning the rope, Dakota started the first chant as she and Elenore started jumping
"My daddy and your Kevy were hangin' out the clothes! My daddy gave your Kevy a punch in the nose! Did it hurt?" Elenore giggled some.
"Yes, no, maybe, so! Yes, no, maybe, so…" she cut in, repeating the words over and over again. After awhile of saying the words, Dakota suddenly tripped over the words, right when Elenore said the word 'no'
"Ah maaaan…" Dakota whined. Elenore giggled.
"Sarah's turn to jumps with me!" she announced. Dakota scowled somewhat, and then switched places with Sarah who was smiling some. When everybody had their places again, Dakota and Spence began turning the ropes, and Elenore began a chant since Sarah doesn't talk.
"Down in the valley where the green grass grows, there stood Dakota pretty as a rose. Along came Josh, who kissed her on the cheek and asked her a question… will u marry me?"
"Heeey" Dakota whined somewhat, though she is smiling and Spencer was nearly rolling on the ground from laughter, as he besides Sarah, is the only one who caught onto that little hint.
"Yes, No, Maybe so, yes, no, maybe so…." He replied, saying the words over and over again and Dakota spun the rope around really fast, just as Spencer came across the word no, and she purposely made Elenore trip over the rope on that word. Elenore laughed out loud and turned to look at her best friend.
"That's not very nice," She informed her, smiling big as she noticed Dakota had turned just about as red as a tomato. Dakota playfully stuck her tongue out at her.
"Spency's turn — you hafta turn the rope you big meanie head." Elenore just snickered, and then switched places with Spencer, and the four of them continued their game of jump rope, saying various jump-roping rhymes as they did.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
