Leaning back on the large beach blanket, Alana had to muffle a soft laugh as she watched Nick and Aaron wildly toss a football down a long stretch of beach. Each toss and catch seemed longer and harder than before as if each were doing their best to impress Alana with their strength and talent, trying to make the other run harder and farther. Perhaps even trying to make the other tumble into the ocean. Finding it adorable as they each glanced to her after catching the ball, ensuring that she indeed was watching. It was a strange feeling to be the center of attention, especially between the two brothers. Most of her life she had just melted into the background. She had circled around her family as if she were a distant stranger, never offering her permission to join. Now, as she relished in the last days of her vacation, she found herself falling in love with the thought of being part of Nick and Aaron's family. Though, that thought seemed to splash into her face as she found a football falling into her lap and Aaron's arms encircling her waist to throw her over his shoulder. "Aaron!"
"What?" Aaron questioned with complete innocence as he trotted down the beach towards his older brother. It had been too long, in his mind, since he and Nick had been able to truly relax and enjoy each other's company. And now, with Alana's love, it was as though he had the big brother he had been missing for so long. Ignoring her squeals of protest as he jogged gracelessly across the sand, he grinned from ear to ear as he deposited her into Nick's waiting arms. "Nick wanted to see you!"
"Is he your golden retriever?" Alana yelped in shock as the football fell from her hands so she could wrap her arms around his neck. Though Aaron never let it hit the ground as he stooped to catch it, trotting back a ways to get ready for the next catch. She brushed her thoughts of the younger brother away, however, glancing up to Nick with confusion. "What are you two doing? You could see me right up there and I wanted you to do that brotherly bonding thing--"
"You're the love of my life and I felt you should do some bonding with him too," Nick interrupted, dipping his head for a gentle kiss, though he began to laugh as Aaron made loud gagging noises from a few yards away. Nibbling gently on her lower lip before letting her slide gently to her feet, he motioned for Aaron to go ahead and throw the football. "Besides, I want you by my side…"
"What guy is looking at me now?" Alana sighed as she ducked toward Nick's side, glancing around the long stretch of beautiful beach. Slipping her fingers just a breath beneath the band of his tropical, blue Hawaiian board shorts, she proved that she indeed didn't care who was looking, wanting him to know how much she loved him.
"Nobody's looking…" Nick trailed with a grunt, though he took a cursory look around to be sure. Once certain that the other men on the beach were occupied with their own mates, he turned his attention back to Alana, looping one arm around her waist to draw her closer to him. "Besides--"
"Are you going to make out or catch the damn ball?" Aaron bellowed.
Nick jerked his head up to see the football spiraling perfectly through the air towards them. Keeping his arm around Alana, he reached up to catch it with his free hand before leaning back in for the kiss he had been after. "As I was saying--"
"Throw the fucking ball!"
"Your brother is getting jealous, that's why I was just watching y'all on the blanket," Alana murmured against Nick's lips as she reached to take the football from Nick's powerful grip. Kissing him softly once more, Alana pulled away to toss the ball toward Aaron. Surprisingly, it cut cleanly through the air in a perfectly tight spiral, sending Aaron running backwards in order to catch it.
"He's not jealous," Nick promised, glancing up to see Aaron stumble over the remnants of a sandcastle. Chuckling as his brother did a backwards somersault, he laughed out loud when Aaron hopped to his feet, holding up the football triumphantly. He had not realized until very recently how much he had missed his younger brother's antics. "He's like a Cocker Spaniel or something… Likes to be underfoot, you know?"
"Does he get his belly rubbed when he shows off with a trick like that?" Alana inquired as Aaron pitched the ball as hard as he possibly could. Nick jerked as if he was going to be the one to give chase, but Alana patted his chest and went jogging away. When she noticed the ball shooting farther than anticipated, she picked up her pace to a fast sprint reaching to bring the ball close to her chest. Grinning triumphantly when it was nestled into her arms, she yelped softly as a burly man invaded her path as he stooped for a sandal. Without much thought, she leapt over him as if he were an obstacle course, huffing when she turned around to see his surprised face. "…Guess I should give you my number now that I jumped you, huh?"
"Sorry," Nick quickly told the man as he caught up. Leaning close as Alana trotted backwards to throw the ball to Aaron once more, he cleared his throat. "Once we get back to the States, she's turning herself in for a string of murders along the West Coast. Terrible thing, really, how she snuck in during the wee hours and bludgeoned them all to death. I wouldn't get within ten feet of her, but I have five FBI snipers keeping an eye on me and her at all times. But buck up, maybe she'll get out in twenty years on good behavior and look you up -- Well you don't have to run away!" Grinning as the man quickly strode away, he turned to see if Alana had thrown the ball yet.
"Next time you're going to embarrass the Hell out of me, how 'bout you go for something a little bit more realistic?" Alana snorted with a roll of her eyes, snapping the ball at Nick. "If I'm wanted for a string of murders along the West Coast, I sure as Hell ain't going to be strolling the Bahamas in a tiny little bikini."
"Yeah? Then what'll you be doing?" Nick returned with an easy grin, sending the ball towards Aaron.
"Sitting on Death Row bitching that I need a stronger friend with a better shovel," Alana teased playfully, leaning forward to brush her fingers against his ticklish sides as she sought out his lips for a sweet kiss. "Or maybe a better boyfriend…"
"Nat's pretty strong when she's fired up--"
"Then I'll just settle for a better boyfriend," Alana decided as she caught the ball being hurdled toward her, only to throw it back just as fast, causing Aaron to dive into the large waves.
"You got something against her for the Playboy thing?" Nick questioned in confusion, not understanding the subtle change in Alana's demeanor each time he mentioned Natalie.
"I don't care that she did Playboy. Hell, more power to her for getting naked and getting some good money out of the deal," Alana disagreed with a causal shrug of her bare shoulders, waiting for Aaron to surface with the ball. Sighing, she rubbed her hands against her hips, making sure to avoid any direct eye contact with her lover. Any mere mention of Natalie from Nick seemed to send her jealousy into a flared state. Just knowing they had been intimate with one another caused her heart to sink deep into the pit of her chest, knowing she was insignificant compared to the beauty on Brian's arm. Even though she didn't blame Nick or treat him differently because of Natalie's confession, it still hurt every time she thought of them together.
"Then what? You did a search and found a sex tape of me and her or something?" Nick teased, hoping to elicit at least a groan at his attempt at humor.
Alana cringed as she turned to watch him catch the ball, unaware that her dark teal eyes glimmered with an overwhelming hurt. "You guys have a sex tape?"
"What?! No! Are you on drugs or something? We never--"
"Never what?" Alana questioned, arching her strawberry blonde brows in question.
Nick blanked, dropping the football to the sand when he saw the hurt lurking in her eyes. In a rush, he realized just how close Natalie and Alana had grown over the past weeks. Had Natalie told… "What did she tell you?"
"Nothing," Alana mumbled, swooping down to grasp the football as Aaron wildly motioned for someone to pass him the ball. Brushing her face across her bare shoulder, she held her breath and threw the ball toward Aaron. She had promised Natalie that she wouldn't say anything, no matter how much it hurt inside. It was in the past. That's where it had to stay. She wanted one of the last days in the Bahamas to be enjoyable.
"Alana… Talk to me. What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, now would you start interacting with your brother before he thinks--"
"She told you about me and her, didn't she?" Nick interrupted with a glance over his shoulder. Seeing Aaron slowly heading over, he sighed. "Look, it--"
"Was one time, you were drunk, she was drunk, you were hurting, she was all alone, it'll never happen again," Alana finished quickly, taking a deep breath to hold in the recess of her lungs to keep the sob from forming in her throat. She had suppressed the confession for the entire vacation, not realizing how much it had hurt.
"Alana… Beautiful--"
"What's going on?" Aaron questioned suspiciously as he glanced from Alana to Nick. Seeing the strained look on her face, he immediately cast a look towards his older brother. "What'd you do?"
Nick looked offended. "I didn't do--"
"Nothing's going on," Alana interrupted softly, stepping towards the youth to brush the sand from his back. Hiding the soft sniffle as she swallowed the lump in her throat, she allowed several curls to fall over her face as if it were a shield. "We were just goofing around and he mentioned I was some kind of axe murderer to that brute that I hauled ass over and… Why don't I go get us some food on the boardwalk?"
"Aaron will go," Nick offered suddenly, ignoring his brother's scowl. Giving him a pleading look, he jerked his head towards the boardwalk. "He's got a major hard-on for the girl that works the sunglass place…"
Aaron made a face. "I do not--" He yelped in shock when his brother's fist connected with his back in order to get him moving. Immediately arching his back with a hiss of pain, he danced in a circle as he snatched the money from Nick's opposite hand. "Apparently I have a major hard-on for this girl that I don't even know, but I'll go anyway and get you ketchup and vinegar fries to make up for whatever the fuck my lousy brother did--"
"He's just acting cocky 'cause he's afraid of being shot down," Nick finished, jerking Aaron close so he could speak low. "Stay gone for about twenty minutes, okay?"
"What the fuck did you do?" Aaron hissed as he reached to rub his lower back, watching Alana return to their beach blanket for a soda.
"She found out about Natalie," Nick grumbled.
"You told her?!"
"No! The Gnat told her--"
"Boy are you fucked," Aaron grumbled, kicking at the sand as he wrenched away from his brother's grasp. "Why did you have to fuck up shit with Alana? I really like her--"
"What was I supposed to do?! Introduce her to Natalie and say, 'By the way, I had sex with her once a few years ago'?! Jesus Christ--"
"I better stay away for a fucking hour and go buy you every flower known to man, 'cause if you're trying to fix it with this attitude, you're just going to make it worse," Aaron growled, trudging up the beach while muttering profanities about his older brother.
"Thanks for nothing!" Nick hollered after him with a scowl, kicking hard at the sand before he headed back to the blanket. Groaning when Alana rolled to her stomach, suddenly immersed in the novel she had pulled from her beach bag, he moved to sit next to her. "Beautiful, I--"
"Can you put some sunscreen on my back?" Alana inquired, turning her head slightly to offer him a plastic smile. Shifting slightly, she rested her novel on the blanket and pulled the long curls from her ponytail over her shoulder to display her creamy, bronzed back. She really didn't wan to talk about the unpleasantness and ruin Aaron's day.
"Will you listen to what I have to say?" Nick requested, reaching for the bottle of sunscreen. He didn't want her to get the wrong idea about his relationship with Natalie. That was in the past, and he felt nothing remotely resembling an attraction to that woman. Alana was his present, the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. The woman he wanted to mother and help raise his children.
"I'm listening," she promised softly, fighting to hide a scowl when he reached in front of her to yank the novel away. She thought twice about turning to snatch it, but decided to merely comply with his wishes. Hearing him toss it to the far side of the blanket, she folded her arms to nestle her head comfortably so he could apply the lotion.
"What happened between me and Natalie was years ago, okay? Like you said, we were both drunk and lonely and… It just happened…" Nick trailed softly as he began applying the lotion. "I don't think either of us realized what had happened until the next morning, but… I don't know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I really didn't think that you'd get so upset--"
"I'm not upset," Alana interrupted softly, closing her eyes to ward off any tears that threatened to build. She suddenly felt foolish for her reaction to the whole ordeal, but the insecurities still lingered. She was so fearful of the reflection Nick would find as he continued to peer through the teal windows leading to her soul. She wasn't beautiful on the inside. Nor was she on the outside. Every day that she woke, she feared that he'd realize that she was just a mere shell of life. "I know it happened a long time ago--"
"And it's never going to happen again."
"That's fine--" Alana yelped softly as Nick grasped her waist, turning her onto her back. When she found herself staring up into his dark indigo eyes, she tensed as he straddled her hips. "Nick--"
"Stop being so blasé about this, please?" he murmured, leaning over so he could press his lips to her cheek. "You've got to understand, Beautiful. Before that night I never harbored any secret desire for her, and I'm far from that now--"
Alana had wanted to comment about the structured vocabulary Nick was building as he spoke against her cheek, but she willed those thoughts away. She knew that if she laughed, then he would only be hurt by her negative criticism. And, somehow, faced with her insecurities, she could barely muster a grin. "But the way you two act with one another--"
"We're just friends, Beautiful. That's it. Friends who love to torture one another--"
"She's absolutely gorgeous."
"She doesn't hold a candle to you, Beautiful."
"You had to have felt something--"
"It was just sex. Nothing more--"
"There's no such thing as sex and nothing more--"
"Yes there is. You tried to convince yourself of that when we first made love--"
"That's just it, Nick. I tried to convince myself but it was a lie."
"Alana," Nick sighed, pulling away. "What am I supposed to say? How can I make you truly believe me when I say that there's nothing going on between me and Nat? She belongs to Brian--"
"I know she belongs to Brian," Alana corrected as she moved to pull her knees to her chest when her lower half was freed from his weight. Threading one arm around her legs, she then reached for her mother's ring. Drawing it over her knees, she rubbed it subconsciously as she allowed her eyes to drift closed. "And I know you'd never sleep with someone else when you're with me. Or at least I'd hope that you wouldn't… But, it's not even about you being with Natalie… I know it was a long time ago… But I can't help but think I'm not up to par. That I'm not the kind of lover you want to keep around. That you'll get tired of me. That if you keep staring into my eyes you're just going to see this vacant…person…"
"God, Beautiful… I could never get tired of you," Nick breathed in shock, reaching to brush her curls from her face. Stroking his fingers over her cheek, he drew in a deep breath. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you…"
"It's just been so damn long and all these emotions are just so new… Then Natalie blurts out of no where that she had sex with you… It felt like my whole world just crashed and I couldn't help but wonder if you thought of her when you were with me. Or if you thought I could do something better. Or that I could never do what she did--"
"The only thing I think about when we're together is you. You're the only thing I've been able to think about for more than two seconds since the moment I first looked into your eyes."
"And when we're apart?" she murmured softly, reaching to rub away the tears that were slipping.
"You. Just you," Nick promised.
"I'm sorry," she whispered faintly.
"Beautiful… You never did anything wrong."
"It wasn't a big deal and I just made it into some huge drama--"
"I'm kind of glad you did…"
"You're glad I turned into a Drama Queen?"
"Uh-huh--"
"Is it safe for me to come back yet?!"
"Why are you glad I turned into a Drama Queen?" Alana questioned in confusion as Nick shot a glare toward Aaron, telling him to circle the beach once more. When she heard Aaron's whine of protest, she moved to retrieve him, but Nick caught her arm. When she was pulled back to the blanket, she eyed him curiously as she rubbed her reddened cheeks, waiting for an answer.
"Because… Damn, it seems so fucking shallow…" Nick sighed, pulling her closer to him until their foreheads pressed together. "It was like a confirmation that you love me, you know?"
"You needed confirmation?" she returned as she cupped his face within her hands. Brushing her thumbs down his cheeks, she shivered softly at the feeling of his hot breath on her lips as if she were breathing his very essence. "…Then I can't be loving you enough…"
"You do, you really do," Nick promised, lightly brushing his lips across hers. "But… I did get a kick out of seeing this little jealous streak… You believe me, don't you?"
"Kiss me first," she requested.
Smiling, Nick slid his hands up to cup her cheeks gently, his thumbs resting just at the corners of her eyes before he leaned closer. Tilting his head to the side, he caught her lips in a soft kiss, gently coaxing her mouth open with the tip of his tongue. "I love you," he breathed before delving between her lips, drinking in her flavor slowly, lightly tangling his fingers in her hair.
Moaning softly with delight as his tongue slowly rolled against hers, stirring the fiery passion deep within the pit of her stomach. Curling her arms around his neck, she nibbled at his tongue before meeting him once more in a passionate dance of tongues. Every thought of him becoming intimate with Natalie drained away, knowing that inside, he only thought about her. That she was the one that held his heart as she released the softest of whimpers. "I love you so much, Handsome--"
"More. I love you more," Nick moaned softly, wrapping his arms around her to hold her tight against him. "I don't think I can ever tell you truly how much I--"
"I've got vinegar fries with tons of ketchup!"
"--Hate my brother right now," Nick whined, dropping his head to her shoulder.
"He went all the way up to the boardwalk to get me vinegar fries with tons of ketchup. There's no way that I can deny him when he treats me like I'm some kind of goddess," Alana explained with a sorrowful smile toward her lover, rubbing his back tenderly until Aaron flopped behind her and yanked her onto his lap. She yelped in surprise at the sudden switch, but perked immediately as the container of messy fries was offered as Aaron's arms snaked around her waist. Cooing, she leaned back to kiss his cheek. "Thank you so much, Aaron. I can't believe you remember what I like to eat…"
"Wait, wait, wait," Aaron grumbled, holding the fries out of her reach. Looking from one to the other, he gauged their expressions. "You two worked things out?"
"Yes," Nick answered.
"No more fuck-up?"
"Fuck-up resolved…"
"I get 'Lana to myself and you go buy me a milkshake?"
"Okay… Wait, what happened to all the cash I gave you?"
"I stopped at the sunglass place and saw this awesome pair of Oakleys…"
"Damnit, Aaron--"
"Can I at least have my fries while I'm sitting in your lap?" Alana interrupted with a slight whine.
"As long as you promise me that you've worked things out with Nick and won't be flirting with AJ anymore," Aaron answered, settling the fries in her lap as Nick got to his feet. "And as long as you promise me that you'll make Nick take a picture of us like this for me to keep by my bed. And as long as you promise me--"
"You keep telling her to make promises and her fries will be too cold to eat," Nick interrupted with a chuckle, stooping to kiss Alana softly before loping off.
"Promise to everything, 'cause these fries are fan-fucking-tastic," Alana promised as she licked the ketchup from her thumb after popping a fry into her mouth. Leaning back against Aaron, she offered him a few as he continued to hold her, grinning at the excitement brewing in his dark chestnut eyes. "…Why do you want a picture of us for the side of your bed?"
"Because I love you?" Aaron suggested around a mouthful of fries. Grinning at her startled expression, he quickly shook his head. "Not like that. I love you like a sister--"
"Don't you have enough of them populating this planet?" she inquired, feeding him a few more fries before reaching for her soda.
"None like you."
"I would think that's a good thing…"
"Believe me, it is."
"Is that a bust on me or on your sisters?"
"Them…"
At Aaron's meek trail of one word, Alana knew she had stumbled into an awkward territory. For the most part, neither Nick nor Aaron spoke much about their sisters. Nor would they mention their father or mother. Instead, they would reminisce about their relationship as brothers. Nothing more. Not wanting the youth to feel bad, Alana reached to pat his knee affectionately before offering him her soda. "Anytime you're in Kentucky, you just stop by my place, alright? I'll always have a bed for you to sleep in and trouble for you to get into. I can take you rock climbing and I have these awesome ATVs--"
Aaron choked slightly at her words, spitting out a mist of the soda. Wiping his mouth, he was grateful the wind had carried it away from them. "Are you going to seduce me in the rain on the hood of your Jeep?!"
"What?" Alana laughed in shock. "Seduce you?! You're barely legal!"
"Okay… So it wouldn't be much of a seduction--" Aaron cut off with a yelp when she playfully slapped his leg. "I'm kidding! Can we go ATV'ing in some mud?"
"That's the best place to work an ATV," Alana agreed with a nod, turning slightly in Aaron's arms as they finished the fries, setting the empty carton aside. "And, just for your clarification, I did not seduce your brother on the hood of my jeep in the rain. He dropped me off the side of a mountain by scaring the Hell out of me and he's lucky I didn't kill him."
"Well… From what he told me, you weren't too upset about it--"
"I am not talking about my sex life with you."
"Fine… Want to talk about mine?"
"Or lack thereof?"
"I'll have you know that I hooked up once on this trip--"
"Congratulations," Alana cooed as she stole the bottle of soda to finish off the remaining layer. Turning slightly in Aaron's arms, she eyed him with a small smirk, finding him adorable as he puffed out his chest in pride. Leaning forward, she kissed his cheek softly. "I'd love having you as a little brother."
"Really? Even though I'm annoying and never bring back change and burp loud enough to rattle eardrums and--"
"Would you drink this and stop scaring her away?" Nick groaned as he stumbled onto the latest portion of the conversation, shoving the thick malted milkshake into his brother's hands.
Aaron rolled his eyes, accepting the milkshake as Nick flopped down and quickly pulled Alana back into his lap. "Has Nick let loose with one of those farts that brings tears to your eyes yet? You might want to keep your distance after he's had anything Mexican--"
"I'm partial to when he lets one rip, then grabs the blankets and yanks them over my head so I suffocate," Alana shared as she felt Nick cringe behind her. Smirking toward Aaron, she reached to drape Nick's arms around her bare waist, making sure to lean down and kiss his fingertips.
"God, I remember when I was touring with the Boys in Germany and was always stuck in a hotel room with him… He'd pull his knees up to his chest, do a silent one, then shove his feet down really fast so the aroma went straight to me," Aaron added with a knowing nod.
Alana snorted softly. "That is so--"
"Something we shouldn't be discussing!" Nick yelped, shooting Aaron a disgusted glare that told him to stop before he risked bodily injury. Did he really need to be mortally embarrassed in front of his lover?
"But, Nicky, it's so much fun," Aaron whined.
"Then you just wait till we're back in closed quarters on the plane, Son," Nick growled.
*~*~*
"Nick's fallen asleep with Liz, now's your chance," AJ hissed under his breath as he snatched the headphones from Howie's head. Ignoring the man's groan of protest, he tossed them aside, motioning for Howie to go talk to Alana, who was sitting alone in the row of seats across the aisle. With Baylee occupied playing Go Fish with Brian and Natalie, and Nick and Elizabeth stretched out in a seat, both snoring, now was the prime time to discuss their record label. Meaning it was the prime time to try their best to persuade Alana to be the first signed artist. "Quit pussyfooting and c'mon, D…"
"I don't know, J…" Howie hesitated as he glanced over his friend's shoulder to get an adequate view of the woman he knew would be perfect to launch his label. She was gorgeous, energetic, humorous, passionate, compassionate, and her voice was far above even the most talented artists in the business. But, unfortunately, she already had a career she was passionate about. That was most evident as she slouched in her seat with her MP3 player blaring in her ears, flipping through the most recent Nursing 2006 magazine. "We haven't even talked to Nick about this and she told me that first and foremost she's a nurse--"
"Who the fuck cares what Nick says? It's not like he's her damn owner or anything," AJ interrupted with a scowl. He never understood how his friend could bee so meek when it came to speaking to another man's girlfriend. Not, AJ assured himself with a quick glance at the snoring Nick, that Alana had even alluded to being Nick's girlfriend. "Besides, we can assure her that her nursing can come first, D… Come on, before Brian ropes her into going with him on his solo gig--"
"How can we possibly assure her that her nursing can come first when both jobs are--" Howie yelped in shock as he was suddenly thrown from his seat into the aisle. Then AJ's hard shove to his chest had him toppling into the seat beside Alana. Crashing her into the window, Howie felt his heart leap to his throat as Alana yelped underneath his weight. "Oh God, I am so sorry--"
"Damn, D… Watch where you're going," AJ chided, clicking his tongue as he jerked Howie back so Alana could straighten. Grinning as he slid over them to take the seat next to the window, he flopped down with a sigh, glancing up to see Aaron rush down the aisle towards the bathroom. "So, Al, did you enjoy the Bahamas?"
"…Who gave the kid a laxative brownie?" Alana wondered aloud as she leaned over Howie to see Aaron collide into the door of the bathroom, fumbling furiously for the handle. Finally yanking it open, he then fell inside, slamming the door behind him. Bemused, Alana leaned back to see AJ watching her intently. "…What did you ask me?"
"Oh, just wanted to know if you were ready to join the Mile-High Club like you promised you would," AJ explained with a wicked smirk, ignoring Howie's disbelieving groan.
"The bathroom's kind of occupied…" Alana trailed as she smirked mischievously toward AJ, allowing him to snatch her magazine away as well as her MP3 player, stuffing them into her messenger bag. "But I suppose we could make-do with the last row of seats, right?"
"Damn straight," AJ agreed in a low rasp, quickly lowering the armrest between their seats. Seeing Howie's glare, however, he leaned back with a heavy sigh. "You might want to talk D out of the doldrums first, though…"
"I figure once he touches my body, he might actually grin…" Alana egged, reaching to pat Howie's leg. When he tensed immediately, she frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"
"If the Man Whore would kindly keep to the topic he and I decided on before we sat down…" Howie trailed with a sigh. "AJ wanted to come talk to you about--"
"Bullshit," AJ immediately defended. "You're the one that wanted her so bad in the first place! Begging me to talk some sense into her so she could sign to the label. Don't even make me out to be the soul dealer in this black jack or whatever the Hell that means… Though, if I am, I'm the one that's taking all the studio time with her--"
"Don't you think she should actually agree to sign before you start claiming shotgun on studio time?" Howie questioned with a roll of his eyes. Turning to Alana, he patted the back of her hand gently. "First of all, you have to know how sorry I am for the way I treated you when I first met you. I never meant to insult you, honestly."
"You didn't insult me…" Alana trailed, studying the way his hand gently tapped the back of hers. Almost as if he was a fatherly figure. "…Hell, the first time you met me, I was sucking a body shot off Nick's chest… I am a flavor… Probably some Whisky Sour or something…"
"Alana…"
"It ain't a big deal," Alana promised as she suddenly pulled her hand away from his patting. "You're like Daddy Dearest or something and you're scaring the Hell outta me."
"Quit scaring her," AJ growled protectively.
"I'm sorry! I just want her to know that--"
"What's it going to take to get you to sign to our label, Al? You can trust us, you know. We won't try to screw you over so you only make a penny per album sold or anything. And if you really want to do the nursing thing too, we can work something out so--"
"You're bringing up the label thing again?" Alana groaned as she shifted in her seat, fully intent on climbing out. That is, until AJ grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap so she couldn't leave. "You guys are absolutely crazy, y'know that? I'm no where near capable of making an album. Nor do I have the talent. I'm just a nurse who goofs off to make her patients feel better. And there's no way that I could dedicate a hundred percent to both jobs. Nursing is a full time effort and so is your music--"
"At least give us the benefit of the doubt?" AJ requested softly, threading his fingers with hers. "Just say the word, and we can bring some recording stuff to Kentucky and you can play around with it, okay?"
"Then you'll be able to see what you really sound like," Howie added with a hopeful note in his voice.
"I'm nothing like what the media has today as their star singers. I'm just an average singer who does it for fun. There is no future in my singing and there's no way that I could do your label justice. You need a singer who's going to defy the meaning of what it is to be a performer," Alana objected with a shake of her head, not understanding why they were so intent on changing her career path. She had never thought of herself as a phenomenal singer, much less an adequate singer. She just did it because her patients pleaded with her to do so. To soothe them was her number one priority. "I sound like a bullfrog in a grater…"
"Fine… I'll bring in the big guns," AJ decided with a sigh, knowing Alana would continue to deny her talent. "Yo, Nat!"
"Don't you dare disturb her from her Go Fish game!" Alana blurted as she pushed on AJ's chest, stumbling away from the row of seats. Only, she tripped on Howie's foot, crashing to the floor with a sharp curse. "I'll play with your stupid recording shit if you stop beating me up!"
"Is that a promise?" AJ and Howie questioned in unison as Aaron burst from the bathroom.
"Whooo!" Aaron shouted, waving a hand in front of his nose. "I wouldn't go in there for a while if I was y'all!"
"Well at least shut the door!" Alana commanded with a soft gag, turning to her side to rub her now aching backside. "Or light a match!"
"Kidding!" Aaron laughed, hopping across her body to return to his seat.
"So… Was that a promise?" AJ pressed.
"To goof off with your recording equipment?" Alana returned as AJ reached out to help her up. Grasping his hands, she allowed him to heft her up as if she were made of an insignificantly light material. Tensing slightly when he brushed his hands down her backside as if to take the sting away, she heard Howie groan with disapproval. Reaching to catch the man's hands, she offered a small nod toward AJ. "It's not like I'm signing away my life. I can goof off after work with you or something…"
"You're serious? You'll do it? You do know that you'll still have to sign a contract, even though you do consider it goofing off--"
Alana's dark teal eyes widened with skepticism. "To record on some little microphone to a little tape?"
"Well, yeah," AJ answered, looking to Howie for help. "Howie can explain the legal jargon, but that protects you if someone finds a tape and decides to ship it overseas for mass publication. Some geeky kid who can't carry a tune makes tons off your voice, and you're at home scrubbing mildew out the toilet--"
"Why are y'all so interested in signing me?" Alana sighed as she glanced toward Howie with the utmost confusion. "You can find plenty of singers in your guys' circles that would leap at the opportunity to be signed. People who are dying to sing--"
"People who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket with directions on the handle," AJ finished quickly. "You've got it, Alana. Can't you trust us?"
Alana bit down on her bottom lip as AJ pushed her into the opposite row of seats, forcing her to sit down beside him. He turned so they were facing, his deep russet eyes smoldering with a passion for music she always felt when she was singing. She loved music and felt her problems fade away as she sank into the sweet melodies of her favorite songs. Feeling as if she were about to draw blood, she glanced sideways to Howie, only to be drawn back to AJ. "Of course I trust you--"
"If it will make you feel better about this, when we get our… Recording shit in Kentucky you can do a demo for us before we get you to sign anything." When AJ's jaw fell open in shock, Howie rushed forward with what he had to say. "That way we'll all know for certain whether or not we want to do it."
"You guys ain't going to back off till I say yes, huh?" Alana questioned with sudden clarity, glancing up at Howie.
"I--We just want you to give it a chance before you say no," Howie explained softly.
"I can sing any demo I want? From any artist? That's what a demo is, right?"
"Absolutely. Whatever you want. It can be just you singing, or we can get some backup music or get someone in to play guitar or piano or whatever--"
"I play both," AJ volunteered.
"Natalie plays piano better," Howie argued. Looking at Alana, he raised his eyebrows hopefully. "What do you say?"
Alana hesitated for a moment before offering a small nod. "I think I can give you guys a few hours of my time."
"Thank you so much, Sweetie," Howie murmured, leaning close to offer a soft kiss on her cheek. "You won't regret this, I promise."
"Just let me know when you need me and I'll be there," Alana laughed at the tickling sensation he caused to her cheek. "Now, can I go back to reading or is one of you going to entertain me?"
"I'll entertain you," AJ rasped low in her ear.
"You can go back to reading. We have phone calls to make," Howie explained with a quick glance at AJ.
"Nice talking to you boys," Alana purred, sliding out of the row of seats before Howie yanked AJ toward the back where their bags were located. Smirking when she saw the forlorn look cross AJ's face at being pulled away, she then glanced around to find some source of entertainment. Though, when she found Nick and Elizabeth snoozing so sweetly together, she sighed. Reaching into Elizabeth's bag, she retrieved her favorite blanket and draped it over them.
"You're going to do it, then?" Aaron questioned suddenly from behind her, though his voice was so soft she barely heard him.
"Huh?" Alana murmured in surprise, glancing up after tucking the blanket gently beneath Elizabeth's chin. She saw the curiosity burning in his chestnut eyes as she moved to sit at the top Nick and Elizabeth. Only, they seemed to realize she was near because Nick shifted to nestle his head in her lap. Smiling, she ran her fingers through his platinum locks, leaning back to glance at Aaron. "You were listening?"
"Kind of hard not to, but yeah…" Aaron trailed, leaning against the seat. "I think it's awesome."
"It's not like the deal's official or anything. I'm just recording a demo for them so they'll stop breathing down my neck," Alana explained with a casual shrug of her shoulders, twirling one of Nick's locks around her index finger. She loved how he was growing his hair longer, just a few centimeters above his brow line. "…Why do you think it's awesome?"
"Because it is," Aaron answered simply, raising a brow when Nick shifted his head in Alana's lap. Biting back a laugh when his older brother began to snore loudly, he shook his head. "You're going to kick some ass."
"Apparently he doesn't like me playing with his hair…" Alana murmured, deciding on resting her one arm on the armrest and drape the other over Nick's shoulder.
"Apparently… Do you think he'll like you doing a demo?"
"Um… You know him better than I do…"
"Um… Not really… But I think he'll be all for it, as long as AJ doesn't end up keeping you in the studio twenty-four hours a day…"
"It's just a demo."
"Yeah… For now," Aaron murmured. Leaning over, he kissed the top of her head. "I'm going to see if I can get Bay to play a little poker. See you later, Sis."
Author's Chapter Notes:
Last update for tonight. Will be back in a few days with more. :)
