Chapter 3:
Jess walked into the night and she looked up into the sky. “Hey.” She heard AJ’s voice say. His arms appeared around her waist and her eyes met a white rose in front of her.
“AJ, I love it. Thank you.” She said, quickly taking a hold of the rose. “It’s beautiful.”
“Like you.” His scratchy voice whispered. He put his face into her neck, his goatee scratching her and she giggled. “Oh, before I forget.” He said, his arms removed themselves from her waist to move into his pocket inside his jacket and took out a backstage pass.
“Thank you, AJ.” Her eyes wide with excitement. She held it in her hand very gently, like it was very fragile.
“It’s not going to break, sweetie.” AJ chuckled; his mellow laugh sent a shiver down her spine. He saw her shiver and was worried, “You cold?” He asked and she shook her head. “Here ya go.” AJ said, taking his jacket off and placing it on her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome. Do you want to go for a cup of coffee or something?” AJ asked.
“Sure I could use some, I still need to do work, tonight.” Jess said.
“Great. Maybe I can help you with your homework.” AJ offered, holding out his arm.
“Maybe.” Jess smiled, putting her arm through his. “I know a great coffee shop around the corner.” She suggested.
“Sounds great.” He said, letting her lead the way. It started to snow, the snowflakes came down quickly.
“Hey, perfect time I write a song.” She smiled. “Outside the snow is falling.” His voice startled her as he echoed the words. Together, they started a song as they entered the coffee shop. They order their coffee, AJ buying for her after her plead to let her pay for her at least. They sat down in the loveseat in the front of the shop, watching the snow fall, together. (authors note: it's so weird writing about snow falling bc it's the end of summer. And it is almost raining. Anyways..) Her mind was racing with lyrics. She quickly took her recorder out and hit the record button. She started the song again, AJ still singing with her. She decided to make it a duet. She looked at him and he knew to start making up lyrics to go with the song as a duet.
“As the snow falls, I see you looking back at me. I make my way to the corner of three. I take you in my arms and awake in bed. It was just a dream but it's really snowing. I go out to find a party and my dream plays out when I see you.” They repeated the chorus and together, they sang the ending. “Wow, that was great harmonizing.” AJ breathed, looking into her eyes as she hit the stop button and their coffees were delivered.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “It's almost like a where you are song.” She sighed. His face was getting closer and hers moved closer.
“But with you and me and it was better.” He mumbled, slowly placing his lips on hers for a sweet kiss. (authors note: ahhh I'm on a sugar high so don’t mind me if I start rhyming. Now I'm singing a song from the movie empire records- I'm sugar high!!!!)
The old couple across the room had watched the two love-struck singers (hey.. another note.. I did Romeo and Juliet in school last year and I had to memorize the prologue.. In fair Verona where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.. whose misadventured piteous overthrows. Doth with their death, bury their parents strife….) create a perfect song, that even they liked. Now, they watched as the couple had what the old couple thought to be their first kiss together.
“Oh, Alex isn’t that adorable?” The old woman cried.
“Yes, darling.” Alex, obviously the old man replied. “Give em privacy.” He shooed his wife to look somewhere else.
Meanwhile, the two kissing broke apart. “AJ.” Jess breathed into his ear from the breathless kiss.
“Yes.”
“Wa.. Was that supposed to happen?” Jess stuttered.
“I dunno but it felt right.” AJ said.
“Yeah, it did.” Jess said. She moved to pick up her coffee, which was getting cold. AJ picked his up and took a sip, watching the girl next to him take her time drinking the coffee.
“So what’s your favorite song?” AJ asked.
“I don’t really have a favorite.. They are all great to me.” AJ nodded. “I love Lay Down Beside Me, though. It's near the top of the list.” She said, blushing.
“I would have thought you liked I Need You Tonight.” AJ grinned, remembering her solo.
“Yea, well I Need You Tonight is higher than Lay Down Beside Me.” Jess began to blush again.
“You know you have a beautiful voice, Jess.” AJ said, and again she began to turn red (sound familiar?)
“Thank you AJ. You’re a great singer, too. And who else could do the cackle better than the man himself in the beginning of larger than life.” Jess said, now it was his turn to blush. “I told my friends it was like a chromatic scale, but singing.” She laughed. She began to imitate his cackle, but his lips were again on hers. His hands were placed on her face and she placed her arms on his shoulders. Jess broke away from the kiss; her arms moving away before AJ carefully and gently took hold of one.
“Jess, what’s wrong?” AJ looked at Jess, who had her face turned in the other direction so he wouldn’t see her cry. All he heard were sniffles.
Jess opened her eyes, pulling her arm away from AJ’s hold and wiping the tears away she began to pick up her book bag. “I just. Uh. Remember that I had to be home for something.” She began to walk away, but AJ held her back, having her land in his lap, taking her in his arms.
“Don’t cry, Jess. Tell me what’s wrong.” AJ said, sincerely concerned.
“You.. You’re going to leave and.. and.. and then forget all about me. I don’t want to start something that I’ll be heartbroken over.” Jess turned her head to avoid looking into his eyes.
She felt a gentle hand lightly touch her chin and move it so she was looking into his eyes. “Who said that I was going to forget you, or that I was going to leave?” His mellow voice asked.
Her tears had stopped as she looked into his eyes. “I..I..”
“Jess. I really like you.” AJ slowly moved his head toward hers, and their lips met in a gentle kiss.
“AJ, I like you too. I just don’t know if I can deal with a high profile boyfriend.” With that, she got off his lap, taking her stuff with her and with one look behind her, she left.
Chapter 4
“Hello?” A voice picked up the phone.
“Hi. This is AJ McLean, can I please talk to Jessica?” AJ spoke into the phone.
“Sir, I already told you, my daughter wishes not to talk to you.” Her mother said.
“I’m very sorry. I just want to know how she is.”
“Heartbroken as a teen would be.”
“Can you just please tell me if she’s going to the concert and the backstage pass?”
“Sir, I know you didn’t want to hurt her but I can't tell you. I’m sorry.”
“Please, I beg of you. I won’t call back. Please.” AJ reasoned.
“Fine. Yes, she’s still going.”
“Thank you! Goodbye.” Her mother hung up before saying goodbye. AJ sighed, hanging the phone up. He picked up a glass and threw it against the hotel wall. He then kicked the wall, cursing himself and went to hit his head on the wall, but a hand blocked it.
“Alex, what’s wrong?” It was his mom, Denise.
“I don’t get her at all.” AJ groaned, sinking to the floor.
“Who?”
“Jess.”
“Oh, the girl you met at the bar?”
“Yeah. The one with the amazing voice and moves.” AJ sighed, dreaming of her beautiful face.
“She must mean a lot.”
“She does. I can't believe I didn’t follow her.” He kicked the floor with the heel of his foot. He began to twirl the laces on his sneakers. All of a sudden, he ripped his shoe off and flung it at the door, barely missing Howie coming out of the bathroom. It surprised his mother and of course, Howie.
“J?” Howie asked. “Care to explain.”
“He’s fallen for the bar girl.”
“HER NAME IS JESSIE!” AJ screamed, letting his body lay on the carpet.
“Geez, sorry Alex. Reminder we leave in 5 mins for the arena.” With that, Denise left.
“I’m sorry How. But it's the girl. I can't get her out of my mind and she was so upset when she left.” AJ started to explain.
“It’s alright.” Howie said as the other three guys came in. “Let me talk with him, ok?” The guys agreed and left. Howie sat down next to his best friend. “AJ, you gave her a backstage pass and she has front row tickets, right?”
“Yeah with her friends from the club.”
“Oh. Good, I liked Lauren.” Howie said, smiling. AJ groaned. “Oh, sorry. But you’ll get to talk to her tonight.”
“That’s if she comes.”
“I don’t think she’d miss the chance to meet us all.” Howie doubted.
“But I messed everything up! I KISSED HER!!!!!” AJ screamed out.
“J, we gotta go. So let’s talk with the other guys bout this, ok?” AJ nodded and got up with the help from Howie. AJ picked his leopard hat, just for Jess and looked for his jacket, but remembered she had it. He hit his forehead and was dragged out of the hotel room by Howie.
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“Laaaaauuuuuuur.” Jess whined.
“WHHHHAAAAAA?” Lauren said back.
“Do I hafta go?”
“HELLO?? We’re talking about the Backstreet BOYS HERE!”
“I still have the backstage pass, his jacket and the rose he gave me and I feel so bad.”
“Why?” Her best friend asked.
“Because I told him I didn’t think I could handle having a high class boyfriend who is always gone. I left crying. I Miss him, laaur.” Jess began to cry.
“Nooo. Don’t cry. It’ll run your makeup.” Lauren made a joke and cracked Jess up.
“Always think of appearance, don’t ya?” Jess grinned.
“IT'S THE BACKSTREET BOYS!!” Lauren screamed, causing the three other girls to slide into the room. They looked from Jess to Lauren and back again.
“Jess, you’ll see him tonight.” Allison said.
“I know but that’s the problem. I have backstage passes and it's going to be so weird to see him.” Jess whined.
“Why?” Ashley asked, confused.
“Long story..” Jess began as the girls hopped into her Passat to head to the arena.