Chapter Fifteen

Jess didn't have to wait long they pulled up and all five of them got on of a limo. They were dressed up and looked really great. Nick doesn't look like he wants to be here.

Jess - "What's up I thought you were staying to run interference."

Nick - "Well it turns out that this is an acceptable outing and I had to go."

Kevin - "Lou thought it would look good for us to be seen enjoying an evening at the theater."

Jess - "Okay."

Nick - "But if you don't have enough tickets I can just as easily go back to the hotel."

Jess - "Well Loren only gave me five but I'm here so much and they all know she's my aunt so I can get you in."

Nick - "Well don't go to any trouble."

She had no problem talking Jack the usher into letting them all in. There was the normal paparazzi at the entrance and they got a lot of shots of the guys. Once inside, they found their way to their seats. Loren had actually got one of those balcony boxes so squeezing Nick in was no problem. A waitress brings them some drinks and they settle in for the show. Every time Jess sees Loren perform in this show she can't help but be proud that she's her aunt. So when she comes out Jess points her out to them.

AJ - "That's your aunt?"

Jess - "Yeah. She's only like three years older then me."

Kevin - "She's beautiful."

Jess - "She's single."

His eyes are focused on her. He didn't even hear Jess. She started to talk to him but then decide it can wait. She'll just let him enjoy the show. They're quiet the rest of the show. Jess excuses herself during intermission to use the ladies room.

Nick - "Hey this isn't so bad. At least there's some action."

AJ - "Well it's about half over what do you guys want to do after."

Brian - "We could get a bit to eat, how's that sound?" He looks at Kevin who is fixated on the stage. "Kevin?"

Kevin - "I can't believe that's her aunt."

Howie - "Well we now know where Kevin's mind was been. She's single dude.

Kevin - "How do you know?"

Howie - "Jess tried to tell you but you were too busy staring."

AJ - "what about the honey you have in Cali

Kevin - "oh Bethany. She turned out to be a tad bit scary

Howie - She was like Girlfriend of the Corn, dude

Kevin - Anyway, I was just admiring her talent."

Nick - "I don't think you were admiring her talent." Kevin gives him an evil look. Nick who is not one to take a hint says, "unless that's what they call those now." Brian covers his eyes.

Brian - "Nick please for the love of god shut up."

Thankfully Jess choses that moment to come back. She has no idea what happened but Nick is grinning mischievously and Kevin looks ready to kill him.

Jess - "Did I miss something?"

All but Nick "No."

Nick - "Yeah, you want to get something to eat with us after this."

Jess - "I'd like to but I promised Loren I'd have dinner with her, unless she can join us."

Nick - "I don't think anyone would have a problem with that. Do you Kevin?"

Kevin - "you have two seconds to shut up or I'm hanging you off this balcony by your ankles."

Nick goes ohh and the show starts again. She would really love to no what's going on. After the show they go back stage where Loren is changing. Jess knocks.

Jess - "Hey Loren it's me. I've got company."

Loren - "Just a minute. Okay come in." She had disappeared behind one of those Japanese screen things.

"Make yourselves comfy I'll be two minutes." There was only one couch; Brian sat down on it. Jess sits on Loren's make up stool to avoid him. Loren comes out looking great as usually. "Hi I'm Loren." They introduce themselves. AJ kisses her hand.

AJ - "That was the best show I've seen in years."

Loren - "thank you."

AJ - "You were phenomenal."

Loren - "Stop it I've just got this really small part. I'm just glad you guys enjoyed yourselves."

Howie - "Jessica never told us how talented you were I'm was speechless when you came out and then you started singing I was just blown away." She starts getting a little embarrassed. She was used to getting compliments on her voice but their opinions mattered more to her. It was then she noticed Kevin. His eyes seemed to look into her soul.

Nick - "He wasn't the only one. Right Kev?" He nudges him, which gets him out of the trance like state.

Kevin - "You truly do have a beautiful voice."

Brian - "SO can you sing like that." He comes over to Jess.

Jess - "No. I sound more like a cat that got its tail shut in a door."

Brian - "It can't be that bad."

Loren - "Yes it can please don't ask her to demonstrate."

Jess - "Thanks for the vote of confidence. Well they asked us to get something to eat with them. That okay?"

Loren - "Yeah just let me call Danny, hes watching King Arthur for me." Everyone makes small talk while she calls him. "Hey its me hows the brat?"

Danny - "Good he's watching his Elmo tape."

Loren - "Oh hell be out in twenty minutes. I might be later then I thought. Jesss friends ask us to dinner."

Danny - "Her friends, the Backstreet Boys?"

Loren - "Yes and don't get started. She's not seeing any of them. They're her friends and I'm just glad she's getting out again."

Danny - "Whatever. I don't have anywhere to be so take your time."

Loren - "Thanks see you later." She hangs up. "Everyone ready."

Jess - "Yeah." She opens the door just as a stagehand was about to knock.

Stagehand - "Hey I'm suppose to tell you that there is a small mob outside."

Loren - "A mob?"

Stagehand - "Yeah some how people found out that they were here," pointing at the guys. "And now there are a couple hundred girls outside."

Nick - "Only a couple hundred we must be slipping."

Kevin - "Is there a back door?"

Loren - "yeah. It's oddly enough in the back."

Kevin - "Jessica go out and take our driver around back. Come on show us where it is."

Jess took the driver around and there was actually people back here too just not as many. There were also some photographers. She waited in the car and when she saw them come out she opened the door. Everyone jumped in but not before some one got a picture of Kevin helping Loren into the car. They were all laughing.

Jess - "Now where?"

Nick - "Well they know we're out and about so they'll be stalking us the rest of the night. I vote we go back to your place."

Loren - "Oh please no I haven't had my tetanus shot."

Jess - "Hey I clean."

Loren - "When a month ago."

Jess - "This morning before work. Anyway you just want to go there for my Playstation."

Nick - "So what's your point?"

Howie - "Come on we're all dressed up let's take the ladies some place nice."

AJ - "Oh how about the Russian tea room I always wanted to go there."

Loren - "Sounds go to me."

Brian - "Me too let's go."

They ate and laughed and talked until they closed the place. It had gotten really late so they just dropped the girls off, Loren first. Kevin walked Loren up to her door.

Jess - "They seem to have hit it off."

Howie - "They make a cute pair."

Nick - "I can't believe Kevin is the same age as your aunt."

Everyone ignores him as usual. Jess sees Danny leaving and stick her head out the sunroof.

Jess - "Hey Danny."

Danny - "Jess, how are things?"

Jess - "good."

Danny - "you arent intoxicated are you little girl?"

Jess - "Maybe just a little."

He laughs. "Be careful."

Jess - "Of course." She waves as he leaves then get back inside the car.

Nick - "who was that?"

Jess - "Loren's friend Danny Boy."

Nick - "I thought she was single?"

Jess - "Not that kind of friend, Nick." He nods.

Kevin comes back like 10 minutes later; he is in a daze. No one says anything to him. Everyone is just tired and wants to get back to go to bed. By the time they got back to Jess's Kevin and AJ had fallen asleep. She got out and turns around to say bye.

Brian - "Wait I'm going to walk you up."

Jess - "okay bye Nick and Howie." They say bye and Howie looks kind of upset. Jess is quiet the whole way up. They get to her door and she turns again to say bye.

Brian - "Actually can I come in for a minute I want to talk to you."

Jess - "Um sure." They walk in. Jess takes off her coat and throws it on the couch. "What's up?"

Brian - "I've got a problem. I have been kinda seeing this girl..." Great he wants to ask for love advice, she thinks. "But things aren't really that serious between us. I mean I like her and everything she's nice enough but then I keep comparing her to this other girl, who just seems too perfect I can't find a fault."

Jess - "Believe me everyone has faults. Look at me, I'm so busy at work I can't bother to keep food in my fridge or my home clean. I would probably die of starvation if it werent for take out. I pity the guy that gets stuck with me I'll probable give him food poisoning the first time I cook for him."

Brian - "So we'll eat out a lot."

Jess - "Excuse me?"

Brian - "It's you, I keep comparing Christine to you." He looks at his feet. A voice in Jess's head is screaming he likes me, he likes me. But that's the voice she listened to with Donnie. Then there is a more calm voice in her saying, don't get involved.

Jess - "Brian. I am so going to regret saying this. I like being with you. I have never had so much fun in my life. I'll never find a guy like you again."

Brian - "but,"

Jess - "But I made a promise to myself. A promise before I met you. When I was 20 I almost got married. I won't go into details but I decided at the last minute it was a mistake. At the very last minute. I left him literally standing at the altar. Later I promised myself that I would get involved with anyone until my career was stable. Then I met you. You and those guys out in the car made me realize what I was missing. I want to see you, but not in any kind of romantic way, at least not now."

Brian - "They tried to tell me that. But I wouldn't listen."

Jess - "So are things going to be weird between us?"

Brian - "Nah, I like having you around too much. You let me be me."

Jess - "Give this Christine a chance."

Brian chuckles. "You sure are an original I'll give you that."

Jess - "Why cause I turned down a Backstreet Boy?"

Brian - "Yeah and told me to give another girl a chance."

Jess - "I just want you to be happy." and I would make you miserable she thought to herself.

Brian - "I better get down stairs before Nick comes up. We would never get him away from the TV."

Jess - "Okay. Oh when are you guys leaving?"

Brian - "Are you in that much of a hurry to get rid of us?"

Jess - "No, not at all."

Brian - "We go back to Florida day after tomorrow for a break then back out on the road three weeks later."

Jess - "Okay maybe I'll call you tomorrow."

Brian - "okay. Bye."

He kisses her cheek and leaves. Jess then go into her room and cry all the tears she held back when she told Brian to go to another woman. She had convinced herself it was for the best but her heart was having trouble believe that. Brian told Howie what had happened when they got back to the hotel, they were sharing a room. Howie was just glad that the two of them had talked things out instead of hiding the way they felt. Brian saw that Christine had called so he called her back. They made plans for her to come see him while he was in Florida.