| Kevin and Christy and Howie and his date, Hannah, were the first of the people seated at table five (aka, the Backstreet Boys and their dates) to arrive at the charity ball. Kevin and Howie took seats next to each other, and were laughing about something while Christy and Hannah listened in on their conversation when AJ and Tara Anna got there. AJ had insisted on taking Tara Anna instead of letting her ride with Kevin, and Kevin's limo had already left when AJ's arrived. The ride there had been, to say the least, uncomfortable. Tara Anna had spent the entire time blushing at the stream of compliments AJ was throwing at her, and AJ had spent the ride thinking how much less innocent she looked now, in a dress with all that make-up covering her face. Now, Kevin glanced at his cousins face while AJ escorted her in the room by her arm, and saw that she was actually smiling. He couldn't help think that AJ must have worked some of his 'McLean Magic' on her, to make the look of dread that had been plagueing her pretty face all day to disappear. He could only hope that there wasn't a little something happening there. Not that he didn't think that they were good enough for each other, he just knew that Tara Anna couldn't handle anything like a relationship right now. "Hey, Kev." AJ said, pulling out a chair, and sitting down. "Looking sharp, man." He grinned, knowing full well how much Kevin hated dressing up. Tara Anna smiled at Christy, who she was sitting next to. "You look great." She said shyly. Christy smiled. "Thanks. It took me, like, hours to get ready today." She laughed, and glanced down at the red sequined dress she was wearing. "I know this color isn't really right for my hair. But you know. I just saw it, and I had to have it. Even if it did totally clean out my savings account." Tara Anna laughed a little. "That's one of the benefits of having a rich cousin." She teased, grinning at Kevin. "In fact, that's really the only reason I'm staying with him. So he can buy me things." Christy and Kevin laughed. "Really? Because that's the main reason I'm dating him." Christy giggled. Kevin rolled his eyes, and turned away from the two girls. They laughed at the annoyed expression on his face, and went back to their conversation. Christy was in the middle of telling Tara Anna how amazing she looked when Brian walked in, holding the hand of a very happy looking Leighanne. "Aw, here come the happy couple." Howie announced. Brian led his girlfriend over to the table. "Hey. Nick's not here yet?" He sat down, and glanced towards the door. "Not yet." Kevin raised his eyebrows. "Why?" "No reason. Just curious. Did I say there was a reason? Does there have to be a reason?" Brian asked, looking much more paniced than he needed to be, since he was only answering a simple question. Everyone looked at him strangely for a minute. Leighanne leaned over to him, and placed a hand on his thigh. "Calm down, Bri Bear." She whispered, seductivly. Brian wanted to gag. "What's bothering you?" He smiled at her. "I'm fine." He said. But his voice sounded unconvincing, even to him. The truth was, he was worried about what was happening between Nick and Aimee. After all, they had to be alone together for quite a while, it was a three hour ride from Nick's house. What if they got together or something? It wasn't like Aimee wasn't attractive enough for Nick. Or for anyone, for that matter. But Brian shook his head, and banished the thought from his mind. Aimee and Nick? They hated each other. Nothing was even going to happen between them. "Those guys get really old, really fast." Kevin muttered, nodding to the group of photographers standing a few feet away, and snapping a million pictures of the group every second. "I dare someone to moon the camera." AJ teased. Tara Anna giggled, then covered her mouth with her hand and blushed. The doors to the hotel ball room the event was being held in opened again, and all the photographers turned towards them, their flashbulbs clicking thousands of shots every second. The group at table five watched as Nick and Aimee smiled for a few shots, then dodged the cameras and walked to their table. Brian smiled with releif when he saw them, not kissing of hanging all over each other. Just being civil. They took the two remaining chairs, and joined in the small talk the group was making. "Jesus, there's a lot of famous people here." Hannah, Howie's girl, commented. "Look, is that Britney?" Everyone turned to look. "Oh, look. It's N Sync." Tara Anna lowered her voice to an awed whisper. "Yeah, Justin's really hot." Aimee said impishly, glancing at Nick. He stuck his tongue out in return. "Oh, it's that one chick. That one from Seventh Heaven." Nick rolled his eyes. "Oh, lookie!" He squeaked, making his voice as much like Aimee's as he could. "Look at all the famous people! I'm so privlaged to be in their presence. Let's all go ask Justin for his autograph." "Shut up." Aimee snapped. Nick laughed. Brian watched them out of the corner of his eye. Maybe he was just paranoid, but it certainly seemed like there was something going on there. But there couldn't be! Nick knew how he felt about Aimee. He'd never, ever go behind his back and do anything with the girl he loved. Still, they were acting quite a bit like a couple. . . |