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Chapter 7
I slowly looked up into the face of the person I had just bumped into when I noticed a familiar pair of sun glasses. The man lowered his shades.
"Linds, you should really watch where you're going." AJ said. I gave him a sympathetic look as he slipped his arm around my shoulder. We began to walk towards our "crew", when AJ noticed the bag in my hand. AJ swiftly took the bag out of my hands. "Let's see what we got here...our stuff?" he said stunned. I nodded. "I could have gotten you this stuff for free."
"It doesn't matter, I'd rather buy it." AJ nodded.
"Oh, Nick was getting worried. He didn't know if you were coming back, so he wanted someone to look for you. Being the gentleman I am, I agreed to find you." AJ explained.
"How sweet." I said rolling my eyes as we approached the tables in the foodcourt.
"Hey Linds." they all greeted me. I nodded.
"What you got there?" Nick asked reaching for my bag. He took it and searched its contents. "Our stuff?"
"Yes, Nick, your c.d. and your sheet music." I said talking to him like a first grader.
"Sheet music? What do you play?" Kevin asked.
"Keyboard and drums mostly. I've also played the cello, the sax, and the clarinet." They all gave me looks that said 'wow'.
We walked around for a little while. I felt suffocated. Nick and Kevin kept a constant conversation going about instruments. It was kinda cool, but I needed to get out.
"Guys, I'm gonna be over there looking at some clothes." I said getting their attention and pointing to a clothing store down a wind in the mall. They all nodded and began to walk off. I walked over to the clothing store when I saw a jewelry shop to my right. My curiosity got the best of me and I went inside. I looked around until a glass case of charms caught my eye. I walked over to the case and stared at a silver charm. There sat a silver star charm. It was perfect...not too big, not too small. It was absolutely beautiful. All of a sudden ... blackness.
"Guess who?" I heard a voice behind me as someone covered my eyes.
"Frick and Frack." I said as the hands let me go. I turned around to see Nick and Brian staring at each other, mouths wide open. "What?"
"How'd you know it was both of us, Bri didn't say anything." I shrugged.
"Where there's a Frack, there's a Frick." I said smiling. I turned my attention back over to the charm. I felt hair tickle my cheek and noticed Nick and Brian looking over my shoulder.
"What are you looking at?" Brian asked.
"The star." Nick answered for me as he stared at the charm. "It's really pretty. You should get it." I thought for a second.
"Nah, mom would kill me. See ya fellas later." I said as I walked by the two guys. I walked to the clothing store I intended to walk into in the first place.
~In The Jewelry Shop~
"She should have gotten the charm. I could see it in her eyes. She really
wanted it." Nick said wishing there was something he could do.
"What can I tell ya, man? Girls are fickle. One, minute they want it, the
next minute they can't stand the look of it." They both shrugged as Nick
tapped his finger on his chin.
"Excuse me, sir..." Nick said trying to get a salesman's attention.
~In Express (clothing store) ~
"You can't buy these!" AJ said looking through the clothes I had picked out.
"They're not flattering! Your hear for a new look. You're buying flares,
bootcuts, and skirts." I gave him a questioning look. AJ dragged me around
the store picking up anything he liked. Then he threw me into a dressing
room (not literally). I had tried on one outfit when I decided to show AJ.
I walked out wearing small flared dark blue jeans and a light blue tight,
long sleeve shirt. As I walked out I noticed 4 pairs of eyes on me. Oh no.
The gang was standing there waiting for me. They all made their positive
comments, but I wasn't happy. Someone was missing and that someone was Nick.
Brian noticed my sad face and sent a glance my way that said 'Don't worry,
I'll tell you.' I nodded and walked back into the changing room and decided
to buy every single piece of clothing I had in my arms. I changed and walked
back out and up to the register. All of the guys had left when I turned to
my left and noticed Brian waiting for me. How sweet. When the woman gave
me the total, I decided to open up an account and save 10%. Not bad. After
the woman handed me the bags, I struggled to pick them up. Brian saw this
and came to my rescue. He helped me all the way out to his jeep explaining
to me that Nick was on the phone with Lou Pearlman. Brian opened up all the
doors for me even though his hand were full. What a gentleman! We opened
up our doors in time to hear some of Nick's conversation.
"Yeah, Lou...Ok...I'll tell them...Yeah, bye." Nick hung up his cell phone
and didn't say anything to either Brian or me. I felt bad.
"Bri, just drop me off at home." I said in a bitter tone. Brian looked at
me through the mirror and saw my sad face. I didn't want to be around Nick
any longer. I felt I did something wrong to piss him off. Brian pulled up
into my driveway. I got out of his jeep without saying good bye to Nick.
I jumped to the trunk and struggled to get my bags out of the car. Brian
once again came to my rescue. He helped me with the bags to my front door.
We dropped the bags at the same time. Brian leaned in to give me a hug as
a tear rolled down my cheek. He slipped something into my hand as he spoke.
"Don't worry about it. I'll find out what's wrong." I nodded as he kissed
my cheek where the tear had rolled down earlier. As Brian jogged to his jeep,
I opened the front door and placed my bags near the coat closet. I slid down
to the floor as more tears rolled down my face.
~In The Jeep~
"What's your problem Nick?!" Brian yelled as Nick made a shocked face. Brian
went on to tell Nick that he ignored me the entire car ride, and that I was
really upset.
"What am I gonna do?" Nick said in a worried tone as Brian pulled into his
driveway.
"You'll think of something. You're a good guy and you didn't mean to upset
her." Brian explained. Nick nodded.
~In My Home~
As I began to stand up again, I remembered the paper Brian had given me.
I looked into my hand and saw a paper with Brian's phone number, cell number,
beeper number, and e-mail address. Brian is such a sweetheart. I thought
as I was interrupted by the doorbell. Oh great. Perfect timing.
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