Chapter One-Hundred-Fifty-Seven
When the police were done interrogating AJ, Aiden, and Mark they ended up taking Mark and Aiden to jail and AJ ended up getting off only for the fact that they were being harassed. But the police made sure to warn him that if he is caught fighting again and it’s not for a good reason he would be arrested. When the police were gone AJ turned to face Brooke who was still standing there all teary-eyed. She ended up being asked questions about the incident too.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked cautiously. Brooke shook her head and moved closer to him and she slid her arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her in return while balancing Laila on his hip and holding her with his other arm.
“A little disappointed…but no I’m not mad…”
“I’m sorry Brookie…I couldn’t let them insult you like that.”
“Yeah well you could have been arrested…dumbass…” Brooke scolded somewhat as she looked up at him. AJ shrugged.
“Fine by me…if I had to get arrested for protecting you I would do it proudly.” Brooke couldn’t help but laugh at his words. She’ll never understand how he can manage to make her laugh when she is trying her very hardest to be mad at him. She placed her hand to his cheek and pulled his lips down onto hers for a soft kiss and when she pulled away she took Laila.
“Go talk to your fan you big jerk…Laila and I will go and get us some Panda Express…I don’t think the manager would want you back in there – we also left the stroller too.” AJ turned and noticed the kind woman who had saved his butt standing behind him and watching them nervously – Brooke knew she was a fan right off – her calling him ‘that man’ when she first addressed the police officer didn’t fool her one bit.
“Kay…do you know what I like?”
“Course I do, you like Orange Chicken, Chew Mien, Rice, and an Egg Role – same thing as me.” AJ raised his eyebrow and Brooke laughed.
“You aren’t the only one who pays attention,” She informed, and she turned and walked into Panda Express with Laila. AJ turned his attention back on his rescuer who was standing there watching the couple in amusement.
“So anyway…I guess I should probably thank-you,” he told her as his face turned bright red. The woman laughed a little.
“It’s not a problem really. It’s not every day that a fan gets to rescue a Backstreet Boy from being arrested.” AJ chuckled.
“So…do I at least get to know the name of my rescuer?”
“Billie,” the fan smiled.
“Well thanks Billie I really appreciate it,” AJ replied sweetly and he stepped forward and enveloped her in a warm hug.
“Anytime, McLean – just don’t make it a habit okay? I don’t think I have the money to bail you out of jail,” She teased. AJ laughed and a familiar voice spoke behind him.
“Yes, don’t make it a habit or your girlfriend will make them keep you in there for a week.” AJ whirled around then to find Brooke standing behind him with Laila rested on one hip, and a bag of Panda Express in one hand, and two Dr Pepper’s in the other. AJ immediately felt bad.
“Honey why didn’t you just put her in her stroller?” He asked while gently taking Laila from her and one cup of soda so that she didn’t drop anything.
“She put up a fight, I tried. She does not want back in that stroller and I don’t blame her.”
“Lailaaa…” AJ scolded playfully and he rested his forehead against hers and looked into her watery eyes as she still has pouty lips. “What is that all about hmm?” Laila made a small whiny sound and she slid her arms around AJ and rested her head against his shoulder.
“Oh you are gruuumpy…”
“She is probably hungry – and we did sort of promise her the park remember?”
“Uh-huh, until meanie J started a fight,” AJ agreed and he kissed the top of the two year old’s head. “Where is the stroller?”
“I left it in Panda Express – I’ll go in and get it.”
“Here, do you want me to hold that stuff while you do?” Billie volunteered.
“If you don’t mind…”
“No problem,” Billie insisted, and she took the bag of food from Brooke’s hand and the one soda that she was holding.
“Thanks,” Brooke replied and she turned and walked back into Panda Express. Billie smiled at AJ some.
“So who does the cutie belong to?”
“I’m sort of her ‘foster parent’ right now…I guess you can call it,” AJ explained. “She and her brother were left in the care of Brooke’s Orphanage for awhile because her mother is very sick,” he added and he hoped Billie wouldn’t ask for more details – he doesn’t want the story of Ryan and Laila’s mother to be everywhere. Ryan and Laila don’t need that and neither does their mother. Billie seemed to take the hint though because she didn’t pry.
“So…Brooke is your boss then?”
“Yeah sort of,” AJ nodded. “I don’t really work for her, but I spend a lot of time there and help out – working there is more of Nick, Kevin, and Brian’s thing.”
“Well she seems nice and you seem to be happy – I’m happy for you.” AJ grinned.
“Thanks…yeah she does make me very happy. I’ve been in love with her since the moment Nick introduced me.” Right after AJ had said that he heard the door open and he and Billie turned to see Brooke come out with the stroller. AJ took the bag of food from Billie and the one drink that she was holding and he set the food in the seat of the stroller and the two cups in the cup holders.
“Well Billie, thanks again for rescuing me from being arrested – I enjoyed our chat but I promised a certain little girl some Mc Donald’s and the playground,” He said and he once again embraced her with a hug.
“Wait Alex – not so fast,” Brooke insisted. “She deserves to get her picture taken with you – like you do with all of your fans.” AJ turned his attention back on Billie.
“Do you have a camera on you?”
“Course I do,” Billie grinned. “I don’t go anywhere without it,” she added and she pulled a digital camera out of her backpack. Brooke grinned and took Laila from AJ and Billie handed Brooke her camera. AJ moved beside Billie and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her close and the two of them struck a pose for the camera. Brooke took a few pictures and then handed the camera back to Billie. The three of them said their good-byes and Billie even hugged Brooke too secretly thinking this is a keeper AJ. When they were finished saying good-bye Billie went one way and AJ gently took Laila from Brooke, slid his arm around Brooke’s waist and they headed for Central Park where they know for a fact that there is a Mc Donald’s near by there and Brooke pushed the stroller.
~*~*~*~*~
When Aaron finally came to a stop after running through the woods for five minutes Q nearly ran into him because he was hurrying after him and didn’t expect him to stop so abruptly. When he stopped he found himself standing in front of a house and Brianne had just entered it and shut the door behind her.
“So…that’s where she lives,” he spoke more to himself rather then to Q. “She’s been this close all along and I didn’t even know it. I bet she did,” he added in a somewhat grumpy tone.
“Well…now that you’ve found it – what are you planning on doing? If I were you Id give her some space so that she can have a chance to calm down.”
“Heh…yeah…I’m not going to bother her again today, are you kidding me?”
“Good because I left Howie and Ryan alone. I really need to get back to them.” Aaron nodded.
“Yeah…I’m sorry but I just had to figure out where she lives.”
“I understand, really.” Q replied and he wrapped an arm around Aaron’s shoulders and began to guide him back to the lake. “Just give her some time to calm down…she’s been bottling all of those emotions up inside her for nine years I would have been shocked if she didn’t get upset.”
“I just wish there was a way to get her to realize how sorry I am…” Aaron confided as he’s grown to really like having Q there to talk to. He’d talk to his own brother but he seems to be too busy for him lately with Dakota and her new talent for throwing tantrums and Ashley’s emotional problems to top it all off. Not that he blames Ashley or anything…he really likes her a lot but he could use some time with his brother. He’s beginning to understand exactly how Dakota feels about Sarah. When they arrived back to the lake they went onto the side that Howie and Ryan were on and they were out of the lake wrapped in towels the two of them drying off. They headed back to the house and Aaron and Q told Howie everything that happened. When they got back to the house they found the two vans parked outside telling them that the people from the mall and Kevin and Elenore are back. When the four of them had walked in the house they discovered them all sitting there in the living room.
“Hey Aaron…did you find Stacy?” Nick was the first to greet his little brother.
“Yeah…” Aaron replied in a disgruntled tone. “But she yanked me into the lake, told me that she hates me and ran off to her house crying.”
“Awww…I’m sorry bro.”
“I told you she wasn’t worth it,” Angel grumbled.
“Angel,” Nick scolded lightly.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Enough. We talked about this…”
“Yeah, yeah…” Angel scowled.
“Aaron managed to find out where she lives though,” Q announced.
“Really?” Brian asked curiously.
“Yeah she lives on the other side of the lake – five minutes away.”
“Well that’s cool, at least she’s nearby,” Nick pointed out, hoping to cheer his little brother up some.
“Yeah…I just wish there was a way to get her to see how sorry I am.”
“Why don’t you send her flowers?” Ashley spoke up for the first time.
“Flowers?”
“Yeah – every girl likes it when a boy gives her flowers.”
“Flowers and candy,” BJ agreed.
“I don’t want to give her just any old bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates…I want to do something big…something romantic.”
“Hmm…well how about a hundred red roses? And rose petals?” Ashley suggested after thinking for a few moments, the wheels in her head turning like mad. “Outside her doorstep.”
“And a box of chocolate. You have to get her a box of chocolate too” BJ insisted.
“Maybe you could spell ‘I’m sorry’ out with the rose petals too,” Leslie put in. Angel however, just sat there glowering in silence. She still doesn’t see how this girl could be any good for Aaron when all she does is treat him like shit.
“Girls like jewelry too Uncle Aaron,” Dakota spoke up suddenly as she went over and crawled into Aaron’s lap as he sat on the floor leaning his back up against the couch. She doesn’t care if her favorite uncle is all wet – she hasn’t cuddled with him in forever. Aaron smiled a little and wrapped his arms around her waist as he cradled her and he bent down and rubbed his nose lightly over hers.
“Is that so?”
“Uh-huhs.”
“I’ll be sure to remember that buddy, thank-you.”
“No problem,” Dakota beamed, glad that she could help him out.
“I’ll take you shopping for all of this after dinner Aaron, how about that?” Nick suggested.
“Okay,” Aaron agreed.
“I’ll come with you – you are going to need a girl’s opinion,” BJ suggested.
“And we will help you set it all up outside her doorstep too. I think the best time to do it is at night when everybody is asleep – like tp’ing except…with flowers.” Leslie added.
“Cool,” Aaron replied, as he is now feeling so much better. He is glad to have his family – and Ashley there to help him. They were all silent for a few moments until Kevin suddenly spoke up as he sat there with Elenore in his lap.
“Anyway Q…Marcus was just telling us that you text messaged him earlier saying that you wanted to have a meeting? Because you have an idea?”
“Oh – yeah, but I think the kids should go upstairs to play.”
“Maybe Ashley could go upstairs and keep an eye on them…” Howie suggested.
“No I want her to stay,” Q insisted and Nick raised his eyebrow as he sat there between Ashley and Angel with his arms wrapped around each of them.
“Auntie BJ will you come an’ watch us please?” Dakota asked suddenly and BJ looked taken aback. She knows her niece loves her very much but it’s usually Aaron that she asks for.
“Yeah of course,” BJ answered suddenly sounding excited and Nick grinned a little. BJ got up and went over to Aaron who still cradled Dakota and Dakota reached up for her. BJ bent over and gathered her up into her arms and she looked around at Elenore, Josh, Spencer, Ryan, and Sarah.
“Come on kiddies – I’m sure we can find something fun to do upstairs,” she spoke cheerfully, and all kids obeyed – all except Ryan got up and began following her upstairs. Howie looked over at Ryan who was sitting on the floor petting Abbie.
“Go on Ryan.”
“But I –“
“Please…we grownups need some time alone right now.” Ryan sighed heavily and then got up and went after BJ and the kids stomping up the stairs nosily.
“Come on Ryan…we’ll have fun I promise,” They all heard BJ reassure and a second later they heard a bedroom door shut. Ashley got up and went over and gathered Abbie up into her arms. She kissed her puppy’s head and went over and resumed her spot next to Nick who wrapped an arm around her again.
“So what’s up Q?” Laney asked curiously.
“I think I’ve found ourselves a new secret weapon,” Q began. “One that Ashley could use to protect herself with – that is, if Nick thinks she’s capable of it.”
“What is it?”
“Pepper Spray. I saw it while I was at Wal-Mart with Aaron earlier and got the idea – they had it in the shape of lipstick and everything…so they wouldn’t even know what it is. If she gets attacked and for some reason we can’t get to her – which I must stress isn’t likely, she would be able to defend herself.”
“Did you buy any?” Nick asked curiously.
“Not yet I didn’t want to risk it in case…you know…”
“Well I think it could work,” Nick replied.
“Are you sure? Because she is so sweet and innocent, she wouldn’t hurt a fly – even if it was hurting her first.”
“Yeah if we build up her confidence I know she can do it. She would have the element of surprise on her side.”
“I would also feel better knowing she’s armed too,” Kori spoke up.
“Okay, well it’s important that Sean doesn’t find out about it – if they do, they’ll come prepared. I could just see them wearing protective goggles during an attack or something.”
“Let us girls buy it then,” Leslie spoke up. “If it looks like lipstick, then the dumbasses will just assume its lipstick.” Nick looked down at Ashley questioning and she looked up at him.
“You haven’t said a word at all baby…what’s your opinion on it?”
“I think Id actually feel safer if I had pepper spray – and as for being able to use it, I have no problem making Sean and Dr Ad—Trevor suffer because they made me suffer all of these years.”
“Then it’s settled…BJ, Leslie, and Ashley are all going lipstick shopping tonight – it wouldn’t hurt to have all the girls armed with pepper spray you know,” Brian replied.
“And Kori,” Ashley added.
“I can kick ass without it thank-you very much,” Kori insisted.
“Yeah, you showed us that the day you landed yourself in the hospital,” Ashley rolled her eyes.
“Hey they caught me off guard! If I wasn’t blinded by my emotions I would have been prepared.”
“Still Kori…better to be safe then sorry…especially if you get blinded by your emotions again,” Wiley replied. “Your sister is your weakness – Sean knows this.”
“Yes, but I know my sister is safe now. I’ll be damned before I ever let him touch her.”
“But…”
“I can handle him Wiley.”
“Is that why you ran away?” Kori gave him a dark look for a moment and then she got up and went upstairs and a few moments later they heard a bedroom door shut – hard.
“Yeah…that might not have been the right thing to say, dude…” Howie told him, stating the obvious.
“Well he has a point,” Ashley replied, and everybody was suddenly looking at her as if she had three heads.
“She acts like she is so invincible to Sean and can handle him yet he almost destroyed her a few months ago - and if she’s so invincible to him, then why did she run away?”
“Maybe it makes her feel better to make herself feel like she can take him because she feels like shit for running in the first place,” Kevin pointed out. “She didn’t protect you before…and now she is trying to make it up to you.”
“Well it would make me feel better if she stopped pretending that she is invincible and get herself some damn pepper spray. She messed up…it’s all in the past…all that matters now is that she stay alive because she is all I have left of my family.” Nick wrapped both of his arms around her waist and pulled her near and he kissed her forehead softly and gazed down at her lovingly. She has no idea how good it feels to hear her focus on the present. It means she is really trying to put the past behind her and this makes him proud.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
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