CHAPTER FOUR

~ MIKEY ~

"Which shirt?" I asked Mandy and Leighanne, later that night.  I held up a lime green faux snake skin halter top in my left hand. In my right hand, I showed them a black tank top that tied in the back.

"I like the green. It'll match your highlights." commented Mandy, sprawled on her bed, in the hotel room.

"Yea.  It'll look great with these." Leighanne added, throwing me a pair of skin tight black capris.  "Where are we meeting the guys, after the show?"

"In front of Atlanta Underground, on 29th and main, at 10:30." I answered entering the lush bathroom.  I slipped off my sweats and pulled on the halter top and capris.  I walked out of the bathroom, looking at my watch.  It said 10:15.  "Shit, girls, we have to go.  We're gonna be late."  I said putting on my black platform sandals and following them out of the room, down the elevator, and outside, where I quickly hailed a cab.

As we stepped out of the cab, I checked my watch again. "10:30, on the dot, y'all." I said as the guys walked over to us.

"Hey." Kevin said, "You look good."

"So do you." I answered, as we got in line to get into the club.

We passed a sigh in the window of the club that said MUST BE 21 OR OLDER.  "We may not all be able to get in," stated Howie," Mandy and Nick are only 17. A.J.'s 20. What about you, Mags?"

"19." I answered, discouraged.  Then I caught sight of the bouncer. "Oh, we'll be able to get in."  I told them, grabbing Mandy and Leighanne's wrists and surging through the crowd. "MIKEY!" I screamed, as we neared the door and the bouncer.

"Mags?" he answered stunned.

"The one and only." I replied, flashing him a brilliant smile.

"You are not Lindsey Magdalena." he said taking my hand and twirling me around. "The Lindsey Magdalena I knew had blonde hair, and a baby face."

"Yea, well that was then I was 14. I've grown up." I responded hugging him.

"Yes, you have." he replied looking me over.

"You still in West Palm Beach?" I asked.

"Yea."

"Then, what are you doing in Atlanta Georgia?"

"My job. Can I see your id?" he asked.

"See that there is a problem.  Me and my friends all forget our I.D.'s.  Can you let us in?  Please, please please?" I begged, smiling sweetly.

"Pppppppllllllllllleeeeeeeeeaaaaaasssssssseeeeeeee?"

Mikey looked at me, and sighed, "I guess."

"You're a sweetheart." I replied walking into the club, and then turned to my friends, "Told ya."

"How did you know him?" asked Nick puzzled, putting his arm around Mandy's waist.

"Old friend of the family.  I used to live in West Palm Beach, Florida.  His Mom and my Mom were old friends and are still really close.  Mikey and his brother used to come up to Philly for Christmas."  I answered grabbing Kevin's hand and pulling him toward the dance floor.

"Damn. "A.J. said to Nick, Brian and Howie, "She has a nice ass." All three guys nodded in agreement, as they watched me walk away.

"Uh hello? We are standing right here!" yelled Leighanne, covering Brian's eyes with her hands.

******

5 hours later, an extremely tired Kevin dragged me off the dance floor.

"AWWW come on. I was just getting warmed up." I complained, taking a sip of my margarita, as we sat down at the table. Brian, and Leighanne were half-asleep, leaning against each other.  Mandy and Nick were both slumped over, their eyes closed.  Howie had left about 45 minutes ago.  Kevin was also half asleep.  Other than me, A.J. was the only one wide awake.

"I think we're gonna go back to the hotel." yawned Brian, as he and Nick stood up and pulled Mandy and Leighanne to their feet.  Kevin stood up and followed them out of the club.

"I guess I'm stuck with you." I glowered at A.J.

"Where did you get that?" he asked pointing at my drink.

"Der! At the bar, smart guy." I responded, as Mikey sat down next to me.

"Nevermind." said A.J., getting up.

"How come your down here?" asked Mikey, taking my margarita from me.

"Hey!" I whined trying to take it back.

"How many have you had?" he asked in an annoying fatherly tone.

"Two. Now give it ba-ack." I whined.  I was lying.  It was my 2nd margarita, but I had 3 Bloody Mary's, four beers, a Shirley Temple and 4 Fuzzy Navels.  I was drunk, but didn't really care.
He sighed and handed it back to me, "No more." he told me. "Now why are you here, and not in Philly?"

"I broke curfew, like 5 times in one week.  Mom sent me down here to live with Uncle Lou.  He couldn't watch me and sent me on tour with the Backstreet Boys." I answered, picking up Kevin's drink, and finishing it in one gulp.  Mikey looked at me and shook his head.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. I like you hair. It's different" he said, lightly pulling my hair, "I don't think that Brad would, though."

I sighed, "Yea, well, he's not here is he?"  I got up.  "I'm going to find A.J." I turned around, coming inches away from A.J.

"Let's go." I walked out of the club with A.J. running after me.

"Who is Brad?" he asked once he had caught up to me.

"No one." I answered, hailing a cab. I quickly jumped in and told the cab driver where to go.  A.J. got in after me.

"Then why wouldn't he like your hair?" A.J. pressed on.

"A.J. forget it. Just leave me alone." I told him, turning to look out the window.

"But-" A.J. started, but I interrupted him.

"A.J.! Leave it the hell alone!" I yelled, as the cabbie pulled up in front of the hotel.  I got out of the cab, while it was still moving.  I ran into the hotel and flew up the stairs to my room, leaving A.J. to pay the bill.

He threw a twenty at the driver, and went into the hotel.  By, that time, I had run up to my room, with tears streaming down my face.  I entered the room, and slammed the door.  Mandy and Leighanne were out cold.  I walked in the bathroom and stared at my face in the mirror.  My whole face was red and puffy.

I slammed my fist against the mirror, and whispered, "Brad, why did you have to do it?  Dammit, why?  Why did you have to leave me?"

A heard a knock on the door and when I didn't answer I heard Leighanne's sleep-caked voice, "Mags? Are you okay?"

"Yea." I answered, "What time is it?"

"5:45." Leighanne replied.

I gasped.  I had to run.  I grabbed my running clothes off the bathroom floor and pulled them on.  I ran out of the bathroom, and yelled, "I'll be back soon!" as I ran out of the room.

Kevin was standing outside my room, still half-asleep. "Hey-What's wrong?" he asked, seeing my puffy face.

"Nothing, Kev.  I kinda need to run by myself today." I said, running down the stairs, leaving Kevin in front of my room, his mouth gaping.