Silver Lining
Pyra sits up in her bed. That dream was horrifying, the worse part was that she had no idea if it was just a dream or a sign of what was to come. Oh the joy of magical freaking powers, she tries to push it out of her head as she snuggles closer to Kevin who shifts just enough to put his arm around her. She grabs his retardly expensive watch and looks at the time 2am. It was now September 6, 2001 VMA day. Only time would tell, she just prayed he didn’t come over with a package. All her moving had woke him up.
“Are you okay?” He whispers groggy.
“Couldn’t be better,” Pyra mutters as he sits up.
“What is it?”
“Its like two in the morning go back to sleep,” Pyra says pulling on his arm.
“Not until you tell me what it was.”
“Fine it was a stupid dream, just a stupid dream.”
“What happened?”
“It was the VMA’s,” Pyra starts.
“Don’t worry you guys will win,” Kevin says. “That wasn’t it.”
“No, it was the after party, it was just bad. We . . .never mind let’s just go to sleep.”
“We what? It must have been bad if you’re this bothered by it.” Kevin says putting an arm around her. “You can tell me what happened.”
“Promise me something first,” Pyra says.
“What?”
“You won’t get mad.”
“Okay, scouts honor.”
Pyra tells him about her dream omitting the end where she dances with Josh, she’s not stupid. She also leaves out the part about him giving her the dress but doesn’t actually notice. Not that it maters to her since she’s the one that bought the dress she wore in the dream. Kevin remains silent and she can’t read his expression in the dark.
“You promised,” Kevin kisses her before replying.
“I’m not mad, I would never do such a thing, your mind’s playing tricks on you. I may not like him but you do and I’ve told you I accept that, just don’t expect us to be best friends or something.”
“Now wouldn’t that be a nice bubbly world,” Pyra says starting to feel silly. A little giggle escapes her.
“What was that?”
“I just thought about it, you’re nice and sane, I can’t believe I thought it was possible,” Pyra says.
“Ah, the night is young, who knows what else is possible,” Kevin says smiling.
“I thought we were supposed to be getting a good night’s rest for staying up all night tomorrow?”
”We’ll sleep late,” Pyra didn’t argue again the nagging feeling that this wasn’t going to last just kept coming at her, so she let the next few hours speak for themselves.
The next morning, the pawing and meowing at the door wake Kevin who opens the door to Lucky, who pounces on Pyra. “AJ’s here,” He whispers meowing some more, jumping off the bed, then walking around Kevin’s legs who bends down to pet the cat. Pyra pulls on her robe over her pajamas and Kevin follows her downstairs in a pair of boxers.
“Kevin,” AJ says looking at him cup of tea in his hands in Pyra’s Garfield mug. JC is standing on the other side of the counter drinking some of his own. “You have a skirt to pick up, a sound check, and a meet and greet. Could you go put some pants on?”
Kevin looks down at himself seemly startled. “Oh, yeah, I’ll be right back.” he says climbing back up the stairs.
“What did you do to him Pyra? You know his old heart can’t take much,” AJ says.
“I heard that,” Kevin says from the top of the stairs.
“Turn down the volume on your hearing aid.”
”Shut up Alex!”
“Hey it’s not my fault you’re old.” All he hears is a slamming door.
“For a guy his age you’d think he’d be more mature.”
“AJ you are so mean,” Pyra says sitting on the stool next to his.
“How old is he? How old are you I thought so.”
“Do you not approve Alexander?” Pyra asks.
“We could have so much fun, you know,” AJ says.
”Don’t make me say it,” Pyra warns.
“Say what?” Josh asks.
“One of my favorite things about Kevin is his hair.”
“That’s cold,” AJ says.
“Aw well you started it.”
“Uh huh,” AJ says. “What you wearing tonight?”
“Clothes, in particular this dress I got, I think.”
“Oh my God! You mean no pants?”
“Oh shut up.”
“You live with her have you seen her legs?”
“I’ve seen her in ball gowns and dresses,” JC says finishing his tea.
“Don’t lie!”
“I’m not I have pictures and everything. Wanna see?” JC says going into the den and returning with and album from *Nsync’s early days. So it had tons of pictures of them at award shows in traditional wear. AJ flips through the pages and after about a dozen pictures that give the same idea he asks.
“Did you go out with Lance?”
“No, we’ve always just been friends.”
“Uh huh, just friends, sure,” he says turning the page, “Can I be this kind of friend?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Look at this picture,” AJ says holding up one where it’s her and Lance and Josh and Mystic, she was whispering something in Lance’s ear but it looked like she was kissing him and his grin didn’t help.
“I can’t whisper to him?”
“Yeah whispering that’s all you’re doing,” AJ says turning the page.
Kevin comes down the stairs then in stonewashed blue jeans, a long sleeved black sweater, boots, and his long hair clinging to his face still wet from his quick shower. Pyra put a hand in her own hair back to black and red thank God and realized it was sticking up in like five directions.
“Were you gonna tell me I looked like Bart?”
“Who me?” AJ says not as interested in the next few pictures which seem to be random ones at home. He slams the album shut when he sees one with Pyra and JC sound asleep side by side on the couch with Chris behind them giving them both bunny ears.
“What are you looking at?” Kevin asks walking over.
“Nothing you ready to go?” AJ says standing.
“Ok,” Kevin says taking one step towards Pyra and giving her one more kiss.
A few hours later he’s back carrying a package for Pyra who starts being really scared. She opens it and accepts the leather pants with red leather cord all up the leg and a shirt with red sheer sleeves and a black form fitting shirt that had the same red leather cords going down the two small slits in the front. She loved it and would gladly wear it tonight instead of the dress she was going to. And yes she would meet him at the after party after the bands concert.
* o * 2 * o * At the after party is more than jittery as she waits for Backstreet to show up. Everyone else is celebrating their win and Mystic brings her a glass of bubbly.
“Its cider don’t look at me like that. Something wrong?”
“I think I had a vision but it was really weird, but it was this exact party. Granted in my dream MTV was hosting it not P. Diddy.”
“Did something bad happen?”
“I’m not sure in the dream I was happy about it, I broke up with Kevin.”
“Really for who?” Mystic says thinking Adam.
“Josh.”
“What?! What the hell do you mean Joshua?!”
“Not like that! He wanted me to choose between my friendship with Josh or my relationship with him I choose Josh.”
“Well duh, if Nick ever tried any of that crap . . .” Mystic says waving a menacing fist.
“So, parts of it have come true sort of.”
”Do you want to break up with Kevin?”
“Well no, he makes me giddy.”
“Okay. Then fine just don’t do whatever you did in your dream.”
“Then I’m staying far far from Josh all night.”
“Where’s Nausi?”
“Her and Mike ‘left early’ mmm hmm,” Mystic says shaking her head.
“Psst She’s with Orlando now,” Pyra whispers.
“Okay fine she’s upstairs talking to Nelly I believe.”
“Damn it O-Town is here,” Pyra says looking towards the entering boy band.
”Why is that bad u ashamed of your booty call?”
“No just means Kevin will be here soon too.”
“Ah I see.”
“Hey guess what?” Chester asks walking over with Mike and Joe.
”What?”
”We’re freaking VMA winners! We kicked butt,” Chester says.
“Chester did you get caffeine in your soda?” Pyra asks.
“Ha, ha. You know you’re happy.”
”Yeah but um, Joe Mike keep him away from sugar.”
“Look out behind you,” Chester says as Nick and Kevin wrap their arms around their girlfriends’ waists as the guys leave the couples alone.
“Hey beautiful,” Nick says kissing Mystic as Kevin hugs Pyra before giving her a kiss not as free with the PDA’s as Nick and Mystic who are still at it. They walk off and sit down together.
”So congratulations are in order.”
“Huh? Oh well I just knock around a bass,” Pyra says calmly.
“You all won and with out you knocking a bass there may not have even been an R-U.”
”Sure Kevin, like the world would be so different without me.”
“I know I don’t want to be in a world without you.”
”Aww, so sweet,” Pyra says kissing his cheek.
“You know it’s true, I love you.”
“If you’re trying to make me blush you may just succeed,” Pyra says smiling.
”I realized something today . . .” Kevin says.
“Are you going to share?”
“Well,” Kevin looks around the party and his eyes settle on Kid Rock and Pamela Lee. Pyra follows his gaze.
”Weird, I know I can’t believe their getting married.”
“Why not?” Kevin asks quite interested in Pyra’s view on marriage.
“First of all marriage is for life and not to be taken lightly,” Kevin nods in agreement. “Its like how can you possibly think you’re ready to marry someone after a few months?” Kevin has to force himself to nod at that one. “When I’m ready to get married I think . . . well I’m not really sure, but years fall into the equation.”
“Years?”
“I’m way too young to be thinking about marriage. Years and years down the line maybe. Till then whatever happens happens.”
Kevin was having some trouble saying anything. Years? He was sure he was ready to marry her now. And if she felt that way her feeling for him couldn’t be that strong could they? He wanted to settle down and start a family, even if Pyra did marry him, how long would it be before they had kids. He was older then Pyra, it never had been a major issue until right now. His mind was racing. Anything he asked Pyra she would see right through, and he knew there was little chance he could change her mind. What he did next he prayed he wouldn’t regret.
“Pyra, I understand how you feel but . . .”
“Look, I know you might feel differently but come on things like that are a divorce waiting to happen, its lust at first sight and it’s confused for love.”
“That’s not true. People can fall in love that quickly and deeply. A few months can be enough to tell you when you want to spend forever with someone.”
“Kevin its sweet you’re a romantic but come on. Who wants to get married less than a year after knowing someone? It’s just not enough time.”
“Ever?”
“Pretty much,” Pyra says and Kevin figures there’s no hope.
“So you’re telling me, that you couldn’t decide now if you wanted to marry me? You don’t trust in our love?”
“What? When this become about us?”
“It always was. Answer the question, if I asked you to marry me could you say yes.” Pyra stares at Kevin.
“Why are you doing this?”
”It’s a simple question.”
”It is not!” Pyra says surprised.
“I don’t have a ring, I’m not asking I’m just asking if you would.”
“Why . . .”
“The fact that you can’t answer, answers for you. Pyra I would be ready to marry you tomorrow with no doubt and it hurts that you don’t feel the same way. But what’s worse is that you don’t understand how much I love you right now.
“But this is unfair.”
”What’s unfair is staying in relationship that just won’t last, we’re at two different points in our lives . . .”
“You’re not saying this,” Pyra whispers so low he almost doesn’t hear her.
“I have to, we can’t do this any more we clearly want different things. I’m sorry Pyra,” he says standing. “I hope you’ll find someone one day ready to wait or at least who understands how you feel but I can’t be that man. Don’t ever doubt how much I loved you . . .still love you.”
“Then why?”
”You know why,” He says reaching to give her a hug which she almost doesn’t return. “You’ll always have a place in my heart and I hope I will in yours.” She nods as he let’s go and walks away casually waving goodbye as if he would be back someday. It was then she realized he knew the cameras would swoop in on her if anything looked amiss. He was still looking out for her it was enough to make a girl cry. Pyra stood and walked in a daze out of the party not hearing the people who called after her as she stepped into the rain.
She stood there no jacket no umbrella as she got drenched, a few seconds later the door opened and an umbrella was placed over her and a man’s jacket on her shoulders. “You always show up at the right time . . .” Pyra says turning and seeing green eyes instead of blue. “Lance? Sorry I thought . . .”
“JC? Its okay come on,” he says leading her to *Nsync’s limo. They climb in silence. And are on the bridge into Queens before Lance speaks. “So what’s going on why were you just standing out there?” Pyra pours out the strange question and answer session. “He’s crazy, any guy would have to be out of his mind to give you up.”
“Sure,” Pyra says staring at the lack of scenery out the window.
“Pyra I mean it what he did was insane, did he just expect you to just hop in a jet to Vegas or something?” She almost cracks a smile as they get closer and closer to the property. She half hears Lance’s attempts to cheer her up and wonders how she can get him to leave her alone. Why couldn’t she just say yes? Deep down she knew why it was actually a couple of reasons. One was she really didn’t feel that she had spent enough time with Kevin to know if she wanted to marry him. Half their relationship had been late night phone calls. She spent more time with Lance in the last few months then Kevin. Second he wasn’t her husband, as weird as it was she went for blonds and it was like she knew she was going to marry one. But she had never even seen a vision of her wedding. Just blurry dream like things. The guys face was always blocked by the sun and she would always see his shining golden hair. She had to be dumb to let some dream she’d be having since she was a kid screw up the best relationship she had ever had.
“I must be an idiot.” Pyra says.
“You are not! You told the truth and that’s the best thing you could have done for yourself.”
“But why? He was like the best boyfriend I ever had, what will it take?”
“Don’t lie, don’t forget everything that you thought was wrong with him now that you’ve broken up. He hated JC was almost never around and was much older than you.” Pyra remained quiet it was true Kevin wasn’t perfect but he made up for it. He loved cats, he was civil to Josh, a complete romantic and other things. This wasn’t helping. She stared out the window as they pulled up to the gate. Lance stepped out and held the umbrella for her as she did. The guard waved and threw a little confetti. She couldn’t hear him over the rain but she knew his tiny TV had cable so he had saw she forced a smile as she went through the eye scan and onto the property.
Lance followed as Pyra walked to her house. They went inside and she flicked on the lights and saw Lucky asleep on the couch remote by his paw. She knew he had been watching the show and that made her smile all the more. Lance was glad to see the smile though he wasn’t sure what caused it. He followed Pyra up to her room and followed her in. She said nothing as she sat on her bed; it was then he noticed she was shivering. He went in her bathroom, which was positioned the same way as JC’s so he didn’t confuse it with the enormous closet and went to get her a towel. He returned and rubbed her hair dry and wrapped the towel around her chattering teeth and all and rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
He didn’t like the way she wasn’t doing anything to help or stop him it was like she was frozen. She was barley blinking. He didn’t want her to get sick on top of everything else. This towel wasn’t helping she was soaked to the skin.
“Take off your shirt,” Pyra looked at him and he expected some protest but instead she just pulled off the soggy shirt and he started rubbing her with the towel all aver again careful not to touch anything he shouldn’t and keep her covered. “Say something.”
”Thanks,” she whispered though she wasn’t cold anymore. She looked at Lance, he was normal not crazy they liked each other but had never gone out it was strange. Here he was being a total sweetheart, for no good reason. She reached out of the towel and hugged him getting lost in his warmth. She didn’t want to let go the hug was just perfect. She knew she would have to and slowly started to pull away as he turned to her and kissed her.
He pulled away suddenly, was he insane? No matter how much he liked her this was no where near the time or the place. This wasn’t some sick soap opera. Pyra wasn’t moving she was waiting for whatever move he was going to make. Well it wouldn’t be ‘that’.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Lance says standing up.
“It’s okay,” Pyra whispers.
“Well, I guess I should go now.”
“Lance wait . . .”
“Yeah?”
“Never mind,” Pyra says turning away not even sure what she was going to say.
“Would you rather I stay?” Pyra nodded why on earth it mattered she wasn’t sure. She took her pajamas off her coffin and walked into the bathroom. When she returned Lance was sitting there waiting, he had taken off the most cumbersome parts of his outfit but was still dressed in his dress shirt and pants. He tucked her in, kissed her cheek then walked out. He was leaning his head against the wall. He couldn’t get pass the nagging feeling that something more would have happened if he just let it.
But did he want it to? Sure he liked Pyra, she liked him and it was always interesting that he was her first kiss. No he shouldn’t have kissed her not like this that was best left for TV shows. But the want to go back into that room was strong. She hadn’t even wanted him to leave really. Something touched his leg and he jumped. It was just Lucky Pyra’s cat. It was padding at the door and let out a little meow. Even her cat sounded sad then he put an ear to the door it sounded like muffled screaming.
Lance pushes open the door and Lucky runs in and on the bed where Pyra has a pillow in a death grip and is screaming into it hence the muffled noise. Pyra looks at the cat for the moment not noticing.
“Not now cat,” Pyra says.
“Uh Pyra?” Lance says not really seeing anything odd about the dialogue with the cat but thinking the screaming can’t be good. He turns on her lamp and sees that her eyes are red. “Were you crying?”
”No,” Pyra says as Lance sits down besides her.
”I can’t believe I have to tell you this, its okay to cry.”
“Why? What good does it do? Give you a runny nose?”
“Keeping all this bottled up is not good.”
“Oh just go away,” Pyra says turning away from Lance and he moves so he can put his arm around her instead.
“I’m not leaving you like this?”
”Like what?” Lance doesn’t bother to argue and hugs Pyra tighter. She lets up but doesn’t start crying and they both end up falling asleep there. Hours later . . .
Pyra stirred in her bed and reached over and touched Lance. The blond was still asleep as she heard the knock on her door. “Come in.”
“Hey where’d you go? I actually asked that boyfriend of . . .” JC stops as he sees a strange look cross Pyra’s face and its then he notices Pyra’s bed mate. “Lance?!” The fellow *Nsyncer wakes slowly and looks at JC. He smiles in usual Lance manner and JC takes it completely the wrong way. He looks back between the two of them and just storms out.
“Joshua?”
“You don’t think he thinks we . . .”
“Joshua has more sense than that right?”
“We are in bed together.”
“Ah yes that,” Pyra says, “What do we do then?”
“I’ll go talk to him,” Lance says standing and smoothing out his rumpled hair and clothes. He walks down stairs and sees JC sitting on the couch staring straight ahead. He sits besides his friend and band mate.
”Just answer on thing, Do you love her?”
“Who Pyra? JC that has noting to do with what happened. . .”
“Nothing to do with it! You asshole!” JC screams raising his fist to punch Lance when his hand freezes in mid swing as Pyra comes down the stairs.
”Never let a guy do anything,” Pyra mutters as Lance opens his eyes when the blow never comes. He slips away from JC not caring why he stopped. “What the hell did you say?”
“Um, something like love didn’t have anything to do with what happened.
“My God, you’re worse than a soap, being that I hate Passions time Joshie, I didn’t get biblical with Lance all we did is sleep. Dude I just broke up with my boyfriend, can you say bad idea? Dude just cause we kiss here and there don’t get all crazy.”
“Oh,” JC says turning a little red as he turns to Lance. “Sorry.”
”Well you didn’t hit me, so it’s okay.”
“Wait did you say you broke up with Kevin?”
”Smile and I’ll kick you.”
“I wouldn’t do that. Um . . .who . . .are . . .well.”
“From the man who writes million dollar hits.”
JC walks over to the kitchen and pulls out the kettle. In a few minutes JC sitting at the counter with three steaming cups of tea. Pyra and Lance join him. “Are you going to tell me what happened or do I have to guess?”
”I don’t want to talk about it,” Pyra says as she sips her tea.
“Pyra something serious had to happen to make you cry.”
”I don’t want to talk about it!” She says slamming her cup down and splashing some tea on her hand that would have scalded any normal person.
“Okay,” JC says drinking the rest of his tea in silence. Even Lance doesn’t want to speak though he does know a little more than JC.
September, 13 2001 What’s going on recording studio . . .
“Welcome guys, Justin is the only one here so far and so are Nausi and Mystic.” Pyra and JC nod and split up and Pyra hears a familiar voice say her name and she plasters a smile on her face and turns to Kevin.
“Hi, how are you?”
”Fine,” Pyra says looking at the floor as someone grabs her from behind.
”Long time no see,” AJ says. “Where have you been hiding her?” He says looking at Kevin. Pyra looks at him surprised he didn’t say anything. Then again neither had she for all everyone knew they were still a couple. Pyra shook her head. “Did I miss something?”
“Yeah a big something. I’ll talk to you later,” Pyra says walking over to her friends. She doesn’t notice when AJ smacks Kevin upside the head or when Howie has to stop Kevin from hitting AJ back.
“What the fudge was that?” Nausi asks having seen it all.
“What?” Pyra asks.
”AJ just snuffed your man,” Mystic says.
”Not my man,” Pyra mutters.
“Sure Pyra,” Nausi says.
”Sorry not kidding,” Pyra says twirling her pendant.
”You broke up with him when?! Why!?” Mystic exclaims.
“He dumped me, at the party.”
“What the fudge for?”
“Does it matter? Let’s do what we’re here for.” Pyra says not interested in having this conversation with anyone. “Okay, you don’t have to get all huffy,” Nausi says.
“Sorry,” Pyra says rubbing her arms.
“Mmm Hmm,” Mystic says as the cameras start rolling and the recording starts going.
* o * 3 * o * October . . .
Pyra is running around the arena seats trying to catch Jeff who she swears has a death wish. He had just threatened to go tell Adam she liked him despite the fact that Pyra usually denied the crush to the Hardy boy.
”Chasing me just proves it!” Jeff exclaims, “But all you need are two eyes to prove it!”
“I’m gonna ring your pale little neck.” Down below Adam has just walked out and sees what’s going on. He can’t hear what Jeff and Pyra are saying but finds the scene pretty entertaining. Jeff was easily jumping over chairs and landing nimbly on the tops of others and Pyra was climbing over them clearly not as agile as Jeff. Adam was surprised even he didn’t know Jeff was that graceful running for his life.
He starts going up the stairs after the two of them silently stalking Pyra. Jeff sees him first and grins. “Why you smiling? You think I’m kidding Your face is gonna match your hair punk!”
“I’m just trying to be a good friend.”
“Yeah like Mystic is trying to be a good friend claming I want to get back with that rat bastard Jerky!”
“Didn’t she just go out with him?” Adam asks directly behind Pyra who falls back into his arms losing her balance on the top of the chair.
“Oh My freaking God!” Pyra shrieks as Adam adjust her more carefully in his arms instead of putting her down. “When the hell did you get here?”
“About two sections ago,” Adam says.
”Why aren’t you putting me down? This isn’t cool,” Pyra says.
“We have places to be. Bye Jeff,” Adam says carrying a shocked Pyra off.
“Dude! Put me down!” Pyra exclaims as Adam ignores her and carries her into the hall and is followed by Jeff. “Put me down!”
“Is that what you really want to say?” Jeff taunts.
“Okay just put me down long enough to strangle him.”
“How old are you two?” Adam asks as Pyra slips in his hold. She latches her arms around his neck and is clinging on for dear life.
“Don’t drop me!”
“Its okay, I won’t,” Adam says putting her down as she lets go of the choke hold she had on him. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were afraid of heights.”
“She’s not,” Jeff says taking a step back figuring this was part of a plan to smack him.
“Its not heights, its being dropped by someone holding me. I know it won’t hurt, and stuff but it creeps me out. “
“Isn’t that more of a trust thing then?” Jeff asks.
“Hey, if anyone is gonna do psychoanalysis it’ll be me, but yeah it is.” Pyra says looking at Jeff annoyed and suddenly decks him.
“Ow!” She stands behind Adam And wraps her arms around his waist. She looks out from behind him long enough to give Jeff a raspberry. “You did not just do that.”
“I’m 6 ˝ what do you expect?” Pyra say grinning.
“Come on, Beth, Jason and the Dudley’s are waiting for us.” Pyra calmly follows Adam to the room.
“Well now that these two are back from their little tryst, maybe we can get somewhere.”
“HA!” Jason exclaims a little too loudly.
Elsewhere a few friends have had enough . . .
“They’re too dumb to do it themselves,” Nausi says.
“Uh yeah, how long has it been now?” Mystic says.
“Adam was telling Jason the first time he saw her. He fell hard and I don’t just mean because he got smacked with a door,” Matt says.
“A door?” Nausi says confused.
“The way I heard it he was like so blown away that he wasn’t watching where he was going then bam right in the face,” Nausi and Mystic start to laugh.
“So what do you guys want to do?”
“Set them up,” Jeff says. “Like on a date or something. We know they like each other but are chickens. I swear I would have told him but I think she’d freak and say no before he got two words out. How did she convince herself that he didn’t like her?”
“Dude, they’re crazy loons,” Mystic says shaking her head.
"So where should we take them?"
"A club, Adam is always going clubbing," Matt says shaking his head.
"Heh, heh, then we can keep an eye on the punks."
"Um peoples, how do we get Adam to New York?" Nausi says.
"Hmm . . ." Mystic says as the devious wheels start turning.
The plan becomes to get Adam to New York on Saturday on the false pretenses of a birthday party for Quinn since none of them know when he's born anyway. Mystic leaves a message on his cell letting him in on the plan just in case. Somehow it is decided that he will stay at Mystic's and she seems vaguely annoyed about having to house someone but accepts.
* o * 4 * o *
"Are sure this is going to work?" Nausi asks Mystic over the phone as she chooses her outfit. "Remember the last time we tried to get those monkey's together?"
"Well, this time we'll make them get together!" Nausi knows that her friend is shaking a fist.
"Uh huh, Hey you think I should wear my blue shirt with the stars on it?"
"No," Mystic says.
"Why not?" Nausi says thinking the shimmering shirt is perfect for the club scene.
"Because I'm wearing my pink shirt with the stars on it! We don't need to be looking like twins. Wait a minute okay? Okay." Mystic runs downstairs to her front door and let's in Quinn. Adam was sitting on the couch and she had to admit he looked good (as he was fully clothed) He was wearing black leather pants, a black long sleeved sweater that looked super soft and a nice leather jacket. But to her Quinn looked ten times better even though they were in similar outfits (Quinn’s pants were a dark red leather that somehow he pulled off and his jacket was a long duster)
"Hey Quinn," Mystic says.
"Is that the victim?" Quinn whispers looking at Adam and Mystic nods.
"Remember now, you're supposed to be surprised when we take you to the club. Hey when is your birthday?"
"I'll remember, are you forgetting something?" He says pointing to the phone.
"Oh, sorry Nausi," Mystic says forgetting about the other question just as Quinn had hoped. He walks over and sits besides Adam.
"Hello I'm Quinn."
"I'm Jeremy but most people call me Adam." Quinn nods not really caring why.
"Dude cause it’s your first name! Okay, I'll be right back gotta get some shoes," Mystic says looking at her slippers.
Over at Pyra's . . .
"No, wear something really nice," JC says as she emerges in black flares and a red mesh shirt over a black tank top.
"Why? This is nice, and what kind of gift is taking someone to a club?"
"It was Mystic's idea I don't know," JC says. "Maybe she rented it out or something." JC says hoping plan works. "Hey how about that red skirt you love so much?"
"Oh, fine," Pyra says returning to her closet. "Hey you have a choice on the shirt I wear too?" She yells from the shut door.
"How about something silky? And nothing that is too big!"
"Ok, Yeash!" Pyra says trying to figure out the last time JC had made her change. She does put on the recommended outfit and changes her jewelry putting on more dressy stuff. She can't even remember the last time she wore this outfit and feels like she is getting overly dressed up for nothing. Not that Quinn was nothing he was too cute to be nothing. Her hair was just let loose and hung over her shoulders and she decided to curl it a little. She walked out of her room and downstairs where Josh was waiting. He was dressed in black cords, a sleeveless blue shirt with metal studs decorating where the sleeves are. Pyra is about to remind him that Mystic hates those shirts when he pulls on a jacket matching his pants. It gave the outfit a completed look and she doubted he would take the jacket off.
"You look great." JC says.
"Uh huh, don't take the jacket off."
"Wasn't planning to," JC says knowing what she was thinking. "Can you breathe in that shirt?" JC says looking at the button down silk shirt that showed just how small Pyra really was.
"Yeah," Pyra says.
"Well we still have a little time," JC says sitting down.
"You know who else is coming," Pyra asks as she sits down besides him.
"I guess like everyone who lives here," JC says knowing that the rest of the property (Mike, Chester, Joe, Orlando, Shane, and Shannon) were already at the club to make it seem like it really was a 'party'. He didn't know how they would explain the lack of Quinn's roommates.
"Do you think we should have tried to get him a gift?" Pyra says.
"No, it's fine I don't think he'll mind at all." JC says smiling and so happy Pyra could be so dim sometimes.
A few minutes later it’s a mass exodus off the property. Fabian and Quinn were walking behind everyone else and they had both decided it was a good idea when they had seen the way Pyra had been surprised to see Adam. She had almost jumped into his arms and they were having an animated conversation about something or another. Anyone who spent five minutes with these two and couldn't see that they were in love had to be blind.
"I don't understand why they don't just . . ."
"Kiss each other and get it over with? Mortals are fools when it comes to love. Why doesn't he," Lestat says pointing at JC, "just tell Mystic the truth? All a pack of fools."
They arrive at the club and the DJ has a special playlist all ready for the Adam and Pyra. Shane had gotten a 'birthday cake' and the club manager had roped off the VIP section for them and Shane had popped off and gotten some black and red balloons. All in all they felt that it was a good plan. And they all decided that if this didn't work they would lock Adam and Pyra in a closet until they figured it out.
The song that starts playing as they walk in is 'Kiss Kiss' by Stella Solei
When you look at me
Tell me what do you see?
This is what you get
It's the way I am
When I look at you
I wanna be I wanna be
Somewhere close to Heaven
With neanderthal man
Don't go
I know you wanna touch me
Here there and everywhere
Sparks fly when we are together
You can't deny the facts of life
Pyra was to busy looking for everyone else to notice to look on Adam's face. Nausi reaches forward to strangle her friend from behind and JC stops her shaking his head as Pyra sees Shannon's stripped hair in a roped off section.
"Hey I see Shannon," Pyra says walking away from the group and dropping Adam's hand.
"I'm gonna beat her with a stick I swear," Mystic says as they all start to follow."
"No I think its time for drastic measures," JC says lowering his head and walking over to the DJ. They watch as the guy's eyes widen looking at JC and then the many cds. it’s clear to see that JC used his powers on the boy because he seems to be a robot for a moment. He walks back over to his friends. "You ever tell anyone I did that I will deny it!"
"Did what?" Mystic asks as a very familiar song starts playing. "Oh My GOD!" Mystic exclaims and starts laughing.
I'm yours completely
I feel so deeply
You're my first thought everyday
And I want it that way
Pyra starts grinning like a mad woman at the song. It was the alternate version that was actually a love song and JC walked over to Adam and magically ordered him to dance with Pyra who was more than happy to say yes.
My life is for you
And I adore you
I love you more everyday
And I want it that way
No goodbyes
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
No more lies
Ain't nothin but a mistake
That is why
I love it when I hear you say
I want it that way
As the two of them dance the rest of the group goes to the VIP section and Fabian seems ecstatic to be away from people. Quinn was enjoying the attention from the girls who were pretty much battling each other for his attention and Fabian forcefully dragged his friend away. Their tinted sunglasses caused no stir in the club groupies or their pale skin. They saw two 'hot hot' men and were on the prowl.
There were a few moments of silence as the song ended and Pyra and Adam broke apart with Pyra looking at her feet. JC Looks about ready to blow a gasket after having to request on of 'That band's' songs.
We do almost everything that lovers do
And that’s why it’s hard, just to be friends with you
Every time your heart is broken by the fool
I want you to know that it hurts me too
It’s hard to wipe your tears away (tears away)
Knowing that you should be with me
Now tell me why
Why – why are we still friends
"That's a good question," Adam whispers out of no where.
"What?" Pyra says hearing him over the music.
"Pyra how long have we known each other?" Adam asks.
"Um, like three years I think," Pyra says.
"Yeah, and would you say we're good friends."
"Dude yeah, you're like my best friend or something," Pyra says smiling.
"Have you ever heard this song before?"
"Nope, its 98 Degrees if you're wondering why?"
"Listen to it for a second."
I don’t wanna be like your brother
I don’t wanna be your best friend
I only wanna be your lover
When will this end
If I told you that I wanna be in your life
Then you could be the woman in mine
"Yeah the words are nice they always are with boy bands."
"She's an Idiot!" Shannon exclaims. "A complete and total idiot! I give up I quit! She'll die old and alone or something cause we freaking tried!"
"Shannon calm down," Nausi exclaims turning her head away from where they were all watching. Lestat and Louis had also heard the exchange but they had no idea how Shannon could have. Just another mystery of those who shared the property with them.
" . . . nice words."
"If you didn't care if the song was nice what did you mean?" Adam shakes his head, maybe Pyra did like him. She was always happy to see him and she didn't make it a secret that she found him attractive even if she always said it as a joke. Could she really not tell like Jason said? Did she really need a slap in the face? Adam decided to do the next best thing as Six pence none the richer Kiss me started up. He did just that and Pyra wrapping her arms around him instead of pushing him away. The cheer from the VIP section gets them both to turn.
“What the . . .”
“What is up with you punks?” Pyra asks.
“Nothing, uh . . . Quinn just uh . . . cut the cake,” Orlando says.
“Don’t let us interrupt,” Joe adds barely suppressing his grin.
“But . . .” Pyra says thinking they should go over there.
“You heard them,” Adam says turning her back to face him and give her another kiss. JC watches this and suddenly slams his head on the table and groans but not from the pain.
“Cricket?” Mystic asks putting an arm on his shoulder. “Something wrong?”
“Nothing,” JC says forcing a smile. Why did he always remember things at the worse times? He had suddenly had a flash of their past lives. Pyra and Adam popped out kids like nobodies business. They were undiscriminating whores. And when he said undiscriminating he meant that no place was too public for them to get it on. They were always being yelled at to leave that stuff at home. Dear God he was going to live with the two of them. Visions of walking in on them or knowing what they did in various rooms it was too much. He started wondering how long it was until the next *Nsync tour.
Three years, three kids. This was not good. Man they could have waited a few more years to bring the two of them together. And by the way they were carrying on on the dance floor it was clear that nothing had changed. They still hadn’t even come up for air. Adam pulls away suddenly.
“Why’d you do that?” Pyra asks and Adam looks stunned.
“Why’d I kiss you?!”
“Dude don’t be dumb, why’d you stop?” Adam grins.
“Because all your friends, well except Nausi keep looking at us.” Pyra turns and Shane, Joe, and Mike quickly turn away. Pyra takes Adam’s hand and leads him to the friends and notices the cake is not cut and it is decorated with black and red frosting with gold writing that says About time. Pyra and Adam look from each other and back to the gathered group. She walks over to where Fabian and Quinn are sitting.
“It’s not you’re birthday is it?” Pyra asks Lestat.
“Of course it is.” She turns to Louis.
“It’s not his birthday is it?” He shakes his head.
“Are you telling me you all set us up?”
“Pyra, we love you and all but you’re slow,” Chester says.
“Always have been, how exactly did you think I was Brad?” Mike adds as Nausi covers her face in horror.
“And Edgy is blond, and from Canadia. So . . .” Mystic says making their interference sound like a natural course of action.
“And if it didn’t work?” Adam asks.
“Mind control,” Chester says adding a mad scientist laugh.
“Wouldn’t that mean that they had minds to control?” Nausi asks.
“Thanks so much friend,” Pyra says.
“Dude you’re fudging morons, no he doesn’t like me, were just friends.”
“Man Nausi, pot calling the kettle black much?” Pyra says clearly remembering when she said the same about her former boy Matt.
“Why it always gotta be about race with you?” Nausi asks. Mozart starts playing courtesy of someone’s cell and everyone looks around Lestat answers.
“What?! How dare . . . I’m on my way,” He makes his apologies and takes Louis with him.
“What was that all about?”
“Someone broke into a house he has, Miami I think,” Shannon says forgetting about Adam for the moment, but the blond is too busy whispering to Pyra to notice.
“How the hell is he on his way to Miami right now?”
“He is rich . . .” Mystic says.
“True,” JC says turning away from his roommate and her new man.
“Okay, seriously, you can stop that now,” Shane says.
“It was ok the first time . . .” Mystic says.
“Now you’re just a couple of freaks.”
“Well its all you guys fault,” Pyra says grinning. “You have no one to blame but yourselves.”
The next few hours are spent avoiding Pyra and Adam and trying to have to some fun when it’s finally time to go home the car arrangements are quite hard to fill. Pyra, Adam, Mystic, and JC had ridden together and that didn’t seem like the best of plans now. Shane and Shannon, Nausi and Orlando escaped. Mike, Joe and Chester did the same. Mystic looked sadly at JC who was watching Pyra and Adam make out on the side of her car.
“I could orb you out with me,” Mystic says since she wasn’t about to ride with the two of them.
“I should just get used to it right?”
“Aww, cricket. I’ll stay with you,” Mystic says feeling loads of pity for him. She marches over to the two of them and taps Adam on the shoulder. He turns and Mystic grabs Pyra and shoves her into the passenger side as JC climbs into the drivers seat. Mystic points to the back seat and Adam enters obediently. She climbs in after him and sees him reaching for Pyra and smacks his hand with an audible thwack.
“Ow!”
“What you do that for?”
“This is a PG drive okay? Okay!” Mystic says as Pyra turns.
“What’s up with that I thought you wanted us to get together?”
“Not to be sick monkeys!” Mystic says as JC presses play on Pyra’s stereo to shut them all up and Lucky for him she was on a rock kick and had Infest in her CD player. They arrive at the property and Mystic and Adam walk out as does JC ever the sweetheart. Pyra of course goes also and their goodnight kiss ends with JC pulling Pyra back to her car and Mystic shoving Adam into her own home.
“Hey come over for breakfast or something,” Pyra tells Adam who nods as she is pulled down Mystic’s front steps and back to her car by JC. Mystic looks past them and waves to Fabian who is standing at his front porch smiling at the things passing him by.
Sunday October 14, 2001 . . .
8am
Mystic is eating Lucky Charms when Adam comes downstairs fully clothed. “Where are you going?”
“To Pyra’s for breakfast,” Mystic starts laughing and is forced to put her Lucky charms down in fear she might drop it.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sam, Pyra and Josh never get up this early,” Adam just smiles.
“Call her.”
“Fine,” Mystic says using the speaker phone setting.
“Hello?” Pyra says sounding wide awake on the first ring.
“Pyra?! You’re awake?”
“Yeah Mystic, Hey Adam awake?”
“Right here,” Adam says.
“Want pancakes?”
“Actually I wanted to cook for you,” Adam says and Pyra doesn’t bother to hid her giddiness.
“Really? That’s awesome,” Mystic rolls her eyes, Nick could burn water.
“So can I come over now?”
“But I’m in my pajamas and Josh is still asleep.”
“Are they cute?”
“If you call Garfield sleeping cute.”
“I’ll be right there,” Adam says as Mystic hangs up. “Oh and,” Adam gives Mystic a hug as she stands there stunned. “Thanks for what you did last night.”
“Okay, and Sam,” he looks at her as she smacks him, “Don’t be touching me!”
“Okay,” Adam says too happy to register pain as he walks out the front door. He reaches where Pyra and Nausi’s houses are and it takes him a second to remember which Pyra’s is. He knocks on the door and a very sleepy Nausi answers with Shannon behind her.
“Do you know what fudging time it is?”
“Oh sorry I thought this was Pyra’s house,” Adam says looking to the side.
“Retard,” Nausi mutters turning away from Adam and planning to go back to sleep.
“I’m sorry,” Adam says.
“Whatever.”
“It’s that one,” Shannon says pointing across the street.
“Okay thanks.” Adam says turning.
“Should we have told him Pyra will be pissed he’s waking her up this early?”
“Let him get smacked see if I care,” Nausi mutters going up the stairs.
Knock Knock Pyra pulls open the door and Adam takes one look at his girlfriend and can’t stop smiling. My girlfriend. Here she was standing there in white pajamas with a cartoon cat splattered around randomly and the same cat as fuzzy orange slippers. It was just so cute.
“What?” Pyra says putting a hand to her hair.
“You look amazing, you always look amazing,” Adam says as she ushers him inside and closes the door.
“I’m in pajamas, you on the other hand woo!” Pyra says, he was in a dark blue sweater similar to the one he wore last night and black slacks.
“Come here,” Adam says turning Pyra around to kiss her. “Minty Fresh,” he says smiling.
“And you can cook. I’m in heaven,” Pyra says grinning and throwing her arms around him for another kiss.
“Meow,” Lucky says quite pointedly not interested in the new guy at the moment and wanting his breakfast. “Me-Ow!” Lucky says again and Pyra looks over at the cat and she knows if he had a human face he’d be frowning.
“You’ve met Lucky right?”
“Yeah he was like a kitten, he’s gotten kinda fat don’t you think?” Adam says looking at the cat that hisses when Adam reaches for him.
“He is not fat,” Pyra says picking up the cat that purrs in her hold. “He was a scraggly kitten,” Pyra says putting Lucky down on the kitchen counter and pulling out a can of cat food and a platter. “Enjoy, so what are you planning to make?”
“Surprise,” Adam says.
“Fair warning I hate most breakfast foods, I’m talking eggs, waffles, sausage, and such.”
“French toast?”
“I don’t know that’s the bread thing right?”
“Yeah,” Adam says laughing. “So where do you keep everything.”
“The cabinets? Okay okay,” Pyra starts when Adam gives her a look. She gives him everything he needs and many kisses later he sends her upstairs to stop being a distraction. “A distraction?! How dare you!” Pyra says smiling she takes Lucky upstairs with her.
“He called me fat!” Lucky exclaims the second they are in her room. “That triangle head called me fat!”
“He does not have a triangle head!”
“Isn’t a triangle the one like this,” Luck says making the shape by passing his paw over the sheets.
“Yeah, but. . .”
“Okay then don’t confuse me he has a triangle head!”
“Whatever cat,” Pyra says going over to her closet.
Knock Knock “Yeah?”
“If you’re in here who’s in the kitchen?” JC asks.
“You can come in I promise Lucky’s only half naked.” JC pushes open the door and shakes his head at Pyra. “And its Adam he’s making me breakfast!” Pyra says all into her glee.
“I see,” JC says looking at Lucky. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Adam called him fat.”
“What does that stupid triangle head know anyway?” Lucky says.
“His head is kind of on the pointy side is it?”
“Joshua, Lucky I swear if the two of you don’t stop,” Pyra warns.
“I don’t like him,” Lucky says angrily.
“I can’t possibly have an over protective cat.”
“Why don’t you kiss Joshua? You said he was a hottie.”
“Lucky,” Pyra says covering her face.
“You’ve told me as much,” JC says patting Pyra on her embarrassed shoulder.
“Yeah but you’ve never taken me seriously.”
“Well, I know you can’t stand Justin and have the hots for Lance so I figure its just one of those things. Please no more naps with Lance.”
“How do you know I can’t stand Justin he doesn’t know?” Pyra says ignoring the other request.
“You’re jokes, you’ve said so many things and you’re starting to like us more than Backstreet.”
”I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Pyra says smiling.
”Uh huh, well I’ll leave you to get dressed. Hey do you want a breakfast for two?”
“No that’s okay, what if I don’t like it? I’ll need a distraction.”
“Ha ha, well I have to change too, come on Lucky.” JC says picking up the cat to give Pyra some privacy.
JC is bringing Lucky down the stairs when he takes a peek into the kitchen. Adam had a fork and he had just cut off a piece of French toast and having Pyra taste test it. The smile that spread on her face let JC know she like it or was too busy staring at Adam to notice the taste. Either way he wasn’t needed as a buffer and took the cat back to his room. He’d give them a half an hour. He called Mystic to talk to her about the screaming success their plan was.
”Hello Friend,” Mystic says and JC feels a little twinge of sadness despite the fact he knows its one of Mystic’s custom greetings.
“Hi.”
“Cricket? Hey so you getting ready?”
”Yeah, but I can’t really get any breakfast you know?”
“Ah Edgy boy, is it that bad?”
“Actually they were pretty cute when I left, he was getting her to taste whatever it is he cooked.”
“But that was before, who knows what they’re doing now. You think he’s gonna come with us to church?”
“You think they can behave?” JC asks as he fixes his tie, and then decides against one. He and Adam were sharing the same color scheme, black and blue. He left the top few buttons of his dark blue dress shirt unbuttoned and tucked it into his black pants.
“It’s a church!”
”I guess, hey should I wear a blazer or a leather jacket?” Mystic pictures the suits she’s seen Josh in and doesn’t think twice.
“Leather.”
”Okay,” JC says walking to his giant closet. The glittery sick ass *Nsync stuff was thank god in the back as he realized the particular jacket he was looking for was downstairs as he had just worn it. He wanted to make sure he looked perfect for Mystic. “Hold on a second.” He puts the phone down on his bed and Lucky pounces.
”Hey Mystic.”
“Hi there Lucky!”
“So tell me about this Adam guy.”
”You saw him.”
“Yeah he has a triangle head and he called me fat.”
”Ignore him, he’s Canadian they’re all slow. And he’s blond, he’s a dumb ass.”
”Then why does Pyra like him? She’s smart and stuff she should like some one like that, like Kevin or Joshua.”
”Joshua?!”
“Wait you like him too, that’s why you guys were having sex when you lived here. So why don’t you kiss JC instead of that guy. You know he likes you and he’s nice and . . .” JC picks the phone up. “I was talking!”
“Sorry Mystic, what was he saying? Who’s nice?”
“Nothing cricket,” Mystic says. “Hey why don’t orb you over? You can have breakfast here.” “Thanks that would be great I don’t want to go back down there,” JC says. He knew why they were so giddy they belonged together. He wondered if they’d get married in record time this time around. They did behave themselves in church and JC found it interesting that Adam was the first boyfriend Pyra had ever taken to church.
That Monday Pyra and Adam meet Jason at the airport. (Mystic had ‘throw out’ Adam on Sunday and he had spent the night in a guest room at Pyra’s.) Jason walked over stunned to the couple making out in the air port.
“Hello?” He says tapping Adam on the shoulder.
“Oh Jason hey,” Adam says calmly.
“Hey?! You two are putting on a show for the entire airport and all you can say is hey?”
“Dude chill, can’t we rehearse for later?” Pyra asks grinning.
“Rehearse my ass, excuse me,” Jason says pulling Adam to the side.
“Yeah?” Adam asks smiling.
“What did I miss?”
“Just a birthday party,” Adam says now wondering why Jason wasn’t in on the plan. The thought of seeing Pyra had made him forget completely about his friend.
“What on earth happened?”
“Well long story short we were set up.”
“Uh huh by who?”
“A whole lot of people.”
“If you two are done with your guy talk don’t we have a car to rent?” Pyra says and they both go to the rental station. Once the car is rented Adam tosses the keys at Jason.
“Drive,” he says simply as he climbs into the backseat with Pyra. Jason does, as he’s told not wanting to die because a distracted Adam runs off the road he also does everything in his power to ignore the backseat completely. He turns on the radio to drown out the giggles and shrill shrieks of Pyra not caring a whit what he’s hearing.
I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the stars fall down on me
Jason changes the station he didn’t need the two of them getting anymore ideas. And it just went from bad to worse.
We build I church above the streets
We practice love between these sheets
The candy sweetness scent of you
It bathed my skin I’m stained in you
Jason cursed aloud what was the world against him? Didn’t the radio have anything but love songs to offer? He turned to the next station and thought it was Spanish until the next line played ‘the purest of pain’, what had he done to deserve such torment? He just gave the dial a random spin as he continued to drive. He was halfway through All my life when he remembered all the CD’s they all carried. Well he had stopped bringing his own when he realized Adam would listen to anything and he did mean anything Pyra liked. They usually forgot he was there in the back seat and Pyra liked music so loud it would drown out his little headphones. He wondered if he should pull over, then decided the unobstructed view of the back seat was the last thing he wanted and wondered how long until they reached the hotel. It was one of those right by the airport deals but he hadn’t seen the count down sign since 50km. Not that far at all Jason thought speeding up little as he finally saw the exit up ahead. He pulled into the hotel parking lot and might have well been pulling into the arena with all the familiar faces he saw.
”Sluts we’re here,” He said finally turning. Pyra was leaning on Adam as his head was bent down towards her neck. If it was a horror movie Jason might be inclined to watch his fanged tooth friend but he wasn’t into porn. “Whores!”
“Yeah we heard you loser.” Pyra says as Adam pulls away. Jason in the meanwhile pops the trunk and takes his luggage and caught a glimpse of Adam and Pyra making out again. He slams the trunk shut and stomps off towards the hotel.
”Jay you okay?” Jerky asks.
“I’ve spent all morning with two F-ing whores I’m just fine!” Jason shrieks. Jerky stares at his fellow Canadian, Jason was weird he had to admit that but that was just strange, he was still pondering it when he heard a familiar voice utter a string of four letter words.
“ . . . took the motherf-ing keys!”
“Pyra calm down,” Adam says putting his hands on her shoulders, “Its not that big a deal, we’ll just run over to the hotel . . .”
“Well it isn’t but he was annoying me in the car.”
“The radio huh?”
”He like refused to listen to a whole song, why bother at all then?” Pyra says.
“Did you notice they were all love songs?”
”Dude isn’t the butt married?!”
“I think he was more worried about us.”
”Ah that, well it was not like we’d start fudging in the back seat.”
”Fudging? Is that what I think it is?” Adam asks.
“Only if you have a dirty mind,” Pyra replies.
”Well I guess I’ll be right back.”
”Don’t bother,” Pyra says kneeling.
”Don’t tell m you pick locks.”
”What’s that over there?” Pyra says pointing in the direction of Jerky. Adam turns and gives him one of those hello stop staring waves and get a strange feeling from Pyra and turns back to her who used a little magic to pop the trunk open.
“You just picked the lock!”
”I will say nothing that can be held against me in a court of law.”
“You’re full of surprises,” Adam says giving her a kiss.
“Come on, we tend to do that a lot don’t we.”
“What don’t you know about me already?”
“So we’re making up for all those hours on the road, talking and talking and did I mention talking?”
“Twice, and don’t forget the music.”
”You still haven’t explained the F thing,” Pyra says walking and trying to take her luggage back.
“Right after you tell me your whole boy band obsession.”
”Which one?”
“Yeah you did date one . . .”
“Uh two, and I live with one and house the rest way to often not to be charging rent.”
“Uh huh,” Adam says giving Pyra the impression he stopped listening. She follows his gaze and he was looking in the mirror they had something quite similar to bed head.
”Well combs and our rooms wait.” Jason is standing at the desk waiting for them with keys in his hand. Pyra grabs all the keys and looks at them liking to choose the most interesting room number. She sees two of the cards are for the same room. “Why are you sharing a room with Adam?”
”Me? That’s for you two.”
“Ha Ha Ha. No. Hope neither of you have stinky feet.”
”Why would you do that? Saturday! Two days, that’s not right ok.” Adam says.
“Sure as hell could have fooled me,” Jason mutters.
“Poor you well like they say you made your bed . . .”
“Are there at least double beds?” Adam asks.
”No,” Jason says thinking about how now he was going to spend half the night hearing about how great Pyra was and how Adam’s life is now perfect. Maybe he could still change it. It was a big hotel, they had to have two more room or even one. “Give me those.” Jason says walking to the desk with the keys and returning in a huff after a few minutes.
“Poor baby,” Pyra says patting him on the back then almost as an after thought she decks him. “That’s for shutting the trunk and taking the car keys!”
”Oh,” Jason says biting back the urge to hit her. He always had this nagging animal like instinct that if he did severe pain would follow. Like a deer that ran from humans when it had never seen one its entire life.
“Dudes rooms and some food!”
“Room service,” Jason says like its obvious.
”Golden Arches,” Pyra says in the same exact tone.
“I haven’t seen one for miles.” Pyra looks at Jason and shakes her head.
”Maybe I should buy you some bifocals.”
”What are you talking about?” Jason asks as its Adam’s turn to laugh.
“Jay, dude, sad sad man, look out the front door.” Directly across the street was the mother of them all. Pyra wondered if that was a good thing then realized she lived in a city where walking from one McDonalds to the next wouldn’t break a sweat or take ten minutes in most parts. “Who’s with me?”
”I’ll pass,” Jason says.
“Whatever, shall I meet you back here in a bit?”
“Make it half an hour I want to shower and stuff.”
”Sure dude,” Pyra says as they all head to the elevator.
Later that day at work . . .
Whistle Pyra and Adam look up at Jeff. “So I guess everything worked out on Saturday quite well?”
“Ah so you were also part of the master plan.”
“Yes, and damn proud of it. You two are the biggest idiots I’ve ever met!”
“Love you too Ana.”
“For the last time stop calling me that!”
“For the last time gain some weight!” Pyra says sticking out her tongue.
“Could you not do that here? You’re like desecrating the place.” Jeff says.
”Now why would we do something like that?” Pyra says as she gives Adam a kiss.
Finally! They did it!
Yes Adian I see.
Shyamalan, don’t humor me. That took three years!
Pat yourself on the back when they are married and know the truth. You know as well as I passion isn’t enough.
I know but they seemed like the most hopeless case of the three. One step at a time is just fine.
The two angels nod in agreement as they turn away from the making out and walk arm and arm to the rest of Adam’s and Pyra’s angels who are arguing on how long it will take before the two of them seal the deal so to say. Ivy ends up winning with her guess of a fortnight. 


So the horror Begins*