Life After That (24 page)

"Ok then." – she smiled to him.

Ashley saw the O-Town guys sitting on the couch. They didn't noticed him there, so he went to talk to them, while Kirstin was engaged in a conversation with the Mikes about the Making the Band show.

"Hey guys." – Ashley greeted when he approached the O-Town gang.

"I thought you weren't coming!" – Dan exclaimed.

"Relax Dan, it's been just…" – Erik checked his wrist watch before continuing – "20 minutes."

"Sorry Dan, it took me longer than expected from Kirstin's loft to here."

"Oh yeah! Kirstin!" – Trevor got up from his seat – "So… how did it go with the hot editor?"

"Trevor!" – Erik playfully hit him on the leg – "But yeah, how did it go with her?"

Ashley giggled.

"Actually, things are still going. She's there talking to the Mikes" – he pointed to her.

"Nice!" – Trevor exclaimed.

"But how were things yesterday?" – Dan just didn't pay attention to Trevor excitement.

"Good I guess. Well, some parts were good."

"What do you mean?" – Jacob asked from the couch.

"When I got there, Tom, the guy from the bar, you know? Well, he answered the door."

"He was there? After 10 pm? That's the time you left the hotel, right?" – Dan asked.

"Yes, he was gonna sleep over there. Apparently they are pretty close friends now as I could notice. He didn't have a shirt on when he answered the door."

"Wow. I'm sorry to hear that, man." – Trevor remarked.

"Nah, it's ok. We've discussed it and I trust her. I don't believe there's something going on between them."

"You sure are a better than I am. If I'd ever see a half naked guy on Janie's house, I'd break his nose." – Jacob stated.

"We almost got into a fight actually, but Kirstin didn't let us. I didn't wanna disappoint her so I didn't do anything. But the guy was provoking, he was asking for it. It was not easy to resist to punch him on the nose."

"I can imagine that." – Erik spoke up.

"Hey, come meet her guys." – Ashley motioned for the guys to follow him.

When he got near Kirstin, she was still talking to Mike Cronin. Mike Morin was no where in sight.

"Hey baby." – he gently pecked her cheek.

"Hey!"

"You remember the guys, right?"

"Yes. I'm pretty used to their faces, seeing them everyday, 5 hours a day, at work."

"That's right! Dumb me!"

"Let me see if I know everyone's name by now, cause I'm not very good with names. Dan." – she shook his hand and moved to the next one – "Trevor. Jacob. And Erik."

"I'm impressed!" – Ashley exclaimed.

"Why, thank you!" – she was the one to give a peck on the lips this time. "And Jacob, I know you have a girlfriend. Her name is Janie, right?"

"That's right."

"And, sorry my asking, but where is she?"

"Oh, unfortunately, she couldn't come. Some problems at her house."

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I was hoping she'd be here. Now I'm gonna be all alone in the studio."

"Oh, you're coming with us?" – Dan asked her.

"Yes, I think so. Right Ash?"

"Is it ok, Mike?" – Ashley asked Cronin that was still standing there.

"I don't see why not."

"Sweet!" – Trevor exclaimed. Kirstin giggled.

Mike Morin then appeared out of nowhere and informed:

"Ok, let's go. The van's waiting."

And they were off to the photo shoot.

NEW YORK, NY – O-Town Interview

"Nope, I don't have one, always looking though." Trevor answered PopStar Magazine Journalist that had asked who in the band had a girlfriend.

"Same here. Looking." Erik was the one replying now.

"I have a girlfriend." Jacob answered the question and looked at Dan as to say it was his time to answer.

"Not right now."

And then Dan looked at Ashley who was staring at Kirstin, sitting in a chair, far from the guys. She couldn't hear what they were talking about; she was staring at Ashley with a sweet smile on her face. Ashley didn't know exactly how to answer that question. The fans knew all about Jen when they were still a couple and they were pretty supportive about it. They also knew Ashley and her had broken up. The thing was that Ashley hadn't talked to the Mikes yet, he didn't know if he could tell people about Kirstin. 'Bad publicity' he thought.

"No." that was all he said. While the journalist took note of all the answers, all the 4 members of O-Town faced Ashley. He didn't say anything nor faced the guys. The journalist continued with the next question.

"So, when are you guys leaving for Europe?"

Kirstin was feeling kind of bored there, sitting in a chair, watching the guys that were now posing for some group pictures. She then heard her cell phone ring. She checked the called ID before answering the call.

"Hey Tommy boy!"

"Hey baby girl! What's up?"

"Nothing much. Just bored…"

"Why? What's going on?"

"I'm at this magazine interview," Kirstin got up from the chair and went out to the corridor outside the room where the photo shoot was taking place. "Ashley asked me to come so I'd meet the rest of the band. And I had nothing else to do today so I came. But it's killing me little by little." she giggled.

"Get out of there, then!"

"Yeah, right… I can't baby."

"Why not? You're hating the place, I can tell just by the tone of your voice!"

"It doesn't matter. I'm not here for me, I'm here for Ashley."

"Why? He's not even your boyfriend!"

"Why do you always have to bring that up?"

"Well, it's the truth, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but… nothing." She bit her bottom lip. She didn't know if she should tell Tom about Ashley telling her he loved her.

"What? Tell me!"

"No, it's no big deal."

"Oh come on, K! I know you better than that. Just tell me."

"Oh, fine!" she gave in. He was her best friend. What was the problem on telling him that? "Ashley told me he loves me." For a while, nothing was heard from the other end "Tom, are you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. When did he tell you that?" he tried to cover his what he was feeling that time.

"Today. While we were having breakfast."

"And what did you do?"

"Nothing. I was shocked for a while. It's not that he planned on telling me that. I just… happened. I don't know. I don't think he intended to tell me that."

"And did you say it back to him?"

"No… I couldn't…"

"I see…" Tom didn't want to extend the subject "But you two are cool, right?"

"Yeah, we're fine."

"Well, that's what matters." Kirstin smiled. Changing the subject, Tom asked, "What are you doing tonight?"

"I don't know. Nothing, I guess. Why?"

"Great! 'Cause we're going to this new club that just opened on the 10th street."

"Don't you have to work tonight?"

"Not tonight, no."

"Oh, ok. Who's coming?"

"I talked to Grace and Lexie. They are coming."

"Cool! I'm definitely going. But I'm taking Ashley, ok?"

"Ok…" Tom wasn't really excited to hear that, but more than anything he wanted his friend happy "We're gonna meet at your place than go from there, is that ok?"

"Oh, I'd rather meet you guys there. It's 6:30 p.m. already and it's the second magazine interview the guys are doing today and I don't know if there's any left. Can we meet thereat, like, 10 p.m.?"

"Yeah, ok. 10 p.m. You know the club I'm talking about right? On the 10th?"

"Yes. Luna, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's the one. So we'll meet there at 10."

"Ok, deal. Bye honey."

"Bye baby."

The second Kirstin hung up, she felt someone grab her from behind.

"Oh shit, Ashley! You scared the crap out of me!" she playfully hit Ashley's arm.

"Sorry baby." – he kissed her cheek still holding her from behind.

"Is the interview over?"

"Almost. We're taking individual pictures now and Dan's there right now."

"Right."

"Who were you talking to?"

"Tom." Kirstin turned to face Ashley.

"Oh…" Kirstin saw the disgusted look Ashley did.

"Stop it!" she playfully hit him again "We're going out tonight?"

"We?"

"Yeah, we. You, me, Grace, Lexie and Tom."

"Oh, not Tom!"

"Yes Tom! You're gonna have to like him!"

"That's impossible. I'm never gonna like the guy."

"But you have at least to stand being around him, because he will be around. He's my friend."

"Ok, I think I can learn how to stand the guy. You're gonna have to teach me though."

"No problem! I'm a great teacher!" she smiled and pecked him on the lips.

"Can I take the guys with us? Dan and Jacob probably wont go, but can Erik and Trevor go?"

"Sure, I don't see why not."

"Where are we going anyway?"

"To this new club that opened on the 10th called Luna."

"I can ask the Mikes to get us VIP passes."

"Really?" Ashley nodded "That'd be so cool! Thanks!"