Life After That

by Barbara Kevin

  "I know I'm late. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." – Ashley was already apologizing without even the Mikes saying anything. They didn't have to. Mike Morin's face was worth a thousand words.

  "You're lucky it's been just 15 minutes." – Cronin was trying to make it easy on Ashley.

  "Still, you're late and we already had a meeting about that." – Morin was playing the bad guy.

  "Ok, ok. It won't happen again." – Ashley was holding hands with a girl wearing a black dress that showed all her curves. The dress went all the way 'til the middle of her thighs and sandals. All very casual. The girl was feeling a little awkward 'cause the Mikes didn't even noticed her there – "Guys, you remember Kirstin, right?"

  "Yes, how are you Miss Addams." – Mike Morin shook her hand.

  "Good, thanks. And please, call me Kirstin."

  "Alright."

  "Hi Kirstin."

  "Hi Mr. Cronin." – she shook hands with him too.

  "Mike's just fine."

  "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.

  Chapter 21

  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 doin
g 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!"

  "No problem. I'd do anything for my little princess." Kirstin blushed a little "Can I ask you something though?"

  "Yes…" Kirstin got worried. Ashley had a serious look on.

  "Can I… kiss you?" Kirstin just shook her head.

  "You're silly, you know that?"

  "Yes." he smirked.

  "Oh, just shut up and kiss me!" she pressed her lips hard on Ashley's and then deepened the kiss.

  KIRSTIN'S LOFT

  "I'm just leaving I'm at my loft. Can you wait outside?"

  "Yes. But why outside?" Tom asked Kirstin. She had called him on his cell to make the arrangements so they could meet at the club.

  "Because Ashley got us on the VIP List but we gotta get in together because on the list it says Ashley Angel plus 6."

  "Six?"

  "Yeah. Me, you, Lex, G, Ash, Trevor and Erik."

  "So, so there are more boyband guys coming?"

  "Yeah. So let's do this. We'll meet outside in 40 minutes alright?"

  "Yeah, ok."

  "Lex and G are with you?"

  "Yes. Is Ashley with you?"

  "No. I'm leaving now. Gonna pick the guys up and then go straight to the club."

  "Ok. So we'll just hang here on G's for a while and then leave."

  "Great. So meet you there."

  "Ok, bye!"

  Kirstin hung up the phone, got her purse and left her loft.

  HOTEL LOUNGE

  "Hello, m'am. How can I help you?"

  "Hi," Kirstin was standing at the hotel front desk talking to this nice concierge "Can you please call Ashley Angel's room and let him know Kirstin Addams is waiting for him at the lobby."

  "Most certainly!" the nice concierge picked up the phone, informed the person on the other side that Miss Addams was there and then hung up telling Kirstin Ashley would be down and then she went to look at this jewelry store there was in the hotel. She was amused by this beautiful silver ring that had little stars all around it and in the middle of each star there was a tiny little diamond rock. Kirstin was a star freak. She loved stars.

  "Must cost a fortune!" she thought out loud.

  "What costs a fortune?"

  "Shit! You're always scaring me like that! You gotta stop it!" she said after seeing Ashley was the one that had scared her.

  "Sorry. But what were you talking about?"

  "This ring." She pointed to the ring through the glass.

  "Oh yeah! You and your stars!" he smirked. Just then he paid attention on Kirstin. "Wow! You look absolutely gorgeous!" he checked her up and down. Kirstin did look good. She was wearing a black leather skirt that went to the middle of her thy, revealing a lot of her long legs. Her top was purple, held by spaghetti stripes. It showed a little of her bellybutton and just enough cleavage to not make her look like a slut. She was wearing black high-heel shoes. Make-up, she had just some gloss on.

  "Shut up! I hate dressing up like this, but I'm gonna be VIP tonight, I have to look better than usual. And besides, I hate this because now I'm taller than you!" she made a sad look.

  "I like you being taller than me."

  "Oh, I bet you do."

  "But the difference is too little. Some people won't even notice."

  "But I notice! We're gonna spend most of the time sitting or else I'll take off my shoes!"

  "Ok, ok. We'll think about that later." He kissed her passionately for the first time that night. When they broke it, she asked:

  "Where are Erik and Trevor?"

  "I don't know… they said they were coming and… Oh! There they are!"

  "Great. Because we're running late already," she informed while walking with Ashley towards the other 2 O-Town guys.

  "Hey, sorry. Erik couldn't decide what shirt to wear."

  "See you picked the worst one." Ashley joked and everyone but Erik giggled. Erik was wearing blue jeans and an orange button-down shirt.

  "Shut up! Who are you to talk? You're always wearing that baby blue one." Erik pointed out to Ashley's shirt. He was wearing a baby blue button-down shirt and black pants.

  "I'm the only one who looks good." Trevor interrupted. He was, indeed, looking good. He had jeans, white simple shirt and brown leather coat on "Me and Kirstin over here. Hey Kirstin!" he greeted hugging her.

  "Hey Trevor. Thanks for the compliment."

  "It's true." he grinned and she did the same.

  "Yes, it is. Hey!" Erik, too, hugged Kirstin.

  "Aw, thank you Erik. Aren't you two sweet?"

  "Ok, ok. That's enough. Let's go!" Ashley said leading the group out of the hotel.

  LUNA

  "What time is it? Shouldn't Kirstin be here by now? I'm freezing!" Lexie asked Tom. Lexie was wearing a long sleeve, but tight, red dress that went all the way 'til her knees.

  "Yeah… weird. She's never late." Tom looked at his watch.

  "But K told me Ashley's always running late. Maybe he's the one keeping her." Grace talked. Grace was not freezing as Lexie was. Grace was wearing black jeans, a white blouse, black leather coat and boots.

  "I'm sure that's it. I always knew that guy would be a bad influence on her." Tom shook his head.

  "Oh, I see her. She's coming!" Lexie exclaimed.

  "Where?" Tom scanned the crowd. There were a lot of people waiting in line to get inside the club "Never mind. Found her."

  When Kirstin, Ashley, Trevor and Erik met the other 3, Kirstin spoke up:

  "I'm sorry we're late. It was not my fault. Right Erik?" she faced Erik
, grinning.

  "Sorry…" Erik apologized.

  "So, let me introduce everyone. Tom, Grace, Lexie, Erik, Trevor and Ashley." she pointed at each one while saying their names. Everyone just nodded and smiled. "Before we start talking, can we please get inside? I'm freezing here!" Kirstin pleaded.

  "What did you expected? You're wearing a skirt and that top in February in New York!" Grace exclaimed smirking at her friend.

  "Yeah, well…"

  "Here, take it." Tom was taking his overall off to give it to Kirstin. Lexie just shot a deadly look at Kirstin, but no one saw that 'Tom didn't offer me his overall when I said I was freezing!' she thought.

  "No, Tommy, thanks! We're getting in already. But thanks! Really sweet of you!" Tom made eye contact with Ashley for the first time that night. Tom had a sarcastic smile on as to say 'See? I'm the sweet one who offered the coat.' Ashley regretted not be wearing a coat that night. Noticing Tom and Ashley glare, Kirstin said "Ok, let's get inside please!" she took Ashley's hand and everyone headed inside.

  After getting in and getting a table at the VIP area that was on the top floor, they all sat down. The place was crowded and was really nice. It was called 'Luna' (Spanish for 'Moon') because the dance floor downstairs was shaped as a moon. There was a bar downstairs and another one upstairs to serve only the VIP crowd. The VIP area had, all around it, sofas for 4 people to sit on. The waiter placed 2 sofas around this small table. On the red sofa sat, in that order, Erik, Trevor and Grace. On the black one sat Ashley, Grace, Tom and Lexie. Tom soon excused himself to go to the men's room.

  When he got back, Kirstin stared at him standing up. He looked good. 'Damn good!' she thought. He was wearing tight black leather pants, green shirt and a black overall that went all the way to his ankles. Kirstin loved men in overalls. Especially the tall ones like Tom. She found it sexy. Before he sat down, Tom took his overall off to reveal he was actually wearing a no-sleeve shirt. Kirstin's jaw literally dropped a little. She quickly closed it, not quick enough though. Tom noticed that and winked at her when he sat beside her. But Tom wasn't the only one who had noticed that. So did Ashley. Kirstin didn't want to treat Ashley like that, like she wasn't appreciating him being there, because she was. She was really happy to be out partying with him. That was the first time they were partying as a real couple. So to make sure he'd know how much she was enjoying his company, as soon as Tom sad down beside her, Kirstin turned to face Ashley, taking his hand on hers.