After a moment, I pulled away. A.J. looked at me. "What's wrong?"
	"I don't know. It's just, I don't know. You're on the rebound... I don't want to mess this up." I said, sighing. Damn conscience, I thought.
	"Alright, I understand." he said finally.
	"I'm sorry. I want you to kiss me, really I do, but I don't want to take advantage you you're being on the rebound and everything." I said, sighing. Well, he wanted honesty, and now he had it, I told myself.
	"Come on, we're performing in a few minutes, come backstage and hang out, alright?" he took my hand and stood. I followed, letting him pull me to the backstage door. We went in, and down a small hall. We went into a door on the left. Inside there were three girls, and Abby. Not to mention the guys were there, seated all around the room.
	"Mandy! My lil sissy!" Abby came up and huggled me. I hugged her back.
	"Come on and meet my friends." she said, pulling me over to a couch with some girls sitting on it. "Mandy, meet Bree. She's really cool, and she's Kevvie-Wevvie's girlfriend." Abby glanced over at Kev, who frowned at the name 'Kevvie-Wevvie'.
	"Hiya." Bree said, smiling warmly.
	"Hi." I told her. "Nice to meet you."
	"This is Tiffany, AKA Tiffy. She's Brian's girlfriend." Abby nodded to a pretty girl with bright eyes and a nice smile.
	"Hello!" she said warmly.
	"Hiya!" I told her.
	"This is Rose, she's Howie's girlfriend. Rose this is Mandy."
	"Hiya." Rose said.
	"Hey." I said. "It's great to meet you guys." I told them.
	KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!!! Screamed the door.
	"Yo, come in!" Howie said.
	A man poked his head in the door. "You're on in two." He then left immediately.
	The guys stood. "Alrighty, that's our cue." Kev said. He planted a quick kiss on Bree and left. The other guys followed. As A.J. was about to leave, he looked at me strangely. I laughed and nodded and he kissed my cheek and left.
	"Ooh Mandy, you little Mack!!!" Abby squealed.
	"What?!" I asked, looking at her.
	"I saw you with JC! He's got it bad for you! You're awful!" Abby laughed.
	"What?! Abby, did you see JC with Randi? I did, he didn't seem to worry about me too much. Besides, I like A.J. a lot more." I defended.
	"Wait a sec. You know JC?" Tiff asked.
	"Yeah. Justin is my cousin." I told her.
	"So you're related to Carol?" Tiffy asked.
	"Yeah. She's my grandma." I replied.
	"Neato! We all love Carol, she's so sweet!" Rose said, smiling.
	"Aww, you all love my granny!" I giggled.
	"Come on, let's go out front and watch the guys!" Bree said, making her way to the door. She was wearing a pretty black dress that had a shimmery quality to the fabric. Her dark wavy hair was left down, with glitter in it so her hair sparkled.
	"Alrighty." Tiffy agreed, standing. She ran a hand through her blackish-browinish-colored hair. Her dark eyes matched the thread that ran through her creamy-colored dress.
	"What are they singing?" Rose asked, smoothing out her soft blue dress. Her hair piled on top of her head in wavy curls.
	"I'll Never Break Your Heart." Abby replied. "It's their latest single."
	"Oh, not fair!" Tiffy replied, smiling.
	"Why's that?" I asked, confused.
	"Cause it's me and Nick-Nack's song." Abby replied, laughing.
	"Ewwie, not fair." I told her as she drug me out to a table in front of the stage. I sat down, and yawned. I was getting tired. The guys were just about to be introduced, so I got up, went to the bar and got a glass of coke. I sat down again, grateful for the caffeine. 
     "Alrighty, we're glad to be here, and totally happy that everyone came to raise money for one of our favorite charities." Brian said, sliding his mike into the stand. The music kicked in. The guys sang, and during the middle of the song they made their way off of the stage and mingled between the tables. I caught A.J.'s glance and flashed him a soft smile. He winked at me and it was all I could do to keep him from noticing me blush. God he was hot! 
	I glanced at Abby who whispered, "Maaaaaaack." and laughed. I rolled my eyes at her. After the guys were done, the jogged backstage, and eventually ended up back at our table.
	"Oh, I'm starvin'!" Nick said, putting a hand on his stomach for extra drama. He tried his best to look pleading and sad. 
	"Alrighty, come with me, we'll find the food." Abby said, gabbing his arm and dragging him away. A.J. slid into her chair after she left.
	"So wha'd ya think?" he asked.
	I smiled, carefully thinking over my response. "I liked it, it's unique."
	"That's all?" A.J. asked with a smile.
	"What do you wanna hear? That it was amazing and wonderful and it gave me shivers, and that I don't ever want to hear another sound again, lest I forget the amazing sound quality you guys have??" I said, smiling.
	"That's what I wanted to hear!!" he said, trying to hold in a chuckle. "Minus the never hearing another sound bit, that was pretty good though." he said, smiling.
	"Thank you, I try." I laughed.
	"Come on, I'm starving. Let's go find Nick and Abby. If we find them we're bound to find the food." A.J. said, standing.
	"Okies." I said. A.J. took my hand and I followed him in the direction Nick and Abby had headed off in.
	We found them, and lo and behold, there was the food. I wasn't really hungry, so I grabbed some pasta and sauce. A.J. ate like a damn rhinoceros, and after a while I began to wonder if there was a bottom to his stomach. Abby glanced at me and smiled, trying suppress a giggle as she nodded in Nick's direction. Nick was still eating too! I snickered, trying not to laugh, but I couldn't help myself, and soon both Abby and I were laughing, leaving Nick and A.J. to stare at us oddly. We shook our heads at them as they asked what was so funny.
	"You wouldn't understand, " I said, laughing still.
	"Yeah, it's a girl thing, I think." Abby said, still giggling.
	"Has to be," I said, trying to control my laughter. I took a deep breath. I looked at Abby, who was still trying to regain her breath.
	"Can ya breathe?" Nick asked, looking at Abby with a smile.
	"Yes," Abby said sarcastically. "I'm fine." 
	I yawned. It was getting late, and although I was a night person, I had done a lot today.
	"Tired hun?" A.J. asked, catching a glimpse of my yawn.
	I nodded. "Sorta. It's been a long day. I'll stay though, just give the caffeine a chance to kick in, and I'll be fine. How much later does this party go anyways?" I asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. It read 12:45. 
	"Oh hell, I don't know. Till everyone decides to go home I think." he said, glancing at Nick.
	"Oh please! Don't screw with her head A.J. The party ends at one." Abby said, looking at me with tired eyes.
	"Are you coming home with me Abby? Or you gonna go with Nick, and pick up your stuff later?" I asked, wondering.
	"Oh, um, dunno. Hmm. Nick?" she asked, looking at him.
	"Whatever you do is fine with me baby." he replied, sipping at his Mountain Dew. Like the boy needed MORE caffeine to run on. What a madman, I thought with a laugh.
	"What's so funny?" A.J. asked.
	"Noooooooothing." I said.
	"You're nuts, you know that?" A.J. said. "Laughing at nothing in particular."
	"I'm nuts?! Puh-lease, do not even get me stared on you mister." I said, trying to act all tough.
	"Me? Uh-uh. I am the picture of mental health." A.J. said, smiling.
	"With hair like that?" I asked, pointing to his head. His hair was blonde on top, and brown on the sides, I thought it looked cute, but it definitely wasn't normal. Then again, I wasn't looking for a normal guy.
	"What's wrong with my hair?" A.J. asked, putting a hand to his head.
	"Nothing. I think it's cute, but it's definitely NOT normal hun." I said.
	"So is my hair isn't normal, but you think it's cute, what kind of weirdo does that make you?" A.J. asked.
	I smiled. I had an answer for that, but I knew it was pretty sappy, and if I said it, I'd set my conscience off again. I decided to say, 'Screw my conscience' and say it anyways. "It makes me a weirdo who has a HUGE crush on you." I said with a coy smile.
	I thought I heard Abby mumble, "Oh no... Here we go..." But I wasn't sure. I shot her a glare anyways.
	"Aww." A.J. said, pulling me into a hug. 
	"Ahh! Watch the 'do!" I said, a hand shooting to my head. "I don't want you impaled by a dangerous chopstick." 
	A.J. laughed. "It's a risk I'm willing to take!" he declared valiantly, and pulled me closer. It was then that the clock struck one. Chimes filled the room.
	"Aww, looks like my coach is turning into a pumpkin." I said sadly.
	"What?" Nick asked.
	"My coach is turning into a pumpkin. Think Cinderella dork." I said, looking at him.
	"Hey! I am not a dork!" Nick defended, smiling.
	"Are too." I said, smiling.
	"Am not!" Nick countered.
	"Are too." Abby said, smiling. Nick grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.
	"Hey! Exactly whose side you on?" he asked, resting his head over her shoulder so that we could still see him. Abby was facing us too, and she reached a hand backwards and ruffled Nick's hair lovingly.
	"I'm on your side sweetie, but Mandy has a point ya know." She smiled evilly.
	Nick just laughed.
	I stood. I yawned again. "Ahh! When's the caffeine gonna kick in?!" I asked, exasperated.
	"Okay, who's riding with who?" Nick asked, glancing around the room for the other guys. They and the girls had gathered over by a huge column, which we made our way over to.
	"Okay, who's riding with who?" Brian asked as we made our way to the group.
	A.J., me, Abby, and Nick all laughed. "I just asked that exact same question Frick." Nick said, chuckling.
	"Woah. I got ESPN or something, huh Kev?" Brian asked. 
	"Or something." Kevin said between laughs.
	"Hey!" Brian countered, smiling.
	"Okay okay okay! We need to find out who's riding with who, before we get kicked out of here!" Howie said, becoming serious. He had a lazy arm wrapped around Rose's waist.
	"Wait a minute, where's Randi?" A.J. asked, looking around the room.
	I sighed angrily. A.J. glanced at me, but turned his gaze back to the room.
	"I saw her," Bree piped up.
	"Where?" A.J asked. I rolled my eyes, but said nothing. I really wasn't happy that he still cared so much about Randi, but I figured it was not my place to say or do anything. I barely knew A.J., and he and Randi had gone out for about 2 years as I heard it, so what was I gonna do? All the pissy and bitchy actions of exasperation were not gonna change any of that. I saw Brian look at me understandingly, and flash me a smile. He was so cute and sweet looking I couldn't help but smile back.
	"She, um, well... was crying." Bree said, sighing.
	"Oh no." A.J. said, looking concerned.
	I said nothing, I turned my eyes to the floor, suddenly feeling out of place again, and I didn't like it, not a bit. I wanted to go, and NOW. But I didn't know how to relieve myself of the situation without looking like a brat. I sighed silently, and stood where I was, almost frozen in place. A.J. was holding my hand, I gently pulled away. He didn't seem to notice.
	"Was she crying really badly?" A.J. asked, he looked really concerned.
	"Well, yeah." Bree said reluctantly, she saw what A.J. was doing, and she saw how what he was doing was hurting me, but she also knew she couldn't lie. I flashed her an understanding look, and she eased a bit. I glanced up at the clock. It read 1:15. I decided I could lie my way out of this, before I really started to look like a brat, or began bawling in front of a group of virtual strangers. 
	"Oh jeeze, will you look at the time." I rushed. "I really ought to be going. Later." I spun around and walked off. A.J. was so busy looking around for Randi and talking to Bree, that he didn't even notice me go. I sighed, maybe it was better I found out how attached he still was to Randi now, instead of later, when I actually started to believe I was in love with him or something foolish like that. I slid out the door, but bumped into someone's shoulder on my way out. "Sorry." I mumbled, and started to walk by as the tears sprung to my eyes. Someone grabbed my arm. I spun around, only to see JC standing right behind me.