A week later…
The court had moved up the custody trial date, at the urging of the boys' father and his lawyer. I had gotten lucky, two days after pleading my case to every lawyer in town, one of the biggest lawyers in town had called me back and stated they would take my case. It kind of surprised me when the lawyer said he'd do the case on contingency, meaning I didn't have to pay unless I won, but after the lawyer talked about how he liked doing charity cases every once in a while, I simply shrugged and thanked him for taking my case. My lawyer was great, and was very honest and telling me the chances of the case, and the boys were adjusting well. Jay had pretty much stayed stationary in Vegas, he went back to FL every once in a while, but pretty much moved to Vegas. Jay was a great help, he took the boys during the day, watching them and keeping them entertained so I could get the issues worked out with the lawyer. The boys were supposed to be in kindergarten, but after the trauma of losing their mother, I had talked with the school system and we agreed that the best would be to take them out of school for the rest of the year, and re-start them in a program called Pre-First next year, giving them months to adjust to their new life.
Things between Jay and I have pretty much stayed neutral. I won't lie I tried to avoid being alone with him, after last time, I new my feelings were still strong for him. Plus, hearing him admit his feelings for me, had me more confused then ever. How could he still love me? After all I put him through…he had to hate me….but I couldn't deny the fact that every time my eyes saw him my heart did a flip flop. I had tried to ignore my feelings for so long and I just couldn't ignore them anymore, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to take a chance…to take the risk of getting hurt.
Now it being a Saturday I couldn't lie and say I wasn't excited to spend some time with the boys. I sat on the couch in between Jacob and Jesse watching an episode of Spongebob, when I heard the front door open. I looked over my shoulder and saw AJ walk in carrying his suitcase, I smiled as I yelled to him "Hey AJ, how was your flight?" I chuckled as both of the little boys flew off the couch and went running into the waiting arms of AJ across the room. I got up from the couch, and stood watching him hug each boy, before I intervened "Alright boys, let's give AJ room to walk" watching both Jacob and Jesse make their way back into the living room. I let AJ get his suitcase settled in Jade's room, before I engulfed him in a hug, as he took a seat at the dining room table. "You want something to drink?" I spoke as I walked into the kitchen as I heard AJ respond "Water would be good…so where's my girl?" I smiled as I pulled out a bottle of water, carrying it over to him as I saw his eyes dart around the apartment. "She's at work, should be home any minute" I spoke, handing him the water, as I took a seat across the table from him.
AJ pressed the water to his lips, his eyes darting over to the living room where Jacob and Jesse were engulfed in a new episode of "The Backyardigans" that had come on tv. AJ turned his attention back to me "So? How's it going?" he asked, as he took another sip of water. I sighed as I looked over to the young man, " It's ok…the trial hearing is going ok I guess…should be over in a few days I hope…" AJ nodded, as I played nervously with my hands, before he spoke "Ok, now you can tell me the truth." I smiled at him when I took a deep breath "I'm worried…the other lawyer is bringing up a lot of issues that I have nothing to defend myself with…I'm just terrified I'm gonna lose them" I spoke softly, resting my head on my hands. AJ reached over, laying his hand on my arm "You got a good lawyer, You got good people behind you…It'll work out…I promise" He spoke with a smile, as I smiled back at him. I ran my hands through my hair as I glanced over to the two boys, now dancing along with backyardigans. I smiled as I watched the two of them, those little boys had stolen my heart, that's for sure, I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard AJ speak "When's the last time you got away?" I looked over to meet his blue eyes, I looked curiously "What do you mean?" AJ leaned back in his chair, holding his water in one hand "I just mean, maybe getting away for a night or so will do you some good…clear your head" He spoke smugly. I eyes him suspiciously before I blurted out "Just spill it Styles" I said firmly, as I watched him laugh out loud, before responding "Alright, Jade told me you had plans for tonight, but you were looking at canceling them". I sighed, I should of known Jade was behind this, as I spoke "Yeah, I had tickets to a concert tonight…meet and greet and everything…but it's not a big deal…the boys are what matter now" I said glancing to the envelope that held the tickets on the refrigerator.
AJ sighed as he spoke, "Well, Jade can't say I didn't try" I laughed as I got up from my chair moving to the living room, when I heard AJ call out "So I hear you and Jay have…um…gotten over some things" My head snapped to look at AJ, as he simply smiled and took another sip from his water bottle. I spoke with a stern face "Anyone ever tell you to mind your own business?" only to hear him quickly retort "Anyone ever tell you to follow your heart?". I stared at him, before I spoke "That was low" as I made my way down the hallway, and into my bedroom. I had decided I would take a shower, since AJ was here now, and It was still early Saturday. Plus a shower always calmed me down, I climbed into the shower and fought the memories that flooded my senses, I remembered the times Jay and I had spent in the bathroom, in the shower, in my bed. I shook the memories from my head, as I dunked my head under the hot water spray.
I got out of the shower and freshly dressed and made my way back out to the living room, where I was met with Jade sitting at the table next to AJ, both little boys still watching cartoons on tv. I walked out to the kitchen area when I heard Jade speak "Alright sis, AJ and I talked about it…you're going to the concert tonight…you don't have a choice…AJ and I will watch the boys" I rolled my eyes as I heard my sister talk, I poured my cup of coffee as I glanced at the time. It was about 1:30 PM, but screw it, I hadn't been sleeping well, I needed coffee. I took my seat across from them at the table, as I sipped on my coffee, I spoke "Look, I'm not going…I need to be here for the boys…that's settled" Immediately Jade shot back "No you listen, you spent big money on those meet and greet passes, you waited inline for hours for those, and I know you want to go" I ran my hands through my hair, when Jade continued " Plus, you've been in love with these guys since you were 8, you deserve to meet them" I blushed when AJ spoke up "Now this I gotta hear, who have you been in love with since you were 8?" I stood from the table, trying to swallow my blush as I spoke "It's not important" as I made my way to the kitchen, I could hear Jade whisper something, when I heard AJ exclaim loudly "No way!" I dropped my cup in the sink, when I heard AJ laugh uncontrollably "Shut up Styles " I said as I made my way back to the table, AJ finally controlling his laughter before he spoke "So let me get this straight… You're a New Kids on the Block Fan?" he barely got out before laughing ten times harder. I sighed before I responded "I'll have you know they are all great artists on their own front!" I fought back, when I heard Jade speak "and they're all still hot" and before I could stop myself I retorted "Yeah, they're all still hot". AJ's face turned serious when he spoke "You still have a crush on them?" he laughed even harder, as my face turned a deep crimson, as I got up from the table and walked back to my room. I could hear Jade say as I walked down the hallway "Oh great, we really pissed her off."
I laid on my bed, I really wasn't upset at AJ…It really was just a combination of everything adding up. The last few weeks have just been a whirlwind, and honestly I haven't had any time to process anything, I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling, but honestly all I could think about was Jay. I really didn't know what to do, I didn't want him wasting his life waiting for me…what if I could never take the chance on my heart? I would not only ruin my life, but his too…but what If I took a chance and I got hurt? Then what? I was so confused…and I still didn't understand why Jay didn't hate me…there really was no way he couldn't hate me after everything. Soon enough, I could feel my eyelids getting dreary, as I slept into dreamland.
I awoke a couple hours later, when I heard my bedroom door open, and I watched AJ and Jade slowly walk into my room. Jade taking a seat on the side of my bed, as AJ leant against my dresser. AJ was the first to speak, as he spoke bashfully "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pick on you earlier" he said, looking at the floor, as I smiled "Don't worry about it Styles, it wasn't you…it was just a bunch of things" I said as I rubbed my groggy face, when AJ spoke again "Well, after thinking about it, I know what it's like… I mean I used to have a crush on plenty of women singers when I was a kid, and if I had the chance to be with them today, honestly I would" I smiled, watching him admit this, when he finally looked at me as he spoke "That's why Jade and I decided you need to go tonight.." I started to object, when Jade spoke "Look, you're getting the chance to meet your childhood crushes, plus see your first loves in concert, you might not get that chance again" she spoke softly, I opened my mouth to object again when AJ spoke up "Don't worry about the boys, Jade and I will watch them, so will you go?" he spoke giving me a puppy dog look. I rolled my eyes, as I spoke uneasily "I don't know you guys", that's when I saw Jade turn to AJ "Time to bring in the big guns" I watched as AJ smiled and stuck his head out the doorway into the hallway "Come here a minute, boys!" I heard him yell down the hallway, and in just minutes I saw Jacob and Jesse hobble into the room. Jade lifted both boys so they were sitting on the bed next to me, and I watched as Jade spoke to the boys "Boys, what do you think Aunt Lily should do tonight?" I watched as both Jacob and Jesse turned to me smiling, as they recited "Go see the Oh-Oh boys!!" (that's what they called New Kids on the Block, I had played "The right stuff" on the radio so much, the boys sang along, so soon enough they started calling them the oh-oh boys") I smiled as both of them smiled, so proud of themselves, I pulled both boys into a hug, as I looked to Jade and AJ "That was low, you guys" I said at Jade coaching the boys to say it, when I heard AJ speak "They said that on their own, we swear" he said with a smile. Jade picked each boy off the bed, as she spoke sternly, "There it's settled, get up and dressed, you're going" as she took the boys and AJ out of my room.
I shooed everyone out of my room and started skimming through the clothes I had hanging in my closet. I couldn't help but feel the butterflies in my stomach, but at the same time be excited, and be terrified. I got dressed and looked myself in the mirror…I glanced over to the clock and realized I had been getting dressed for over 45 minutes, now, so I quickly finished and walked back into the living room. I walked out and immediately was greeted by the two boys running over to me, each of them grasping my legs "You look pretty" Jesse said with a smile, as I looked down into their bright smiling faces. I leaned down and gave them each a hug when I heard the doorbell ring. I looked to AJ and Jade who were sitting at the table, when AJ quickly jumped up "Uh…I'll get it" he said practically running to the door, carefully opening it, and stepping outside closing the door behind him. I looked to Jade suspiciously "What's that about?" Jade smiled as she walked over to me, wrapped her arm around my shoulders and walked me towards the front door as she spoke "Well, since I wasn't going with you tonight, we decided to find you an escort to the concert" My eyes grew wide, as it clicked in my mind, "Please tell me you didn't?" I asked, almost panicked. Jade shrugged when she spoke "Hey, he volunteered to go, how we could we say no to that?" she said quickly before yelling "It's alright AJ" loud enough for AJ to hear through the door. Moments after, AJ walked in and sure enough in walked Jay, freshly showered, looking very sexy. I couldn't help the shiver that ran up my spine, when his blue eyes met mine, his sexy smirk plastered on his face. Jay walked in, stopping only a few feet from me, I watched as Jesse and Jacob ran up to him, grasping onto his legs, as Jay leaned down and enveloped the boys in a hug "You boys get bigger everytime I see you…You need to quit growing" he said playfully as he tickled them on their stomachs.
The boys giggled, as I watched AJ snatch each boy up, hoisting them into the air, one on each shoulder as he carried back into the living room, plopping them on the couch as he began 'wrestling' with the little boys on the couch. I looked at Jay and couldn't help but feel very shy and bashful at the time. I looked at my feet when I heard Jay speak softly "Hey" I looked up to him, and couldn't help the blush that soon was covering my face "Hey" I whispered back. We were brought out of our shyness by Jade who simply spoke "Awkward" before walking her way over to AJ and the boys in the living room. I laughed a little, before I spoke "Look, you don't have to do this" I said smiling. I watched as Jay released a deep breath, and then spoke "It's fine", a smile on his lips. We walked out of the door, hearing Jacob and Jesse yelling goodbye a million times, as I let Jay lead me to his rental car. We walked in silence, as I got into the rental car and buckled, and we headed on our way to the destined place that the venue had set up for the meet and greet.
We rode in silence for a bit, when I spoke again "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean…I'm sure you could care less" Jay glanced over to me from his seat, I could see him fighting a smile as he spoke "I'll have you know, I know every word to Step by Step." I laughed out loud hearing him say that with a straight face, when Jay suddenly turned serious, his eyes meeting mine when he spoke again "I love that sound". I looked over to him, as we sat at a red light, slightly confused "What sound?", Jay took a deep breath before speaking "Your laugh…I haven't heard it in a while" I blushed when he continued "And I'd sit through an hour of Roseanne Barr singing showtunes, as long as I get to spend it with you." I sighed as ran my hand over my face, I fought the tears that stung my eyes, when It just blurted out of me "How can you not hate me Jay?"
