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ANYONE FOR DINNER Chapter 4
Howie and I made it to the coliseum with just a few minutes to spare. Howie must have called the guys from my place because they didn't seem to be surprised that I was there and that we were holding hands. I had made sure that I had my ticket and the pass that AJ had given me the night before. The guys took me around and showed me what went on behind the scenes. Everything was a mad house. There was roadies and stage crew running around every where. Howie introduced me to the band, they were all great. Dinner wasn't as good as I had made the night before. It was a simple caterer from the coliseum. I joked that no wonder the guys took me up on the chance of a home cooked meal, if this was the food they had to eat. After dinner I stayed with the guys backstage as they met with some fans. I was careful not to get too close with Howie. As much as I wanted to I held back. Before I knew it, it was time for the show to start. Just as they were about to go into their little routine that they did before each show, I kissed Howie lightly on the cheek and went to find my seat. I didn't want to miss the opening. I had heard that it was something spectacular. I wasn't disappointed. The opening song was Larger than Life, one of my favorites off the new album. You could hear AJ scream and then there were the guys flying above the crowd. It was amazing. I realized, seeing Howie up there, that I had grown attached to him in such a short, short time and didn't want anything to happen to him. I was glad that I had made the decision to try dating him. I just had to take things slow and not rush into anything. The guys went from new songs to old songs. The show was fantastic. About a third of the way through, they came out with their stools and sat right in front of me. All of them waved and smiled at me as the girls around me wondered who I was. "Edmonton! Are you guys havin' fun yet?" Kevin asked. He was rewarded with screams that would shatter glass. "All right! Hey guys?" "Yeah?" They all answered. "What do you say we slow the party down just a little?" Kevin said. They all looked at each other and then
at me. Oh God, what were they going to do? "Kev that is a good
idea, we all need to cool off a little. What did you have in mind?"
Nick wondered. "Howie, that is a great idea." AJ put in, "Is there anyone that you want to sing it to?" I started to laugh. The way the guys were talking, I knew that they had set it up. They were just being goofy. "Sure Bone, what about this young lady here in the front who seems to be laughing at us?" Before I knew what had happened, one of
the security people had lifted me on stage. Howie had greeted me with a
seemingly innocent kiss on the cheek. Only those of us on stage knew it
was more than that. Howie led me over to the stool that he had been sitting on and helped me to sit down. "What is your name?" He asked with a wink. I smiled at Howie, "Aurora. And you are?" I could play this game too. "I am Howie D. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He reached for my hand and gently kissed the back of it. To which the audience screamed. "Okay, enough of this crap, just get on with it." I laughed away from the microphone. The guys all heard me and started to laugh, then signaled the band to start playing. The guys all serenaded me with their song. It was great. When they were done, Howie presented me with an armload of bright red roses. I was helped back down to my seat and the show went on. They finished with an oldy but a goody, Everybody (Backstreet's Back). Just before it ended I made my way backstage. Howie had told me where to go once the show was done. Just as I was setting my roses down the guys came running into to the room. "Woah! What a show." AJ called to everyone. "Man, we have to come here more often." Nick said reaching for a towel, "These fans are fantastic." I sat there in the corner waiting for them to notice me. It took a minute, but they did. "So Aurora, how was your first Backstreet concert?" Howie asked sitting beside me. The guys all turned to me, waiting for
an answer. "Honestly?" They all nodded their heads. I was
feeling in a pretty good, flirty mood, so I was going to play with them
a little. "Well ... for my first experience of you guys in concert
I guess it was good. There was some things were pretty good." I
said. "Don't you dare. I am attached to you now." I laughed reaching for his hand and smiling into his eyes. "No seriously, though guys, it was fantastic. I wish I could have seen you before. I was suitably impressed. I would go to another concert." "Why don't you come to the Calgary show tomorrow night?" Al suggested. "No, I have to work tomorrow. It takes a couple of hours to drive down to Calgary. I don't have that kind of time. And I can't just take a day off work." I said. "Oh come on," Brian encouraged, "It would be fun to have you there. Let us call your boss." "Uh I don't think so Brian. You are not going to call my boss. I can't afford to just up and take a day off work. I don't make near the money that you guys do." I stated. "Well what about driving down after work?" Nick asked. "Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how tired I would be? I would fall asleep before you guys even started." I said. I stood up and walked toward the door. I suddenly realized that this wasn't going to work. My happy go lucky mood I had earlier was gone, "Nice knowing you." I whispered and walked out leaving the guys staring after me. My heart was breaking at the thought of leaving Howie. I had taken two steps out the door, when Howie came after me. "Aurora, what the heck was that all about?' "I can't do this. This isn't going
to work Howie." I said. Howie had spotted an empty room off to the right, he gently pulled my arm in that direction, locking the door behind us. "We have a break in the touring in a week, I'll come to see you. What's really bothering you?" I sat down on the chair and sighed heavily, "I think that I am having some second thoughts about this. I don't know if I can do this." I whispered. "Why?" "Well, we have been dating for not even twenty four hours and already I am going to have to say goodbye to you for a week. I'm not ready to say goodbye to you yet.' "So then come to Calgary with us. It's really not that far." Howie said. "I can't Howie. I mean I get off work at 4:30. By the time that I got home, ate and then got to Calgary, the show would have started already. Not to mention that I would still have to drive back to be at work the next morning. But then if I don't do it, I won't get to see you for another week, I don't want to wait that long to see you again." I explained. "I want to see you too. Is there anyway that you can fly down? Surely they have flights to and from Calgary all the time." Howie asked. "Of course they do, but that costs money. I don't make the kind of money you do. I have to be careful. I would love to come to Calgary to see you, but it just isn't in the cards for me this time." I explained. Howie sat quietly beside me, as though he was debating on asking me something, "What if I paid for your ticket?" "No way! As much as I want to be with you, I refuse to take any money from you, in any form." I stood up and walked toward the door. "Aurora, wait!" Howie called, he jumped out of his chair and reached my side before I opened the door. "Let me do this, please. It's not a big deal. What could it cost a couple of hundred dollars, that's nothing to me. I want to see you tomorrow. If this is the way that it has to be, then that is okay with me. If we are going to make this work, we each have to give and take a little. Even if that means that I have to pay to see you. It will be worth it, once in a while." Howie quickly said. I stood in front of Howie, looking into his dark brown eyes, I was failing hard for him, there was no doubt about that. I wanted to be with him the next day, especially since it was going to be another week until I saw him again. "I will let you do this on one condition." I started. "And what would that be?" He asked as a smile spread across his face. "That the next time I fly out to see you, I pay. Just like you said, this has to be a little give and take. I am not going to have you spend all of your money on me." I grinned at Howie, "Unless of course it is for diamonds or something." Howie pulled me close to him, "You got yourself a deal." he whispered and kissed me.
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