Chapter 2

 

When AJ awoke, he found himself lying in bed naked, his body twisted up in the covers.  A strange blonde girl was lying next to him, sound asleep.  She was also naked.  AJ jolted up.  He immediately felt dizzy and nauseous.  Suddenly, he remembered the night before, at least part of it.  He remembered going to the bar and obviously drinking too much.  He remembered meeting Tara, but he didn't remember bringing her home with him.  And now he had awoken to find the two of them lying naked together in bed. 

 

AJ pulled on a pair of boxers and took two Tylenol to relieve the terrible headache he had.  Then he leaned over Tara, who was still sleeping, and nudged her gently. 

 

"Tara?" he asked.  She moaned and pulled herself up.  She blinked and looked around the room, obviously confused.  She studied AJ, and her eyes widened.

 

"AJ!" she cried.  Then she glanced down and realized she was naked.  Her mouth dropped open.  "AJ, did we… did we…?" she stammered, her eyes wide.

 

"I'm not sure either," AJ admitted.  "I don't remember a lot of what happened last night."

"Oh my God, I can't believe this," Tara moaned.  "Last thing I remember, I am at a bar talking to a Backstreet Boy, and now I'm lying naked in his bed the morning after."  She paused and wearily rubbed her temples.  "With the world's worst hangover," she added.

 

"I know how you feel," AJ said, giving her a lopsided smile.  "I can't believe we did this either.  I would normally never do something like that.  I mean, sure, I like to flirt, but I have never had a one night stand before.  I mean, I have a girlfriend."

 

Tara nodded.  "I'm not like that either," she said.  "I just had a huge fight with my parents, and I ran out of the house and went to that club.  I didn't mean to get drunk.  I just needed to escape, you know what I mean?"

 

AJ nodded.  "That's why I was there too.  I had a fight with Amanda, my girlfriend, and she ran off to go stay the night somewhere else, so I decided to go out to take my mind off of her.  I didn't mean to get so drunk either though."

 

"If we did have sex, I'm sure we didn't use a condom, did we?" Tara asked in a small voice.

 

"I don't think so," AJ replied.

 

"Oh great," Tara said sarcastically.  "I hope I'm not pregnant.  My parents would kill me."

 

"How old are you?" AJ asked suddenly.

 

Tara looked down guiltily.  "I'm eighteen," she replied.

 

"What?!  How in the hell did you get into that club then.  You have to be twenty one," AJ wondered.

 

"I went with some older friends, and they let me use a fake ID," she admitted.

 

"Are you still in high school?" AJ asked.

 

She shook her head.  "No, I graduated last spring," she replied.

 

"Where do you live?" AJ asked.

 

"Here in Orlando," she replied.  "Speaking of where I live, I'd better get home soon, or my parents will like, call the police or something."

 

AJ nodded.  "Tara, I'm really sorry about all of this."

 

"So am I," she said.  "Listen, it isn't your fault.  We both had way too much to drink and were irresponsible.  I just hope I don't get pregnant out of it."

 

AJ nodded.  "I hope not," he said.  "I don't think we had better tell anyone that this happened, ok?"

 

She nodded.  "I agree.  Except, what if I get pregnant?"

 

He shrugged.  "We'll deal with that if it happens.  Hopefully, it won't."

 

After that, AJ went out into the kitchen while Tara got dressed.  He made some scrambled eggs and bacon.  Although he didn't even really know Tara, he felt responsible for what had happened the night before, and thought he should at least make her breakfast before driving her home. 

 

When Tara came downstairs, she and AJ ate breakfast together. 

 

Before they left, Tara scribbled something onto a small piece of paper.  She handed it to AJ.  "That's my phone number," she said, "just in case we ever need to talk."

AJ nodded, hesitated a moment, then wrote his number down as well and gave it to her.  "That's my number.  Please don't give it out to anyone."

 

She nodded.  "Don't worry, I won't.  I know what would happen if I did." She smiled sympathetically at him.

 

Suddenly, the front door opened.  Moments later, Amanda burst into the kitchen.  "Mmm, AJ, it smells…" she started to say, but stopped when she saw Tara sitting at the table with AJ.  "Who are you?" she asked indignantly, eyeing Tara coldly.

 

"Tara," Tara replied in small voice.

 

"AJ, what the hell is she doing here?!" Amanda cried angrily.

 

"Amanda, it's not like it looks," AJ said, but he knew she wouldn't believe him.  She saw AJ and Tara, sleepy-eyed, their hair messed up from sleeping, eating breakfast together in the kitchen. 

 

"Don't tell me that.  I'm not stupid, you know.  I can't believe you would go out and cheat on me like that!" she cried.

 

Suddenly, AJ stopped trying to defend himself.  "Well, you walked out on me!" he yelled.

 

Her eyes flashed. "I did not!  I just went to spend the night at Nikki's house.  I thought you knew that!"

 

"I guess I didn't," AJ replied smugly

 

"Fine!  It doesn't matter now because I am through with you and all your flirting!  I'm leaving for good now!" she cried.  She stormed upstairs.   A few minutes later, she stomped back down, with two suitcases in her hands, clothes overflowing from both. 

 

"Amanda!" AJ cried.  She had walked out on him before, but never had she packed up her things.  This time, he feared, she was leaving for good.

 

Amanda left, slamming the door behind her.  Moments later, AJ heard her car start up and speed out of the driveway. 

 

He looked back at Tara.  She sat wide-eyed and motionless at the kitchen table, looking about ready to cry.  He felt sorry for her suddenly, knowing that she felt horrible.  He pulled up a chair next to her and sat down.  Then he put his arm around her shoulders.

 

"Don't worry, sweetheart, it's not your fault," he said soothingly.  "If Amanda wants to be a bitch, then fine, let her."

 

Tara sniffed.  "But I feel like this is all my fault," she cried.

 

"No, it's not," AJ assured her.  "I was the one who took you home with me.  You were probably too drunk to think straight.  I know I must have been."

 

She nodded.  "I need to get home now," she said.  "My parents are probably worried sick about me."

 

"Ok, I'll take you home," AJ said.

 

With that, he led her out to his car and drove her home, dropping her off a few houses away from hers so that her parents would not see his car. 

 

"Take care," AJ said as she climbed out.

 

"You too," she replied, offering him a smile.  He smiled back at her and watched as she walked down the street to her house, then drove away.

 

***

 

 

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