Chapter 2
Monique woke up to the phone ringing, "Hello?" She asked
"Hey" A raspy voice said, "it's AJ"
"Oh hi" She smiled getting up realizing Sarah was gone.
"Whatcha doin today?"
"Nothing"
"Good, you wanna go out to lunch"
"I don't have a sitter for Sarah"
"She can come too"
"Are you sure?"
"Yea, I wanna get to know you both better"
"Ok" she nodded
"I can come pick you guys up"
"12?"
"Sure" AJ smiled petting his dog
"Ok well I gotta get ready"
"Ok bye" AJ said hanging up.
~*~*~*
"Coming!" Sarah called running to the door
"Don't you open that Sarah!" Monique screamed at her.
"Hi" Sarah said opening the door to see AJ
"What did I say!" Monique say coming around the corner.
"But mommy...." She said as Monique walked up to her and smacked her hand
"Next time you listen to me ok?"
Sarah nodded sadly while walking away and sitting on the couch.
"Sorry bout that" Monigue said smiling at AJ letting him in.
"It's cool. You gotta be a momma"
"Yea" she laughed lightly
"There's a barbque at my friend Brian's house. You wanna go?"
"When is it?" She asked pulling at the hem of her shirt.
"Now" he grinned taking her hands away, "Stop"
"Stop what"
"Pulling on yourself. It makes you look self conscience"
"Oh" she said letting go.
"So you ready Sarah?" AJ asked looking at the pouting child.
She nodded standing up and grabbing a hold of his hand.
"It seems that she likes you" Monique said following the two out of the door and locking it behind her.
"I guess" AJ smiled looking at Sarah as she hopped down the stairs.
"Different car today?" Monique asked as AJ opened the back door to let Sarah in, then letting Monique in his Expedition.
"Yea" He nodded going to the other side and getting in.
"Alex?"
"Hmmm?"
"Why did you call me?"
"Cause I like you" he said simply
"Why?"
"Cause you're beautiful, and so is your daughter."
"You don't care that I have a kid?"
"No" he said softly
"And that I'm poor"
"You don't look poor"
"I get these for free from work" she said softly, "But I am"
"I doesn't matter to me"
"What about your friends?"
"Who cares, Mo"
She sat there for a second, "We just met. I don't even know your last name. What you do for a living, where you live"
"McLean, I'm a singer in BsB and I live in Starlight Estates"
"Estates?" She said, "are you guys big?"
"Yea" he nodded. "Monique, I wanna help you. I wanna get you a better life"
She didn't say anthing, just watched the world pass by her.
"We're here" AJ said punching in a code and letting a huge wooden fence open.
"Wow" she said
AJ smirked a little at her excitement
~*~inside~*~
"Yea B, She's cute and all, but she's so poor" Deena said sipping her coke as Leighanne sat next to her.
"But he seems to really like her" Nick added, "She works at clothestime"
Brian nodded
"Oh! and she has a kid" Deena exclaimed
"She does?" Kevin asked
"Yup"
"We'll talk to him about it" Howie said from his corner with his girlfriend.
The door opened and AJ, Monique, and Sarah walked in.
"Hey" AJ said
"Sup bone?" Kevin said
"Nothin, This is Monique and her daughter Sarah"
"Hi" Sarah said smiling widely
Monique smiled nervously.
"Anyway, this is Brian, Kevin, Kristian, Leighanne, Deena, Howie and Jennifer" AJ said pointing to each of the people.
They all said their hello's
"Food's in the back J" Brian said taking a bite of his hot dog, "We started cause you were late"
AJ just laughed taking Moniques hand, "You like them?"
"They seem nice" She smiled letting Sarah go ahead of them.
AJ handed her a plate, "So since I like you and I think you like me, do you wanna get together?" He asked while fixing a hamburger.
"Like be your girl?"
"Yup"
"Ok" she smiled
~*~3 days later~*~
"So how did you get Sarah"
"Aren't we a little old not to know about the birds and the bee's AJ?" Monique laughed as they sat around his living room.
"No I know that stuff, I mean, why so young?"
"Well, I was 15 and a sophomore dating the hottest senior. Anyway we went to a party and got drunk and we did it. I got pregnant and My mom kicked me out. So I upped my age and got a job and I've been on my own since"
"did you quit school?"
"No, I did continuation" She said
"You know, if you ever need help, I'll help"
"I don't" she said. As much as she wanted to let him help her, she wanted to let him know that she could take care of herself.
"Well I can help you with Sarah? I can put her in activities and stuff"
"does it look like my baby is suffering? I don't want to put her in those things with all the kids who have money and let her feel bad. She's just fine" She said getting irritated. "AJ I don't wanna be with you because of your money. I like you, let's keep it like that"
He nodded, "Can I at least give you gifts?"
"I guess" she smiled
"Good" he leant in and kissed her lips softly before deepening it.
She just smiled at him
"You know, I could get you a job at Jive Records"
"Yea? Would I get paid"
"Of course" AJ laughed
"What would I be doing?"
"I dunno, but it'll be fun. You'll get to meet a lot of Stars"
"Like who?" SHe asked cuddling in his arms
"I dunno, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Nsync"
"Nsync?" She asked getting excited
"Hey! we're better. And we were first" AJ laughed
"I know" she said closing her eyes
"You tired?" AJ asked rubbing her arm
"A little"she nodded
"Want me to take you home?"
"Would you? I could get Diane to get me"
"I'll take you" he said standing up and helping her.
They rode to her apartment
"Thank you AJ"
AJ leant forward and kissed her.
"Oh" she blushed pulling back
"Bye" he said watching her get out. She walked upstairs and got sarah from Diane before going into her apartment