Twenty Questions

A few days later the guys met up for some brunch. Brian, Kevin, and Howie were the first to arrive.

"So D, how did it go with...? What's her name anyway?" Kevin asked.

"Cassandra Woodland," Howie said, the name rolling off his tongue.

"Ah, Cassandra. How did it go?"

"It went great! We talked...or I should say, I talked," he grinned sheepishly, "until around 2am."

"You didn't put her to sleep?" Brian cracked.

"No smartass. She's a really good listener. Unlike four people who shall remain nameless," Howie said, giving them a smirk.

"What does she do for a living?" Kevin asked.

Howie looked down at his feet. "Ok guys, don't laugh, but I forgot to ask her. "

"In other words, you were your usual self-absorbed self," Brian commented knowingly.

"I am not self-absorbed. I-" he stopped talking as Nick and AJ arrived noisily and sat down.

Nick grabbed a bun out of the basket and grinned wickedly at Howie. "I hear you managed to wangle some femme fatale at the club the other night. How was the sex?"

Howie's eyes widened. "Nicky!"

"What?" Nick's eyes shone in fake innocence.

"What?" he mimicked Nick. "Why would I tell you about my sex life? Besides, it was a date, not a one-night stand."

"So what did ya'll do?" Nick persisted.

"We talked."

"Talked?" AJ asked, trying not to laugh. "That's all?"

Howie rolled his eyes. "You two need to grow up."

"What's she look like, D?" Nick asked.

"She's beautiful. Pouty red lips, exotic violet eyes, blonde hair, a body that I would kill to see naked...." He trailed off.

"When do I get to meet her?" Nick asked.

"When you make yourself ugly," Howie responded jokingly.

"Funny," Nick grimaced. "Are you seeing her again?"

"So you really didn't sleep with her?" AJ asked, seemingly disappointed.

Howie started laughing. "Gee AJ, don't sound so down. I guess Amanda didn't give you any that night, huh? So now you gotta live vicariously through me?"

"Something like that," AJ mumbled. "So when are you going to see her again?"

"We're going out to dinner tonight." Howie hoped his smile wasn't as wide as his mouth felt.

"That's...great," AJ muttered.

Howie noticed the lack of happiness in his friend's tone. "What gives, AJ?"

"Don't you think it's strange that she's never heard of us?"

"She doesn't know who we are?" Nick exclaimed, looking surprised.

"She's heard of our songs," Howie said in her defense. "She just didn't know who sang them."

"That's still odd," AJ said. "I mean, how many people in Orlando never heard or seen the BSB, somewhere, at some point?"

"Leave it alone, AJ!" Howie said, getting angry. "She doesn't watch TV or listen to the radio much."

"So that leads us back to my question of what she does," Kevin said.

"Get off my back!" Howie practically shouted. The other guys looked him oddly, but he ignored them. "This is the first time in quite some time that I actually found that likes me for me. Or at least, that's the impression she gave me. It's even better that she doesn't know who we are. That way she can get to know me without any pre-conceived notions about me."

"Calm down!" AJ said, giving him a concerned look. "We're your brothers. We're just curious and concerned is all."

Howie relaxed and immediately felt contrite. "Look, I didn't mean to jump down your throats -- I know you care. But let me get to know her and go on a few dates. Then I'll tell you what you need to know, ok?"