Chapter 26

The tour bus arrived at the next scheduled stop which was the hotel. Abigail looked out one of the tour bus windows and saw a group of abut twenty girls crowded around the entrance. As soon as they glimpsed the bus, they started screaming as loud as they possibly could and ran up to the bus and started pounding on it.

“You might want to step back from the window.” AJ told her, touching her arm gently. “They can get pretty rough.”

Abigail nodded and walked towards the bunks where Rick was busy gathering his things.

“How come there are so many fans outside the hotel today?” she asked him, watching as he shoved some clothes into his back pack.

“Because AJ let the hotel we were staying at slip in an interview.” He told her, zipping up his bag before turning to face her.

“You ready?” she nodded just as Tony walked over to them.

“Time to go.” He said.

When everyone was safely in the hotel lobby, they started checking in. Rick and Abby were chatting in the line when some fans started shouting Rick’s name. They both turned. Rick flashed them a smile and waved which made them scream louder.

“I’m going to go meet some of them.” He told Abby who quickly grabbed his arm.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea right now, Rick.” She told him.

“Relax,” he told her gently, “I do this kind of thing all the time.”

“Rick-“

“Besides,” he said cutting her off, “Tony will come with me okay?” he tried to pry her hand on his arm.

“I’m coming too.”

“No baby. This is my job.” He told her.

“And looking out for you is mine.”

He watched the stubborn set of her jaw and sighed.

“Fine. But be prepared to answer some questions of your own.” He warned her before signalling to Tony, who was talking to another bodyguard, to join them.

“Oh right.” Abby muttered watching the curious expressions on the fans’ faces as the three started towards them.

There were security guards keeping the fans back from entering the hotel but as soon as the three got close enough, a blond girl about seventeen managed to escape and launched herself at Rick.

Abigail’s first reaction was to tear the girl off him, not because of jealousy, but fear. The girl could have had a knife.. even a gun. When Tony took hold of the girls’ arms to pry her off his ward, Rick put up a hand to stop him. It was then Abigail noticed he was laughing. The girl released him just as quickly as she had grabbed him and started talking a mile a minute.

Some of the other fans, obviously jealous of the blonde, started struggling and Rick had to finally order the guards to let them through. Soon they were surrounded by the group of girls each proclaiming their undying love.

“Are you Rick’s girlfriend?” a girl asked turning her nose up at Abigail.

“I .. uh..”

“Yes she is.” Rick said smiling at the girl who had asked the question while signing an autograph.

“No!”

“Darn!”

“Where’s AJ?” could all be heard then.

“But I’m prettier.” Rick heard a voice say. When he followed it, he saw a girl about ten, complete with pigtails and freckles. He couldn’t help smiling at her as she handed him a notepad to sign.

“OhmyGod! You are!” he said feigning shock, “Too bad I hadn’t met you first, I’d have chosen you instead.”

The little girl blushed and giggled.

“What’s your name sweetie?” he asked her.

“Abby.” She replied shyly.

Rick’s eyes lit up.

“Hey, my girlfriend’s name is Abby too!”

The little girl looked up at Abigail and the two shared a smile.

“Rick, we have to go.” Tony’s voice was heard loudly over the group.

“Just a minute Tony.” Rick told him.

He hugged a couple more fans before he and Abigail followed him back into the hotel.

By the time they got back inside, everyone else had already checked in. Sara, who was the only one in the lobby, walked up to them.

“AJ asked me to give you guys this.” She said handing Rick his key card, “We checked you guys in, hope you don’t mind.” She said with a smile.

“Nope. Thanks.” Rick said, taking the card.

“What are you doing down here?” Abby asked her.

Sara let out an embarrassed laugh.

“Forgot my toothbrush, so I gotta go buy one.” She explained, “Plus, I had to give you guys the key card.”

Abigail nodded and Tony walked them over to the elevator and saw them safely inside before going to collect his own things.