Before, Joce used to be happy, fun, and full of energy. And although she still was in a way, there seemed a darker hue underneath her persona. At first she thought it was because of the stress about working things out with Joe so that Joce could take her chance on this record deal, but after a week and talking to Nick she knew the real reason why. It was because of Alex.

     Nick had told China that Alex's personality had changed as well since that trip, as well. Alex had started partying and staying out late every night. But since he was not drinking or doing anything illegal there was nothing' that Nick could bitch about. Finally after after a lot of nagging about why Alex hadn't talked to or about Jocelynn since they left, Nick finally managed to get something out of Alex. But all that Alex had told him what the simple phrase, 'It just wasn't enough'. Together, China and Nick decided not to pursue it any farther until the whole group got together for the video shoot for 'Climbing the Walls'. Which is why they were on their way to Cali right now. Well that and the fact that Joce and her were originally coming out here for Joce's 22nd birthday which ironically was tomorrow.

     "Wake up, sleepy head." She said nudging her. Joce didn't stir and she lifted her hand and smacked her upside the head, "Wake up!"

     "Ouch! Damn-it!" Joce shouted as she rubbed the side of her head, "What the hell was that all about?"

     China pointed at the people standing in the aisle making their way off the plane, "See those people, they are getting off the plane, I was thinking' maybe we would wanna try that."

     "Whatever, lets just go." Joce muttered back to her as she grabbed her backpack from the compartment above them. As the girls made their way off the airplane, China's cellphone went off.

     She didn't even have to look at the caller ID to know who it was, "Hey there."

     "Hey China, how was your guys' flight?" Nick asked over the phone.

     "It was uneventful, Joce slept the whole way. Right now we are making our way toward the luggage pick up."

     "Ok, then, well I will talk to you in a lil bit." He quickly said then hung up.

     China took the phone away from her ear and looked at it before turning it off. 'A lil bit? '  She thought, as they made their was down toward the luggage pick up. As she looked around while they walked, trying to take in the size of LAX, the Los Angeles International Airport.

     "Joce, why is it called LAX?" She asked trying to cox Jocelynn out of her shell.

     Jocelynn just shrugged, "I dunno, I don't care. All I want to do is grab my bags hail a cab and hurry over to Kara's place."

     China just shook her head and followed Joce as they finally made it to the carousel where the luggage was. It upset her to see Joce this way, even though Joce had become a master of disguise with her inner demons, China knew better. Trish had warned her of Joce's habit to close off the world from the inside but make it all look good for the public. And now she would be getting even better at it if her album took off.

     They quickly grabbed their bags and started to head toward the exit of the airport when all of a sudden 2 huge body guards came up and ushered them to a private room. When they entered the room they saw the whole BSB family in there waiting.

     Nick ran up to her and picked her up and spun her around, "Surprise! Where is Brennen?"

     "I should have known you were up to something when you said, 'in a lil bit'." China laughed as he put her back on the ground, "And Brennen is staying with Trish and Brent while I am out here. Since they found out that they where expecting 2 weeks ago they begged to get some 'practice in' with Brennen and Drogyn."

     Joce rolled her eyes, "Will you two just please date and get this over with?"

     Nick looked down at China, "What do you think about it? Do you wanna?"

     "Is this your idea of asking a girl out?" China mockingly asked, pushing him on the shoulder.

     Brian laughed from the back of the room, "Yea, that's about as close as your gonna get."

     "Well in that case, let me think..." China pondered it for a moment, "I dunno..."

     "She say YES!" Joce piped in sounding annoyed and looking away from everyone. "Now, not to sound rude but I am really tired and I have to get going. I still have to go to Kara's, and I am assuming that China is going to be staying with you?" She asked Nick.

     "Well, yeah. Joce you are welcomed to stay at my place too. I mean AJ, and Kev are also, there is still one extra room." Nick offered. China knew that Joce was going to decline. And she did.

     "Thanks, but no thanks. I haven't seen Kara in a long time and--" She trailed off as Alex caught her eye for a split second then she caught herself, "I don't want to intrude another house guest on you. But I really need to get going." She added then turned around and left the room with her bags.

     Brian just shook his head at Howie after Jocelynn left and asked out loud, "What is wrong with Jocelynn?"

     Howie just shook his head, " I don't know. Gina has tried talking to her since we left but all Joce would say is that it's just her nerves about the new record deal and dealing with working out the custody of her son with her ex-husband."

     China nodded in agreement with Howie even though it was a bold faced lie, "Yeah, Joce is just under alot of stress. It's just how she is, she prefers to deal with stuff alone. She closes up and deals with it and when she has she comes back out to normal again."

     Shaking his head Kev just sighed, "Yea well, we know how it is. I can only imagine how it must be for her with having her son and ex-husband thrown in the mix."

     "Totally, " Nick added, "Well, lets get going back to my place. Howie, Brian are you and your families going to be joining us for for a barbeque tonight." Brian and Howie nodded. "Okay then we will see you later." They all agreed as they left the room for the vehicles.

     China, Nick, and Alex hopped into Nick's truck, while Kevin left with Brian and Howie to hang out with them. China turned in her seat to look at Nick, "Okay tonight during dinner we need to figure out how we are going to pull off tomorrow."

     "I already have been talking to Gina, she has some ideas and already made the party plans." Nick  told her.

     Alex pulled down his sunglasses and looked at China, "What plans?"

     "Tomorrow Jocelynn signs her record deal AND it's also her 22nd birthday." She answered.

     Alex shrugged, "Well I already have plans for tomorrow night."

     China looked at Nick, only to see him nod. She knew what the plans were, Nick told her the other week that he had seen Alex at some club with a girl and that it was more then friendship there. Nick had found out from a mutual friend that Alex and this girl were just sex buds and were not dating. None the less, it was a serious complication in their plans.

      China leaned back in her chair and looked out the window. 'This is going to be harder then I thought. And if he is still rottin' this skank, it might ruin everything in getting him and Joce to work things out. First however we need to figure otu what exactly went down.'

     The car ride back to Nick's home was quiet, only Nick and China were talking, mainly about Wyoming, how Brennen was doing. Alex just sat looking out the window, not saying a word. China knew that there was something on his mind, and knew that is had something to do with Joce and what went on between them in Wyoming.

     After they pulled into the driveway and got out of the car Nick walked up to her brought her face to look at his, "So are we seriously going to start dating?" He asked looking down at her with a small smile on his face.

     China couldn't help but lightly giggle, "I would like that, but first we need to figure out the finer details of it. Like the where's how's and whens." She teased.

     Nick raised an eyebrow, "How about, now, my bed room and anyway we can possible think of."

     "Get a fuckin' room!" Alex shouted as he walked into the house ahead of them. "Just stay out of MINE!"

     Pointing after Alex, Nick asked, "Now what are we going to do about those two? He won't even talk about her, anytime any of the guys or I say anything that might deal with her he leaves the room or quickly changes the subject."

     "I know, Joce does the same thing. We know that it happened the night before you guys left. You and I even saw her sneaking out of his room that evening when we came up to change after swimming."

     "Does she know that you saw her?"

     "Nope, I figured I was going to talk to her tonight, but since I am staying here and she is staying at Kara's it might be-- wait a sec. DUH! I can just call Kara and have her grill Joce. Kara can always crack Joce open."

     "Then it's a plan," Nick smiled as they walked into his house, "Kara cracks Joce, and you and I go to MY room." He leaned over to kiss her.

     Placing a finger on his lips, China smiled, "After you crack Alex."

     "Ah, that isn't fair" He pouted.

     "I know," She laughed then kissed him on the nose. "But you'll figure it out."