I sighed as I walked back to the kitchen area where the rest of the guys were sitting. Something was definitely eating at Nick, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. But, I couldn't if he didn't tell me what was bothering him. I didn't understand him, it's like he was afraid of me, like he would hurt me if he looked at me weird. I mean a person can't change into a stranger in 8 weeks can they? Well, maybe they could because Nick was a stranger to me now.
I sat down glumly at the table and put down Nick's uneaten sandwich. Kevin looked up. "He didn't eat any of that?"
"Nope. Said he didn't want it and went to bed. Listen guys, was Nick okay while I was away?"
"Sure Bri, why you ask?" questioned Howie.
"I don't know... it's just he's really acting strange all of a sudden towards me, he's been sleeping in my bunk and he has a teddy bear too."
"A teddy bear?" AJ smirked. He started laughing hysterically. "What a baby!"
"AJ, hush up. Go on Brian." Kevin ordered.
"I don't find it funny, I think he's hiding something from me," I told them. "He seems really insecure and he was shaking, like he's scared."
"Brian, you have to understand that Nick was terrified when you went in for surgery, he didn't know if he'd ever see his best friend again. He was very vulnerable and I caught him crying himself to sleep one night. I asked him what was wrong and he told me he was scared. He felt more secure sleeping in your bunk, it comforted him. That was when you first went in though, I haven't noticed anything lately from him, he seems fine," Kevin explained.
"Well, not to me he isn't." I replied. "he doesn't want to do anything with me, he didn't even want to play Nintendo."
AJ feigned shock "He must be sick, call the hospital!" he laughed. Kevin shot him a look. "AJ, enough." Kevin turned back to me. "I doubt there's anything wrong Brian, you know Nick, he has mood swings all the time."
I sighed angrily, what did it take for me to get through to them? Howie caught my frustrated look and intervened, "Kev, Brian obviously thinks there's a problem, and he knows Nick better then the rest of us, try to hear him out a little."
I shot Howie a thankful look. Sweet D, always the peacemaker.
Kev sighed, "You want me to talk to him? See if I can get it out of him what's the matter?"
I smiled. "Yes, thank you."
"No prob, are you doing okay?" he asked looking critically at me.
I didn't want to lie to him, the truth was that I was feeling really tired, probably from all my worrying and from my first day back into routine. The doctor said that was perfectly normal though. I felt a little feverish too, I had been getting mild fevers every now and then, but was assured those were normal too. They came sometimes when I got exhausted, but the doctor said not to worry, they would go away eventually and I could work with them as there had been no other symptoms for 8 weeks. I wasn't about to tell Kevin about the fever though, he would flip out and forget to talk to Nick. I didn't want him smothering me with attention all night. I looked at him, "Just a little tired, Kev."
"You should get to bed, c'mon I'll take you there." Oh boy was he gonna tuck me in and read me a story too?
"Night guys," I told Howie and AJ.
"Night Bri," They answer in unison as they walked off to the TV area. Now if I could just hide my fever for a few more minutes, till Kev and I got to the bunks, we would be fine. I wanted him to talk to Nick now, as I doubted he was asleep yet. I would sleep better once I knew what was going on with him.