"Maybe he got mugged by psycho fans," Brian put in. Kevin rolled his eyes.
"He's probably with Alyssa, Brian," Kevin said.
"Maybe he just ran away," Howie said quietly. They all looked at him. "What?"
"Why you say that?" Brian asked.
"Well cuz he's been pretty distant lately. He could have like gone somewhere or something. Nevermind, don't mind me," Howie finished.
"I can't stand this!" Nick screamed.
"What, AJ?" Brian asked.
"No, this stupid game won't work!" Nick complained. Brian rolled his eyes, but he still had AJ on the brain. He had seemed distant, now that Howie brought it up. He wondered if he was okay.
"Yo, Ima go look for AJ," Brian said, and raced out the door.
Meanwhile, AJ was in Brian's room. He had stopped crying, but he still felt horrible. "All my life I was given all types of crazy shit, and it all especially builds up now," he said out loud, to no one in particular. He sighed and rolled over, and found Brian's pocketknife on the floor. He leaned over to pick it up, and examined it. He cut an "A" (for Alyssa) into his wrist, then just started cutting over and over. Suddenly he heard the door open, so he shoved the knife in his pocket and pretended he was asleep just as Brian walked in. He turned on the light.
"AJ! So that's where you are!" Brian exclaimed. AJ groaned.
"Briiiiiaaannn..." AJ whined. Brian laughed.
"Sorry, if you want us to leave so you can get some sleep we'll be happy to," he said. 'Of course you'd all be happy to leave me,' AJ thought. He stood up.
"It's okay, you's can stay, I'm not really tired," AJ said, hoping they would stay cuz he felt like crap and needed some friends around.
"Then you'll be complaining tomorrow about how you're so tired and don't want to do anything. Go sleepy-byes, Nick's probably already snoring away in your room so you'll haveta chase him out..." Brian said, and went on and on and basically AJ just didn't feel like dealing with me. 'Now that I have proof that my "friends" hate me...' he thought, and walked out without saying goodnight. Brian chased everyone out of AJ's room and carried Nick to his room(yes, its possible when you're strong-willed), then went to his own room. AJ just sat on his bed, staring at the blank TV screen, trying to decide whether to sleep or cry or both. He finally got to sleep, more depressed than ever.
Chapter 4
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