“Turn to your left, that´s it..yeeeesss...move that head a little..yeeess, you, you with the blonde hair. Yessss...blondie..stay there....Goooood!!” The photographer on the photo shoot was arranging them to do a photo session and it was Nick's turn to be the target.
“My name is Nick,” Nick grumbled while the photographer adjusted his cheek. He hated these photo shoots. It made him feel like an animal in a cage.
“What..what did you say?” asked the photographer, “Nooooo don´t move, sit..that´s it.” Satisfied with what he had achived the man pressed the button.
“I said that my name is Nick!”
“Noooo..don´t move, look what you´ve did. Now we have to do it all over again.” The photographer sounded irritated as he walked over to Nick starting to adjust him on the chair. Nick sighed. It was hot and he was tired and thristy. He´d been here much too long. Unfortunatly his stand alone pics had come out bad and he had to do the photo session all over again. The guys tired of waiting had already gone to a nearby resturant and they were eating their hearts out. Lucky them!
“Can´t we take five?” Nick mumbled as he was getting more and more tired of sitting in one position, not being able to move at all. Unfortunately his nose had started to itch something badly and when he couldn´t take it anymore he broke out into a sneezing fit. Much to the photographer's dismay, who also happened to dislike germs of all kind. It was an understatement to say that the man was mildly annoyed over the situation.
“No! I have another session after this and we cant keep doing this all day.”
Nick sighed. His stomach had been rumbling all morning and it wasn´t just from being hungry. There was a need for privacy, but since they were so busy all the time there wasn´t even time to fit in a bathroom break. It sucked.
“That´s it..look into the camera..eat it with your eyes..Yessss...the camera loves you..yesss smile..That´s it!!! Goood!”
After half an hour sitting in the same position, Nick was ready to crawl out of his skin. He was not the most patient one and this was no exception. The camera lights made it unbearably hot, sweat pouring down his back. He had to get out of this hell hole right now or he wouldn´t answer for the consequences. The photographer however had other ideas and he kept pushing him all the time.
“Just one more plate,” he said as he put film into his camera. “That´s it..now..turn to your side, that´s it..No Nick more to your left..Yesss..”
“Isn´t it over soon?” Nick moaned, folding over a bit. The need for a bathroom break was becoming more and more urgent and soon it couldn´t be delayed anything more. “Pleaaaaseee?”
“A few more shots, then you´re done.”
“Okay, okay..make it quick then.” Nick sighed, as he once again took his position. It felt like an eternity before he heard the magic word, “That´s it!”
Not waiting for a signal he jumped off the chair, nearly knocking the camera down in the process. He could hear the photographer cussing behind him, yet he didn´t care. He had to get to a bathroom and fast. As he ran out of the studio, skidding in the hallway, the rubber on the soles of his tennis shoes squealing, he heard his name being called for.
“Nick! Nick there you are.”
It was Johnny that was coming for him. Bad timing as always.
“Where are you going?” the dark man asked as he stopped the blonde. Nick fidgeted. Where did he think that he was going? Out shopping? To the movies?
“Bathroom,” Nick panted, hoping that his manager would get out of his way.
“Well you have to wait,” Johnny stated. Nick glared at him. What was he saying? Why? He didn´t have to wait long until he got the explanation.
“You´re going to do a short press conference. The guys are waiting for you and we´re already late.”
Not me! Not now, Nick mentally said as he was trying to get past the big man. “I have to,” he started when Johnny interrupted him, “You can go after the press conference. Come on now.”
“But..but I really have to go.” He knew that he was whining, but he was starting to have a stomach ache and this was becoming more and more painful.
Johnny shook his head, “Sorry man, but the schedule you know.”
“Okay, okay..I´m going,” Nick said as he followed his manager out. Irritated he thought that he didn´t even get a chance for such a small thing. No privacy what so ever. His stomach was not in the best shape and he had needed that break. Yet it would have to wait. All for the fans!
Nick sighed. All those questions. Generally he thought that it wasn´t that bad but today he was suffering. It was just as hot at the press conference and the journalists kept asking them all these thousand questions.
“So Nick, how does it feel to be the youngest in the group?” one journalist asked as he scribbled down something on the notepad.
He felt the urge to tell the truth, that it sucked and he was sick and tired of always being the one everybody nagged and blamed for things he didn't do. Yet he said with the famous Backstreet smile, “I like being the youngest. The guys all treat me fairly.” A look from Brian said that he was treading on thin ice. That “treat me fair-part” had been a bit exaggerating.
Shrugging, Nick paid no attention to him. He still needed his privacy and sitting here on a hard chair made his stomach ache too. This was turning out to be a bad day and he wanted it to be over with. Unfortunately they had concert night and he had to be in shape for that event.
He listened, smiled and answered questions until he was so fed up that it felt stuck in his throat. Or more likely up his ass!
As soon as the press conference was over Nick didn´t have to wait twice to rush out of the room. His stomach was positively killing him and he had to find the wanted facilites soon or he would be in real trouble. No hurricane, No earth quake could stop him. Fifteen minutes later he left the restroom, a relieved smile on his face. His stomach didn´t hurt so much anymore and actually felt hungry. A positive sign that he was fine and dandy again.
The moment he stepped out of the restroom the comments were pouring over him.
“Did you give birth?” AJ grinned as Nick entered the hallway. "It sure sounded like that!"
Brian laughed as AJ patted Nick on his stomach. “Was it a boy or a girl?” he asked.
“You´re sick,” Nick commented as he took his jacket from Howie who handed it to him. He had forgotten it at the press conference, being in too much discomfort to remember such an unimportant thing.
“Neither,” AJ laughed, “It was a..a turd.” Bathroom humor was something that the guys enjoyed dearly. Especially if the target was a certain blonde,soon turning to be eighteen old, teenager.
“Really? How much did it weigh?” Brian asked with a serious face, a smile tugging at his lips.
“How about..a..a ton.” AJ laughed even more and together with Brian they looked like small kids. Making pranks together.
“Gross,” Howie commented but he smiled too.
Annoyed with the situation, Nick gave them the finger and this was what Donna saw when she came in and saw the scenario.
“Nick, there is no need to do such a thing,” she scolded. When he was about to object to the situation she cut him off, “Shut up, we don´t have time to listening to your complaints since we have to be at a record store signing albums. In fact we should have been there like ten minutes ago if you hadn´t stalled us.” When the words stall was being mentioned both Brian and AJ broke out into uncontrollable fits of laughter.
Nick glared at them. Nothing was a secret for his “brothers”. And there was no chance for privacy. Ever!
