“You think he'll be fine?” Nick questioned as he stuck his fork into his mouth. They had gone to a local pizzeria down in Orlando in between dance rehearsal. The man in question was Brian who had a doctor's appointment. He was getting the news about his upcoming heart surgery.
“Yeah, I´m sure of it. B’rok is tough.” Howie said comforting as he could, seeing the sadness in his friend's eyes.
“But then what if he is NOT?” Nick felt worried. He had been so scared when he first heard about Brian and his heart problem. The last thing he wanted to happen was to loose his best friend. Brian meant the world to him and without him he didn´t know how to cope.
“Don´t worry,” Howie was there comforting with a hand on the blonde's shoulder. “He will be fine.”
“You think that we will cancel the European tour?” AJ asked after sitting silent for awhile. “I mean if B is going to get operated on he might not be in the best of shape to perform.” They were going to Europe next month on a big “Backstreet's Back Tour” and this was something they looked forward to with mixed emotions. Brian's heart problem had shadowed it all and Nick was the one that was most afraid that something bad would happen.
“Doubt that,” Kevin sighed. He had been sitting quitely listening to the conversation. “Lou talked to B’rok the other day and he said that they couldn´t cancel the show. Too much was at stake.”
“Lou is a pig,” Nick muttered, as he took another bite of the pizza.
“Pig? Like you´re the one to talk?” AJ chuckled.
Glaring, Nick asked, “What do you mean?”
“You. You´re pigging out.”
“I am NOT” Nick felt insulted as he defended himself.
“Yeah, you are. Look at you! You´re eatin’ an extra LARGE pizza,” AJ continued, gesturing at the piece that Nick was holding in his hand.
“I´m a growing boy.” The teen mumbled, pizza crumbs sprayed over the table.
Kevin fanned a hand infront him, “God Nick, don´t talk with food in your mouth,” he lectured.
“Says who?” The teen was in a challanging mood.
“Says me,” Kevin sighed, “You need to learn some table manners.”
“You´re always complaining about me,” Nick whined as he grabbed another piece of the pizza.
“You´re really gonna eat that?” Howie asked as he watched his friend set his teeth into the extra cheezy slice. Like he was starving.
“Yup. You have any problem with that?” Nick was getting sick and tired of always hearing the comments about his eating habits. They had been many since Christmas and the boys were constantly making jokes about his weight.
“No, it´s just that you need to watch what you´re eating.” Kevin was such a health freak, like Howie and suddenly Nick wished Brian was there to help to defend him.
“Yeah dumbass. The girls won´t like it if you look like a greasy piece of pizza.” AJ laughed and Nick gave him the finger.
“Well you look like a fuckin’ tooth pick.” Nick growled as he tried to hit the teasing man.
“Knock it off you two,” Howie was butting into the conversation. “People are looking at us.”
“That is all you care about. If anyone see us at the restaurant,” Nick spat. Howie looked hurt. He was the bands peacemaker.
“Nick, now you´re being unreasonable.” Kevin tried to get the teen to calm down by holding him by the arm.
“Let me go!” The blonde jerked his arm. “You always nag me. Everything I do is crap.”
“Really? Then use the bathroom.” AJ grinned and the boys laughed. It was fun teasing the blonde and they never ceased an opportunity.
“Hey guys,” A voice called out and four pair of heads turned at the direction where the sound came from. It was Brian entering the restaurant and the questions where many.
“Hey B’rok, how did it go?”
“What did the doctor say?”
“When will you do surgery?”
All but Nick was talking, instead he sat sulking in the corner, nibbling the pizza. He had lost his appetite a long time ago and now he was mainly eating to have something to do.
“Hold it,” Brian smiled, “It went pretty fine. The doctor said I had to do surgery this spring and there was nothing to be concerned about. I would be up and going in no time, actually it´s a rather minor surgery.”
“Minor?” Nick opened his mouth, spitting out the words, “You´re calling heart surgery minor? I mean you could die from that you know.” He bit his lip as he had uttered the last words.
“Nick,” Kevin said with an authoritive voice, “That was totally uncalled for.”
“What´s your problem man?” AJ asked as he could see that Brian's face had clouded when Nick had uttered the last words. About dying.
Nick glared. “Well I hope you´re not keeping anything from us. Like you always do.” He was referring to the conversation he heard when they were in Canada. The one that him and Kevin had been talking about the management and the future.
“What do you mean?” Brian asked, looking sternly into Nick's face.
“Ask Kevin he should know.” Nick felt gloom and was upset over the situation in hand.
“Ask Kevin what?” Now Howie was interested too.
“About leaving the group,” Nick threw out the words like they burned him.
“Leaving the group? What are you talking about?” Kevin questioned.
“Yeah man, what are you jabbering about now?” AJ asked, trying to grip the situation in hand.
“I heard you.” Nick didn´t offer anymore explanations and only out of sheer nervousness, started to chew on another slice of pizza.
“Heard what?” Brian was trying to act calm.
“You and Kevin, talking about quitting, leaving the management and stuff.” Now the cat was out of the bag.
“Oh!” Brian looked like he wanted to sink through the floor.
“Is this true?” Howie turned to the oldest in the group, who looked away. Not wanting to answer. “Kevin?”
“Yeah it is!” Nick sputtered. “It is and they were not going to say anything to us beacuse they didn´t know if we could keep a secret.”
“Man, were there mushrooms in the pizza?” AJ was trying to lighten up the mood. It didn´t work. “This dude has to be high,” He slapped Nick's back. All he got was a glare.
“Nick, it´s not..not like that.” Brian's voice was weak, but Nick didn´t buy it.
“Really? This is what I´ve heard and my question is how much are you keeping from us? I mean what if it´s a major surgery and..and..something goes wrong? How am I suppose to trust you when you talk behind our back?” Nick was a master of putting guilt into others and this time it worked brilliantly.
“What is Nick talking about, tell me.” Howie was taking charge of the situation. This had Kevin starting to talk and soon they told the rest of the boys the story about the management. Afterwards all of them agreed that something had to be done.
“You´re telling us that they are ripping us out of LOTS of money.” AJ asked, dollar signs flashing in his eyes.
“Yes, they have the best percentage. Look at us, we're bunking together, spending time at small hotels when we are the one that should be cut the best deal,” Kevin stated.
“I don´t mind sharing,” Nick piped up. The anger mixed with nervousness had calmed down and now he was back at listening again.
Brian couldn´t help but smile. He knew that Nick's fierceful reaction mainly came from being scared. Scared what would happen to him when he went into surgery. Afraid that he would leave the band. The group meant the world to Nick. It was his family. Mentally Brian decided that when the right time came he would talk to Nick about it all. In private.
The conversation went on and Nick continue to chew on the pizza. Soon there were just one slice left and as he reached out to grab it he felt a hand on his hand.
“What?” he asked peering into AJ´s eyes.
“Who´s saying that it´s yours.” He gestured towards the slice. AJ was into teasing again. The other boys watched with amusement.
“Why? It´s my food and I want it.”
“ You don´t think you have had enough?” Kevin asked.
This had Nick upset. “How come we´re talking about management and heart surgery and suddenly the topic is turned into being about me and my eating habits? If I want the food I´ll eat it. End of story.” With that he stuffed the slice into his mouth. Chewing on it, distinctly, mouth open as he chewed.
The rest of the guys frowned with disgust.
