Staying alone!
" Nick, come on. Are you done?" AJ is knocking on the door to the bus toilet. I'm taking my time getting ready this night. Mainly because I know how he hates to wait for the bathroom. Oh well, serves him right since all him and Brian have been doing is commenting about tonight's concert and that I totally "blew" them off!
" Soon," I say as I spit out Crest into the green washing stand. Running my tongue on my teeth I discover that it's fairly clean and then I wash my face as an ending.
There is one more irritated knock and I can hear Sweet Dīs voice " Nicky, You have been in there like forever." A bit pissed that they are always on my case I don't answer. And as I open the door both of my mates fly over me," How the hell can you take so long to take an piss?" AJ grunts.
" We have had to wait for 10 minutes, and you are not the only one that is getting ready to go to bed," Howie starts, and I'm listening with half an ear as Howie tells everybody that wants to listen (not too many according my calculations) how we all have to share and that we need to have a schedule so that no one takes more than 5 minutes, tops, in the bathroom. Especially while traveling after concert nights.
Kevin is the only one agreeing on this issue and as I move away from Howie, letting AJ in, I can hear them discussing how to do that schedule in practice. AJ, however, has other things on his mind and he sticks out his head, " You didn't shit, did you?" He sounds suspicious. All of the other boys stop what ever they are doing for a minute, just to await my answer.
"Nooo!!!" I groan. " Jeeze," When will they drop that subject? This is starting to get a bit old, at least for me. Its still seems to be a raging fresh topic for the other guys. Something tells me that I'm not about to live this day down for the rest of my life. If I'm totally out of luck they will reveal this predicament to the press.
With a sigh of relief the boys goes back to do whatever they did before AJ asked such a rude question.
Speaking of "my situation". I'm feeling much better, ok I still have a stomachache as well as some gas, but at least I don't have to look up the john any longer. Johnny was not so happy when he found out that I was "sick" or indisposed as Kevin called it. The reason for his disapproval was that one of the future German sponsors had a daughter that was dying to meet me. AJ commented that she would be indeed dying, but in another way if she was about to meet me in this condition. She would choke to death. Both Johnny and Donna as well as all of the band had laughed their asses off when Brian and AJ "happened" to say rather conveniently, when everybody was listening, what a "misfortune" I had encountered.
To say that I am tonight's laughing stock is an understatement. More likely this years.
As I am about to climb up to my bunk I feel Brian grabbing my foot, " Where do you think you're going?"
" To bed" Duh, where did he think? To the moon?
" Oh no, you're not," Brian is not letting go off his grip and that is seriously starting to piss me off.
" Yes I am, Knock it off, Frick," I try to kick myself loose, really not in the mood for kidding around. This day has been much too stressful, besides I'm leaning on my stomach. Not a position I would recommend, especially if you're suffering from a stomachache.
" No," Turning to Kevin, Brian is saying something that hurts me deeply in my heart; " He is NOT sleeping above me. Not tonight, No way!" Brian is very clear with his statement. Kevin sighs, and gets this look that he always gets when he is about to tell someone something serious, or that he don't know what to do.
I however I'm not amused and I make another attempt to climb up again when I literally feel Brian lifting me down from bed. He can be very strong whenever he wants to. Now this whole situation has pissed me off badly and I glare at them. " What is it now?"
AJ has came back from the bathroom too and butts into the conversation, " Nick you get to sleep in the front tonight. There is not a chance that we can let you sleep here. We will choke to death!"
So that is the case. Even if I hate to admit it I feel very down. How can the guys do this to me? Brian must have been sensing that I am low and he lays an arm around my shoulder. I shrug to get his arm off me. No fake feelings thank you!
" Bone is right," Kevin says with an after thought, " Besides its better that you sleep on the couch in the front. That way you get some space if you feel bad again."
Well thank you Kevin. How very thoughtful of you to think of my health. I feel very sarcastic, yet I know when I have lost a battle since I have almost never witnessed a more united group over a decision. The truth is that we are often in dispute with each other. Fighting over this and that. It can be everything from what to wear on stage to if it's healthy or not to eat ketchup on a hot dog! I know somethings are very stupid and there are times when I start to think that I'm at a playground instead of being in a professional group.
Sulking I take my blanket and pillow and move up to the front. Trying to make it comfortable. It's a bit chilly and I wrap myself up like a cocoon. Staring out into the darkness. We are going to the next German City and since we have some photo shoots in the morning as well as some other promotion stuff we have to be there early. Donna and Johnny are sleeping on the other bus and our driver Fritz is the only one up that is if you count me out. Sighing I roll over to my side, feels better to my stomach, and at that moment I'm actually glad that Brian kicked me out. If you follow my point.
After tossing and turning for what seems like an eternity I finally decide that I need to do something so I can fall asleep. I have been changing my day rhythm and sleeping on and off during the day has left me wide-awake. The boys are sleeping soundly and after wrapping my blanket around me I walk to the back to pick up my Nintendo. As I walk past the guys I can see that Brian is turning in his bunk and I'm not so sure that he is asleep.
" Frick," I whisper, since I really don't want to be alone. He pretends that he is not hearing me and with that I go to pick up my Nintendo. Everything would be peace that is if I could find the controller. I start to rummage through my backpack and other things, just to find Zilth!
" Shit, where is it?" I mumble as I search through the whole area. Turning bags up and down I make one mess in the room. I don't care since there are more important matters at stake. I have to find my black controller!!!!
" Nick, keep it quiet!!" Kevin calls out.
"Mhmmm.."
Yet I continue with my search. Then I remember that B'rok was the one that last had the controller and with no mercy in mind I walk up to him, shaking on his shoulder. " B?" I say as soft as I can. No need to wake up the whole bus. Even if it wouldn't be so bad since Howie is snoring, sounding like a motorbike.
No answer.
" Brian" A bit louder.
Still no answer.
" Brian!" This time I call out too loud and he mumbles, " Shhh,." Then he opens his eyes, suddenly concern, " Nick, what is it? You ok?"
" Mmmm..B..where is that black Nintendo controller?"
" What? You woke me up just to ask me that?"
" Yes, Frick. Its important," I say a bit impatiently. Brian rubs his eyes. " Hold on, " He is about to sit up when I push him back down, remembering the mess I have made in the other room. There is no need the upset the guys even more.
" I'll get it, just tell me where it is."
" In the front on the," conveniently he yawns just as he says the last words. I feel irritated. " Where?"
" Ta..tabl..," Its clear that Brian is almost asleep again and he closes his eyes before the last letter is out. With a sigh I walk up to the front of the bus and true to his words. There it is, on the table by the window. How could I miss that? Even the blind would have spotted it, in the dark.
Ok, now I can make myself comfortable. That is if I had something to drink and maybe eat. Hrm.. With that in mind I move over to the refrigerator hoping that someone has done some grocery shopping. When Denise stays on our bus there is always food. I really miss her. Donna on the other hand is not that much into grocery shopping and I know that she doesn't want us to eat more than necessary. We have to stay in shape!
I spot a cake and a whole bottle of coke and after picking up that I move back to my couch or the bed for the night. Then I make myself as cozy as I can, and suddenly I start to think that this might not be such a bad idea. It feels actually pretty good, riding the bus, playing Nintendo, eating in the middle of the night. Maybe I should do this more times. After eating up a piece of a chocolate cake as well as the coke I'm still hungry. There fore I make another raid through the cupboards just to find a package of biscuits. This I should have known of earlier on and I wouldn't have "died" from starvation. As I grab the biscuits I "happened" to wave and suddenly a whole load of plastic cups falls to the floor. With a loud sound. " Shhh" I murmur to no one in particular. Hoping that I have woken up everyone.
Too late.
" NIIIIIICCKKK!" Its Kevin that is yelling his throat off and I beep back a remorseful " Sorry!"
" Shut up" Oh no Bone is still awake too.
" If you do another stunt I will personally take the rope and tie you on behind the bus!" Kevin is threatening me. Not good.
Hrm, bouncing it up and down a little I fooling around, pretending that I'm in a field and not stuck on a bus. Basketballs have a tendency to make me forget time and place and soon I am bouncing around in the bus.
" That's it!" Looking up I see the tall Kevin Richardson standing there, grim expression and angry eyes. " Nick, what are you doing?" He growls so loud that I'm afraid that the roof will lift off.
" Uh, playing B'ball" I instantly stop with the bouncing and straighten up a bit, looking behind my bang.
" Do you know what time it is?" he continues, not at all happy with my decision of activity.
" Uh..late?" Good answer Nick.
" YES, And you're suppose to sleep NOW!"
" Ok," I say feeling small and then I go back to my "bed". " It's not fair I complain as I lay down again."
" What's not fair?" Kevin asks as he is taking a glass of water.
" You guys get to sleep in nice beds, while I'm stuck here. Its chilly." I remark.
" Stop complaining," Dad Richardson says as he goes back to his dome. I sigh. No one listens to me.
After repeating another toss and turn I'm ready to crawl out from my skin. On top of being cold, bored and uncomfy, my stomach is aching again. Looks like that chocolate cake as well as those biscuits weren't that smart of a move. Paddling I make it into the toilet again, sure that I have seen some stomach medicine somewhere. As I am rummaging through the medicine cabinet as well as through the cupboard I hear another " NICK!"
" Aha,"
" What are you doing NOW`?" Kevin sounds pretty fed up with me and I make my voice as small as I can. Hoping to gain some sympathy.
" Looking for some stomach stuff. Pepto."
" Ok," Am I imagining things or does Kevin sound a bit more gentle hearing that? " You feel bad?" No, I wasn't imagining, he IS concerned.
" A bit."
" Nick, try not to mess up the place totally, ok?"
" Uhu." A bit too late for that. The bus looks like a dump. I would have some serious cleaning up to do in the morning. After giving up searching for the stomach medicine I give up, walking sulking back.
" Good night,"
" Night," I murmur as I walk past him, crawling back to the couch. After laying still for much too long I am ready to crawl out of my skin. The guys have snored for a while now and all I feel is homesick. I know that it can seem strange that an 17 year old guy have these feelings but remember that these guys are my family and I haven't been at home long enough to even get to know my mom and dad these past years. Ok they have been touring with me, but the last year they have mainly been on the road with Aaron.
As minutes drags along feeling like hours I start to think about the life I have back home in Florida. Suddenly I miss my old buddies. I miss my dogs and cats and going out with the boat. Just chillin', taking it easy. Fishing. Like I used to do with my dad before we became famous. I even miss that old grade teacher Miss Mulcin that was such a bitch. She failed me in geography. I wonder why!
Tears in my eyes I feel very sorry for myself and as I roll on my side I feel so alone. Maybe I should wake up B'rok. He is such a great listener. No its wrong disturbing him from the little sleep that he gets. With that I sit up, sad that no body is listening to me. My stomach feels a bit strange too and I really could need something for that one.
Just as I am about to give up hope for both mentally and physically relief I remember that I can talk to the bus driver Fritz. Ok he might not be the best of talkers since all he can talk is German (and I don't know that language at all), but he can be a listener. Fritz is old enough to have me as his son and I know that he has a good eye to me.
" Hi Fritz," I say as I make myself up to him, sitting down on the seat in the front.
" Ah, junge Nick." he says a bit surprised, patting me on my shoulder. " Warum slecht du nicht?"
I shrug, patting at my stomach.
" Aha, kranke?" he asks, and I frown. Fritz patts himself on the stomach, " Nicht gut?"
Then I understand. Shaking my head I agree, " Bad."
" Warten," he says as he rummage through the small compartment box, " Aha!" Instantly he comes back with a small bag with something white inside. I froze up. Does Fritz think that I'm doing drugs?
" No, No," I shake my head as he hands me the small bag.
" You nicht besser?" he asks with a mix of German and a little English. I shake my head, and now it's his turning frowning. He thinks for a while before his face lights up to one gigantic light bulb. " Nein, nicht bad," Patting his stomach he tries to show me that its not drugs just something for my stomach.
Now its my turn to turn into a light bulb.
" Need wasser," Fritz says with a smile as I must look like a dumbas sitting with a small pack of some white powder in my hand.
" Ok," It has to be that its very late or that I'm not so good in German, or maybe it's the mix, since my brain feels all mushy. I run, ok maybe not run, and get that water cup, eager to get something that calms down my upset stomach. " Samarin," Fritz says with a grin as I downed the whole drink. Not very good.
" Ok," I say, " Thanks," I start to walk when he stops me, " Junge Nick?"
" Yes?"
" You sitz and spreche?" If I wanna talk? Is he crazy? I'm dying for someone to talk to. Someone that wants to listen. Fritz seems to pick up my needs and he smiles gently as he points to the seat next to him. And this is how I ended up chatting with Fritz all night long. Until I fell asleep in the early dawn.
All exhausted.
