"You sure know how to make an ass of yourself." Kevin was referring to the disaster that had been made at today's tv show.
Nick muttered sleepy,"Not my fault that those two were like jerks, asking so many stupid questions."
"That hyper girl was really going. She was like the Energizer Bunny!" AJ grinned at the memory of the young host.
"Yeah and the other one was so...so anal," Brian laughed.
"Yeah like Kevin!" Nick chipped in.
That had Kevin going. "I am not! I am not anal!"
"Okay if you say so," AJ grinned.
The boys laughed.
"I still think that those two were dumbasses," Nick murmured, shifting in his seat. His balls felt really tender and as soon as he got the chance he was going to undress and wrap them in a cold towel. Like a burrito.
Nick smiled to himself, despite his misery. If the boys knew what he was refering to they would die from laughing.
"NICK!" Kevin growled in the car. Loud enough to tear some ear drums. He wasnīt in a mood to hear such nonsense. Nick had acted like a fool in front of those cameras and now he was going to pay for it sick or not.
Kevin had talked to Bruce, trying to get him to understand that Nick really wasnīt feeling well and there was a BIG mistake to continue on with the schedule. He even tried to get Nick out of tonights show. All he got back was a laugh and even if he had pulled rank it hadnīt helped. He was, after all, the star and Bruce was employed by him. Bruce only said that management wanted it this way and there was nothing he could do to change the planned schedule and what management wanted, they always got.
Kevin looked at Nick with concern. The boy seemed so out of it that he was almost delerious. His neck was as big as an elephant man's and he was really flushed. Not a good sign.
"Iīm hungry!" Howie said out of nowhere. It was clear that he was more than willing to change the subject, feeling that an arguement could be brewing.
This was a topic that most of the boys agreed upon. They had been going all day, non stop since breakfast and had no time to get anything to eat before the autograph signing at the HMV store.
"I wanna have a burger. Mickey D sounds like a safe bet. Think they have it here? The rice shit makes me fart!" AJ could be so blunt with words.
"Ajee that was more than we wanna know!" Howie looked angry.
"Or wanna hear" Brian grinned. Then he turned to Nick, poking him gently on his arm. "Hey Frack, man, do you want something to eat?"
A grunt. Then a short shake of the head. "NO."
"Come on Nick, You need to eat something." Kevin stated the facts, down to earth guy that he was.
"Yeah, when was the last time you had something in your stomach?" Howie butted into the conversation.
"Besides booze and drugs!" AJ added.
"AJ!" Kevin gave his "brother" a hard look. No need in starting more rumors. The driver could hear the conversation.
"Nick, really man, you need something in your stomach so you have something to shit!" AJ grinned a cheesy grin.
"Thanks man. I feel so much better," Nick mumbled sourly. It was no need to remind him about his stomachs ups and downs. He felt like manure or shit, in either way his stomach was taking dance steps again. This time it was the Boogie Woggie. All he could do was pray that "Twist and Shout" wouldnīt be next!
"Nick, if you eat you might feel better."
Oh couldnīt the boys leave him alone. Nick groaned. As the conversation went on about to eat or not to eat Nick started to get more and more agrivated.
"Shut the fuck up!" He growled, surprising all the boys in the process. "That is my business whether I eat or not. In case you havenīt noticed Iīm an adult!"
"Really?" AJ asked in a mock tone of surprise.
Ignoring his friends statement Nick continued. "Now let me sleep so that we can get this shit over with!"
With that he turned away from Brian, leaning his aching head against the cool window. Oh that felt so much better. The coolness felt great against his hot forehead. At the same time Nick tightened his jacket around him, wrapping his arms around his waist, trying to get some heat into his shivering body. Why was it so cold? And then so hot? His mushy brain had a hard time working and he didnīt put two and two together, he was really sick!
"Ouchy, ouchy. Touchy there Nickster."
"Knock it off AJ. Canīt you see that he isnīt feeling very well." Brian was coming to the rescue.
"I still think it would be good if you ate something." Kevin would make a fine parent someday. Never leaving anything unsaid. Always wanting the last word.
With a grunt Nick looked up from his position. Then he felt his temper rise, or was it the fever that was running through his veins? Anway he snapped, " Well I donīt!"
"Nick you might feel better," Howie pampered and if it was something Nick hated it was when the guys pampered him.
'Oh spare me your suggestions,' Nick thought to himself.
"Nick you..." Now Brian had started again and this tested Nicks temper. Hard.
"Are you deaf?" he shouted. "I donīt want anything, unless you want me to redecorate the upholstery in this car!" With that he closed his eyes, wanting to sink into oblivion. The sledge hammer was threatening to split his skull in half seemed to pound endlessly.
"Sorry," Brian mumbled, "Jeeze we're just concerned about you Nick."
I know...I know. Just let me sleep, Nick thought to himself, praying that the guys would shut up. His prayers were heard and the guys fell silent for the rest of the ride.
As they got to the music store fans were gathering around the Limo. They screamed and banged on the car. It was like a small repeat of when the boys had been on the World Around tour. In Brazil.
The fans had stormed the bus, making it impossible for the boys to get out. Being really jet lagged the boys had felt totally scared over the situation. Afraid that one of the fans could get hit or squished in the crowd. All of the boys had talked about this event for a long time after and they had been really shook up.
"Holy Shit!"
All the boys, including Nick looked outside and waved to the fans.
"I donīt wanna do this," Nick mumbled under his breath as he plastered a smile on his face. He didnīt know where he would gather up the energy to go out and meet the crowd, much less to sign tons of autographs.
"Come on, Nick you can do it," Brian, coaxed. He tried to give the blonde energy to go on.
With a sigh Nick exited the still veihlcle just to be met with screams that could break glass.
"NIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCKKKKKKKK IIIIIIII LOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE YYOOUOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" The girls were screaming trying to get a touch out of him. Ripping at his clothes, yanking at his arm, his legs, his...
Nick wanted to scream, get the fuck off me, yet he plastered on another of his gentle smiles and walked forcefully towards the crowd like he had done so many times before.
People were pushing trying to get a glimpse of their idols and hysteric girls screamed their name. Brian and Kevin stopped as always and signed some lucky girl's t-shirts. AJ delivered hugs and Howie wrote some autographs. Nick on the other hand just walked through, getting many disappointed fans in the process.
As he passed some girls he could hear one of the "fans" saying sourly to her friend that Nick wasnīt like he used to be. He was so snotty. The other girl had laughed. "Yeah stuck up and fat!" They had been talking english and it was clear to Nick that they wanted him to hear their conversation.
He wanted to flip them off, but being the professional that he was, he was he calmly walked past them. Trying to ignore what they had said. Probably NīSync fans he mused. Yeah that was it.
Still the words had burned like cigarette marks into his heart.