“Why the hell do we have to share a freakin’ room together? I mean my God Lou, you got us cooped up like sardines for chrissake!” AJ grumbled.
“Listen, we have budgets to keep besides schedules and that’s the way the room assignments fall......you can sleep out in the hallway if that would suit you better,” the sweaty manager boomed as he peered over the tops of his fingerprint smudged glasses.
Wordlessly, AJ yanked the room key from the manager’s hand.
Kevin accepted the room key from Lou’s hand. “What’s got Bone’s panties in a bunch tonight? Usually he doesn’t really complain about bunking with Brian, but he seems to have come unglued.”
“I think it’s because he has to stay with that Carter kid another night,” Denise stated.
“You realize that Nick’s standing right behind you Denise,” Brian whispered.
Denise McLean shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
Brian gently placed an arm around Nick’s shoulders. “C’mon buddy, I love ya despite what others say.”
Wordlessly, Nick started to follow Brian toward the bank of elevators. Watching Nick walking in a hunched over posture, Howie and Kevin glanced at each other; Kevin mouthed ‘He looks like he must be in a bit of pain.’
Pressing the button to call the elevator, the Latino studied the younger band member. “Nicky, do you have a stomach ache still?”
“Yeah, do you have any Pepto Bismol in your bag?”
“Pepto? Don’t you think you need a laxative instead?”
Nick’s cheeks turned a bright red contrast to his pallor complextion. Although everyone knew about his constipation predicament, he was still embarrassed about having it brought up. “Nevermind, I guess I can manage.”
“D, do you really think that a laxative is a good idea since we have that interview first thing tomorrow morning after breakfast?” Kevin asked as he shook his head.
’Shit! The interview! I hope I feel better after tonight,’ Nick silently prayed.
The elevator stopped on their floor and when they exited the car, Howie stopped Nick. “Nicky, hold up a sec.” Placing his carryon bag on the floor, Howie unzipped the bag and rummaged through the contents for a few moments before he pulled out a tall vanilla colored bottle. “Here Nicky, take this tomorrow after the interview, that should help clean you out.”
Accepting the bottle, Nick studied it for a few moments. “What’s this stuff?”
“A really effective laxative, usually works in two to four hours after drinking it,” Howie winked.
“Huh? O- oh....thanks,” Nick replied as he quickly tucked the bottle into his sweatshirt jacket pocket.
“1610.....1612......1614.....what room are we suppose to be in again?” Brian asked with an exasperated tone. “Bone took off with the keys so fast I don’t remember what room we were assigned.”
“1624,” Kevin corrected.
“Oh yeah, like I said, 1624,” Brian giggled.
Kevin shook his head. “God Bri, honestly nothing sounds worse than a man that giggles. I have a hard time believing you’re my cousin sometimes.”
With Nick dragging behind, the group reached the assigned rooms, Brian, AJ and Nick in room 1624 with Howie and Kevin in 1628.
“Me and D are gonna call it an early night and I suggest you guys do the same especially since Nick isn’t feeling up to par,” Kevin advised as he stuck the key in the door.
“Call it a night? Kev for crying out loud it’s only 8:00 and if you really wanted to be technical, it’s only 3 in the afternoon at home in Florida!” Brian protested.
“You better learn how to adjust your body clock or you will really have a hard time managing any tour as far as I can tell.....good night.”
“Nicky, don’t be afraid to call me if you’re not feeling good, okay? You can always call me,” Howie offered.
“I saw a McDonald’s when we pulled into the parking lot, how about we go down there,” Brian suggested.
“Nope, I’m going to get ready for bed and you two should think about doing that also,” Kevin stated as he opened his door. “Good night.”
Brian licked his lips. “How about it Nick? Couldn’t you go for a late night double cheeseburger and fries?”
“I’m not hungry,” Nick mumbled as he softly knocked on the door to their hotel room.
Brian balled his fist and pounded loudly on the door. “C’mon Bone, open the door!” Shifting the bag in his hands, Brian glanced wearily over at the hunched blonde. “What the heck is taking him so long?”
Nick could only shrug his shoulders in reply, stealing a quick glance down the hallway from where they came worried that overzealous fans may have followed them.
Balling his fist once again, Brian pounded even harder on the steel hotel room door.”AJ FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD!” Dropping his bag, Brian pressed an ear against the door to see if anyone was stirring in the room. He was rewarded with the sound of the toilet flushing. “He was in the can!” he mumbled to Nick.
‘Wish it was me instead,’ Nick thought with a sigh.
The door quickly flung open, taking Brian Littrell with it; falling to the floor with a thud.
“Whoa dude,” AJ grinned, offering a hand to help the young Kentuckian off the floor.
Clutching his luggage, Nick stepped between Brian and the door frame, moving slowly into the room. Every inch of his body ached and he longed to stretch out on the nearest available bed. Although AJ’s things were laying on the first bed, Nick didn’t seem to care as he gently laid down ontop of the bedspread.
AJ smacked the soles of Nick’s sneakers. “Dude, that’s my bed, I already claimed it, you gotta move.”
“I wanna be close to the bathroom,” Nick mumbled back.
“You feeling sick?” Brian asked with wide eyes.
Nick turned his head away from his brother’s stare. “No, just that I might finally get to use the bathroom I guess and when the time comes I want to be able to get up and just go.”
“Oh, well how about we go down to McDonald’s for dinner then,” Brian suggested.
“I don’t want to go out now,” AJ replied as he tossed his clothes off Nick’s bed onto the new bed. “You get the rollaway Brian.”
“Rollaway? How come I get it? I had that the last time we bunked together,” the Kentuckian pouted.
AJ smiled widely. “Because I’m smarter......now how about dinner, let’s order in a pizza.”
“We don’t have enough money for a pizza,” Brian complained.
“Judas Rok, is that all you do is whine?”
“I’m thinking practicallities, Pearlman has made it so none of us has any spending money, especially Nicky....”
AJ picked up the hotel menu by the phone. “Well then I think we should call room service.
“Oh I dunno if that’s really a good idea....that will show up and Mr. Pearlman will be pissed---”
“Quit your worrying! Good God Littrell, I swear that you are the biggest worry wart I’ve ever seen, right Nicky?”
“I dunno,” Nick whimpered his response. Pulling the bedspread over himself Nick wondered outloud, “Do you guys think it’s cold in here?”
AJ looked at Nick shaking his head in digust. “Not anymore than the last place we bunked at. You know how Pearlman has us stay in hell holes while he gets the best suite in the hotel.”
Brian studied the blonde as AJ dailed the phone to place the room service order. “Are you still feeling sick Nicky?”
Moaning, Nick rubbed his stomach. “Yeah.”
“Maybe you should try and use the bathroom again....”
“You’re not my mom Brian, I think I know when I need to use the bathroom,” Nick retorted.
The Kentuckian feigned a hurt look on his face. “I’m only trying to help you.”
“Well if you can take a crap for me then that will help,” the blonde spat.
“Kaos, go take a healthy shit while we wait for the pizza, ya know, make room for the food?”
Brian slapped the rebel on the shoulder. “AJ that is gross!”
“Kid go in and take a warm shower, that may relax you enough,” AJ encouraged.
“I’m gonna take a warm shower but only because I want to and not because you suggested it,” Nick replied as he slowly slid out of the bed.
“Whatever Kaos, but just so you know, the pizza will be here in about an hour,” AJ reminded the blonde as he slowly made his way into the bathroom.
Nick shivered as he stepped out of the shower. The room was filled with steam despite his wishes, he knew the the shower did anything but make his fingers wrinkled. The need was there to try to go to the bathroom, but he knew that it would be a waste of time. He had tried before he stepped into the shower and the only result he got was a stronger stomach ache.
His eyes fell onto the pile of clothes on the tiled floor. Dreading the thought of bending over to pick them up, Nick gritted his teeth to prepare himself for the protest his body would make from the movement. The laxative that Howie had handed him slipped out of the sweatshirt jacket pocket and clattered onto the tiled floor.
“Shit,” Nick gasped as he bent over to retrieve the dropped item. He studied the instructions on the bottle; eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Nick disregarded the important warning on the bottle to seek the advice of a physician if abdominal pain was present and also the instruction of two teaspoons for an adult. Unscrewing the bottle top, he took three generous gulps from the container.
”UGH!” For a moment Nick thought he was going to bring the fluid back up as he started to gag.
“Yo Nickster! Pizzas here!” AJ shouted as he beat his fist against the bathroom door.
“I’m coming! Hold on a sec!” Nick shouted through the wooden bathroom door. Gripping the white towel around his waist, he slowly opened the door finding Brian and AJ sprawled across his bed, munching on the pepperoni pizza.
The scent of the greasy pizza sent his stomach churning. Nick made his way past the bed over to his duffle bag on the dresser, pulling out a clean white tee shirt and a pair of boxers.
With his back to Brian and AJ, Nick let the towel drop to the floor, baring his bare butt to the two men.
”Nick!” Brian squeaked out with mock disgust. “We’re eating here!”
“Like you haven’t seen my ass before,” Nick muttered as he gingerly stepped into the boxers. Wordlessly, Nick laid down ontop of AJ’s bed, flopping an arm across his eyes.
“Ain’t you gonna eat some?” AJ asked as he gestured with a slice toward the pale blonde.
“Not hungry.”
“Not hungry!? Okay Kaos, what’s the problem?” AJ asked with a mouthful of food.
“It looks gross.”
“Okay something must be up with Nick,” Brian concluded. “He never refuses pizza.”
“I just don’t feel like eating, don’t make a federal case out of it!”
“Let’s play a video game, I bet I can beat your butt on Donkey Kong,” Brian stated as he pressed on Nick’s arm after he stood up.
“Donkey Kong is for pansies.....how about I beat both your asses on this Mario Kart 64,” AJ suggested as he held up the game cartridge from Nick’s game bag. “God Kaos, you should open your own video store with all these freaken games you have.”
Nick didn’t bother moving when AJ flung the game controller onto the bed beside his leg. “C’mon Nick, you gonna set this up for us?”
Nick didn’t pick the controller up, instead he uncharacteristically asked Brian to set the game up.
Brian gave AJ a concerned glance as he selected the player he would use, AJ followed suit. The annoying music blared from the television speakers as the two sat and waited for Nick to pick his player.
“Kaos, we’re waiting for you to pick the dude you’re gonna use,” AJ growled.
Nick half-heartidly rose up on his elbow and clicked on the first selection available and laid back down.
“You could at least be excited about playing you know,” AJ chuckled.
“I don’t really feel like playing.”
“Just play with us,” Brian urged as he took another slice of pizza and laid it on his plate.
“Yeah it might take the shit off your mind,” AJ joked.
Nick laid the controller down as he rolled over to his side and curled his body up like a fetus. “I really don’t feel too good,” he moaned.
Brian laid a cool hand on Nick’s forehead. “God Nick you’re really hot.”
AJ pulled the bed spread and sheet off to the side. “Here Nick, slide under the covers.”
“But this is your bed,” Nick whimpered.
“Now it’s yours,” AJ reaffirmed.
The young teen obeyed AJ’s request and gingerly slid his body underneath the cool, open sheets, his teeth clattering as he shivered.
“Kid, you really don’t look so great,” AJ commented.
“Yeah look how white his face is,” Brian chipped in.
“I’m gonna call my mom to come down here,” AJ whispered to Brian.
”NO! Don’t call Denise,” Nick protested in a hoarse whimper. ”Please!”
Both Brian and AJ asked in unison, “Why not?”
“Just cause it’s too weird and I’m fine alright? Just give me some time and I’ll be okay,” Nick promised.
Brian shook his head. “I dunno Nick, you’re not really acting right.”
“Seriously, I’m fine!”
AJ stood up, stretching his arms over his head. “I’m gonna go to the bathroom...” he gestured toward the entrance door, mouthing to Brian, ‘I’m gonna get someone.’
“You guys must think I’m stupid,” Nick muttered.
Brian tried to look like the poster child of innocence. “Huh?”
“I know that Bone is going out to get his mom to come back with him.....”
“Can’t a son go visit his mom before he retires for the night? Nick, you know you’d be doing the same thing if your mother was with us.”
“Whatever,” Nick mumbled in defeat. Closing his eyes, he could almost smell the comforting smell of his mother’s freshly washed skin. He wished he could see her or call her, he felt so horrible that he knew that only his mother could possibly make him feel better. Although he had Brian and AJ with him, Nick never felt more alone than what he did right now.
The comforting feelings were suddenly interrupted by a churning in his stomach. Nick’s eyes sprung open and he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth as he darted for the bathroom.
The door slammed behind him as he quickly dropped to his knees.
“Nick? Are you alright?”
The only reply from the young teen was wretching and dry heaving. Brian winced at every noise that was coming from the other side of the bathroom door.
Desperate to think of something comforting to say to his ailing brother, Brian quietly questioned, “Uh, Nick......are you throwing up?”
“What the hell does it sound like?” Nick retorted as he spit into the toilet.
Brian pushed back the feelings of nausea from his own stomach. “Do you need help?”
“I think I can manage on my own.”
The Kentuckian’s eyes grew wide as he listened to the wretching. “I’m gonna call someone, he sounds like he is throwing up his stomach,” Brian mumbled to himself as he quickly walked over to the telephone. “What the heck was his room number....” Brian asked himself outloud, Nick’s dry heaving coming from the bathroom. He held the phone in his hand for a moment before he gave up on his task and slammed the receiver down. “It would be faster to run across the hall,” he theorized as he grabbed the room keys.
Flinging the entrance door open, Brian darted down the hall toward his cousin’s room. He didn’t waste anytime for manners and started pounding on the door as if the building was on fire. ”KEVIN!”
After a few moments of beating on the door, his efforts were rewarded with a bleary eyed Kevin Richardson with a bad case of bed hair.
Blinking repeatidly as the bright hall lights hit his sleep-filled eyes, Kevin stared down at his cousing. “God Brian, what the hell are you doing waking us up for?”
“Kev its Nick, c’mon you gotta help me.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Brian pulled on his cousin’s hand. “C’mon Nick is sick, I need help he’s throwing up and it sounds like he’s throwing up his stomach. Man, I’ve never heard anyone get as sick as Nick is right now......c’mon.”
A reluctant Kevin followed his cousin down to the open door of the hotel room.
“Don’t you realize that’s not a smart idea leaving your hotel room open like that?” Kevin reprimanded.
“I didn’t have time...”
The men entered the room in time to witness a pasty white, sweaty Nick emerge from the bathroom, his eyes red rimmed, cheeks tear stained.
“Awww Nicky, did you get sick?” Kevin asked.
“I wish,” Nick mumbled as he took a few shaky steps back to his bed.
Kevin felt a parental instinct wash over him as he looked down at the shaky teenager. With shaking hands, Nick tried to cover his body with the blanket and after several attempts, Kevin reached down and pulled the covers up ontop of the young boy.
“We didn’t need the whole freakin calvary,” Kevin hissed as he caught the sight of AJ and Denise.
“Everyone relax, help is here,” AJ announced as he and his mother entered the room. “I told her what was going on.”
“I think we have it under control now,” Brian stated.
“Alex says Nick is throwing up.....do you have the flu honey?” Denise asked as she perched on the edge of Nick’s bed, reaching up to smooth his bangs away from his forehead.
Normally Nick would have ducked to avoid the woman’s touch, but as sick as he felt, he didn’t care at that point.
“My goodness Alex, you didn’t tell me he was running a fever, he’s really warm, he might be contageous!”
“I’m sure it’s probably nothing more than a twenty-four hour bug,” Kevin confidently informed, narrowing his eyes at the woman behind her back. “AJ should be safe.”
Denise jerked to give a hard glare at the oldest Backstreet member. “I’m not concerned just about Alex, you could get whatever bug Nick has picked up too. Everyone could.”
Brian rolled his eyes underneath closed lids. He normally looked for the good in people but as far as he was concerned, Denise McLean tested his faith in all mankind.
Nick broke into the tension that hung in the air when he suddenly started moaning, rolling onto his side and curling up into a ball.
“Baby, are you gonna get sick again?” Denise asked as she stood up quickly.
”Noooo, it h-hurts s-so bad.”
“Wonder what kind of bug is going around that Nick has caught?” the woman wondered outloud.
“Geeze Denise, I’m not really up on the flu epidemics of Europe but my bet is that if theres a bug out there to be caught, chances are Kaos will be the first one to find it,” Kevin grumbled impatiently.
“Don’t you dare talk to my mother like that,” AJ spat defensively, ready to battle.
“Hey what’s going on in here?” Howie questioned as he entered the room.
“What the hell? Is this Grand Central Station?” AJ grimaced. “My mom’s got this handled, you can take Kevin with you back to your room.”
”Don’t fight guys, I just need to sleep, I’ll be okay,” Nick pleaded with a shaky voice.
This time Kevin laid a firm hand on Nick’s forehead. “Kaos you’re really running a temp, I’m gonna call Lou and tell him to have you checked out by the hotel doctor.”
”No!” Nick protested weakly, eyes wide.
“There’s no arguing with me, I’m going to go to Lou’s room and talk to him right now,” Kevin stated as he tucked the sheets under the mattress. Turning toward Howie he said, “You should come along with me....strength in numbers.”
Walking toward the door, the dark haired Kentuckian stopped. With a sigh, he turned around to face the rest of the group in the room. “Denise, you might as well come along too since you have your interest in this too and you could help persuade Pearlman to let Nick get a doctor’s opinion.”
Denise McLean followed the two without hesitating. “Yes we need to get him on something before the whole camp is infected.”
”I’m not infected,” Nick protested weakly.