"Oh...my...God..." Brian stepped back and towards the door, his face turning a pale white, "You know, it's getting late...I think I'll...GET OUT OF HERE!" He turned around ready to run out, when Kevin grabbed him and pulled him back inside.
"Not until we find out what's going on here!" Kevin held on to Brian's shirt tightly making sure he didn't try to escape.
"That's a good question," Howie stated, "Nick? Do you care to explain?"
"What's there to explain? I'm just as confused as you guys are." Nick looked at them blankly, "I know as much as you do."
"No, you don't, Nick, don't lie, when the fuck did you learn how to play the fucking piano?" Kevin was beyond angry.
"I've known for a while."
"A while? What's a while?" AJ asked.
"Okay! My whole fucking life! Are you happy now?" Nick looked at them in agitation, he wasn't too happy that the guys knew his secret.
"NO! Why didn't you ever tell us?!"
"Because I never wanted to! I never told anyone!"
"That's no excuse!" Kevin jumped in. All eyes bore into him, waiting for an answer. Nick shrank back, wilting under the heavy gaze.
"Just leave me alone!" He started back towards the door, wanting to make a quick escape. It wasn't his fault that his grandfather had made it a point that Nick learn to play piano and follow up just as Andrew and many other ancestors did. His grandfather's piano skills were awesome and Nick showed just that of his teacher. He had learned at a young age, but for some reason, never told anyone. At the time it seemed plausible, the right thing to do. Yet years later Nick regretted his decision. Part of him had wanted his four comrades to find out, and yet at the same time, he wanted no one to know, ever.
However, Nick never knew who Andrew was. His death and who he was, was kept secret from the entire family.
Nick put one foot on the steps and began to make his escape. "Just leave me alone!"
Kevin lunged forward and grabbed Nick, sending him hard to the floor, he pinned his shoulders down, and pressed all his weight on top of Nick so he couldn't move.
"It's all your fucking fault!" Kevin screamed at him, "If you didn't do this then Andrew would have never showed his fucking face!"
Nick tried to worm his way out of Kevin's grasp but failed, "Who's Andrew?"
"That damn ghost we saw! He's your fucking ancestor and you let him free in the house!" All control lost, the older band mate grabbed his younger friend hard and shook him with vigor.
"Stop it Kevin stop it!" Nick tried again to free himself, and again, he failed, "Listen to me! I have NOTHING to do with this! I never knew Andrew existed!"
"No, you listen to me!" A hard slap from Kevin left an accusing red mark on his face, "Dammit Nick! Your such a fucking bastard!"
"I didn't do it I swear!" Nick looked to the other guys- hoping for some help, but they just stood there and watched, mostly in shock at Kevin's outburst.
"Dammit Nick! Admit it! Admit you messed up!"
"I didn't!" Tears had begun to flow from Nick's eyes, "I swear.."
"Damn you Nick!" Kevin picked Nick up, throwing him hard against the wall, he held on to his shirt tightly and stared at Nick's tear stricken face. Nick burst out, hysterical at the impulse. "Nick! I should kill you! Asshole! You little wimp! You’re crying now!? Because you know you fucked up?!" Howie finally stepped in.
"Kevin, I think you should leave him alone now..."
"NO!"
"Kevin..."
"Fuck you Howie!" He swiftly turned around and pushed Howie hard, sending him to the floor. AJ hurriedly helped his friend up. Sorely, Howie rubbed his back, tears at the brim of his eyes.
Kevin turned back to Nick and held on to him tighter, just staring into his eyes hoping for a confession of some sort, even though he knew that Nick didn't do it. However- he felt he needed to blame someone. And Nick seemed the likely answer.
Yet something happened then- Kevin's body weakened. It was like he wasn't controlling his own muscles anymore. His body went limp and fell to the floor, freeing Nick.
Not looking the gift horse in his mouth- Nick took off. Running down the stairs at break neck speed.
Kevin recovered and just stared at the others. Howie shook his head and ran down the stairs after Nick.
Ten minutes later, after searching everywhere for him, Howie found Nick curled up in a ball in the corner of the old barn in the backyard crying. He walked up to him.
"Nick? You OK?" He knelt down besides him, "Nicky?"
Nick looked up somberly, "Why did Kevin do that? I didn't do anything," he said through tears.
"I don't know Nick, I don't know.." Howie took him into his arms for a friendly hug, "It's OK Nicky, he was just mad..."
Nick pulled away from him, "NO! He thinks it's my fault!"
"No," Howie said, "no, he was just angry...and scared Nick, we don't know what's going on..."
"That doesn't make it right..."
"I know..."
"I hate him.." Just as the words left his mouth, Kevin walked in, his eyes red from his own tears of regret. He overheard the latter part of the conversation and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Nick..." He stood in the doorway lifelessly. Nick got up and walked passed him, not making eye contact. Kevin stood there confused, although Howie did know what was going on and anger rushed through him, all towards Kevin. Slowly he stood up and walked over to Kevin.
"Do you see what you've done?" he asked calmly but coldly.
"I-I didn't k-know what I-I was doing.." Kevin stuttered.
"No shit Sherlock.."
"Howie please listen..."
"Fuck you...You just hurt one of your BEST friends! And now I am to!" Howie punched Kevin hard and walked out leaving Kevin stunned. Blood slowly trickled down his nose and he thought with bitter remorse: ‘What have I done?’ Putting his head in his hands, Kevin wiped away a few stray tears trying to figure out what came over him, what had possessed him to lose control.
CHAPTER FIVE
HOME
LONG STORIES
BBE INDEX
CHAPTER THREE
