Chapter 9: Kentucky.....and barf bags.

Nick and Brian drove to the girls appartment early Friday morning. They had to be at the airport by 7:00. Both girls woke up without any problems. By the time Brian and Nick arrived at their front door, they were already waiting with their bags in their hands.

"Wow, you girls are good. If I tried to get my brother and sister's to the airport on time.....well, I won't even go their, because it wouldn't happen. We'd end up leaving on a later flight." Nick said as he grabed Monica's bags for her.

"Nick...you don't have to carry my bags. I'm a woman of the 90's, I can carry them. Honest, I can!"

"Woman of the 90's, or no woman of the 90's, I was raised to be a gentleman. And, that is what I am being, right Brian?"

"Yeah, I mean, get used to this Mon! Cuz, you won't be seeing it often." Brian said as he helped Steffany with her bags.

As they drove to the airport their was alot of small talk. Brian and Steffany were in the front of Brian's jeep talking about the snow and how peaceful it would be in Kentucky. Nick and Monica were silently dreading their plane trip ahead of them.

"Why you so quiet?" Steffany said as she turned around to Monica.

"Um....I have a secret that I've never told anyone before. Not even you Steffany."

"Well, ya wanna tell me, now?" Steffany said.

"Ok, I mean, I guess I should share this with all of you." Monica said as she got all of their attention. "This is probably a bad time to mention this, but I have a terrible fear of flying."

"Not you, too!" Brian said as he looked in the rear view mirror at Monica and then over to Nick.

"What do you mean?" Monica said.

"Nick is afraid of flying. Well, he used to be. He doesn't like it, but he has to fly. Ya know? Touring and all, ain't that right Nicky?" Brian said as he snickered.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Laugh it off, Bri! So what, their is nothing wrong with being afraid of flying. Seriously Monica! I used to hate it, but it isn't that bad." Nick said sweetly.

For the time being she took his word for it. However when they arrived at the airport it was a completely different story. After getting their bags checked in and going through the metal detector, the started boarding the plane.

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Nick and Brian reserved 4 first class seats. The girls were very excited by this because they have never been in first class before. Brian and Steffany sat on one side of the isle and Nick and Monica sat on the other.

"Steff? Sweety, you want window?" Brian asked.

"Ohh, could I? Thanks so much, Bri!" She said as she happily sat in the window seat.

Nick took Brian's idea and offered the window seat to Monica, but he wasn't surprized when she declined his offer. Nick didn't mind sitting window, he had grown accustomed to it. As soon as Monica felt the plane start she grabbed onto Nick's arm and squeezed her eyes shut.

"OUCH! I mean, ow...that is a little tight. Mon, can you loosen your grip?" Nick asked. He realized this was a very sensitive and touchy situation for Monica.

"Oh my gosh, yeah! I'm so sorry, it's just that, I don't feel so well an-" She stopped talking as she grabbed a hold of her stomache.

Nick grew a concerned look on his face. Brian was pre-occupied with kissing Steffany at the present time, so he didn't see the pale skin that had suddenly appeared on Monica's face.

"Monica? Are you...are you ok? Not to be rude, but you don't look so good. I mean, you look like you may be getting ready to thro-" Nick was cut off by Monica's frantic searching through the seats and the pull out counters in front of her.

"Bag...I need a bag...one of those bags!" Monica said as she covered her mouth.

"Bags? What bags? Your bags are in baggage claim! OH MY GOSH! YOU WANT A BARF BAG! SHOOT! HANG ON!" Nick yelled as he reached above his head and grabbed a few of them.

Monica didn't have time to thank him. She quickly snatched a bag and opened it up. Brian and Steffany were ripped away from their happy bliss, when they heard the sounds of perging coming from beside them. Steffany crinkled up her nose and Brian called the stewardess over for some water for Monica. Nick was gently rubbing her back as Monica filled up one bag.

"More? Let it all out!" Nick said as he urged her to get up everything she had inside of her knowing it would make her feel better.

Monica filled up 2 and 1/2 bags. None-the-less, this surprized all three of them. Even the stewardess. Monica was slightly embarassed that she had gotten sick or sick from flying. The stewardess handed her some rolaids. Monica threw her head back and let out a sigh.

"How ya feeling, now?" Nick asked as he brushed her thick brown hair out of her eyes.

"To be completely honest! I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I feel like I've thrown up everything i've ever eaten." Monica said as she lifted her hand up to her face.

Nick smiled sympathetically and unsurely placed his arm around Monica and pulled him closer to her. Her head rested comfortably on his chest as his hand gently rubbed her arm that it slung over. Nick didn't know why, but this felt very right to him. Taking care of her, having Monica that close to him. He had gotten to know her very well, and this definatly felt right. Nick, Brian, and Steffany were very greatful that the throwing-up had warn Monica out. At least they knew if she was sleeping, she wouldn't be sick.