Tina came down the steps, dressed. Nick looked up and looked at the clock. His eyes got sad as he looked back at Tina. "It's only for a little while Nicky... and plus, you have Ananda too" she said, trying to cheer him up. He got up and held Ananda. "We better get her things ready" Tina said. Nick nodded and led the way upstairs. The two of them slowly packed Ananda's clothes and toys. They went back downstairs. Tina looked at Nick. "Here's a key to the house... like if you need anything for Ananda or something." He took it and put Ananda in the car seat that was in his car. He came back out and hugged Tina so hard she thought he'd break her ribs. He let go and she brought her face up and kissed him lightly on his lips. He pulled her face back up and kissed her more passionatly than he ever had before. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. When they pulled away, they looked into the others eyes for a minute. Finally Tina broke away from his embrace and went to his car. She kissed Ananda goodbye and brushed her hair back from her eyes.
Tina got out her car keys and went to her car. She got in, drove down the driveway, and waved right before she drove into the road. Nick slowly climbed into his car and watched the tears fall from his face in the relection of the windshield.
Nick drove over to his house, which only took a few minutes, and was surprised to see that a few of his friends were outside playing basketball. He checked his face in the mirror, and he looked ok. He parked the car and was greeted by Brian, Howie, AJ and Kevin. He waved and hopped out of the car, already a little cheered up. He hadn't seen the guys, other than Brian, in months. After all the hugs and high fives were passed out, Nick opened the backseat and unbuckled Ananda. He picked her up and brought her to the guys. "Guys, this is Ananda" Ananda grinned at hearing her name and decided to try his out. "Daddyy!" She cried out. The guys' eyes opened wide and Nick's did too. "No..." Nick said to Ananda. "Remember my name?" She looked at him and said "Nicky!" as a second try. He looked at the guys and said "She just got mixed up I guess..." He was clearly embarrassed so Brian backed him up imediatly. "Yeah she is the neice of the girl who lives over there." He pointed to Tina's house. Nick said " Yeah she just left a minute ago, and I'm gonna keep Ananda for a while while she's gone." The guys nodded their heads, knowing that Nick would never do anything like that had thought before. "Damn... they just looked a lot alike..." AJ thought to himself. "Oh!" AJ said out loud. "Was she driving a green Camaro?" Nick nodded. "Holy hell Nick! You let her go away and leave you? Why the freak didn't you chase after her?" He looked as if he were about to run down the road and stop the car.
The guys laughed at him and walked towards the house, Ananda riding on Nick's shoulders. He had been worried about the Daddy thing, but he thought she had just gotten too excited to say his name right. When they got inside, Nick put Ananda down and, knowing her way around from being over there so much, ran into the living room and turned on the tv to Sesame Street. In the kitchen, the guys heard it. Nick started to hum the theme song along with the tv, and the guys just about fell on the floor laughing at him. Nick looked at them and shook his head. He walked into the living room and sat with Ananda in his lap and they watched Sesame Street together. The guys walked and peeped in the room. Nick and Ananda were repeating the letters after Cookie Monster said them. The guys looked at each other and backed into the kitchen. Brian looked at them and said "Woooww..." AJ nodded and said "That was a lil bit scary..." Kevin shook his head and said "I don't see what's so wrong with it... he's growing up, he has a right to act like a dad, especially since she doesn't have one." Howie nodded "I agree." AJ shook his head "No... he's only 19. He can't be a dad yet." Brian reminded him, " He's not really a dad AJ."
AJ smiled and said "So tell me about the chick." Brian laughed and said "AJ, she's Nick's chick." AJ groaned and cried, "I'm too late!" The guys laughed and started talking about the upcoming tour...
Hearing In The Wind index
Chapter 7