'Cmon man! You gotta play at the show tonight! You know how much fans pay to even LOOK at us!"
"Yes Howie."
"Then come on! We ARE NOT CANCELING THE SHOW!!!"
"Jeez, man. So we can't even skip one friggin' show? I think you're a little too stressed out. Maybe you should think about that canceling thing a little bit more, and maybe get some help."
"No AJ, I think you need help. All of a sudden you don't really care anymore."
" I don't care? WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DON'T CARE!!!???"
"You just don't seem so respectful to our fans and Backstreet like you used to be, that's all.", Howie quietly said, suprised at AJ's tone of voice.
"I really have no clue what you're talking about, man," said AJ as he walked out of Howie's hotel room and into his own. "I think he really needs the help..." AJ muttered to himself as he slammed his hotel door shut.
And none of the guys knew how Howie was being treated, so they didn't do much about it.
"Guys, have any of you noticed that AJ isn't being himself anymore?" Kevin asked.
"Wadda ya mean?" asked Nick, who was munching on a cocholate swiss cake roll.
"What do you mean 'what do I mean', Nick?" Kevin asked impatiantly.
Nick rolled his eyes at Kevin's remark.
"He's the same old AJ. He's like me, the same old me."
Howie looked around the room at the other three guys.
'Is Nick going to end up like AJ's acting? 'Cuz if he does, I won't be too happy with him!'
It seemed as though AJ woudn't even cry if they split up. Yes, it was that bad. And Howie knew that he and AJ's friendship wouldn't be lasting very long, and possibly even the group, just because of AJ, and he was getting Nick into his little illusion, too.
But AJ hadn't treated anyone in the room really bad except Howie. Howie didn't understand at all.
'Why would AJ do this? His best friend? Why would he WANT to cancel our shows? Doesn't he give a damn about Backstreet anymore?'
Angry thoughts rushed through Howie's mind. Kevin and Brian saw the angry expression on Howie's face, and started to wonder why Howie was acting like this. Sweet D. used to never be mad. Howie wasn't Howie either, because of AJ. Of coarse Nick didn't even look up from his cake roll.
"Hey 'rok, you're really quiet lately. I know you don't talk when something bad has happened, so what's happenin?" he suddenly asked.
"I don't really wanna talk about it", Brian said, leaving Kevin's room and walking into his own, slamming the door behind him.
"Nick...", Kevin began, Nick starting to get suspicious.
"What'd I do now? Mess up your whole life? I'm always in trouble! First you blame me for AJ, and now you're gonna yell at me for Brian. What'd I do to him, huh? What?" Nick practicaly screamed, getting angry.
"Nick, you're not in trouble. Just listen to me."
Nick sat slumped in a chair, lowering his head.
"Are you listening?" asked Kevin, figuring he should 'cuz he never listened to anyone anymore.
"YES!!!"
Kevin jumped at his reaction.
"Okay... Nick, do you know what's happening with AJ?" he asked, getting curious with the look on Nick's face.
"Please answer me, Nick."
"Why should I? Who are you, my father? No wait, I forgot, my father's way back in Florida where I should be, instead of being here with all of you jerks. At least AJ understands what I'm feeling!"
Kevin looked at Howie, and saw Howie's two big brown eyes staring at Nick blankly, looking like he was ready to cry. Why would D. cry? What's happenin' with him, anyway?
Kevin couldn't stand seeing Howie cry, or at least about to, so he told both Howie and Nick to go back to their hotel rooms. They did as he said.
The next morning, Brian woke up earlier than all the rest of the guys.
I wish I knew what was goin' on... I mean, whenever D. sees AJ, he gets this really angry look on his face. AJ doesn't care about anything. Kevin can't do anything to keep us calm anymore, and Howie never even tries. Nick is always looking up to AJ now, and following his actions. Me? Well, I have no clue what's happening, so I'm not gonna talk, even though I should maybe talk to one of the guys about it. Howie. Yeah, Howie. He would never yell at anyone, especially me. I mean, what could I have possibly done?'
So off to Howie's room Brian went. He was suprised to see that the door was unlocked. Then he saw Howie sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the TV. (Actually he didn't see what was on it, he was in la la land. )
"Howie?"
Howie didn't hear him, just sat there.
"Hooowwwwiiiie?!" He still didn't look up. Brian walked over to him and lowered his head to where Howie's was. "HOWIE!!!" Howie jumped right off the bed with a yelp of suprise.
"Jeez, man! Chill! What's the matter?"
"Well, before I tell you anything, where were ya? Pluto? You were, like, WAY out of it!"
"Oh... Sorry. I was just thinkin'. What were ya sayin'?" Brian hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should still tell him.
"Nothin'. Just seein' how ya were."
Howie didn't believe him. He shrugged his shoulders and decide he'd le him alone.
"Okay, I guess I'll go now."
"Kay man. C ya later."
Chapter 2
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