Los Angeles, 2000.
"Over here, B-Rok!"
The sound of gasping, squeaky screech of rubber soles and thumps echoed in the small gym.
"Make a shot, Nicky! Make a shot!" Brain yelled, watching as Nick grabbed the ball, dribbled around Kevin's defence and headed towards the net.
AJ ran up to Brian, panting for breath. "Jesus Christ, Bri- what did you teach that boy?" he gasped. Brian grinned.
"Oh, Man!" Howie's cry of despair told him that Nick had scored. Game over.
"Nice goin', man," Brian gave Nick a high-five. Nick grinned and wiped his face, breathing heavily.
It was nice, sunny day. Sunlight filtered in through the windows, making it quite warm and stuffy inside.
"Come on. Let's get changed and get going." Kevin said, shouldering his pack.
" I can't believe it," AJ grumbled as they headed out. "Our last game of the year and we lost."
Brian smirked. "I know."
"Man, it was three against two! We should've won!" Howie complained good-naturedly.
It was Nick's turn to smirk. "Even better."
The streets were pretty much empty at this time of the day. People were either at the beaches, or home, or in kid's cases, at school.
As they approached the group of vehicles and people, they saw their families and friends waiting for them.
"well, gotta got going," Howie said briskly. "Plane's leaving in an hour."
There was a lot of bear hugs and those high-five-flip-shake things.
"Take care of yourself, man."
"Yeah. See you next year."
"Enjoy your vacation, Nicky- don't come back looking like a lobster."
"Very funny, Boner. See ya later, D."
one by one, the vehicles left the driveway, and the farewells were done.
Nick watched Brian's car disappearing around the corner and sighed. Another year of tour was finally over.
Jane Carter walked up to her son. "Ready, Nick?"
He turned around and smiled. "Yeah. Let's go home."
It was quiet around the Carter residence the next morning. Pale dawn light was just touching the horizon. The wisps of cold morning air added to the peaceful scene. The tranquillity was abruptively shattered as a howl erupted from the house. Half-awaken birds flapped out of their trees, scared out of their wits.
"AARON!!"
Jane stopped mixing the batter for breakfast and looked up. "What was that?" she asked her husband.
Bob Carter shrugged. "Nick." He went back to the morning paper.
"I know that, but what's the scream for?"
the next thing they heard was a rumble of footsteps running down the stairs and high-pitched giggles. Aaron and Angel burst into the kitchen, screaming with laughter.
"Careful, Aaron," Bob said. "Don't run in the kitchen."
"Kids," Jane said firmly, "what's the racket?"
"See for yourself," a furious voice ground out.
Jane bit back a gasp as she saw the tall form of her son blocking the entrance, his face a thundercloud. Well, if you could call a whipped cream-covered face with bit of feathers sticking everywhere a thundercloud.
"My God, Nick, what happened?" she asked, aghast.
"Aaron-" Bob growled.
"Yikes. Gotta go. Packing to do." Aaron tired to make a run, but failed as a firm and stopped him.
"Not so fast, mister. What happened?" Bob asked.
"He squashed a cream pie on my face, that's what!" Nick yelled, making a grab for Aaron. He nimbly skipped out of the range.
"Aaron? Explain yourself," Jane ordered. "Nick, go and get cleaned up. And please get that feather out of your ear. It looks ridiculous."
"Aaargh!" Nick turned and stalked out of the room.
"Well, Aaron?"
"It was a wake up call- of sorts." Aaron said meekly.
"A wake-up call?"
"Yeah- I tried everything, I swear, mom! Yelling, pelting him with pillow, dragging him out- well, tried to- nothing worked, so I was only left with that!" he said defensively.
"It was very 'sweet' of him, wasn't it, mom?" Angel said innocently.
The parents tried not to smile. "Aaron, go and clean up the room. I want it absolutely spotless by the time breakfast is done." Jane ordered. "Angel, you help too."
"But-"
"Now, Aaron," Bob said sternly.
"Yes, dad." He said with a sigh and trudged out of the kitchen. Angel followed.
"what are we gonna do with those two?" Jane asked helplessly.
Bob shook his head wearily. "I don't know," he said. "I really don't know."
"Nick!" Aaron yelled from the bottom of the stairs. "Hurry up! Let's go!"
Nick flung the door open and ran down the stairs. "Coming, coming! Jeez, what's the matter with you today, AC?" he demanded, pushing his hair out his face.
Aaron grinned. "Just hypo. Come on!"
Nick rolled his eyes and followed his brother. His mother stood outside, waiting. "Did you bring everything?"
"Yep- at least, I think so."
"OK."
They stuffed the packs into the back of the car and piled in. "Everyone in?" Bob asked.
"Let's see… Angel, BJ, mom, Les… and ignore this brat here," Nick put Aaron in a playful headlock and shoved him to the floor. Aaron screamed.
"Nick, stop it," Jane said. "We're all here. Let's go."
The van pulled out of the driveway- Nick frowned as he looked out the window. "Was that a video camera I saw just then?" he asked.
"Yeah- this girl was there since you got back last night." BJ reported.
Nick sighed and said nothing.
The drive was uneventful. as they neared the airport, Nick suddenly remembered something.
"Mom," he said.
"Yes, darling?"
"There might be some trouble at the airport- you know, there might be some fans waiting," he said cautiously.
"You mean a gazillion fans, all screaming and jamming the place down," Lesley piped up.
"Do you have to be that detailed?" Nick asked sourly.
"They might not know that you're going to the airport," Angel said.
"Ang, you don't know them. They know my schedule even before I do."
"Don't worry, sweetie," Jane said, a little smugly. "I took care of it."
"How?" Nick asked, astonished.
"Remember the last promo for the video?"
Nick frowned. "Yeah. I didn't go to that one."
"I know. The reporters asked where we were going for the break anywhere."
"And?"
"I said yes- to the Bahamas."
"Bahamas? We're not going to Bahamas," Aaron echoed. " Are we?"
"No."
BJ frowned. "Mom- was lying really necessary? I mean, I know we don't want any 'interruptions' for our holiday, but-"
"I didn't lie."
They stared at her, puzzled. "huh?"
"I didn't lie," Jane explained. "Cos we are going to Bahamas at next break; not this time."
"But-"
"They asked where we were going, Nick. They didn't ask where we were going now. That's a world of difference." She smiled slightly. "I suppose the part of the airport where Bahamas Planes are leaving are a little crowded right now."
Nick blinked. "Mom, that's brilliant."
"why, thank you dear," Jane said smugly. "I rather thought it was."