The next morning, everything was back to normal, the usual routines, just like any other touring day. Yet, a sense of uneasiness brooded over them all. It was like a calmness after a violent storm, only, there were restless ripples still lingering, traces of hushed alarm, and worse, another sign of upheaval.
“If this is what it’s going to be for the rest of the tour, I think I’ll stay away.” AJ growled at their breakfast table.
“You’ll get over it soon,” Kevin said absently, his eyes glancing over the program sheet for the day. “And by the way, you’re supposed to check out now.”
“What?” AJ squawked, grabbing the sheet from him. “With whom?”
“Uh…Todd, Mark, and Billy. Nick’s supposed to go too.”
“That’s if he’s coming down,” Howie said meaningfully, glancing at the entrance.
AJ sighed. “Better go and knock his door down then. we’ve got five minutes.” He said wearily, getting up.
“I think Bri’s already at it. By the look of it, he’s not succeeding. ’Luck,” Kevin said absently.
AJ stalked out of the room.
“You reckon he’s still sleeping?” Brian asked exasperatedly.
“I don’t think so,” Rachael said coolly, clearly annoyed. It’s been nearly ten minuets since the two of them stood outside Nick’s door, waiting for him to come out. “If he doesn’t come out soon, I think I’ll pay him a little visit.”
“Rachael, I think we can keep door-kicking off the list for a while?” Brian said half-jokingly, then swallowed as he saw the steely look on her face.
“I thought I might find you here,” AJ said as he came down the corridor. “What’s going on? Nicky’s still sulking?” he saw the look on Rachael’s face and decided to shut up.
“He’s not coming out,” Brian said tiredly. “There’s no sound inside and-”
Suddenly, the door opened, and Nick came out, fully dressed and ready to go. “Hey, man, I’m sorry- am I really late?” he said, smiling brightly. Brian and AJ stared at him, taken aback. If Rachael was surprised, she didn’t show it.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you guys? Is there a frog sitting on my head?” Nick asked, sounding puzzled. He slapped AJ on the shoulder, grinning. “C’mon, Boner. Don’t stand there like an idiot. We have to move.” With that remark, he walked past them, down to the lift.
“Okay, just tell me that I’m imagining it,” AJ said finally.
“You’re imagining,” Rachael said shortly, following Nick down the hallway.
AJ shook his head. “I’m surrounded by weirdoes,” he muttered.
Brian cuffed him playfully. “You used to be more funny. Now come on.” Rachael was right. Nick was fine.
Why would they think otherwise?
It rained heavily. Rachael leaned back inher seat, deep in thought. Her eyes followed a rivulet of water trickling down the cold glass, her eyes like glass itself. Rain. Storm. Memories. Almost cruelly, she snatched the thread of thought back again. She might think about it later. Right now… a gray soaked scenery stretched out before her, almost, matching the atmosphere.
So.
A noise disturbed her musing. AJ coming out of the driver’s area, stuffing his cell into his oversized jacket. He did that often, Rachael realised. In, out. In, out. It often drove her to distraction, but she ignored it.
“Pretty wet, huh?” He said casually.
Glancing at him, she nodded slightly.
“Depressing, isn’t it? Nothing like a storm on a touring day. I hate it. Don’t you? I mean, of course no one likes getting soaked, but inside this bus is even more cramped and-”
“I don’t mind it,” Rachael snapped finally, her face set.
AJ’s next words trailed away into thin air. He shrugged, standing up. “But then it’s only my opinion,” he mumbled and walked away, muttering something about impoliteness and common courtesy.
Again, Rachael ignored it. she reached over and grabbed her notes, studying it for some kind of pattern, something she could pick out. Nothing.
“Okay, man. Later,” Nick’s voice drifted out from the back area. She could hear him coming, although he sounded like he was trying not to. It was all she could do to stop herself from sighing in exasperation. Why did he persist in this childish game?
Nick walked over, grinning at Carlos in passing, and slid into the seat behind Rachael. She didn’t move.
“Since I’m in this anyway, how about telling me what’s going on?” he said in a deceptively casual voice, although low enough for her alone to hear.
“You’re rational again.” She replied, not even looking up.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
There was a pause. “Last night you were…out of sorts.” Was there a slight irritation in her voice?
“I know I was,” he nearly snapped, then forced himself to calm down. “Were you actually planning to just leave me in the dark and do this any way you please?”
“You wanted to be left alone, if my memory serves me correctly,” she replied, unruffled.
“That was yesterday,” he growled, then realized how unfair that sounded. He waited for the inevitable cool reprimand. Instead, Rachael just shook her head slightly and didn’t answer.
Nick turned his head to look at the passing scenery for a while. Then he began, “All right. so what’s going to happen now?”
“I don’t know.”
He couldn’t believe it! the woman won’t tell him what’s going on, now she even hid the plans from him as well! “What do you mean, you don’t know?” he demanded.
“I mean I don’t know,” Rachael snarled. Nick jumped involuntarily. After a moment, she said calmly, “I said to you yesterday that we had a lead. Until the results come out form the lab, my hands are tied.”
He sat back in his seat, frustration gnawing at him. It had taken him two hours since dawn-he didn’t sleep a wink- to work on the cheerful, maybe over-rated façade. He was showing a side of him, what he used to be, which he didn’t feel. It was his problem. No reason to bring the others down with it. he just hoped it would work so they wouldn’t bother him anymore than they already were. Well, maybe Rachael saw through it, but he was pretty sure he puled it off with the others. Even Brian seemed to believe him.
If he could hold on to it for just a little more…
“Hey Nick, wanna set up the Dreamcast? We’ll have about an hour or so.” Brian poked his head in.
Switch face time. He grinned. “Sure. I’m gonna kick your sorry butt.”
“Same threats, same ending. You know I’m better then you. admit it.”
“Over my dead body!” Nick yelled, then winced at the stinging irony of it. “Be right there, man.”
As he got up to leave, Rachael said quietly, “Keep it simple.”
He whirled around. “What?”
She was apparently engrossed in a stack of papers. “Simple lies are the best. Don’t complicate it.”
He looked at her for a long time, then left.
Rachael looked up for a moment, then met Carlos’ eyes. There was a faint tinge of contempt and some other emotion there. Whatever it was, she couldn’t define it clearly, but it came close to hatred. Unperturbed, she went back to matching up the pattern.
As they came into the venue, Billy approached Nick.
“You’re mom’s here, man.”
Nick stifled a groan. Out of all the bad timing…! Wait a minute. He turned his head to look at Rachael, suspicion dawning on him. She wouldn’t have told his mom, would she?
But then, why wouldn’t she?
Rachael looked occupied elsewhere, standing slightly apart from others. She didn’t look too pleased about something. Might as well he left her guessing, he thought a bit smugly. His bright attitude has astonished everyone this morning, and relief. He joked with them, laughed even. If he could hold it out a bit longer…
He turned back to Billy. “How long has she been here?”
“About two to three hours. Aaron’s here too, by the way.”
THAT was a surprise. Before he could move, Aaron came running in, followed closely by his mom. “There you are! What the heck took you so long?” Aaron demanded, giving him a hug that nearly suffocated him.
“Hey Air-boy,” Nick said affectionately. “what are you doing here?”
“Mom said I could come.” Aaron looked up at him. “Remember I’m on a break?”
Nick blinked.
“Obviously not,” Aaron muttered and broke away.
“He’s just tired,” Jane told Nick, turning her attention on him. After a moment, she said critically, “You don’t look too bad.”
“Thanks mom,” Nick said dryly. “I’m glad to see you too.” Composure, easiness. Look normal, he reminded himself. Composure. Relax.
The dark crimson letters flashed in his mind again.
I love you…to death…
To death…
“Nick?”
He blinked again, and his vision cleared. Jane was looking at him with worry and anxiety written across her face. “You all right, sweetie? You looked…” she trailed away, gently touching his cheek. For once Nick’s determination failed. He felt like breaking down and telling her everything. But how could he when he didn’t know himself what the hell was going on?
Damn you, he seethed at his faceless enemy. Do I have to lie even to her?
“I’m all right,” he muttered, hugging her. “I’m all right.”
Nothing will ever be all right.
Ever.
