Nick shot him a look. “Shut up, AJ.” He growled before walking away.
AJ saw the others looking disapprovingly at him and shrugged. “What?” he said defensively. “You told me to be cheerful.”
“If that’s your way of being cheerful, AJ, I think I’ll hire a clown next time,” Kevin frowned.
“Ah, I don’t think so. We have one right here,” AJ patted Brian’s head over the seat in front of him.
“Get that hand off my head, man,” Brian said almost casually, flicking through a magazine, “Or I’ll loose Tyke on you.”
AJ quickly retrieved his hand and shuddered dramatically. “Nasty little dog. You know, I don’t like him.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” Brian said absently.
Rachael came in, as hard-faced as ever. She barely looked at them before disappearing down the way Nick went.
“Man, I think she’s made out of stone sometimes,” AJ whispered.
“I can think of a face to crack on it,” Brian murmured.
“Hey!” AJ protested indignantly.
The bus roared into life.
Nick listened to the others talking and turned over on his bunk, staring up at the blank smooth planks, taking deep breaths. The bus gently rocked back and forward. Where were they going?
He didn’t know. He didn’t care.
“You can’t shut yourself away forever,” Rachael said thoughtfully.
He turned over and saw her leaning against the bunks on the opposite wall. For a moment, he surveyed her. Her auburn hair, and hard, angular face, almost chiselled out rock, unperturbed. Her easy stance, looking at total ease in jeans and jacket. Eyes like hard rock quartz, twin blaze of blue boring into you, almost to your soul. He hadn’t forgotten the time she had dictated to him his biography, or the time she was furious with him…which was more than often, he realized. He wondered if she ever laughed. Or smiled. Then he wondered why he was wondering. But it was a curious thought, nevertheless.
“Are you quite done examining me?” she drawled, crossing her arms.
He flushed, grinning sheepishly. “I guess I was thinking about the answer,” he said quickly.
A brow rose ever so slightly. “And?”
He shifted. “I don’t know,” he said finally, serious. “I guess I don’t want others to know about it.”
“You’re being more obvious that way,” she pointed out.
He shrugged. “Either way, they don’t have to know.” He looked at her then. “Aren’t you supposed to be mad at me?”
“Supposed?” she sounded slightly insulted. Or was it just his imagination?
“For going off at you this morning.” He grinned, and was surprised at himself. He was going crazy.
“I know you did.” She said shortly.
He waited. “And?” he said sarcastically, throwing her words back at her face. He knew he was baiting her, like baiting a cat with a fishbone. About to get scratched, he thought wryly.
I don’t care.
Rachael looked like she was trying to stay cool. “I don’t see why I should tell you the details about my thoughts,” she nearly snapped. Nearly.
Nick pulled a ridiculously innocent face. “Aw, come on, don’t you trust me?” he drawled.
“Grow up.” She said flatly before moving out of his line of vision. Nick rolled over and went back to his staring, then chuckled suddenly. Well, he’s done it. Made her tick.
Again.
He sobered and frowned thoughtfully. He had made her angry, furious, but that was the only side of her he saw. The only side he knew. His musing returned to the subject of her personality. Did she ever laugh? Or smile? For all he knew, she was a resurrected stone statue. Then it hit him that he didn’t know anything about his protector. That definitely didn’t sound good, he cringed. Protector? He felt queasy at the thought. But back to the subject. He frowned, concentrating. What did he know about her? He thought hard, and could only come up with her name. Great start, he thought wryly. He turned over again. Okay, so he knew her name. Fine. What else? Where was she from? Did she go to school? Did she have family?
Then it hit him. How old was she? Was she married? He remembered the Navy Captain a few weeks back. Well, she was tied in a relationship somehow, he concluded. Now that it was out in the open, his curiosity was unstoppable. He was thinking fast now. If he could get the details on her somehow…
Why do you want to know anyway? A tiny voice in his head jeered.
He ignored it. How could he get the information? Mike? Maybe. But he would ask him what for. One of the executives? They’d burrow their noses in as well. Julian? What a joke, he thought derisively. He dismissed the potential people one by one, until only one person was left on his list. He grinned to himself.
Time for some hard work.
Curiosity killed the cat…
He felt like laughing again.
(AN- uh, no, before you ask, he’s not going crazy.)
Mike was waiting for them as they came in.
“You’re early,” AJ noted.
Kevin saw the grim look on their tour manager’s face and frowned. “What’s up?” he asked.
Mike regarded them with a resigned expression on his face. “Finelight called. They can’t negotiate it with their lawyers. Tonight’s your last show for the next two weeks, guys.”
They stared at him, not believing it. “You mean…”
Mike stood up. “You’re flying out to the photoshoot location in the morning. You’d better start packing tonight. It’s going to be hell on the loose tomorrow.”
“Great,” Brian muttered, “Great, great, great.”
“Tomorrow? Isn’t that a bit short time to get everything done?” Howie demanded.
Mike sighed. “As soon as the order came from Jive, they’ve been working. That’s five hours ago. Considering the time, I think they’ll be ready by early in the afternoon tomorrow. Just in time to start. I’d better get going,” he said, then left them alone.
“Well, I guess the explaining is up to us,” AJ said disgustedly. “Yay.”
“I still think it’s short,” Howie complained.
“You heard the man,” Kevin said resignedly. “I guess there’s nothing to it.”
“How ‘bout we sue them?” Brian snapped. “To hell with the stupid photo shoot. Why do we have to change our schedule because some asshole couldn’t manage his business properly?”
“It’s a bit too late now, ‘Rok,” AJ pointed out. “Whether we like it or not, we go.”
“It’s still too short,” Howie said again.
Nick wasn’t listening. He had another problem to deal with. God save me from days like this, he gritted silently and turned to go.
“Yo Nick, where are you-” Kevin winced slightly as the door slammed forcefully.
“He’s in a mood,” Howie said, surprised. “I thought he slept it off.”
“Obviously not,” Brian retorted, then stormed out as well, slamming the door harder.
“I told you we needed a hardware manager,” AJ said thoughtfully, looking at the door.
© 2000 Copyright ‘The Bodyguard’
