Nick packed his bags ready to go back on tour. He had been staying with his family for the past few weeks and it was now time to go back to rehearsals for the new tour.
"Nick, come and play basketball with me!" Aaron asked, running into Nick's room.
Nick looked out of the window it was a beautiful day, he should be out in the sunshine. But he had to pack...
"Sure bro, but give me a moment to finish packing. Ten minutes?".
Aaron ran outside and bounced the ball around waiting. Nick carried on packing. The following morning he would fly out to rehearsals, then there would be the VMAs in New York, then the tour would start a few days after.
Nick sneezed, then reached for a tissue to blow his nose. He had the 'flu and didn't feel too good. He would rather be tucked up in bed.
His mom passed the room. "Are you OK sweetie?" she asked.
He nodded. "Well I don't feel too good," he said, tossing the tissue in the trash.
She hugged him. "Will you be OK to go on tour like this?".
"I have to," Nick said. "I can't let the guys down, or the fans,". He put a few more shirts in his bag then stood up. "I promised Aaron a game of basketball," he said.
"Aaron will be sad to see you go back on tour," Jane said. "So will all of us. It's been lovely having you here his month as we don't get to see you much,".
"I'll miss you all too," Nick told her as they walked down the stairs. "I'd rather stay here with you all, but I have to go on tour, I can't get out of it,".
"Well your father could go on tour with you maybe. And we can come and see a few shows,".
"That'll be great,". Nick was pleased he still had his family. They really cared about him. He wondered where he'd be if he hadn't gone to stay with them. They had been great- they had kept him occupied and he had hardly thought about Sarah. Plus he had managed to have a good rest from touring. He didn't want to go back on the road. It'll be lonely, he thought sadly.
Nick and Aaron played basketball all afternoon and had a great time. "Let's stop now," Nick said, sitting on a sun lounger by the pool and pushing a strand of hair out of his eyes.
"Mom can we have a barbecue tonight?" Aaron asked his mother.
"I don't see why not," she said. "Go and ask your father to set it up,".
The family had their barbecue out in the evening sun. "How are you now?" Jane asked Nick.
"Not too bad, I've got a bit of a headache," Nick said, his voice croaking a bit. "But I'm over the worst of the 'flu,".
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" BJ asked Nick.
"I have to be at LAX for twelve noon," he informed her. "Are you all coming to see me off?" he asked.
They all said they would. Nick smiled, his family were so sweet.
The next day, Nick waved to his family as he boarded the plane at LAX, ready to fly out to the rehearsals. He had tears in his eyes, he missed them already.
He sat in his seat and put on his personal CD player and got out his Gameboy. They kept him occupied for most of the flight.
After landing, he got out of the plane and found his car waiting for him. He was driven to where rehearsals would take place.
He looked out of the window at the busy streets. Nobody seemed to be alone. Except for him. He had no-one now.
The other guys would have their girlfriends with them. He had no girlfriend. His family were hundreds of miles away. He would be alone again.
I hope this tour goes by real quick so I can get back home with my family, he thought sadly.
Out of the car window he saw a couple sitting on a wall, kissing. Nick frowned. That could have been me and Sarah- kissing, so in love with each other. He tried hard not to cry. He missed having a girlfriend, someone to be by his side every day.
How can I survive three months on the road alone?