“Turn! Turn! Bree, turn the OTHER way.” Nick was laughing as her car crashed yet again. They were playing Driver 2 and this last hit had rendered her car useless. “You know, the idea of the game is to actually deliver the car in one piece. I can’t believe I’ve actually ridden in a car with you driving.”

“Ha ha. You may be the better video game player, even these driving games, but I am by far the better driver in real life.”

“Keep dreamin.”

“Shall we pull driving records and compare?” She arched an eyebrow at him and he just sat back and chuckled.

“Okay, I concede, give in, something. At least for now. How ‘bout something to drink? Mountain Dew?” He was already up and grabbing for the refrigerator.

“You’re not going anywhere near Kevin after you drink that are you?” She teased as he handed her a can.

“Nope. Not today. Tomorrow morning is a different story. Early morning interview after a late night talking with you absolutely calls for at least 2 cans of Dew before I can face anyone.”

She laughed. “Well, I’m glad I’m not gonna be near you two then. Kevin’s gonna be practically ready to strangle you when it’s all done.”

“Nah. He’s getting’ used to it by now. It’s become a daily necessity.”

“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that.” She said before taking a sip.

“What daily Dew intake?” One large gulp followed by one equally large belch.

“Attractive. No, the reason why you need to drink so much caffeine. You all just seem so tired.” She countered with a belch of her own. “See much better.”

Laughing he sat back down on the couch. “You’re the only girl I know who will do that, in front of me anyway.”

“That’s because most of the girls you hang out with or date are prissy and coy. But don’t change the subject. What’s going on, Nick? I mean, yeah, things have been stressed between us, so I probably don’t realize everything with this tour. But, it just seems like more than normal tour stuff.” She was sitting on the floor looking up at him and knew something was up when he started looking at his feet.

“Ah, Bree. Just stuff. We’re all growing up, changing, ya know. It’s like before we all had a common goal. Now that we’ve reached that, instead of creating a new common goal, everyone seems to have a separate one. Not that it’s bad, just different. It’s like learning to live with each other all over again, ya know. Except, before we were forced to talk and share by always being on the same bus, sharing hotel rooms, etc. Now, it’s like we ‘take care of business’ and retreat to the isolation of our buses. It’s like we’re just 5 guys up on stage doing a job, rather than 5 friends and brothers, performing and doing what they love- together.” Well, that’s part of it. Part of what I feel anyway. At least she listens to me.

Brianna set her drink down and got up to sit next to Nick putting her arm around his shoulder. “Nick, you guys will always be brothers. But you’re right, you all have grown up, but not apart. I know how much they all mean to you and I know you mean that much to them.” She stopped when he shook his head no.

“I don’t think so Bree. It’s like none of them seem to have time for me anymore. There’s so much stuff going on none of us seems to have time for anyone. Any free time we do manage Brian spends with Leighanne, either with her or on the phone with her. Howie’s always got something going on, ya know. Kevin’s either busy or on my ass about something. And AJ,” Nick did not want to talk about this yet. “Well, AJ’s just AJ. Crazy as hell and all over the place, ya know.” Not wanting to put all this on her Nick still couldn’t help leaning his head down on her shoulder. It felt good to talk, even if it was only about part of it.

“Nick, I don’t know what to tell you to make everything better. I wish I did. All I know is that the 5 of you love each other, and at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, that’s all that’s gonna matter.” She leaned back on the couch letting him lie down with his head in her lap. Once there she combed her finger through his hair, knowing this always calmed him. “Having different goals and different wants doesn’t have to be a bad thing. You all are adults now it’s only natural for you to have some different interests. I don’t know if that helps. I’m not out there with you, Hon, so I guess I really can’t understand exactly what’s going on. Just hold on, okay. Just keep holding on."

“Yeah, I know. I guess it just gets me down sometimes. I’m telling you too much time alone on these busses does strange things to us.”

“God help us all then, cause you were already strange to begin with, all of you.” He smiled a little. “If it’s that bad being alone on the bus, then don’t. Talk with Brian or AJ, spend the time on one of their busses or have one of them join you. Even if it is just for a few hours.

He took one of her hands and started playing with her fingers. “Yeah, I guess. I guess I just don’t know what to do really. I’m tired, I’m bored, frustrated, stressed, just so much negative stuff and no end to it in sight. At least, not yet. Not till this tour’s over and it’s only in the first leg. Maybe things will get better as we go along. This is such a huge tour, major major production, ya know. Maybe that’s what’s kickin’ our ass so much? All I do know, is right now, I’m glad you’re here.” He was looking up at her and smiling when his cell phone rang. “Be right back, k?”

Getting up he went to answer. “Hello.”

“Nick, its Kevin. Sorry to interrupt your time with Brianna. By the way, how’s it going?” Kevin was very happy to see Brianna and know that she and Nick had made up. Those two had been like two peas in a pod ever since they met.

“No prob Kev. It’s going good. Kickin’ her ass at games.” He giggled when she yelled that he cheated. “And just laying around talking. What’s up?” He had a clue, but didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

“I know you were with Brianna last night, but did you happen to hear from AJ? Know when he came in?” There was definite worry in Kevin’s voice.

“Nah man, sorry. We fell asleep shortly after 3, but didn’t hear anything. Somethin’ wrong?” **Sigh** Please let everything be okay, just for today, just for while she’s here.

“Not really. Not now anyway. His bus was late leavin’. I think he came in and went straight to the bus. So, I don’t know what he was out doin’ all night. Do you have any idea what he’s been up too? I know you two have been pretty close lately.”

“Kev, just stuff, ya know. Hangin’ out, meetin’ people. I guess he’s just got his days and nights reversed.” Nick sighed again. He knew there was more, much more, but he didn’t want to talk about it now. Not over the phone and not with Brianna sitting right there. Not that’d she’d say anything, it’s just not a conversation he wanted at that moment.

“Yeah, I’m worried about him, Brian too. We were hoping maybe you had more insight.”

“Have you talked with Howie about it?” Howie had to know something was up, too.

“Yeah, I think we all need to have a meeting, and soon. This is just getting far too out of control. Look, sorry to interrupt your time with Brianna. We’re gonna stop soon to get something to eat, you guys hungry?”

“Yeah, I could go for something. Bree, you wanna get something to eat? She’s nodding her head yes. See ya soon.”

<~ Chapter 15 or Chapter 17 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003