Chapter 3
"Damn!" AJ coughed pounding his chest.
Howie rubbed his eyes. "Just relax try to get some sleep."
Brian sighed. "Sleep? Why bother it's wake up time!"
"I don't feel good!" Nick hissed.
Kevin rolled his eyes sitting up on the couch. "Nick, I don't want to hear it. AJ's already sick I just can't handle you today."
Nick made his way to the bathroom. "Man, one day I'll get 'ya."
"Oh, no, ya' don't!" Brian sang lifting Nick in the air. "The bathroom is mine!"
"B-but," Nick whined as his friend tossed him into Howie.
Howie helped Nick to land on his feet. "This is gonna' be a long day!"
Kevin shook his head. "You can say that again!" He stretched. "How do you feel, AJ?"
"Actually, pretty good. I just have a small cough."
Howie raised an eyebrow. "Small? And call me crazy.......but you barely have a voice."
Suddenly, the loud phone began to ring. Kevin groaned. "Who in their right mind would call at this time!" He picked up the extension. "Hello?" He paused. "Hi, Johnny..... What?..... Yes, I'll tell them." He paused once more. "No, Mr.Wright, I'm not going to complain, however, that doesn't mean I'm pleased." He laid the phone back down.
"What's up?" Howie wondered.
"They rented us a small house outside the studio."
Nick crossed his arms. "How small is 'small'?"
"One room."
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"It's not so bad," Brian stated examining the small European cottage.
Howie nodded. "Yeah, two beds in the bedroom and two couches in the family room."
Nick opened the refridgerator door. "Dude! Food I can identify! I like this place."
Kevin set in the comfy recliner. "I must admit I'm impressed."
Howie tested the couch. "Ah, this is the life!"
"No, 'the life' would be five rooms," AJ commented quietly.
Kevin smiled. "I gotta' hand it to you, AJ, you're a trooper. You really tried your damnest in the studio today."
He coughed. "Yeah, a lot of good it did me. Max wouldn't let me sing."
"You can't blame him, Alex, you're in no shape to perform vocally."
Brian rested against the sofa. "I don't think Max or Dennis were feelin' too hot today. This flu is really hittin' our staff."
Kevin nodded. "And AJ."
The teen rolled his eyes. "I don't have the flu. This is a bad cold."
Nick ran into the living room happily. "Look!" He hugged a loaf of bread and a bowl of butter.
"Hallejah!" Brian chanted.
Kevin grinned. "Real food!" As he lifted a piece into his hand the phone rang. "Damn that Johnny!"
Howie frowned. "I'll get it." He hestaintly answered. "Hello? Yes, Johnny...... Oh, that is a shame..........Well, we understand.... And Fatima can't make it in?...... Uh-huh......And Lou?..........Hmm mmm.....No...........All of them?... You,too?.......Okay, Mr.Wright, goodbye."
Kevin grimaced. "What the hell was that about?"
Howie smiled. "Good news. Conrad, Dennis, Max AND Johnny have the flu."
"How is that good news?"
"Well, Fatima and Lou can't fly in and the rest of the staff is sick.....We have three days off."
"THREE?" Brian and Nick exclaimed.
Kevin lifted a hand calming them down. "What's the catch, D?"
"We are expected to do interviews over the phone and work on the acapella pieces and dances we already know. Along with not leaving the house. No partying or clubbing we have to try to stay well."
Nick sighed. "I feel like a prisoner in Backstreet boot camp."
Brian nodded. "You said it, kid."
"Look, at it this way, Nick, you don't have to wake up at five in the morning," Howie suggested.
"All right! And no tutoring from Johnny?"
Howie shook his head. "No, your lessons are here and we have to give them to you and AJ."
AJ snorted. "The three of you?"
"Well, I will," Howie re-explained.
Nick stuffed his mouth with the bread. "I knew it was too good to be true!"
"You know if four of us are sick everything keeps going because 'we have to keep going', but everyone on the production side goes down everything stops."
Brian shrugged. "It's always been one-sided, Kevin."
"Well, cheer up guys we have three days to ourselves!" Howie said buttering his bread. He glanced at his best friend. "AJ, you want some?"
"Nah."
Brian handed the teen a drink. "Are you sure this is just a cold?"
AJ sniffled. "Yeah, just not a fan of bread and butter."
"Want me to make you some hot tea?" Howie offered.
"No, thanks."
Kevin lifted his chin. "Drink it, Alex."
"But tea is so gross!" AJ coughed.
"Drink it anyway, you sound like a car engine that won't start with that throat and cough."
"But...."
Kevin stared at the rebel. "If you don't drink the tea I'll have Nick cook something for you to swallow."
AJ shuddered. "Tea sounds great, Superman."