Chapter 4
"AJ! AJ! You're falling behind count!" Kevin shouted.
AJ fumbled his dance moves. "Sorry, Kevin," he whispered with the small amount of volume he had left.
Howie paused. "Kevin, maybe we should stop."
"Nah, I'm cool, D."
Brian groaned. "Why can't we just sing? I hate dancing!"
"Why are we practicing on our day off?" Nick whined.
"Because practice makes perfect!"
The blonde took a deep breath. "But you're Superman...you are perfect!"
"You're falling behind, Nick!"
"Sorry!"
Howie began the final count. "And one, two, three, four-freeze!"
Nick threw himself to the floor. "I hate rehearsals!"
AJ laid down on the couch. "I hate my body!"
Brian clutched his water bottle. "I hate dancing!"
"I hate sweating!" Howie complained cleansing his skin.
"I hate whiners!" Kevin hissed entering the kitchen. "You guys want some drinks?"
"Yeah!" they shouted in return.
Nick sighed. "Howie, do AJ and I have to do our school work?"
"What do you think?"
"I think AJ and I should take the rest of the day to rest and release stress from our young minds."
Brian wiped his face. "You've been listening to therapy discussion programs again, haven't you?"
He shrugged. "I had to, it was the only thing in English on the radio."
Howie smiled. "I promise I'll help you and AJ fly through your lessons, Nicky."
"That's better than taking three damn hours!"
"Language," Howie and Brian sang.
Kevin returned. "Here, guys."
AJ stared at his cup. "You give a sweaty dancer HOT tea?"
"It'll help your throat and clear your voice."
"But they got soda."
"They aren't sick."
AJ took a sip wincing. "Dang, that hurts." He frowned standing rubbing his aching back. "So, much for a drink."
Kevin cocked an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"
"To get a shower."
Nick held his throat. "You know, Kevin, I think my throat is acting up."
Kevin looked up from his cola. "Really, Nick?"
"Uh huh. I definitely think I'm too sick to do homework."
"Nick, shut up. You are not getting out of your homework."
He groaned. "Fiiiiine."
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"Howie, alegbra is gay! It's not right!"
"Why, Nick?"
"Simple. The morons are adding letters to it. That's English!"
Brian and Kevin abrupted into laughter.
The tutor glanced up from the text book. "You guys are not helping!"
Kevin shrugged. "We didn't intend to-we just find the kid's comment damn humorous."
Howie groaned. "AJ, you got that economics done?"
AJ set the book aside lying back against the couch covers. "I'm sorry, D. I just can't concentrate."
His friend frowned noting his pale complexion. "You okay? You don't look so well."
"Thanks, you're beautiful, too."
"I'm serious, AJ."
Kevin stood. "Are you okay, AJ?"
AJ sighed. "My head is pounding, my throat is layered in sand paper, I'm freezing and every muscle in my body has a pulse."
"Sounds like someone has the flu," Kevin chuckled resting his hand on the teen's forehead. AJ pulled away. "Oh, AJ don't be such a big baby."
"So? I don't want you touching my head!" he squeaked.
Kevin sighed pressing his palm against the teen's brow. "He's got a fever all right."
Brian grabbed a Tynelol bottle from his bag. "You should've told us, AJ."
"I thought I had a sore throat and cold." He moaned. "I didn't think every muscle in my body would turn against me, my head would be nailed with a hammer and I'd be freezing."
Howie tossed him a blanket. "Just rest. Now, that you know you've got the flu you have to let it run it's course."
"Does this mean he doesn't have to do his homework?" Nick grumbled.
Brian handed AJ the medicine. "No, Nick, and you know if you were sick you wouldn't have to either."
He pouted. "I'm not that lucky."
"Trust me you don't want this," AJ coughed.
Kevin shook his head picking up the teacher's edition of the alegbra text.
"Come here, Nicky, I'll help you with the math."
Howie gave way to a shocked expression as he searched through the home's First Aid Kit. "You, Kevin? Um......Kev, you're not one for patience."
He nodded. "I know, that's why I'm going to look up the answers for him."
"KEVIN!"
"So, what, Howie? No one will know and Nick won't be so moody and AJ will be able to rest."
Nick placed his hands on his hips. "I am not moody!"
"Whatever. The answer to number two is X over y7."
Brian laughed. "Superman has his faults."
"Ah! Here we are!" Howie proclaimed successfully lifting a thermometer in the air.
"Aw, no!" AJ wailed. "You are not sticking that thing in my mouth!"
Brian wrinkled his nose. "Would you prefer he stuck it somewhere else?"
AJ dropped his jaw while saying," AHHHHH!"