Chapter 6
"I want a grilled cheese and soup," AJ sniffled.
Kevin rolled his eyes. "I cannot believe I'm taking your order like I'm a waiter."
AJ pulled his blankets tighter around his small form. "Well, excuse me. I'm sick in a foreign country and my mom isn't here."
"You had to make me feel guilty?"
"That depends....did it work?"
Kevin walked toward the small kitchen. "Yes, AJ."
Brian glanced up from his novel. "Man, I'm tired today. My eyes are blurring up from trying to read."
"Me, too," Nick whispered as he stared at his history book. "Who honestly cares about the Cold War?"
"I'm pretty sure Russians and Americans do," Howie suggested.
Brian sighed. "Anybody for watching 'Cinderella'?"
"Not again," AJ moaned.
Howie shrugged. "There's nothing better to do."
"We could practice!" Kevin shouted from the kitchen.
"It's pretty stupid to practice five-part harmony as four, Kev!" Brian responded.
"OUCH!" Kevin bellowed. "I HATE COOKING!"
Nick wrinkled his nose. "How hard is it to make a grilled cheese?"
Howie stood. "When you have a temper like Kevin's-very hard."
"You gonna' go help Kevin?" Brian laughed.
Howie nodded. "If I don't he'll burn the place down."
"So, how are you feeling, AJ?" Brian asked fidgeting with the tv.
"Like a semi smashed into me."
"That bad?"
AJ hugged his pillow. "You try breathing out of one nostril!"
Nick shrugged. "That wouldn't be a problem. Brian has a big nose."
"Shut up, blondie, do your homework."
"Well, you'd be grumpy too if you had to study the Cold War!"
"Nick, I did have to study the Cold War in the 10th grade. It was boring and lethargic."
"Lethargic?" Nick repeated.
"Monotous," AJ explained.
"Monotous?"
Brian bit his lip. "Icky?"
Nick nodded. "Oh, I got it. Why didn't you just say that in the first place?"
"Hot soup!" Howie sang bringing in the tray.
Kevin entered layered in sweat and cooking oil. "One grilled cheese."
AJ gazed at the blackened sandwich. "Um.....thanks?"
"I hope you like it."
AJ gulped. "Well, it's one sandwich I'm never going to forget."
Nick gasped. "What kind of soup is this?"
"Split-pea," Howie replied.
"Hasn't anyone heard of chicken noodle?" the teen complained.
Brian sighed. "At least, now we know what we're eating. It's a step up from the hotel."
Kevin glanced at the television. "Cinderella, again?"
"At least it's in English," Brian explained.
Nick shut his text book. "What are we doing after lunch?"
"Rehearsal," Kevin instructed.
Nick massaged his forehead closing his eyes. "Man, I felt kind of dizzy all of a sudden."
Brian frowned. "You okay, Nick?"
"I don't know," he whispered lying back against the floor.
Brian rested his hand against his brow. "No fever."
Nick opened his eyes. "Not at all?"
Brian felt his forehead once more. "Not a hint of fever."
"Man!" Nick wailed sitting up. "And I was SO close this time!"
Kevin smirked. "Nice try, kid, eat your soup."
"Nick, don't scare me like that!" Brian coughed sipping his soup.
"You okay, Bri?" Kevin wondered.
He nodded. "Yeah, it was just the taste of the soup."
"Are you trying to tell me I'm a bad cook?"
"He's not trying not tell you-he did tell you," Nick stated.
"Nick......" Kevin growled.
"Yeah?"
"If you don't shut up you're going to be worse off than AJ!"
*********************
"And one, two, three, four!" Howie shouted practicing the dance steps.
Nick mimicked the moves as 'We've Got It Goin' On' played in the background. "I hate this song!"
"Buck up!" Kevin demanded.
"Shhh...." Howie whispered, "AJ's asleep in the bedroom."
Brian shook his head to clear his hazy vision. His muscles were stiff and aching. Moving was suddenly a great task. "Guys...." he panted. "I need....a break." He bent over resting his palms against his knees.
"Just try to keep on going!" Kevin said continuing the steps.
Brian shook his head sitting down. "No....I need a break."
"Okay," Kevin quickly agreed turning off the music.
Howie handed Brian a glass of water. "Sip this."
Kevin knelt down at his side. "You okay?"
"Yeah. My muscles are just out of whack and my vision was blurred."
Kevin frowned. "Has it cleared?"
Brian nodded. "Uh huh. It was okay once I sat down."
"Sounds like you're getting the flu," Howie assested.
"Nah. Just a little tired."
Kevin pressed his hand against his forehead. "You feel a bit warm."
Brian shrugged. "Obviously, we were just dancing."
"You should go take a shower, pop some pills and get some rest," Nick suggested.
Kevin nodded. "Kid's got the right idea."
Brian sighed. "I'm fine."
"Either way a shower, Tynelol and resting couldn't hurt," Kevin stated pulling the smaller man to his feet.
Howie sighed as Brian exited. "So much for practice."
Kevin released a tight breath. "Don't tell that to Lou."
"It really is pointless with only three of us."
"Yeah, to us, not to Big Poppa the pig-eating man who is the reason child-labor laws were invented!" Nick fumed.
Kevin raised his chin. "Now, Nick, when you talk like that I do believe you're sick. You didn't whine or say 'duh.'"