Chapter 4
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"Kit, can I ask you a question?" Nick pondered as he stepped out of the drug store following the redhead down the sidewalk.
"Sure, Nick."
"Does Kevin really want me to stay? Or is he just lettin' me because you got him to?"
Kit bit her lip looking over her shoulder at the thirteen-year-old. "Nick, Kevin wouldn't have extended the invitation if he didn't want you."
The blonde fidgeted from side to side attempting to keep his body warm in the cold air. "But sometimes people let you in their homes and really don't want you. I don't wanna' stay there if I'm not really wanted. Nobody ever really wanted me."
"How could you say that? Of course people have wanted you to be a part of their lives."
Nick shook his head from side to side his blonde bangs falling into his eyes. "Not really."
Kit knelt down fixing his hair. "Well, I have a feeling your life is about to change, Mr. Carter."
"Really?"
"Uh huh. Think about how much you've already done in the short time you've been here."
Nick squinted as the sunlight came into his eyes. "Like what?"
"Well," Kit said taking a seat on an empty bench. "You've given Brian a much needed friend."
"That don't mean anything special," Nick argued plopping down beside her. "Brian's already got a friend in AJ and your sister. What's her name again?"
"Her name is Patti," Kit answered. "But I don't see any reason why Brian couldn't use another friend. People around here need all the friends they can get, they're in short supply."
"Kit, how do you know your home?" Nick asked abruptly.
The nineteen-year-old pulled her thin coat closer to her body thinking of the correct answer. "Well..I'm not really sure, Nick. Everybody has to answer that question for themselves."
"Oh," he sulked turning his head away. "Then, I guess I never will know."
"Well, I could give you my opinion, if you like," Kit volunteered gently placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I'd like that," Nick answered looking at her hopefully.
"I think home is a place where you can be angry, sad or even happy. But, no matter what emotion you're experiencing you still feel comfortable, because you're okay to be yourself. That the people there love you and want to help you, and that you're safe."
"You're real smart, aren't you?" Nick whispered watching his breath turn into small icy puffs in the cold air.
The auburn-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm so smart I got out of high school and started singing in a sleazy club where people don't care about me. Nick, I'm not exactly the definition of the word 'smart'."
"You aren't happy working there?" Nick pondered gazing up at her.
Kit sighed ruffling his mane. "You ask a lot of questions, you know that?"
"Oh, sorry," he apologized as a red coloring began to paint his cheeks.
"It's okay," she assured him. "You won't learn anything if you don't ask questions."
"Cool," Nick muttered beginning to shiver as the cold breeze blew roughly onto his skin.
"Well," Kit said standing, "we better get back to the diner."
Nick pulled himself off the bench dragging along behind her. "What if the people don't like me at the diner? Will Kevin get mad? What if-"
"Nick," the young singer interjected cutting him off. "You'll just have to wait and see."
********************************
"Aw, he is just the cutest thing!"
"Look at those big, blue eyes!"
Kevin shook his head watching the elderly women in the diner's booths shower Nick in compliments as he brought their glasses of water to the table.
"Kevin," Nick grunted wiping the lipstick from his cheek. "Those women were kissing me, hugging me and calling me 'pumpkin'!"
The older man smirked at the pouting boy. "Well, Nick, you always wanted a family. It looks like you just inherited a few grandmothers."
The blonde pushed his shaggy hair from his eyes. "Well, maybe I should change my mind."
"Well," Kevin said preparing the women's appetizers, "a lot of times grandmothers shower their grandchildren with gifts and money. But if you don't want to take them the food-"
Nick lifted his head, taking the tray from the older worker's grasp. "I'll do it."
Kevin fought off a smile watching the youth venture back toward the women to be drown in affection once again.
"The kid's really something," the owner commented watching Nick flashing a charming grin at the customers as they filled his pockets with tips.
"Oh, he's something all right, Tony," Kevin sighed glancing back over his shoulder at the Italian. "But as to what I'm not sure."
The man released a loud laugh patting his back. "Only time will tell, Kev. Ya' know, I've been thinking about something."
"What's that?"
"What a good worker you are, Richardson."
"Well, thank you very much," Kevin replied politely flipping the sizzling burgers in the skillet. "I'm thankful to have this job, Tony, the least I can do is be a good worker to you."
"You're more than a good worker. You help keep this place standing. So, I'm giving you a raise."
"Ah, thank you, Mr.Angelo, but that's not necessary."
His boss shook his head. "Look, I appreciate the fact that you don't like to have things handed to you on a silver platter; but this isn't charity. You've earned it, Kevin. Besides, if you were makin' a little more maybe your cousin wouldn't have to work so many hours."
The employee allowed his expression to fall. "Well, I would feel better if Brian had a little more time to be a normal teenager. More time to dedicate to his homework and friends."
"And girls?" Tony pondered his forehead rising as he spoke.
Kevin's broad shoulders shook slightly as he allowed himself to release a small chuckle. "Tony, is this a new hobby of yours? Trying to see if my cuz and I have girls in our lives?"
His boss rolled his eyes as he caculated the diner's daily earnings. "A guy'd have to be blind not to see the way you two are taken with the O'Day sisters."
"Oh, please," Kevin groaned ringing the bell to signal the waiter as he finished another dish. "Brian and Patti are just friends, and as for Kit and I...well.."
"Speechless, eh?"
The green-eyed man turned away focusing on his work once again, permitting the conversation to come to an end.
"Well, Richardson, you might be living in denial," Mr.Angelo stated glancing at the people coming through the diner's door, "but your cousin has acted on his feelings."
Kevin looked toward the door to see Brian escorting Kit's younger sister, Patti, into the building.
"Hey, Kev," Brian said uneasily. "Um..Patti and I had some homework to work on."
"Really?" Kevin questioned his brow arching as he studied his cousin's face. "Hi, Patti," he said throwing a quick glance her way.
The petite brunette gave a small grin, lifting her hand in a gentle wave as she remained silent.
"Yeah," Littrell said with more assurance. "We just have a little planning to do for our, um, science project."
"Didn't you two just finish up some science project? On the solar system?"
"Well, this is a new project," his younger cousin interjected.
Kevin nodded. "I see. Well, things are pretty slow right now. And it appears all the customers are takin' with Nick anyway. So, go on."
"Thanks," Brian replied relief washing over him. "C'mon, Patti," he directed guiding her to two empty seats at the counter.
"Are you sure your cousin's okay with this?" Patti whispered looking up at him.
"Aw, yeah," he answered with ease as he stepped behind the counter. "Kevin's a softie."
Patti's lip frowned in reaction to his statement. "Oh, really?"
Brian blushed retrieving them both a soda. "Okay, so sometimes he can be a bit of a hard ass."
"Oh, I don't have any money," Patti told him nervously noticing the drink he had placed before her.
Brian shrugged plopping down beside her. "That's okay, it's my treat."
"Oh, well, thank you," she said gently smiling up at him.
"So, um, how was school?" the teenager asked randomly in an attempt to make conversation.
Patti rested her hands on the countertop giggling. "Pretty normal. You should know you were there, silly."
"Yeah," he muttered his cheeks flushing with color. "You know, I heard there's some sort of dance this Saturday."
"Yeah," Patti whispered sliding her fingertips over the rim of her coke bottle. "Some dance at the school, yeah?"
"Uh huh." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, if you were, uh, considering...."
"DANG!" Nick Carter gasped loudly as he joined the young pair. "Old women are loaded!"
"Hi, Nick," Brian grumbled.
"Look, at this, Brian!" Nick beamed showing him the numerous dollar bills. "I'm rich!"
"Yeah, you're real rich," Brian replied. "But don't count your tips in front of customers. It pisses Kevin off. And that, I wouldn't recommended."
"Oh, okay!" Nick exclaimed shoving the money back into his pockets.
The older teen glanced at Nick's new outfit. "Where'd the new duds come from?"
"Kit took me shopping!"
"Oh, speaking of the O'Day Family," Brian grinned turning toward Patti. "Nick, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This Patti O'Day."
Nick grinned looking at the teenager. She was petite girl, with brown wavy locks dangling at her shoulders and dark brown eyes. "Hey, I'm Nick!" he greeted. "You must be Kit's sister."
She nodded. "Yeah, Kit's my sister."
"She's cool!"
Patti grinned. "She can be."
The small blonde leaned against the counter. "Guess what, Patti?"
"What?"
"Brian thinks you're really pretty and nice! But if you don't like Brian, that's okay, because AJ McLean thinks you're pretty too!"
The shy brunette lowered her head, her cheeks turning bright red. "Wow, I didn't know I was so popular."
Nick nodded. "Yeah, and Kevin thinks your sister is hot."
Brian wore a forced smile. "Nick," he said through his teeth, "don't you have more customers to check on?"
"Yeah," Nick replied grinning as he watched an elderly couple entering through the door. "I want to go wait on more old people!"
Patti looked up at Brian slowly. "Your new friend is interesting."
"Isn't he," Brian groaned.
A hopeful grin graced the brown-eyed beauty's lips. "Was there something you wanted to ask me?"
"Oh, well I..."
"BRIAN!" Kevin shouted from the kitchen. "The orders are coming in pretty fast now. I'm going need you to start waiting tables!"
"Okay," Brian sighed standing. "Well, I gotta' go."
"Yeah, me too," Patti stated sliding out of the chair. "I'll see you later?"
"Yeah, later."
"Okay, thanks for the coke," she said buttoning up her coat. "See ya' in school tomorrow."
Brian Littrell sighed watching her walk away, then, made his way into the ktichen area. "Kevin?" he said as he began tying a waiter's apron around his waist.
"Yeah?" his cousin responded sliding more meals onto the silver top, ringing the bell.
"How can we teach Nick not be so blunt?"
Kevin smirked. "You want my suggestion?"
"Yeah."
"If I were you I wouldn't let him anyway near AJ McLean and sees if that helps the problem."
Brian rolled his eyes. "But he'll see him in a few hours when we have dinner."
Kevin shrugged. "In that case, Bri, you're screwed."