Chapter 3

(Nick's point-of-view)

"Brian, this will be so much fun!" I beamed as I adjusted the sheets on my bed to resemble a sleeping body.

He fumbled with his sheets. "Yeah, a lot of fun! Not knowing where we're going, having no idea what to do and most likely we'll get caught!"

I rolled my eyes. Since when was he a party pooper? "Brian, we won't get caught."

"How do you know?"

"I just know."

"Oh, that's not very reassuring, Nick."

Well, it was good enough for me....."What do you want to do, Bri?"

"What do I want to do?" he repeated. "I want to go downstairs and tell Kev I feel better and practice."

"Brian...." I whined. "You promised you'd come!"

I made a mental note: next time I want to skip ask AJ. He gives ideas not sermons.

My friend sighed giving the bed a final pat. "Yes, I did promise."

"And it's not like you haven't skipped before! You admitted it in some magazine interview!"

"Yeah, but I also got caught!"

"That's because you weren't smart. Now, you know better."

"Know better? Knowing better would've been going to practice."

"Would you quit gabbing? If you don't shut up this entire scheme will be pointless and I won't get to do anything on our time off!"

"Fine, fine. Where are we going?"

I shrugged placing a thin jacket over my shoulders. "I dunno, let's just hop on a bus and see where we end up!"

"You've got to be kidding, that's ridiculous!"

"No, it's not. You and I aren't use to driving in Europe. Remember? They drive on the OTHER side of the show!"

"And if we get noticed?"

"Hello! It's called a disguise, Brian."

"They've never worked before."

"Well, they will this time!" I said tossing him a Lakers cap.

He grimaced. "The Lakers? You know I'm a Kentucky fan!"

And Kevin makes blonde joke about me? "Duh, Brian! Fans know that!"

He pouted. "Stupid hat."

"Brian, if you don't shut up I'll go by myself and leave you here!" Man, that was a change. Since when did I ever sound like my father? Or even worse Kevin?

He zipped up his black jacket. "Sorry, Dad!"

My jaw dropped. "EW! Don't say that!"

He laughed. "Sorry, Nicky."

"That's Nick to you, son," I chucked hiding my hair under a black fisherman's hat.

Brian stared at himself in the mirror. "Man, I really made us look bad."

"That was the point, Rok. To look sick."

"Oh, well, at least now I can take it off."

"NO!" I exclaimed. "Leave it on. It helps with the disguise." Geez...did he know anything about this kind of stuff? I tossed him a package of fake tatoos.

"Oh dear...What did you have in mind?"

"Fans won't notice you with a Lakers hat, nasty skin and a tattoo on your face."

"Nick, this is where I draw the line."

I shrugged pressing the substance firmly against my cheek. "It's your loss."

He glanced at the package noticing a cross. Once again he was hooked. I'm almost too good at this.

He examined the jacket I was wearing. "Where on Earth did you get a tye-died jacket? You look like that 'NSYNC guy."

My stomach churned. "I do not!"

He lifted his hands in defense. "Okay, you don't, I'm sorry."

I removed the peeling from my skin to see an eagle resting against my cheek bone. "Perfect! No one will ever know!"

He glanced at the cross gracing his forehead. "Well, I guess, but I say we look like freaks."

"I don't care as long as no one asks this freak for an autograph."

He faced me. "Hey, you can do an English accent, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, chap as matter of fact I can."

"Great! Use it! And I will, too. That should help us blend in."

Finally! Now, he was getting into this! I frowned. "Do we have to use it all the time?"

"Nah. Only if we're speaking to someone."

I looked in the mirror at my new appearance. Between the clothes, make up and tattoos I truly looked like a different person. Or an AJ-wannabe. I faced Brian. "It's fall what do people do in England this time of year?"

"Don't ask me I'm American."

"Oh well, we'll just get on the bus and see where we end up! Even if we don't go anywhere special just getting out the hotel will be worth it!"

He nodded adjusting his costume. "All right, let's go to the bus stop."

**************************

"This bus is crowded!" Brian whined. "And did we have to ride on top? You now I don't like heights!"

"Because we're in Britain and we expriencing new heights in life! We never got to do this before!"

Brian rubbed his belly. "Yeah, we never did it with good reason."

"You're such a whiner. You sound like when BJ has pms."

He groaned. "Oh, that was low."

Low? Perfect word for him to use. The bus wasn't that damn high. The transportation came to a stop. "Let's get off here!" I announced standing.

"Nick, do you even know where the hell we are?"

"No, but if we get off you'll be on ground."

He jumped to his feet. "Let's go!"

"At least, the streets aren't packed with teenagers," I breathed stepping off the bus.

Brian shoved a piece of paper into my hand. "Here, write this down: we got off at 218 Yeckland."

"Why?"

"So, we can find our way back, moron."

I guess he had a point. Since clicking your heels only works for girls named Dorothy. I scribbled away. "Which way do you want to go?"

He shrugged. "Let's go right."

I followed behind him. "This is so much fun!"

"Nick, all we're doing is walking on sidewalk amongst other people."

"Yeah! But there are no managers or agents or publicists! Just you and me!"

"Well, it is kinda' nice." He shivered. "Autumn is cooler here than in the states."

I nodded. "Yeah, but it's not bad. I'll tolerate the cool air for a day of freedom!"

"I guess you're right."

"BRIAN!" I hollered clutching his arm. "LOOK!" I shouted pointing my finger out. "A CARNIVAL!"

He gulped. "A carnival?"

"YEAH!"

"In the cool air? In the middle of nowhere?"

"YEAH!"

"Where the cheap rides go really high?"

"YEAH!"

He massaged his stomach. "Am I going to be sick before this day is over with?"

"YEAH!"

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