Chapter 13
(Brian's point-of-view)
I sat unable to eat as we loaded into the hotel lobby for breakfast. AJ shook
his head. "Forget this- I can't eat."
His face was pale and tensed. "AJ, why don't you see a doctor before the show?"
"Nah. It wouldn't do any good."
Kevin sipped his water. "Maybe you need to have your stomach pumped again."
The rebel sighed. "Oh, that's encouraging."
Nick lifted a hand to his face placing his fingertips beneath the frame of his sunglasses. Howie cocked an eyebrow. "You cryin', Nick?"
"No," he whispered. "I need to go lay down."
Kevin threw his fork down in frustation. "Great! Now, Nick is catching whatever the hell it is that AJ can't seem to shake! Let the whining begin!"
Nick threw the sunglasses off tossing them in Kevin's direction. "Shut the fuck up! You don't know a damn thing about me! Just because we sing together does not make you my friend! You're a damn jackass, Kev! And if your mom disowned you and started treating you like shit you might cry and feel sick, too!"
AJ stood weakly using the chair as a brace. "I'm going upstairs."
"AJ?" Howie said standing. "You okay?"
AJ shook his head. "I'm no worse off than the rest of you."
Howie extended AJ his arm for assistance. "That's a matter of opinion, come on, we're going upstairs and calling management."
I stared at the floor. "Come on, Nick, I'll walk up with you." Well, what can I say? I'll always be the one left caring for Nicky, and when Howie is sober he'll tend to AJ.
Kevin glared at us. I sighed. "Calm down, cuz, you know the tour is getting you and well....other things. Go call Kristin before the reharshal. She'll be able to calm you down and everyone will feel better."
I placed a caring arm around Nick's shoulders. "Come on, buddy. Howie and AJ are already upstairs maybe the fans will miss us."
*****
"Did the fans miss us-yes. Did Nick's oncoming nervous illness- no. I sat beside him on the bed. "What happened this time?"
"I called home last night and my mom bit my head off! Yelling at me for my relationship with Mandy and---"
"Now, Nick, calm down- there's no use getting all worked up. Just calm down and tell me."
"My mom doesn't want to see me until I break up with her, Aaron got on the phone crying because he hasn't seen me in months, then Angel did the same and even BJ- my little sister griped at me."
"Why did BJ gripe at you?"
"For promising Aaron I'd be home by a certain time and I wasn't."
I sighed. "Oh, Nick, you know not to make promises like that in this business. Especially, now with all of this legal stuff."
Nick grunted. "Legal stuff, another mess up in this business! This business ruins everything!"
"No, just the people in it, Nick."
The blonde pulled out a bottle of Tynelol. "I didn't even get to talk to my Dad."
"Why not?"
"He was out somewhere with Leslie. Apparently, he and Mom got in a fight about me and Aaron."
"Then why did he take Leslie, if he was angry?"
"Oh, Dad is the only one she's close to maybe even cares about."
"I doubt that, maybe she's just secure with him."
"I can't say that I blame her, I'm the same way."
I turned away. Dear God, what was happening to us? Kevin is turning into a raving lunatic, Howie's new love is alcohol, Nick is having a nervous breakdown and me- I'm becoming obsessed with the fear behind my scar.
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