Chapter 7
Howie's point-of-view
I glanced at my fifth drink. Perhaps I am over doing it. But I can't be perfect all of the time. I've lost enough in this business as it is. Why did God have to take my sister, too? I allowed the liquid to seap between my lips. Everyone deals with stress in their own way. I've given up on finding a logical way. Besides, a few beverages seem to do the trick just fine in my opinion.
I lifted my head as I heard a knock on the door. Kevin pulled himself from the tv slowly making his way to the doorknob. "Brian!" he exclaimed cheerfully.
"Hey, Kevin," Brian replied sadly. The guy had guilt written all over his face. "Mind if I hang with you?"
"Nah," Kev answered tossing him a beer. "Get comfortable and relax! That shouldn't be too hard now that you've ditched Nick."
Brian paled at Kevin's words. Obviously, something had happened. And what was with AJ? He set infront of the screen dumbfounded.
I placed a beer inside his hand. "Come on, live a little."
He stood. "No thanks. I think I'll just turn in."
"Turning in already?" Kevin laughed. "Damn, AJ, what is wrong with you, kid?"
AJ massaged his stomach. "Nothing. I'll see you in the morning." Oh, man there was something wrong with him.
"Hold on, AJ, I'll come with you," Brian offered.
Kevin faced them. "I thought you wanted to hang, Rok?"
"It's okay. You and Howie seem pretty content. I was just bored, if AJ joins me it won't be so bad."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Have fun with the brat from hell!"
"Howie," AJ sighed placing a hand om my shoulder.
"Yeah?"
"Take it easy okay? You and Kev stay here. Don't do something stupid."
He says that as if I've gotten drunk before. If only I could say it wasn't the truth. I wish I could, but I can't.
Kevin shook his head as they departed. "This night is insane!"
"What do you mean?"
"AJ acting caring and Bri looking guilty. That's a switch!" He gulped some beer. "Oh, well, Nicky still a whiner. Not all is gone!"
I attempted to laugh. Kevin was right, things were odd today. But how could they be normal? I just lost a sister, AJ is getting sick, Brian is hiding something, Kev is releasing his poise through beer and Nick is..well, not accepting anything.
Kevin flipped the channel. "What do you bet Nick starts whining like a baby when he finds out something up with AJ? Man, will he be bitching tomorrow." Man, Kevin was out of it. Tomorrow...How the hell would we know? By morning we would both hungover. Being hungover...been there, done that.
-