Chapter Twenty
(March 16, 2001)
Kara wrapped the phone cord around her finger as she spoke to Brian on the phone. They were in Los Angeles, and had promised to check on with her when they saw Megan.
“So, how’s tour life treating you?”
“It’s okay, I guess . . . I miss being in my home, though. Nicky here takes up a lot more room than he used to.”
“I HEARD THAT!”
“Then quit eavesdropping on my conversation, Frack! Geez!”
Nick wandered off, mumbling something about best friends gone wrong. “As I was saying, it’s okay, but I miss having a normal life, ya know?” He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion when he heard her laughter. “What? What’s so funny?” She cleared her throat, adopting a snooty tone.
“Brian, dear, I’m afraid you’ll never have a normal life. I mean, really . . . look at your friends!” He smiled, chuckling at her antics. “Especially Aje. The boy is . . . well, he defies explanation.” Brian began laughing even harder when, at that moment, AJ pranced in front of him wearing a fan’s bra on his head as a hat, fluttering his eyebrows provocatively.
“I see your point. Man, do I ever!” He sputtered, clutching his stomach.
“Uh-oh. What’s he doing now?”
“You don’t want to know. Trust me, you really don’t.” He pushed Nick away once again as the younger man tried to listen in on his conversation. “How’s work going?”
“Good. I really enjoy working with the teams... you’ll have to come to a game someday.”
“Kara, it’s not like we can just go out in public like that, you know. The fans...”
“Don’t love you THAT much, short boy!” Nick interrupted, earning himself a glare.
“You’re one to talk, Dough Boy!” Brian retorted. Kara waited patiently on the other end of the line while she listened to the scuffle, finally interrupting when it had gone on for five minutes.
“HELLO!!! ” Brian jumped, then picked the phone back up, trying to regain his breath.
“Sorry about that. Taking care of a little pest problem.”
“Okay, then...” She trailed off, not knowing what to say next. “So, how’d the show go?”
“It went really well! I think the fans really like our new material. It’s such a rush to hear them singing along with us, you know?” He lowered his voice. “Hurricane didn’t come, though.”
“What? Why not?”
“She didn’t say, really. Just that she couldn’t come, and not to tell Nick until after the show.” He sighed. “He’s still pissed at me for not telling him. He was looking for her the whole time.”
“Has he talked to her yet?”
“No . . . actually, he was wondering if you had. I think that’s why he’s hanging around, anyway.” Nick nodded, and he handed him the phone. “Here he is. I’ll talk to you later, kiddo.”
“‘Bye!”
“Hey, Kara.”
“Hey, Nick! How you doing?”
“Okay.” He said dully, glaring at Brian. “Considering BOTH of my best friends let me down.”
“TOLD you he was still pissed!”
“Have you called Megan yet?” Kara asked, trying to calm him down.
“No. I just don’t get it. She always comes to see us when we’re in town, and . . . ” He sighed, running a hand through his short blonde hair. “I just don’t get it.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, Nick. I DO know that it must have been something important if she didn’t show up, though.”
“Then why didn’t she tell me? I mean, I would think that if some major catastrophe had occurred, she’d call her best friend.” He whined. “Or is there something you’re not telling me about, Kara?”
“Calm down, Nick! Obviously something came up, and she didn’t want you to worry. You know that’s the only reason she would call Brian instead of you.”
“Yeah, I know.” He sighed. “Now I’m worried, though.”
“Then CALL HER! Sometimes I swear that bleach has permanently damaged your brain, Kaos.”
“Nah! That’s because Kevin dropped him on his head once when he was a kid!” Brian broke in, ducking to avoid Nick’s blow.
“Who’s eavesdropping now, huh? Damn, Frick, I . . . ”
“Amusing as this is, I have other things to do.” Kara informed him. “So unless you have anything else to say, hang up the phone and tell Bri I’ll talk to him later.”
“Fine!” He huffed, glaring at Brian. “Kara says goodbye.”
“One other thing, Nick . . . ”
“Yeah?”
“If I hear that you beat up on Bri, we WILL throw down.” She teased, smiling when she finally heard him laugh.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Later, Kara!”
She hung up the phone, flopping back on the couch with a sigh. Nick’s behavior regarding Megan was rather funny, actually. It was completely normal for him to want to see her, but he’d never been THAT upset before when circumstances prevented her from seeing the concert. Then again, it wasn’t like Megan to call and cancel at the last minute. She’d have to get the scoop later. She yawned, looking at the clock on the mantle. Two in the morning . . . that was the problem with talking to the guys when they were on the West Coast . . . the three-hour time difference didn’t allow her much time to sleep. She’d have to delve into the mystery surrounding Kaos and Hurricane later in the day.