Chapter 13
"Nick....Brian....." Kevin whispered as he limped into the dark room. "It's time to eat you guys."
"Ehhh....Nhhhh..."Nick grumbled into his pillow.
"Come on, you two, you have to eat."
Brian lifted his head. "I'm cold, tired and I have a fever and headache I don't wanna eat."
"If you don't eat you'll get worse, cuz."
"Don't care."
Kevin sighed. "Fine, I'll bring you something. Nicky, come on, get up. Howie made dinner."
Brian rolled his eyes. "Don't go, Nick. That cheap soup Kevin bought could be fatal."
Kevin crossed his arms. "It's not soup. Howie refused to serve it to anyone and started a new dish."
"You're right, it's not soup," Brian agreed. "It's pee in a can."
"Brian, quit being disgusting."
Nick sat up rubbing his tired eyes. "Can Patches come?"
"Nick, I'm not letting you keep a bunny at the table!"
"Why not?"
"It's not sanitary!"
"Neither was that soup you bought," Brian replied with a groan.
"Enough about the damn soup!"
Nick rubbed his tummy. "Kev, I'm not really that hungry."
"Try to eat something, kiddo. You barely ate at all yesterday, after being in the cold like an idiot...You need to eat before you get worse. Chicken pox isn't that bad if you attempt to take care of it."
Brian picked at his itchy face that had sprouted numerous red dots. "How would you know, Kev?"
"I don't doubt you two are itchy and uncomfortable, but it could be worse."
Nick wrinkled his nose. "How?"
Kevin shrugged. "You could both have pnemonia."
Nick massaged his stomach. "Oh, just like eventhough you've managed to injure your crotch repeatedly it could be worse?" he asked.
Kevin glanced down his injury and grimaced. "I don't know if it could be much worse."
"Yes, it could!" AJ exclaimed peeking his head inside the room.
"What do you want?" Brian grouched.
"I'm just giving Kevin an example! You ready, Kev?"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Go on and say it and get it out of your system."
"Okay, check it out. Everytime you injury your manly friend you end up needing an icepack. Well, maybe your crotch could freeze and fall off. THAT would be worse! And Kristin would have to leave you for another man!"
Kevin gripped his fists tightly at his side. "AJ, leave now!"
"I was just trying to help," the teen grumbled moving along.
Kevin scratched his head. "I think I like it better when AJ's mad at me and giving me the silent treatment."
Brian scratched his skin in aggravation. "Why don't you give people the silent treatment? Society would be grateful, and the rest of us could talk at a normal speed!"
"Shut it, Shorty!"
"Bite me, Pumpkin!"
Kevin marched to the door. "Both of you get up and eat now or you'll be left with soup!"
"I thought you were bringing me something?" Brian grumbled.
"I changed my mind!"
Nick stood slowly. "I don't wanna' go. I just wanna' sleep."
Brian tossed off his blankets. "You better eat now. Anything is better than Kevin's fatal liquid potion."
"Hey, guys," Howie said gently as the two sick teens entered the kitchen area. "Feeling any better at all?"
"Kevin's a prick," Brian stated slumping into his seat.
"I'm not hungry," Nick moaned taking a seat beside his friend placing his pet in his lap.
"Okay, I'll that as a no..." Howie whispered partly to himself sensing no one else cared to hear his comment. He cleared his throat. "Well, I made hot dogs, guys!"
"Grrrreat," Brian sneared.
"Gross," Nick gasped covering his mouth.
"Quit complaining!" Kevin griped.
AJ scratched his chin. "Gheesh, guys would pissed in your corn flakes?"
"AJ, please don't talk like that at the dinner table," Howie politely requested passing out the meal.
Kevin took a huge bite. "It's good, guys."
AJ picked at his food. "It's better than anything you could've made, that's for sure."
"Brian, Nick, please try to eat," Howie coaxed.
"Fine," Brian sighed taking a bite.
"Come on, Nick," the Latino encouraged.
Nick took a small bite struggling to chew. Kevin rolled his eyes. "Come on, Nick, it's not that bad."
"Lay off, Kev, he has those damn pox in his mouth," Brian defended.
"Dude, Brian, this is the first time in my life I've seen you acting shitty. It's cool as hell, dude!" AJ exclaimed.
"Chicken pox could turn anyone into a tryant," Brian replied fighting the urge to claw at his skin.
Nick pushed his plate away resting his head on the table.
"Nick, are you okay, kid?" Howie pondered staring at his dim structure.
"I just don't feel good."
"You're probably feeling worse because of being outside, maybe you're getting a cold. Why don't you go lye back down and Patches can keep you company?"
"Okay," the blonde mumbled lifting the bunny into his arms. He walked slowly pausing at AJ's seat. "AJ, could you take Patches please?"
"What?"
"Please?"
AJ shrugged. "All right. Come 'ere, Patches!" he cooed cuddling the bunny in his arms. "Hi, baby!"
"Great, now two are attached to the furball," Kevin sighed returning to his meal.
Howie stood. "Nick, why are you standing there? What's wrong?"
"I think...I'm gonna'....I'm gonna'...." he paused feeling dizzy allowing himself to sink into Kevin's lap.
"AH, MY CROTCH!" Kevin wailed pushing Nick off.
"Now, why'd you have to go and do that?" Brian shouted watching Nick hit the floor.
"He hurt me, Bri!"
"He didn't mean to!"
"Kevin....Kevin...." Nick moaned his eyes still closed.
"Could my day get any worse?!" Kevin hissed as he pulled Nick up one-handedly.
"Kevin...." Nick warned. "Help me to the sink!"
"WHAT?" Kevin gasped attempting to stand, but his injury slowed his movements.
"AGGGGGGHH!" Nick gagged falling to his knees vomiting. Vomiting on target. The target known as Kevin.
"GROSS!" Kevin fumed pushing Nick aside rushing to the sink removing his clothing. "Oh, sick, gross, nasty, ew, ick, yuck...." he moaned cleansing himself.
"Oh, Nick!" Howie soothed rushing to the ill blonde the others following him.
"I feel awful," Nick cried holding his tummy.
"I know," Brian whispered leaving his bad mood behind. He felt the kid's forehead. "He's pretty hot."
"It'll be okay, kid," AJ assured Nick still holding the bunny.
"Let's get you into bed," Howie suggested.
"Okay," Nick argeed allowing Brian and Howie to lift him to his feet helping him along. AJ trailed behind bringing Patches.
"Isn't anyone going to help me?" Kevin wailed.
The four singers exchanged looks. "NO!"