“ Skylee, look at this one,” Skylee rolled her eyes as Kevin pointed out another painting at the museum. “ Wow, that’s really...colorful...” She said, forcing a smile for his sake. She did enjoy going to art museums but it was already four o’clock. She hoped Kevin wouldn’t insist her prescence at museums every day off. “ Kev, I’m getting pretty tired...” She hinted. “ Ok, just this last hall and then we’ll get back to the hotel,” He answered. Skylee found out that ‘just this hall’ meant another hour of paintings and was glad to leave at 5:00. When he dropped her off at the hotel, she went up to Nick’s room and was surprised to see an energetic AJ and Nick playing Playstation. “ Hey, Skylee. What’s up?” “ Hey, can I sit down?” “ Of course,” She took a seat on the couch and looked at the tv screen. “ So, how was your day out with Kevin?” Nick asked, glancing at her. “ Oh, God. We were at museums all day. It was nice the first few ones but it was tiring after about two hours,” “ Yeah, they have some nice ones here,” AJ agreed, not in the least bit hungover which surprised Skylee even more. “ Did you eat yet? Me, AJ, and Brian were gonna go over to one of the restaurants we saw today,” “ No, we didn’t get a chance to,” “ Come with us then?” “ Um...Ok, sure,” She agreed hesitantly, not really wanting to spend time with AJ. They met up with Brian a half hour later and were at the restaurant shortly. “ Did you go with Kev this morning, SKy?” Brian asked slyly, having turned down Kev’s invitation himself because of past experiences. “ Yes, I did. It was very tiring,” She replied, awcknowledging his tone as she dug into her salad. “ I bet. You guys were gone for a long time,” “ So, any idea as to when you’re going back home yet?” Nick asked Skylee. ‘ No clue,” Her face darkened slightly before she continued. “ I think Kevin wants me to ‘open’ up to him before he sees it fit for me to leave,” “ That’s gonna take a while,” Brian said, looking at his glass of water. Skylee merely glanced at him before returning her questioning gaze back to Nick. “ Why?” “ Just wondering,” Nick shrugged and there was a pause before Brian started up. “ Did you talk to Kev?” Brian asked, looking at AJ. “ Yeah,” Was his only reply. “ And?” “...And what?” “ Did you agree to see that guy?” Brian asked cautiosly. AJ sighed and fixed a glare at Brian. “ Can I not eat in peace? I mean, I’ve already learned that I’m supposed to live and breathe Backstreet but come on, Brian. Can we not pretend that we’re just ordinary people for once?” He snapped, dropping his fork by his plate in a soundless manner. The table fell quiet for about a minute. “ Don’t you think it’d be a good idea though, AJ?” Nick asked, not meeting AJ stare. “ Can we drop this?” “ AJ, he’s right-” “ I don’t want to talk about this right now. You’d think he’d take care of his family before turning to me. Bringing her on tour when she’s already got shit to deal with was a stupid idea and instead of asking her if she wanted to see a counselor, he turns on me? That’s fucked. Drop the subject or I’m leaving,” He finished shortly, taking a swig of his iced tea. “ OK, fine. What museums did you go to?” Nick asked Skylee, a bit angrily. “ Hold on. What are you talking about, AJ?-” “ Oh, God. Here we go again with the ‘what do you mean’ questions, right, Skylee?” “ Answer me,” She demanded impatiently. “...Fine. You are...upset about your Dad’s death. Did Kevin talk to you about anything, as in getting help? No, he didn’t. If I had a sister who was as depressed as you are-” “ I am not-” “- I would get her a counselor if I really cared. Not bring her on tour because that is one of the loneliest places I could take her. And I wouldn’t ask one of my friends if they need to see a counselor before I ask my sister,” AJ said, ignoring her statement of disapproval. “ God, of course this is like you to judge how Kevin takes care of his family. How would you know what he did and didn’t? Were you there? And do you even have the slightest idea of what I’m going through right now?” She asked, pushing back her chair. “ Of course I don’t because you won’t let me!” AJ snapped, staring at her. “ I knew this was a bad idea,” She muttered as she stood up. “ I”m going back to the hotel,” “ You sure that’s really where you’re going, Skylee, my darling?” “ Why not make a run for it while you have the chance?” AJ mocked. She looked at him before storming away. “ God, AJ. Can you not grow up?” Nick asked disgustedly before standing up and walking in the direction Sky had walked in, hoping to catch her before she did anything dumb. “ Go ahead, Brian, say that I should just leave her alone,” AJ challenged, waiting for Brian to make a comment. “ Hey, you didn’t say anything wrong,” Bri shrugged and looked up as the waiter brought them their food. “The other two...?” “ Oh, they had an emergency to attend to,” Brian informed the waiter who nodded, a bit exasparated... Meanwhile Skylee ignored Nick’s voice as she continued walking. “ Oh, come on, Skylee! You’re mad at AJ, not me, remember?” He called, dodging a couple as they glared at him. “ How do you expect to get home, hun?” He asked, finally catching up to her. He heard her sigh and slow down a bit. “ I am never speaking to that goddamn asshole again!” She stated, hoping Nick didn’t hear the slight quiver in her voice. “ Where does he come off, telling me to quit smoking and then saying I’m depressed?” She continued angrily. “ He told you to quit smoking?” Nick asked incredously. Skylee glanced at him and he felt a wave of sympathy. “ You wanna go home?” “ That’d be nice,” She stated bitterly, rifling through her bag for what he presumed was a cigarette. “ Huh?” He asked, confused by her answer. “ Forget it. Can we go back to the hotel?” “ Yeah, that’s what I meant,” He led her to the rental and they got in. “ You think Kev’ll let me go back home for a while?” She asked a few seconds after he started driving. “ Do you want an honest answer or one that’ll make you feel better?...I doubt it,” “ I guess I screwed up big time,” She muttered quietly. “ What did you do that was so wrong?” “ Nothing too bad. Missed curfew a few times...Went out with the wrong kind of kids, you know Kevin and how he is,” Nick nodded and she threw the rest of her cigarette out. “ Did Kevin say anything about the cigarettes?” “ He doesn’t know,” “ Oh, come on. You can smell it on you,” Nick said skeptically. “ That’s great,” “...Maybe you should listen to AJ. Whoa, first and last time I’ll ever say that,” “ Yeah, right. I should listen to a judgemental hypocrite with a drinking problem,” She rolled her eyes as Nick gave her a slight look but decided not to say anything. “ AJ’s had a tough time too, Sky,” “ And? Why does he have to screw around with my life? I’ve made it clear I don’t want to know him,” Nick looked at her, stunned by her harshness. “ Maybe it was a good idea to bring you here,” “ Why?” “ Why? Because maybe you can start acting like a human with at least a pebble sized heart again,” “ Why are you defending him?” “ Because he’s a close friend, Skylee, like you are. How about you drop the bitchiness towards him?” “ I can’t make any promises,” “ Well, I don’t think you’ll find too much time on my schedule, Hun,” Skylee turned and gaze him a fixed glare. The rest of the ride was silent except for the music coming from the radio. When he pulled to a stop in front of the hotel so the vallet guy could park, Skylee pushed open her door and walked out wordlessly. Nick shook his head and tossed the keys to the guy before walking towards the doors himself... ***** Later that night “ Skylee’s gone,” Kevin stated as he walked into the hotel meeting room where the others were. AJ chuckled and Kevin threw a menacing glare to him. “ Where is she, AJ?” He demanded coldly. “ Why do you think I’d know? That girl hates me...But think about it, Kevin. You’re her, your brother’s forcing you to leave home and her friends. Where would you go?” “ Are you saying she ran away?” “ I’m not saying anything because I don’t know what happened to her,” He shrugged and took a sip of his Coors. “ Throw that away, AJ,” “ Why don’t you worry about your sister right now, Kevin?” AJ shot back, remembering the conversation from dinner. “ I am, but I’m worried about you too,” Kevin roughly grabbed the glass bottle and tossed it into the wastebasket in the corner of the room. “ She’ll show up, Kevin. This is probably like the time at the mall,” Howie said, looking up from his book. “ I doubt it,” AJ muttered and Nick threw him a look. “ AJ, either explain your epiphanies or be quiet,” Kevin snapped, frustrated. AJ looked back down at the magazine in his hands and couldn’t help feel a pang of insignificance. “ Well, ehat should I do?” Kevin asked the others. “ Just wait it out,” Howie said and Brian nodded in agreement. “ I think you should call your Mom or your brother,” AJ said without hesitation and Kevin turned to look at him. “ Why the hell would I call there?” His tone cut a lot sharper than he intented it to and AJ abruptly stood up, tossed the magazine onto the table and picked up his sweatshirt. “ How about next time you just ask everyone with the exception of me, Kev?” He said angrily, about to walk away. “ Why do you always try to start things, AJ?” “ Because you have to shit on every comment I make,” AJ said on his way out the door...
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