Boston, and the last month of the tour has been like a bad movie. AJ’s drinking has gotten worse and he’s now barely talking to any of us. The guys had locked themselves in a room with him last month to discuss his drinking, and the fact that he has started to let the group down. His voice is huskier than it used to be and he’s missing rehearsals and sound checks all the time. He’s quiet in interviews and disappears straight after shows to go hit a bar. AJ had basically told the guys that he was fine, that he’s a grown man, that it’s nobody’s business but his… But he is so obviously not fine. We can all see that. We just don’t know what to do. He needs professional help but he’s the only one who can get that. Nick pretty much avoids him these days, they always end up arguing over dumb things. Brian however is a sucker for punishment. He tries to involve AJ in things and always ends up getting told to fuck off.
“Seen AJ?” Brian walks into the hotel restaurant and stands by our table. I’m having dinner with Nick, Jade and Kevin.
“No,” I shrug. “But the bar’s a good bet.”
“Ok,” he starts to head off but Jade grabs his hand to stop him.
“Baby, why don’t you sit down and have somethin’ to eat?”
“I wanna go check on AJ first.”
“Honey, you know what he’s like when he’s drinking… I just don’t want you to get hurt,” she says quietly and he kisses her hand.
“I’ll be ok,” he walks away and Jade sighs.
“I wish he would just give up sometimes.”
“He’s way too stubborn for that,” Kevin tells her.
“Maybe tonight’s the night he gets through to AJ,” I say hopefully and everyone nods.
Brian walks into the hotel bar and spots AJ reclining on a couch surrounded by women. He looks pretty wasted already and there’s a half bottle of vodka on the table in front of him. Brian sighs and steels himself before walking over.
“Hey bro,” he says and AJ looks up.
“Hey dude. Want a drink?”
“Naw. I just figured you might wanna get dinner with me.”
“I’m ok.”
“You eaten?”
“Nup. Don’t need to,” AJ shakes his glass at Brian before downing the liquor.
“You do,” Brian states. “AJ…” he starts but then looks at the girls sat on either side of AJ, “Could you guys just go be someplace else for a few minutes?”
“Uh,” one of them says.
“No, they can’t,” AJ says. “We’re gonna go to my room…” he trails off suggestively and the girls giggle.
“I want to talk to you,” Brian mutters.
“So?”
“Fine.” Brian reaches down and grabs AJ’s shirt neck, pulling him up and dragging him out of the bar. AJ is too shocked to resist and Brian throws him against the wall outside. “Ok. You need to blow those sluts out and come eat with me.”
“Sluts?!”
“Yeah, sluts.”
“You can’t fuckin’ JUDGE them!”
“Oh, it’s not hard. No woman worth anything would sit and watch you drinking the way they have.”
“At least they don’t judge me.”
“I’m not judging you AJ. You’re my BEST friend. I love you and all I want is for you to be happy.”
“Yeah? Well you fucked up my chances when you moved in on Jade!” AJ yells.
“Fuck that AJ,” Brian says, trying to stay calm. “Jade wouldn’t have made you happy. NOBODY can except YOU. Please, just admit you’re drinking too much. TALK to us. Or maybe we could fix you up with somebody…”
“A therapist?! I’m not crazy!”
“I didn’t say you were. You’ve been through a lot of shit AJ, it might help to talk to somebody. Somebody who you don’t know… It might be easier.”
“I don’t have a problem,” AJ states flatly and starts to walk away.
“You DO!” Brian yells and follows him in to the bar.
“Go back to Jade and leave me alone!” AJ picks up the bottle of vodka and Brian grabs it from him.
“No!” he throws it on the floor and it smashes. All the conversation in the bar stops and everyone stares at a panting Brian and an angry AJ. “You have a PROBLEM AJ!”
“Yeah, it’s called Brian fuckin’ Littrell!” AJ yells back.
“Oh believe me, I’m the LEAST of your problems,” Brian says angrily and turns to walk away. “8am, Shea Stadium AJ,” he yells over his shoulder.
“I’m not gonna BE there!” AJ yells just as Brian disappears.
Brian walks straight into the hotel restaurant and over to where Jade and Ali are sitting alone.
“Where’re Nick and Kevin?”
“They left,” Ali says. “I think Kevin went to his room and Nick went to call his mom.”
“In his room?”
“Probably,” Ali nods.
“Ok,” he starts to leave.
“Brian, you ok?” Jade asks.
“No,” he says and walks out. He heads straight for the elevators and five minutes later, he’s knocking on Kevin’s door with Nick in tow. Kevin opens up. “We got a problem.”
“C’mon in,” Kevin stands back and they walk inside. “Should I get Howie?”
“I already called him. He’s on his way up,” Brian explains and they all sit down just as there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in!” Kevin yells and Howie walks in.
“Hey guys, I was at the gym. What’s up?” he sits down.
“It’s Brian’s show,” Kevin says and sits down.
“I just talked to AJ,” Brian starts. “He’s drunk already. I mentioned therapy to him and he freaked. He’s refusing to admit that he has a problem plus he’s refusing to show up at the stadium tomorrow.”
“He is?” Nick stares, wide-eyed. “Was he serious?”
“Deadly.”
“He HAS to be there,” Kevin states. “He’s a part of this group.”
“Yeah, try telling HIM that,” Brian says. “I tried but he’s just closed himself off.”
“Ok, I’ll go talk to him,” Kevin says angrily and Nick jumps up.
“You’ll just end up yelling. Maybe I could try first?”
“You guys ALWAYS argue,” Howie says.
“Not ALWAYS,” Nick says. “Let me try.”
“Go ahead,” Kevin shrugs.
“Good luck,” Brian says as Nick heads out of the room.
Nick walks down the corridor to AJ’s room and bangs on the door. After a while, AJ opens it and Nick pushes past him into the room. There are three girls lying on the bed and bottles of alcohol all over the place. Nick faces AJ angrily.
“Come to join in?”
“No,” Nick says. “Is it true you’re not comin’ to the stadium tomorrow?”
“Yuppers,” AJ says flippantly. “You guys don’t need me.”
“We DO man!” Nick yells. “You’re part of us!”
“Yeah? Coulda fooled me.”
“Stop doin’ this! You don’t need all this crap and you don’t need THEM,” he gestures to the girls angrily.
“I’m good,” AJ says. “Just go away and leave me the fuck alone!”
“God, how do I get through to you?!” Nick yells frustratedly and throws a punch at the wall behind AJ’s head. AJ looks shocked as Nick pales and screams in pain. “SHIT!”
“What?”
“I think I just broke my fuckin’ HAND!” Nick screams.
“Uh, I…” AJ stammers.
“Forget it!” Nick walks to the door. “Like you care about anyone but YOURSELF! This shit is killing us ALL not just you!” Nick nurses his hand and walks back to Kevin’s room. He pushes the door open and stands there, the three guys staring at him.
“Fuck Nick, what’d you do? Murder him?” asks Howie with wide eyes.
“You’re awful pale, sit down,” Brian leads Nick to a chair and sits him down gently.
“I think I broke my hand,” Nick says shakily.
“How?!” Kevin asks. “Was it AJ?”
“No… Yes…” Nick sighs. “He told me to fuck off, I got frustrated and slammed my hand into the wall.”
“God, Nick…” Kevin sighs. “You need a doctor.”
“Please,” Nick says. “It really hurts.”
“C’mon, we’ll get a car and find the nearest hospital,” Brian helps Nick to his feet. “I’ll go with him. You two decide what to do with AJ.”
“Let us know what the doctor says,” Howie says as the two guys leave the room.
“Want Ali to come with us?”
“No, she’ll think I’m totally dumb,” Nick groans.
“She won’t,” Brian says as they reach the elevator. They ride down to the ground floor and out to a car.