"Ok, I wanna go through a few details for next week's european tour," Jonny started as he looked around in the room. He opened his mouth to continue, "I want.." just to stop moments later as something dawned on him. "I thought I made it especially clear to you that I wanted ALL of you to be at this meeting at eight o'clock sharp? Didnīt I make myself clear enough?"
Surprised, the men looked at their manager who had an irrtated expression on his face. They nodded silently.
"Good." Before they had the chance to return back his question, he barked, "Then where the hell is Carter?"
"Heīs in the bathroom," Brian explained, nodding with his head towards the door, "wasnīt feeling too well." He silently hoped that Johnny wouldnīt freak out over the bad news. If there were one thing management didnīt like; it was when they skipped out of ANYTHING!
"Yeah he had to huuurl," AJ said in a strangled voice before he made a pretended puking sound. Then he laughed over his own joke. The rest of them did too. All but Johnny.
"Not well?" A deep frown came on the black man's forehead. "Well, see that he gets his ass over here..quick! I wont tolerate anymore fuck ups from that boy," he snarled.
"Jeeze, I just told you that he wasnīt well," Brian mumbled to himself, upset over the sudden outburst. Kevin gave him a glare that said, "Stop-it-or-you-will-be-in-for-trouble."
"If anyone of you have that idea that they get to skip out of a show just because they have eaten or partied too much, well," he paused before he shouted, "THEN YOU BETTER GET THAT OUT OF YOUR THICK SKULLS!" He stared out over the men, "UNDERSTOOD?"
Four pair of heads bobbed up and down in positive response. No one said anything since they were all too occupied thinking about the upcoming show, besides Johnny sounded much worse than he was. If it had been Lou Pearlman it had been another situation. When Lou was mad he was mad!
"Okay," Johnny said with a sigh, "Brian, you fill in the information to Nick when he gets back. We canīt wait for him." With that he started to tell them about the upcoming tour and the travel plans next week. It was going to be a long European tour that stretched over a couple of months and were they visited almost all countries. A bit into the information the door opened and in came their youngest member, pale as a sheet.
"Well..welll...see who the cat dragged in," Johhny said sarcastically as Nick made his way over to the sofa. He stopped as he as well as the boys took in the teen's appearance. Nick walked slightly hunched, a hand over his stomach and his otherwise so healthy red cheeks were tinted with a greenish tone. His recently combed hair hung loose and the eyes that often sparkled before a show lacked any form of enthusiasm. They were dull and lifeless.
"Come and sit here," Brian said with compassion, patting on the seat beside him. Obeyeing with no comments Nick sank down, with a moan.
"You okay?" Kevin asked, knowing what the answer would be in forehand.
The blonde shook his head, "I feel like shit," he muttered as he belched loudly. "Sorry," he covered his mouth.
"Ewwww," Howie scrunched up his nose, " Can you be anymore disgusting?" He fanned with his hand infront of him as the stale smell of McDonald's lingered through the room.
"Iīll bet he can," AJ grinned, "but then we would need gas masks." Laughter was heard in the room.
Nick, not answering, was pre-occupied in trying to unbutton his pants. He had to get some relief or he would burst. 'God, why did I have to eat all that crap?' he thought as he moaned as a cramp wracked his body again.
"Well ladies," Johnny said as he got tired of the blonde taking up all of the attention, "If youīre done yacking then maybe we can continue with the information." As on cue the sounds dropped off.
Brian still concerned over his friend's health leaned over and whispered, "Any luck?" He was referring to the bathroom visit.
"No," Nick shook his head as he folded over again. How he wished that he could get relief. It was like his body was betraying him and he couldnīt even puke. Instead he was stuck, feeling miserable.
It was half way into the show it happend!
Not standing to wear anything against his stomach he had unbuttoned his top button on the black stage pants. It had felt a bit better and after a while he was feeling as good as new again. It was strange. No matter how sick he felt he always felt ready to preform when it came to doing a concert. He could be suffering from a high temp, yet when he came out on stage and met the fans and their love it was like all this had vanished. Nick had a rule; He always gave 100% at whatever he did!
Tonight was no exception and he was hopping and dancing and screaming like he was feeling all fine and dandy. Not a person out there could see that instead this boy was suffering from a severe stomach ache, ready to topple over. Nick was a preformer, in every ounce in his body.
As he ran over the stage, all hyper he could feel the button below the top one start to opening up just to give out a chain effect. As the button opened he could feel the pants starting to fall off and he who had to do a particular fast dance move. As he jumped down he felt the pants start to slip even further down his legs and now they were hanging loose. 'Oh NOOO,' Nick thought desperately as he mentally begged that his pants wouldnīt fall down. It would be way to embarrassing and he could never live through such humiliation.
Since he was holding the flimsy ear mike in one hand, he had to grab the lining of his pants with the other hand. AJ must have spotted what was happening as he grinned widely, hitting Brian in his side to get his attnetion too. As the two of them noticed Nick's predictment they desperatly tried to stifle their laughter.
He grabbed the pants hard and then tried his best to do the moves. It most have looked pretty funny as both Brian and AJ was now laughing between the lines. Kevin was not and he too had got a hold on the situation.
Nick, in no state to say or do anything, was sweating profusely. Yet he kept his pants up with one hand. There was NOT a chance that he let them go! There would not be any end to the comments!
His hand was cramping from holding the material so tight and when he thought that he had to change grip the song was finally over and they got a break. Not waiting for the tone to die out he ran off stage, just to fumble backstage.
Brian and Kevin followed him, tight in heel, concerned that he had gotten sick. Not daring to stop, he ran into the dressing room before he finally lost his grip and the pants fell down around his legs.
As he felt his face turn as red as a lobster, he wanted to sink through earth. The laughter was loud as all of the boys, coming after him, started to laugh uncontrolably.
"Waaaaayyyy toooo gooo Kaooos!" AJ bellly laughed as he wiped away his tears and he and Brian told the rest of the guys how close the teen had been to losing his pants infront of the fans.
Nick felt like a jerk!
