“Quit laughing Bri,” I said shortly, pacing back and forth across his hotel room. I hated this. Hated it every time. Especially when it’s my fault. And, well, it’s usually my fault. This time was no exception. Brian stood up and put his hands on my shoulders. “Stop pacing, you’re driving me crazy!” Brian said, a soft smile on his face.
“It’s my fault!” I blurted out as my anger quickly faded into regret and embarrassment. Brian looked at me kindly, his expression seeming to say that he knew that already. But that didn’t surprise me; he always knew what I was thinking. Best friends can inevitably do that. He took my hand and led me out onto balcony. Leighanne was out for the rest of the day, shopping with Sarah. Hell, probably with AJ too, since he likes to shop so much. “Tell me what happened,” Brian said calmly, his soft accent putting me instantly at ease. “Nothing happened, it was dumb,” I said, pouting, wanting to talk about it, but my pride had to speak up first.
Brian sighed and rolled his eyes. “Nick, this will work faster if you stop being so damn stubborn!” He said smiling. “I told you Frick, it was dumb,” I went on, standing up and resting my arms on the balcony railing. Brian came over and stood next to me, not saying anything. He knew I just needed him to be patient and listen.
“I wanted him to come with me for the racing thing in Florida. But he had already promised Krystal he’d be in LA then to work on her new album.” “And so you got pissed,” Brian said, repressing a giggle. I knew he was wondering if I knew how childish I sounded. Believe me, I did. Figuring I might as well go all out and tell him about the rest of my temper tantrum, I went on. “He said he was sorry but he had promised Krys before there was a set date for the race. And he said he’d be at all the other ones for sure, but he didn’t want to let her down.”
Brian shook his head. “So let me guess,” he asked, the smile on his face warm not patronizing. “You asked him if she was more important to him that you? Or…what about not letting you down? Right?” Nick nodded sheepishly. “Yeah, you got it.” Brian ran his hand through my hair, ruffling it and waiting for me to look at him. As much as I claimed to hate being treated like a child, secretly I loved to be babied. Especially by Brian since he always knew what to do to fix things and make me feel better.
You stop and I go
Feels like a million miles between us
Too fast, much too slow
Your uptown is downtown to me
I lose it, you find it
You’re ahead and I’m behind it
You’re daytime is nighttime to me
Just like Mars and Venus
Must be the pull of gravity
I’m made for you, you’re made for me
Kevin was the man I loved but we seemed to find it impossible to agree on things and get along. Brian was the man who was there to help me see through our arguments and fix them. Kevin and I were always fighting. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. As odd as that sounds it’s true. We bicker and argue over the dumbest things. But somehow, that’s the way I know that we love each other as much as we do. Even more so than loving words or sweet kisses, the fact that we argue so much makes me see how much we truly care.
And the fights are never serious, nor do they last long. When we disagree about something serious we sit down and talk about it. We only lose our tempers when we fight over something as trivial as this. Or whether or not we wanna go out at night, or who lost the car keys….
I smiled, remembering a few months ago when I had lost the car keys but I blamed it on him. Just for that I had ended up staying with Brian and Leighanne for two days until I had placated my ego and went back home. However, when we had an argument about whether or not to tell our fans that we were a couple, we were able to sit down and have a reasonable discussion without screaming and cursing at each other.
“Nicky?” Brian asked. He was smiling, no doubt wondering what I was thinking about. Just him calling me Nicky made me smile again. Kevin and I had even fought over that. Why I let Brian call me Nicky. Not that he did it that often, but when he did I didn’t mind. But if anyone else, including Kevin, called me Nicky, I hated it. That argument had been interesting….
“But if you hate it so much, why do you let him call you that?” Kevin yelled, obviously angry and upset. I ran my hands through my hair and glared at him. “No answer, huh?” Kevin went on, pissing me off even more with each word out of his mouth. “Is it cause you and Brian have something going on? That’s his pet name for you, right?” I laughed bitterly. “Yeah, Kevin, you got it all right,” I said dryly. “Brian and I are fucking and when we’re in bed he calls me Nicky. Must have slipped out by accident when we were playing basketball cause I looked so hot he just couldn’t help himself. By the way, how’d you hear us anyway? Were you spying on me?!”
I stood up and faced him angrily. “Jesus Nick, all five of us were at the park. I wasn’t spying on you! He always calls you that but it just got to me this time. He calls you Frack, he calls you Nicky, you’re always messing with him, touching him, hanging out with him…so, what the fuck am I supposed to think?!”
I threw down the magazine I’d been flipping through and walked over to where he was standing. “Brian’s my best friend, nothing more. All four of you called me Nicky when I was younger. The only difference is,” I went on, my voice low and full of anger. “He always said it to me kindly. You, AJ and Howie used it to tease me. That is why he is the only person I let call me that now. Got it?!” With that I got up and left the room, only to come back an hour later apologizing and attempting to explain. But he did the same thing and took me in his arms. Forgiveness for these fights was almost always instant. Once we were in each other’s arms everything was forgiven and forgotten.
Sometimes I drive you crazy
Sometimes you wanna change me
I say you don’t, you say I do
That’s how it plays with me and you
When we can’t seem to make up
When we’re about to break up
I look at you, you smile at me and then
We fall in love again
“Nick!” Brian yelled, bringing me back from my daydreams. “Huh?” Brian laughed. “Are you back?” He asked with a grin. I blushed and nodded. “Ok, then,” he went on. “You know what you have to do now, right? I mean we’ve been over this like 500 times before so I think you know how to fix this!” I rolled my eyes. “Do you have to exaggerate so much?” “Oh, I’m sorry, you’re right,” Brian said, serious now. “Maybe it was only 495 times!” “I hate you,” I yelled with a smile, tackling him to the floor. A short wrestling match ensued, both of us giggling as we rolled around on the ground. Finally I pinned him to the ground, laughing triumphantly.
“Nick, would you mind not killing my husband today?” Leighanne asked as she set her bags down on the bed and came out onto the balcony with us. “But Leigh,” I went on in a whiny voice. “He deserves it!” “Well then, by all means, proceed!” She said with a smile. “Hey!” Brian yelled after her as she went back inside. “I win!” I exclaimed as I climbed off him and helped him up.
“Seriously Nicky,” Brian went on as we sat down on the balcony chairs. “You guys will be ok, right? You’re gonna go talk to him about this?” I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, Bri, we’ll be fine. Thanks for everything again!” He leaned over and gave me a hug. “You know I’m here for you anytime, both you and Kevin,” he said, smiling. “I know.”
“Have another fight with Kev?” Leighanne asked, standing up as we came back inside. I rolled my eyes and nodded. “You know us.” She laughed. “As many times as you’ve ended up staying with us either on the road or at home, yes, I certainly do know!” I laughed. “But you love it when I come over and scream and yell about our fights, right?!” She gave me a quick hug and nodded. “Oh yes Nick, I love it!” I laughed again. “Ok guys, well I gotta go fix this now. I’ll talk to you later!”
You get, what I don’t
Feels like a million miles between us
You will when I just won’t
Your upside is downside to me
I flip it, you drop it
You start me up and I can’t stop it
You’re on time is off time to me
Just like Mars and Venus
Must be the pull of gravity
I’m made for you, you’re made for me
“What did you do this time?” AJ asked, watching as I paced back and forth across his room. I stopped my pacing briefly to glare at AJ, but he didn’t answer me. AJ sighed and watched with a smile. After a few more moments he sat up and yelled. “Kevin! Fucking sit down now before I’m forced to kill you!” He reached out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me down so I was sitting on the bed. “I didn’t do anything!” I protested, though there was a hint of guilt in my voice. “I’m waiting,” AJ said smugly, settling back so he was against the headboard.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. AJ watched me with a smile. I always came to him after a fight with Nick. Sarah was out shopping with Leighanne and I know AJ would’ve gone with them if I hadn’t come here to talk to him. No matter how many times I came to him after another fight with Nick, I knew he never got tired of it. First of all, he had told me once that this was his way of paying me back for all of the things I had done for him before and after rehab. It was hardly necessary that he pay me back for any of it, but I knew he would keep thinking that. Second of all, I knew he did it for the entertainment value as well. He loved listening to the stories behind our petty arguments.
“He got pissed cause I told him I couldn’t come to his first boat race because I had already promised Krystal I’d help her with her new album. J, I didn’t know the date of the race when I made my promise to her! And I told him I’d come to all the other ones! But no, he went on and on, whining about how he should be the one who’s the most important to me before he stormed out.” I sighed. “Ok, ok, I’ve heard enough, I get the idea,” AJ said, unable to keep the grin off his face.
“What are you smiling at J?” I asked, trying to look angry and keep the amusement out of my own voice. I knew this fight was ridiculous, just as they all were, but I still had to at least pretend to be upset for a little while. We were always fighting. But I really don’t mind it. The smallest thing could set Nick off and have him screaming his head off and leaving for a few days. But neither of us ever truly worried. We always came back to each other. Our love was too strong, too beautiful for either of us to ever abandon it.
Sometimes I drive you crazy
Sometimes you wanna change me
I say you don’t, you say I do
That’s how it plays with me and you
When we can’t seem to make up
When we’re about to break up
I look at you, you smile at me and then
We fall in love again
Nick had the hotter temper, but I know that I can be a jerk sometimes too. Like that time I got pissed at him for letting Brian call him Nicky. Just thinking about it now makes me laugh. There was no reason for it. I had absolutely no valid reason to suspect that Nick and Brian had something going on behind my back, but just hearing my cousin call him something he never let’s me call him just set me off.
“So how long is this gonna last? Should I call the front desk and get you a cot? Or would you rather just sleep with Sarah and I?!” AJ asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “Yeah you wish, skinny,” I said laughing. “Oh yeah, I dream about it all the time Kev. If I came within five feet of you with Nick would beat my ass until I was unrecognizable!” I laughed. “Or Sarah would!” “Did someone say my name?” “Hey baby, back already?” AJ asked, eyeing her shopping bags jealously. “Hey Kev,” Sarah said with a smile. “Fighting with Nick again?” AJ laughed. I shot him a look before answering her. “Yeah, in fact I better get going now and fix things. Thanks for listening J,” I said turning to give him a quick hug. “Sure no problem Kev.” “I’ll talk to you guys later,” I said, waving goodbye and closing their door behind me.
For every action, baby, there’s reaction
Must be opposite attraction
No matter what you’re my ultimate distraction
And I know it gives you satisfaction
I was made for you and you were made for me
As I stepped into the hall I froze. “Kevin.” “Nick.” “I’m sorry Kev, I know you promised Krys before I set a date. I’m sorry for being such a jerk about it,” I said softly, nervously biting on my lower lip and running my hands through my hair. Kevin shook his head and came closer. “No baby, I’m sorry, I know how important it is to you. I can call her and tell her I’ll be a day or two late,” he said, reaching out to run his fingers through my hair, stopping to cup my cheek in his warm hand. I sighed and nuzzled my head to his palm. He stepped closer yet, his other hand coming up to the other side of my face. I reached for him and wrapped my arms tightly around his back, pulling him as close as possible. His arms came around my shoulders then, keeping me safe in his warm, protective embrace.
“No Kev,” I whispered against his neck. “You promised her. It’s ok, really. And besides, it’s Krystal! I don’t want her to be upset.” “You’re sure?” Kevin asked, pulling back and looking into my eyes, framing my face in his hands again and stroking my cheeks with his soft fingers. I nodded and pulled him closer still. “I love you Kev,” I said softly, leaning my forehead against his and staring into his green eyes. He smiled. “I love you too Nick.”
He pressed his lips to mine then, his tongue parting my lips and gently exploring my mouth. I kissed him back eagerly, our tongues tangling and battling for dominance. Our hands ran up and down one another’s backs, shoulders and arms. I laced my fingers in his dark hair, loving the silky feel of it against my skin. After a few more moments we pulled apart, breathing heavily and smiling.
“Guess we should get outta the hall huh?” I asked, smirking. He smiled, his fingers sending shivers down my spine as they idly stroked my neck. He only nodded, still smiling at me seductively. As we wound our arms around each other’s waists and walked slowly back to our room, I lay my head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly.
No matter how many times we fought, and God knows this wouldn’t be the last time, I knew that we’d always be together. I needed him to be happy and I knew he felt the same way. No matter how far apart we seemed to be, or how differently we thought, I knew that nothing could break our love for each other.
Sometimes I drive you crazy
Song used, "Mars & Venus (We Fall in Love Again)" by Steps
Sometimes you wanna change me
I say you don’t, you say I do
That’s how it plays with me and you
When we can’t seem to make up
When we’re about to break up
I look at you, you smile at me and then
We fall in love again
