Chapter 6




Bye the time they got to the airport it was 2:57. Kevin and Brian's flight was supposed to arive at 3:00 and there wasn't a delay. "Flight 108 from Lexington ariving at gate 22." came over the intercom.
"That's their flight," said A.J.
Nick and Jessica followed A.J. towards the exit ramp. A group of girls got off first. A.J. pulled his cap down over his eyes. Nick wasn't wearing a cap so he just hoped nobody would recognize him. A few people later Brian and Kevin came up the ramp.
"Hey B-Rok, Train" said A.J. when he spotted Brian.
"Hey Bone," said Brian, as he joined the three. Kevin came up behind him. "Hey Frack. Who's the girl?" he asked Nick slyly.
"This is Jessica, my girlfriend," said Nick.
"Our little buddy's got a girlfriend," Brian said as he punched Nick lightly on the arm.
"Shut up Frick," said Nick.
"Everyone laughed except Nick and Jessica.
"Come on," said Kevin, changing the subject. "Lets get going."
Brian and Kevin got all their luggage and followed the guys towards the front. Amazingly they weren't recognized by any fans. They walked out to the parking lot towards Nick and A.J.'s cars.
"We're going to go to my house for dinner. You guys can ride with me," said A.J. Brian and Kevin started to put their stuff in A.J.'s trunk.
"Hey Frick, you can ride with us," said Nick.
"Sure you don't mind?" asked Brian.
"Of course not B-Rok," said Jessica.
Brian grinned. "Okay." He put his bags in the backseat of Nick's car and got in, Nick and Jessica got in the front.
"So when did you two meet?" asked Brian.
"Remember when we talked to Justin and the other guys from 'N Sync?" asked Nick.
"Yeah," said Brian.
"He gave me a note with Jessica's phone number and I called her up."
"Oh." He sat back in the seat. He looked kind of sad.
"What's wrong B-Rok?" asked Jessica.
"Nothing," said Brian.
"Don't lie," said Nick.
"I don't know. I just wish I had a girl to sit and talk to..."
"I've got a friend who's a really good listner. I can tell her everything, and I can trust her not to tell anyone," said Jessica.
"Well, we're leaving Monday..." said Brian.
"I could at least introduce you two. You could just be friends. You could write each other," said Jessica.
"I guess," said Brian.
"Okay, I'll introduce you two tommorow," said Jessica.
Brian still looked sad. "What's wrong now Brian?" she asked.
"I was just thinking if it was really worth it to be touring all the time and missing out on being normal and having a girlfriend. Then I realized that this is what I've always wanted."
"That's some deep stuff," said Nick.
"Shut up Frack," said Brian.
"Don't fight," said Jessica.
"Yes Mamn," said Nick.
"You got him whipped already?" asked Brian.
"Geez," said Nick.
Jessica and Brian laughed. "I...I'm just joking," said Brian through his laughs.
"Sure," said Nick.
"So," said Jessica, changing the subject. "Did you have a good Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah, me and Kevin went home to Kentucky. All our family was there, we had a huge dinner.
"What about you?" asked Brian.
"Nick's mom invited me and my mom over to their house for thanksgiving," said Jessica.
"Cool," said Brian. "What about your..."
Nick knew what was comming next. He gave Brian a look in the rearview mirror that said don't ask. Jessica didn't notice it.
"What?" asked Jessica.
"Oh, nothing," said Brian.
They got to A.J.'s house. Nick parked the car next to A.J.'s and got out. Everyone followed him to the door where Mrs McLean met them.
"Hi guys," she said.
Everyone said hi. "Is dinner ready?" asked A.J.
"Yeah, I just finnished it," said Mrs McLean.
Brian and Kevin excused themselves to the bathroom to freshen up from their flight. When they came back everyone sat down in the dinning room. Mrs McLean brought in a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and a plate of garlic bread.
"How come I don't have a plate?" asked A.J.
"Your's is in the kitchen," said Mrs McLean. She went in the kitchen and brought out a plate covered with a lit and set it in front of A.J.
"Can I open it?" asked A.J. hopping up and down in his chair imitating a little kid waiting to open a present.
"Yes, go ahead," she said as she sat down.
"A.J. picked up the lid to reveal a double quarter punder and fries.
"Thank you, thank you," he said in the same high voice as before. Everyone laughed. "It's been forever since the last time I had a quarter pounder."
"When's the last time you went to McDonnalds?" asked Brian.
"Umm... Last week," said A.J. through a mouthful of fries. Everyone laughed, Mrs McLean rolled her eyes.
"Your gonna die of a heart attack one day," said Kevin.
"If I had a heart attack while eating this, I'd be happy," said A.J.
Everyone laughed except Brian. "What's wrong Frick?" asked Nick.
"Nothings wrong," said Brian. "Lets eat."
Everyone dipped up a platefull of spaghetti. During dinner everyone chatted and joked quietly except for Brian, who seemed to be in his own world thinking. When he finnished he excused himself, put his plate in the sink and went outside. Jessica finnished her food and excused herself. She went out back an saw Brian playing basketball. He didn't even notice her standing there until the basketball bounced over to her. She picked it up and tossed it to him.
"Thanks," he said.
He didn't go back to playing, instead he sat down on a bench and sat the basketball down on the ground in front of his feet. Jessica went and sat next to him. "I know something's bugging you. You didn't talk during dinner," said Jessica.
He put his head in his hands. "Its nothing, just something stupid."
"Its not stupid, just tell me," said Jessica.
"I don't know, when Kevin and A.J. were joking around about a heart attack I started thinking about what I went through as a kid."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Yeah, I guess. See I was born with a heart murmer. When I was like five they hospitalized me. They put me in an ice cold room, then back in my hospital bed with only a sheet. They beat on my chest until I was crying in pain," he got choked up and couldn't finnish what he was saying.
"I'm sorry," she said. She leaned over and gave him a hug. Right then Nick came outside.
"Brian!" he yelled. Jessica and Brian jumped up. "What are you...?" He ran back into the house.
Jessica started to go after him. "Nick, wait."
"Let me handle it," said Brian. He ran into the house after Nick. Jessica went in the house.
"What just happened?" asked A.J. who was standing next to Kevin. They both looked totally confused.
"Brian was upset about something and I gave him a hug. Nick came out and saw us and took it the wrong way," explained Jessica.
"Oooh," said A.J.

Chapter 7 Index