I guess that's one of the blessed things that came out from my meeting with Nick Carter. He made her smile again, something that I hardly see ever since Jack passed away. I think in a way, I've fulfilled Jack's wishes to make her happy. I doubt she'll be marrying the kid (although I'm sure she'd never say no if the proposition actually arise) but like a friend used to say, we're just one person trying to make the best out of a bad situation. I'm sure the right guy will come along for her, I'll leave that up to the hands of fate. Besides, we had a new member in our staff a month ago. Andy, 26 year old and unlike the rest of the guys on our floor, including me, he had the blonde hair and blue eyes down to perfection. Who knows, I might just play cupid one of these days.
Jive was pleased at how I handled his case, I was told that Nick showed some impressive progression. That made the big people in our company very happy. They decided to let me handle another big patient, a very wealthy businessman who is really just 24. Child prodigy, my bet. Boy was he a snob! One of these days, I would like to meet him up with Nick Carter and show him a little what hard work really means. But he's a nice kid though, in some ways, he reminded me of Nick. I'm sure we would get along well, he was beginning to open up to me after two months now. Slower than I had been able to with Nick, but we're different and unique that way.
The day that I left the Millennium Tour, we were in Florida. It was a huge homecoming for the Backstreet Boys, for I knew that they started out there. I met Howie's and AJ's family and got reunited with Mandy, his girlfriend. Everybody was in high spirit. Before I left, Nick gave me the journal he had been writing in since he started touring to me. Something to remember me by, he said.
"I think I'm getting a hang of this journal stuff."
"So you're gonna keep writing?"
"Yeah. But I'm gonna start again later, when we're probably done touring. I can't risk having a journal land in someone else's hands only to find it on ebay."
"And what about your uncle? Have you decided what you're gonna do about him?"
"He's gone."
"Gone?"
"That's what my mom told me."
"She called you?"
"Yeah. I know she would though, I'm her bank account."
"How do you feel about that?"
"Mad. But I'm done feeling sorry for myself, I'm just gonna live my life for me and those who give a damn."
"How about your sisters?"
"They're cool. They can't stay mad at me forever. One of these days, I'll tell them the truth. Us Carter kids gotta stick together."
"I'm glad to hear that Nick."
"I'm glad too. You know, I've been hanging on to the dark sides for too long and then I look back and realise, damn, I'm not even 21. That's just wrong."
"And now you know how to make things work for you."
"I do. I guess you're right, there will be changes afterall."
"I see you read your file already."
"Yeah. It's like looking into my life but through someone else's eyes."
I have yet to read his journal, part of me just wasn't ready to. I was back at work a week after that and life goes on for me, as much it was for him. I keep up with the Backstreet Boys and that wasn't difficult seeing Marianne was always there to provide me with the details. I am officially, in her own words, her 'Backstreet buddy'. Hey, as long as she keeps that between us, I would be okay with it.
We didn't expect to hear from Nick though. Marianne told me they were finally done with the concerts and were probably having their downtime. But when I answered his call earlier, it triggered a lot of memories, one being the joy of seeing Marianne smiling again. It also made me think of the journal. Perhaps it was time that I read it.
She was giggling again and I shot her a look. She stuck her tongue out and I rolled my eyes. I mouthed out the words 'grow up', to which she returned with 'you first'. I gave up and concentrated on the drama that was showing in Hallmark. The Guardian. This Nick guy is truly a flawed character, which made having to hear Marianne's constant oohh and ahhh throughout the drama, bearable.
"Say bye bye now." Marianne said, passing the receiver over to me. I feigned surprised. "Oh you're done? That was fast."
She rolled her eyes and sank to the seat next to me. "Bye bye Nick."
He laughed and that made me smile. It sure is satisfying being in this line of job when things worked out in the end. "You two are worst than Brian and me, I swear."
"Nah, we're getting too old for that. You and Brian still got it."
"I don't think it'll ever go away though. Maybe slowed us down a little but we'll still be two goofballs at the end of the day. Much like you and Marianne."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is."
"So wassup?"
"Just wanna say bye bye, like Marianne told you. We're going to the Bahamas."
"Damn that place is sweet."
"Yeah, AJ's idea. We're gonna do a lil brainstorming for the next album and have a bit of fun at the same time."
"Cool. Just don't kill each other." I joked.
"I can't promise you that though."
We talked a little more before saying goodbye, after I made him promise that we'll be getting something cool from Bahamas in our mailbox soon.
"How come we never get to go to the Bahamas?" Marianne asked out loud.
"Cause you can't just switch off your cell phone for a month and say bye bye to your patients."
"That sucks."
"I know."
"Headache gone?"
"Yeah. Much better now."
"Okay. I'm gonna start making that soup now, you better still be on that sofa when I'm done. No cleaning the car or repairing the radio John, I mean it."
"You're sounding like your mother."
"Don't mess with the person who's making your lunch." Once she left, I laid on the sofa and decided it was time to read the journal.
There was only one sentence written in bold on the first page. I couldn't help but smile. It sure was entertaining to look at yourself through someone else's eyes.
JONATHAN REITT IS THE PAIN IN MY ASS!
-
Nick
I listened as the engaged tone blared in my ear; my body had long sank deeper into the leathered couch, which now had a cheese pizza smell stuck to it. Even then, as I stared into space, a thousand and one different thoughts going through my head and confusion taking over, I reminded myself to have Jenny the cleaning lady over by the weekend. It wasn't until the almost shrieking honking of a car and a less than pleased man's voice yelling obscenities somewhere out on the road reached me that I placed the receiver back.
Brian came out of nowhere and slumped next to me, his two heavy luggage resting near his feet. "COME ON ALREADY, I'M GONNA MISS MY FLIGHT!"
Kevin and AJ followed next, taking the seat opposite ours. "I'm flying home too you know." Kevin pointed out.
"Then why aren't you dragging Howie away from the mirror?" Brian sighed.
"Don't blame the guy just cause he's metrosexual." AJ said.
"I'm metrolsexual too AJ, but I don't hog the mirror as long as him." Brian said.
"Cause he's a vain metrosexual." Kevin laughed.
"Is there such a thing?" AJ asked.
"There's Howie right?" Kevin said. AJ nodded. "Point taken."
Brian rested his arm over my shoulder and pulled me in. "Thanks for giving us shelter last night bro."
"Yeah man. I sure as hell don't wanna get stuck in mid air with that storm." Kevin added.
I smiled, unsure how I should break the news. We just returned from Bahamas and decided to take the flight out to Florida since the flights to LA and Atlanta were cancelled. We had a great night at my house, acting stupid like we used to be. It was a break we desperately needed.
"Okay I'm done." Howie said, strutting out with just a luggage in tow. "I'm just glad I'll be driving home and not take another flight."
"Shut up D." Brian groaned.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there was just no other way to break it. "Guys, we need to head back to LA."
AJ paled. "You were talking with Jive, weren't you?"
I shook my head. "Nope." I stood up, knowing that I couldn't just stay there after I break the news. I have some packing to do or we'll be late.
"That was Marianne. John passed away a week ago, I figured we should all visit, unless if you don't want to."
There was a long pause and I couldn't stand the deafening silence. "I'll go pack my stuff, you don't have to go if you don't want to, I know we're all tired."
I climbed up to my room and started throwing stuff in my bag. I don't know how long I would be there, besides, I'd be visiting a grave, that wouldn't take too long anyway. I checked my reflection in the mirror, decided to put on my baseball cap and left. I had to pause before climbing back down the stairs, I needed to breathe and control my emotions. I couldn't afford to break down now.
When I returned to the living room, Kevin was on the phone, I saw Howie and AJ loading their luggage into the SUV. Brian came up to me, there were hints of tears in his eyes and I envied him for having the freedom to cry. I couldn't do that, not now.
"Kevin's making flight arrangement. Jive's gonna charter a private jet for us. We're all going Nicky, he's our friend too."
"Thanks, I don't think I can do this alone."
"You won't have to. We should see how Marianne's doing too." Brian said.
"I'd love that. She lost a lot of loved ones Brian."
"We can relate to that. Come on lets go, everything's been taken care of."
Nobody said a word on our ride to the airport but the silence felt comfortable to me. Brian had his hand over my shoulder again and even though I was much bigger than him these days, I rested my head on his shoulder throughout the entire ride. Howie and AJ constantly sending me silent looks as if to say they're there for me. And Kevin, the ever backbone of this family, driving us to our destination. I let my mind drifted off to the conversation I had with Marianne.
"He died sleeping on my lap Nick, it didn't hurt for him. It's just his time to go."
"Why didn't you call me sooner?"
"You were in Bahamas, it was impossible to reach you."
"Was he sick long?"
"About a week."
"I bought him some cool rock climbing gears. He told me he loves rock climbing and he's gonna teach me how to do it."
"Nick, do you want to come down and see him? I'll show you where he rest."
"Yeah, I want to. I'll be there by tomorrow morning."
"Nicky, for what it's worth, he was reading your journal before he slept that night. He told me if he never gets well again that it'd be okay, because this is what he had lived for and he showed me your journal."
"Nick, we're here." I pulled myself up from Brian's shoulder, already feeling the strains for sitting that way for too long. I wanted to be happy for John, to know that he's in a better place now. He fought his fears and won, the battle had ended for him. I looked at myself and realised that mine was only the beginning of what's more to come.
And you know what? I'm ready.
The End
Look out for the sequel coming soon =0)
Saving St. Nick
Copyright 2002/04 mersey © All Rights Reserved
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