Old Ghost House
" When will we be at the hotel?" I know that I was sounding whiny but what do you expect when you have to get up at crack of dawn, not sleeping any the previous night, well almost, and then having a photo shoot, interviews and an autograph signing at some mall? On top of this we were late in the schedule, like always, and would just get to pack our bags into the room before it was time to do another concert.
Don't say that life on the road is boring!
The boys looked at me, especially Kevin, saying calmly for what he said was the fifteenth time (I say third time tops), " Nick, relax, we will be there soooooon." I'm not over exaggerating if I say that he sounded very off. With a sigh I turned back to my Gameboy which was beeping away in that annoying manner that has the guys wanting to suffocate me with a pillow. AJ was leaning over my shoulder, checking out the game, commenting on my bad scores. I on the other hand choose to ignore those comments since I know who is the master in these things. Ok that is if you don't count Brian in.
Brian was still nursing a headache and he was leaning with his eyes closed against the window. I could tell that Kev was pretty concerned and he was constantly asking Brian how he was feeling and that he should tell him if he felt worse. A pang of jealousy was felt when I saw how much attention Frick was getting. Not that I don't think that he is worth it, it's just that whenever I am sick or low no one pays that much attention to me. Not even if I was on my deathbed.
" Awwww shit!" I yelled as Donkey Kong lost one of his coconuts. Hitting the button harder I tried to save the few lives that I had left.
In that moment Brian decided to lift one of his eyelids and he peered at me, " Not winning huh?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, combined with laughter and if he weren't so guarded by the Kentuckian I would have hit him hard in the head. Ignoring that he had a headache the size of Kansas.
Ever notice how great we are in geography when it comes to pointing out scales on the world map, especially in similarities to pains and aches. Whenever Bone feels bad he makes similarities to the Richter scale! He is also terrible in using scales and grades especially when it comes to woman. There is more than one occasion that he has "accidentally" said that the chick was a ten on the breast scale. Brian doesn't like this way of talking, me I don't care, after all I am from the male species.
" Shouldn't you be doing some homework?" It was Donna that stated this and I chose to ignore this comment. That lady had done me enough harm and I felt very insecure with her, breathing down my neck. When I don't say anything she was soon on my case again, " Nick, answer when I'm talking to you," There was irritation in her voice.
Shrugging I answered, " Sorry, I wasn't listening."
" You never are," she said sourly. At that moment I really longed for Denise to come back. AJ´s mother was a great "mom" compared to Donna Wright and I thought it was sad that she had gone back to the states. The reason for her sudden departure from England was that AJ´s grandmother had suddenly became ill, and was hospitalized. It was something with the heart. Bone told me this the other day and I felt sad for him. But also felt bad because I knew that now there were not a chance that Donna would let me out of her net. My only hope had been that Denise would come back since I knew that those two didn't fancy each other and I could use Denise as protection. This soon was washed down the drain.
Speaking about washing. I could really do with a warm shower since it's pretty cold on the bus. Obviously the heater is broke and I have been shivering all day. My throat feels a bit strange and also I have this stuffiness in my head. It feels like there is something that is bugging me and I'm more and more starting to think that I might come down with another of those viruses again. Rule: Never relax, then the Backstreet virus will hit you again! This however is NOT something that I will tell the rest of the guys since whenever I say something like this they always think that I am "pretending" to be sick to get out off things. And Donna and Johnny say that I am such a whiner. The BIG baby in the "family".
Just as I am about to ask one more time when we are at our destination Johnny announces, " Well guys, we are here at the hotel. We are short of time so you better get your bags and put them in the room and then we are off to rehearsal before the concert."
Looking outside I get the biggest surprise of my life. THAT can't be the hotel!!!! It looks like a big prison from 15th century or even older. It's not a very tempting sight and the buildings walls are starting to loose their paint. " Are we going to stay HERE???" There is desperation in my voice. I am not usually that picky, but this big building gives me the hives.
" Stop whining," Johnny boomed.
" First you have spent the better part of the day complaining that you want to get to the hotel and now when we are here. It's not good enough for you. When are you ever satisfied?" Donna has taken on the task of making my life miserable.
" I'm sure that Nick is just tired like we all are," Kevin defends me. Howie has been pretty quiet the whole trip and I'm starting to think that maybe that "pink shirt" joke really hurt D's feelings. When I get the time I am going to apologize to him. Maybe.
My thoughts are interrupted with Johnny ushering me outside. It's a bit windy and I shiver as the cold hits my skin. It's spring here in Germany and there are days that can be pretty nice. This is NOT one of those days and it sucks since we are doing an out door concert. The rain clouds are hanging low in the sky and I am pretty sure that the moment we hit stage it will be like the sky is opening up, rain pouring down. My tough luck.
Gathering my bags I follow my band brothers toward the brown big oak door, It's not like the hotels that we are used too and as I open the door there is a long slim staircase up to the reception. Not an elevator in sight. The more we are in the "hotel" the more we are thinking that this has to be a mistake. There are no fans waiting outside either and the moment the oak door closes I get the feeling that we will never return. I know that my imagination is playing a trick, but I'll tell you that the whole building is creepy.
Bone complains ahead of me in the stairs that this sucks since there are no elevators. Kevin is carrying Brian's bag, being the helpful person that he is. Howie is trudging along and as I carry my suitcase and bags up the stairs I start to wish that I had left that Nintendo at home as well as that portable computer and....ok I am not the worst of people when it comes to luggage. You should see AJ´s!!! And Howie's!!! But then all they have is clothes and that is boring and unnecessary stuff. Me and B'rok are the ones that have the lightest luggage. Only 2 suitcases.
Enough of boring information. After finally reaching the reception we have to hoist a small door open and then try to get the luggage into the opening. That is not an easy task, especially when you feel like you are about to drop dead from exhaustion at any second. I see a hard wooden chair and immediately scan that one in. There is no luxury here, no sofas and I can tell that the other boys look like question marks. Johnny and Kevin are debating over something at the reception disk, but I am too tired to pay any attention to what is going on. Howie complains that this is a dump and AJ states that at least the girl in the reception area has got great legs. This has me puzzled since there is no way he can see anything behind that desk. After confronting him about such a matter Bone just states lightly, " Don't you know Nicky, that I have X-ray vision!"
Suddenly I feel rather blonde or tired, you make the decision and say with my chin dropping to the floor, " Wow..really???"
" Nah Kaos, just pulling your leg." There is laughter as he tells Brian as well as Howie and some person that doesn't belong to the group how easily fooled I am. If there are one thing that I hate it's when people, especially the boys, makes fun of me in front of others. And that they know.
In my mind a devilish plan starts to work where I am going to get even with Bone for such things.
" This is the story." Johnny has come towards us and I prick up my ears. " The hotel is overbooked and there is a problem. Due to a convention in the town there are not any other rooms available. I have checked everywhere and this leaves us to two options!" There are loud sighs and both Howie and AJ are starting to interrupt when Johnny draws a deep breath and then continues, " First you can sleep in the bus." A noise of irritation is heard, " But the heater in the bus is broken and you will freeze and all get sick."
Staring at Johnny I try to detect if he is actually concerned for our health or if there is business going on. I'll bet the latter and not a moment too soon, as I know that I am right. " That is not good since then we would have to cancel shows and that is way to expensive. The bus is then out of the question. This leaves us to second option." We all look at our manager as he says in as light tone as he possible can, " You can stay here overnight and then...." Brian who looks like he is as tired as I feel interrupts Johnny, " Ok then..what are we waiting for?"
" There is a catch," Now Kevin has finally butted into the conversation.
" Yes, there is just one room and this means that you..You have to spend the night in the room together!"
If the noise that was heard when announcement that there were no rooms available was bad, it's nothing to the sound level that is following.
" What???"
" Are you crazy???"
" I refuse to do that!!! Nick sleeps with his light on!!!" Well thank you Howie for shouting out that information to the whole world. I glare at D' and instantly all my thoughts about being nice and apologizing have flown out of the window. I will NEVER be nice to such an "black foot!"
When the first shock AND discussion have cooled down Kevin waves with his keys. " We better get going since we have to be in for a sound check within the hour." It looks like rehearsal is out of the question and that I am thankful for since my legs and arms are aching, you know in that way it does before you start having an fever. Several grunts are followed and the situation isn't any better when it turns out that there are NO elevators at the hotel at all and we are getting 4th floor. After coaxing the suitcases and Kevin's keyboard all the stairs up I just wanna sit down and cry. This is way too much. From being tired.
The hotel hallway looks just as bad as the rest of the hotel and there is a red, torn carpet on the floor, stained with dirt. The walls are old and it's cold in the building. I´ll bet that there are ghosts here too since the portraits are staring down at me, looking like they might come alive. AJ grins. It's like he is sensing my fear and he taps me lightly on my shoulder, " Hey Nicky, I'll bet that they have ghoooosts here....Whoaaaaaa!!"" He says with the spookiest voice that only he can master.
Even tough I know that Bone is faking it I still jump and it feels like when I was 5 and lost my mother at the mall. Then some nice lady was helping me finding my mother and everything would have been peace and happiness if my mom hadn't scolded me for getting lost. Yet I tried to make my voice steady and say, with just a small shiver in my voice, " Yeah that would be cool..Ghosts!"
AJ on the other hand doesn't believe me, nor does the other guys do either. " Yeah right Nick," He is grinning like a cat and even Howie looks amused. Kevin on the other hand is set to find the door and is steps ahead of us.
A bit cross I state that I am NOT scared of ghosts beside spirits like that don't exist and..I don't have to continue any longer before Brian buts in, " Stop it," Then he pats my back, " It's alright Kaos. Everything will be fine." I nod silently. Even if I am afraid of the dark that is not a thing that I won't to get rubbed in even further. That is why I try as hard as I can to keep a cool posture.
" This is it!" Kevin says as he stops in front of a small door. He fumbles with the keys and then finally gets the door open. I don't know what to expect but my gut tells me that the room will follow the same path as the rest of the hotel. Howie is the one that is switching on the light and a small cramped up room with 2 bunk beds is gaping at us. There is an small door which probably leads to the bathroom and AJ walks towards the door and peers inside, " Whoooo this room is smaller than the backseat of my car!" He says as he closes the door. " THAT one is bad. My advice is to shit at the venue."
" Are we going to sleep here?" I know that I am sounding whiny again, but this can't be helped. The boys just give me the look, but I can tell that they are thinking the same thing. " Just put your suitcases inside. We have to get going." Kevin is taking charge and we do as our "leader" tell us to do. At least for this time.
Since we are already late for the sound check there is no further inspection of the room and if we had known what we would be in for we would have thought twice. Sleeping on the bus instead.
"Kaos quit spacing," Kevin is trying to get my attention by patting me on my shoulder. "We have to go."
" Maybe he´s seen an ghost?" AJ smirks and I cant help but to look at him wide-eyed, " I was just thinking."
"Kaos thinking, I'm scared."
"No wait!" Suddenly I have the best of ideas "Remember my idea about doing a monster video? I think we found the perfect place."
"Nick if you dare to mention this idea to Johnny I will put this boot sideways up your ass." AJ growles <.
"What?" Can I help it that whenever someone says something stupid my mouth just drops?
"It would be our bad luck that the shoot would take a week and Johnny would book us here." Howie added "That is enough said about that for now."
A cold shiver runs down my spine as Kevin's icy fingers grabs my collar and then tries to pull me through the door. " Enough of that talk now," he says " We´ve got to get going."
With that we are on our way to yet another concert night!
