Chapter 7
Nick entered the room cautiously, hoping that both Brian and Kevin weren't
there. Brian, for the very obvious reason of not wanting to face his
straight love who couldn't reciprocate his love (he'd assumed that Brian was
straight, but given what AJ'd said to him, he wasn't so sure anymore), and
Kevin, for the very simple reason that he was *late*. His wish was
fulfilled on one count. Kevin was even later than him. However, Brian was
there, joking around with Howie and AJ. Nick entered, face towards the
floor, not wanting to look at Brian and know that he'd most probably never
get him. There was a slight pause, so slight that it almost seemed natural,
in Brian's speech, that *almost* no one noticed, when Nick walked in.
"Hey, aren't those Kevin's clothes?" asked AJ. Trust him to know who would
wear what, thought Nick to himself.
"Yeah, I kinda forgot to bring over some of my clothes the other day, so I
just rummaged through the guest cupboard and put these on. Kevin's clothes
were the only ones that could fit me."
Howie and AJ looked at each other as they saw the look on Brian's face. AJ
shrugged as Howie questioned him with his eyes, then gave an inward
sigh. He hated keeping secrets from anybody, but Nicker's being gay was
onte that *had* to be kept. It was a matter of honour, even though he
suspected that he would be somehow dealt with when it was finally out that
Brian, too, was gay, and in love with Nick, by the looks of things. Just
then, Kevin walked in, and everyone mentally heaved a sigh of relief. Big
Daddy was here, and they could go on entrusting everything to
him. Everything would be okay. Then AJ noticed the look on Kevin's
face. No, it wasn't that look, was it? But it was. Cleverly concealed, one
could still see traces if one knew what one was looking for, or if one was
familiar enough with it. Kevin was clearly hung over. Now Kevin's got the
bug too, thought AJ. Maxine's voice echoed in his head. "You sure are a
problematic bunch." Especially since Kevin never drank unless!
something big was brewing.
"Alright people, we've gotta start now. Here's some songs, could you go
over them, then we'll all go over the songs that you wrote yourselves."
their manager said. They all crowded into the booth.
When they were finally let off, it was way past lunch and they were
ravenous. All except for Kevin. He mumbled something about a meeting and
went off. Howie gave AJ a what's-with-him look, but AJ shrugged. He didn't
know everything. Meanwhile, Brian and Nick were still kind of tense around
each other, but since they both were too preoccupied with the front they
were putting up, they did not notice the other fidgeting as well. AJ nodded
at Howie. Howie nodded back. Silent messages were passed all round.
"Hey Bri, let's go get some food. AJ, you coming?" said Howie.
"No, I wanna talk to Nick 'bout something. You go on ahead."
"Alright then. Come on, Bri." Brian dutifully tagged along behind the older
man. No one noticed the backwards glance he gave to Nick as he went out the
door.
Nick looked curiously at AJ as Brian and Howie excited the room. "Well?" he
asked.
"Firstly, I think that we should go over to your house and pick up some of
your clothes. Can't have you running around in other people's clothes, can
we? Then we could like move some of your clothes to my place, and then
we'll see."
"Sounds like something to do. Not that we don't have anything much else on
our schedule. Do we?"
"Nah, that was all for today. But when they pick up the momentum, I don't
think you'll have time for all this anymore. And besides, I think it'll be
your last chance with Maxine today. She'll be leaving the day after, and
we're busy the next two days."
"Hey, since when did you know the details of our schedule so well?"
"Since this morning, when Train decided to be late. I thought to look at
the schedule to see if he was doing anything besides being with us at the
studio."
"Alrighty then, let's go!"
"We'll have to take your car. Howie took mine."
"I didn't have my car at your house."
"Shit. We'll have to take the limo then. Always draws too much attention."
"Or we could take a cab."
"Or I could drop you off." came another voice. It was their
manager. "Nicker's house, innit? Come on."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
***********************************************************************
Kevin, of course, didn't have a meeting to go to. He had wanted to escape
from the tension in the room, especially between Brian and Nick, as their
body language broadcasted everything they felt for each other to everyone
in the room except for themselves. It was just torturing him when he knew
that the one he loved would never love him. Well, maybe not *never*. If he
found a way to get to Brian before Nick did, he would be home safe. What am
I doing? he groaned to himself. This is my cousin and his best friend, my
little brother, that we're talking about. How can I do this to them? And I
would be committing incest! That was their first time that had crossed his
mind. Then he immediately put it out of his mind, rationalising that they
were cousins, not brothers, not blood brothers, anyhow. He could certainly
remember a few other marriages that were between cousins. He put his head
into his hands, wondering what to do, and was startled by the phone ringing
next to him.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Maxine, I'm looking for Alexander. I'm his cousin, y'know, the
one who you met, or sort of met, the time y'all busted in looking for
Brian?"
"Oh. Wait a minute, how'd you get this number?"
"Oh, Alexander just gave it to me and told me how to pass all the security
stuff. So, where's Alexander, or AJ, as you seem to like calling him so
much?"
"Actually he'd better known as Bone in the group, and he left with Nick not
long ago."
"Damn! Oh well, I'll just have to call him on his cell then. Been nice
hearing you. Really. By the way, you're Kevin, aren't you? One piece of
advice. Loosen up. Alex says that you're working them all to death." The
sound of laughter travelled over the phone. "Okay, bye now. See ya when I
see ya next!" She hung up the phone.
Kevin stared at the receiver dumbly. He wondered when was the last time he
heard laughter. Oh yeah, at the party last week. And he wondered when was
the last time he heard *real* laughter. Too long ago. There were no more
Frick and Frack jokes ever since they started being like *that*. He looked
at himself in the plastic window in front of him, and he was surprised for
a moment when for an instant he saw AJ behind him in the reflection. But
that was for an instant only. And furthermore, when he turned around and
hunted up all possible hiding places, not that there were very many in the
room, AJ was nowhere to be found. Kevin decided to go to the bathroom to
check what the damage was. Looking at himself in the mirror, he noticed the
bloodshot eyes and haggard appearance that AJ had noticed earlier. He
wanted very much to cry, but knew that if he started, he would end up on
the floor, consoling himself with the weird thought that Nick had not only
taken *his* Brian away, he was ! slowly taking everything of his away
too. Like the clothes today. He shook his head, giving himself a small sad
smile. "I must be going mad." he thought. He looked at the mirror one last
time and decided to go home before breaking down.
***********************************************************************
On the other end of the phone, Maxine dialed AJ's number and waited. And
dialed it and waited. And did it again and waited. And waited. And
waited. Finally she gave up, and scribbling a note, hurriedly left the
house, locking everything up. "Don't worry, I'll be back." she consoled the
whining dogs and bustled into the cab. The cab drove off, scattering the
pigeons as it squealed around the corner.
***********************************************************************
"Yoo-hoo! Max, we're back!"
"Max?"
AJ turned to Nick. "Since when did she allow you to call her Max?"
"Erm, since last night?"
"Oh. It's just that she only lets certain people call her that. So it's
sort of an honour."
"Oh. I see."
"Anyway. Max!" Nick ambled into the kitchen, as AJ ascended the stairs.
"Hey, Bone, come down here. Max left a note, and since it's addressed to
you, you should look at it."
"Since when did you get so polite?"
"Never did. Already read the note."
"Aw shit. Wonder what the emergency meeting was about."
"Most probably her work, I suppose. Got anything to eat?"
"Dunno, can you cook?"
"Nope. Wanna try?"
"No thank you. How does Macs sound?"
"Sure. Let's go."
***********************************************************************
Howie studied Brian over the top of the latter's burger, until Brian asked
him what he wanted.
"Nothing. Just wondering what you were thinking about just now when you
smiled so sweetly." Brian blushed. He had been thinking about Nick. Then he
quickly composed himself.
"That's none of your business."
"Okay."
The rest of the meal passed by in silence.
***********************************************************************
So Max was gone. And now he could only confide in AJ. Sigh. Nick played on
his PS II, stealing occasional glances at Brian as the latter tried to
write a song. Unfortunately, it wasn't going anywhere Brian wanted, and
finally, frustrated, he stood up and announced that he was going for a
walk. No one said anything. AJ merely looked up from his book, then at
Howie, who was busy with one of his compositions also, and then down at his
book again. Howie merely nodded, and Nick didn't even acknowledge that he
had heard anything. Kevin wasn't present, he still hadn't come back from
his meeting. Or maybe he was doing something else. "Oh well," muttered
Brian under his breath as he strolled out of his house. Why couldn't he
just have told somebody about Nick? Of course not Nick. Not AJ either, he
had been too close to Nick the past few days, or was it weeks? Not
Kevin. He couldn't be trusted not to overreact. Not Maxine either, she left
already, as AJ had told him earlier when he had ! asked after her. That
left only Howie. The peacemaker. Well, at least he could always bring down
any forest fires in the group. Brian smiled to himself and walked home. He
needed to tell somebody.
***********************************************************************
Kevin looked disconsolately at himself in the mirror. He had finally
stopped crying. "Ah, shit." He put on a CD and thumped his foot to the
beat, recognizing it as "I'll Be Your Secret", which seemed oddly fitting,
not only to what was happening between Nick and Brian, if what Howie said
was correct, but to himself as well. He was his own secret.
***********************************************************************
"Howie, could I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yes?"
"Erm, could we like just go for a walk, or something? Sorry guys, but this
is sort of between us." AJ flashed a quizzical look at Howie, who responded
with a shrug. Nick seemed to barely acknowledge Brian's presence again. In
truth, he was itching to know too, what Brian would divulge to Howie, and
Howie alone, not to his best friend too. Then it struck him. His best
friend. How long had it been since they last were Frick and Frack? He
lifted his head momentarily and said, "Whatever it is, you make sure you
tell me later, 'k Frick?"
"Erm, I'll have to see about that. Catch ya later, Frack." the warm blue
eyes found themselves in contact with the slightly unfocused blue-gray
ones, and turned towards the chocolate ones of the man next to him. "Come
on, Howie."
***********************************************************************
"Well, what is it?"
"Thing is, ah shit, let's go back to the house. I wouldn't want to be
caught dead saying this and having anyone else hear it but you."
"Alright." smiled Howie, lifting one eyebrow in puzzlement.
They entered by the back door, unseen and unheard by the occupants in the
front.
"Okay, don't get freaked out, I think I'm in love with... with... Nick."
the last word came out as a whisper, barely heard.
"What?"
"I told you not to freak out!"
"No, I just couldn't hear what you said."
"Oh. I said that I was in love with, well, Frack."
"Well, well, well, that was within our expectations."
"Huh?" Brian's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Whaddya just say?"
"I said, me and AJ, we were kinda expecting it, and I told Kev, so, yeah,
he should be alright with it, thought he didn't say nothing 'bout it."
Brian just stood there with his mouth wide open.
Chapter 8
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