Chapter 17
"My head hurts." Nick complained to the rest of the guys as they set on an airplane preparing to leave.
"Shouldn't have gotten drunk." Kevin said.
"Shut the fuck up Kev."
"Nick YOU shut the fuck up. God what the hell is with you. You can't keep acting this way, it's beginning to get to everybody."
"Good. My intentions exactly." Nick replied coldly.
"You know what? Why don't you go sit by yourself? We don't want you sitting here. Not acting like this."
"Oooohhhh. Poor Nicky, Kevin don't want him sitting with him on the plane. I'll try and pick up the pieces of my life and go on. It will be difficult though." Nick shot back grabbing his things and headed to look for another seat.
"Jesus what the hell is wrong with that boy?" Kevin asked once Nick was out of site.
"I'm not sure but it's seems pretty serious." Howie said growing concerned.
"He doesn't even talk to me anymore, he wouldn't let me in his room yesterday. I know he was there." Brian frowned.
"Ignore him." AJ said evenly.
All three men looked at him confused. "You act like you don't even care." Brian commented.
"Oh I am. I just know what he is going through. He'll be all right. I am making sure of that."
"What's wrong with him?" Brian asked.
"Yeah and how are you gonna make sure he'll be all right?" Howie raised his eyebrows curiously.
"You'll see in time. Nicky's fine. Just going through a rough time. He'll get past it. Trust me."
"AJ if something is wrong with Nick we need to know." Kevin demanded.
"No, Kev. He is fine. You don't need to know yet. Soon. I promise soon all of you will know."
"AJ is he okay? We need to know. I need to know." Brian asked.
"Brain, all of you. He is okay. I promise. Just a little cranky. He'll be fine. Like I said I am making sure of it. Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna go talk to him."
"AJ......."
"He's fine Brian. I promise. He'll be fine."
AJ found his way to Nick and sat next to him. "Hey buddy."
"What do you want?"
"Nicky.....Nick." AJ corrected. "I know your hurting man. I understand."
Nick turned away from the window he was staring out of and glared at AJ. "You have no fucking idea what I am going through. And I don't want your help. I wish you all would leave me be."
"Nick push me away all you want. But you'll regret it soon."
Nick's eyes narrowed. "Exactly what does that mean?"
AJ grinned and stood up. "You'll see Nick. You'll see."
He walked away still grinning leaving Nick completely confused.
"What the hell did that mean?" He asked himself.
Just then Jayme stepped onto the plane and found herself facing Nick. He looked at her long enough to take in her appearance before turning his attention back to the window without a word or facial expression towards her.
Jayme frowned and walked away sitting as far from him as possible.
Nick smiled weakly and whispered to himself. "She looked like hell, maybe Jake dumped her again. Or who knows maybe she realized just how much I could give her."
********************************
AJ watched as Jayme ran through her performance during rehearsal. The arena was complete chaos. The plane had been late and everyone was fighting to keep ahead of time, the show was in an hour and they hadn't done soundcheck yet.
AJ smiled when Jayme hit a note that showed how skilled she truly was. "Truly beautiful." He said under his breathe.
He looked at Lindsay who was already staring back at him while she hit every dance step, every move just right. He winked and turned away to head backstage, where Kevin was rushing around the arena trying to get everything under control.
"Take a chill pill Train." AJ told him. "Everything will work out it always does."
Kevin just groaned and continued rushing around. AJ went to the dressing room and searched for his outfit. They had so little time they were going to do soundcheck in their costumes and shortly after were doing the show. AJ knew that this night was gonna be one of the most exhausting shows of the tour.
And AJ was correct he barely had the energy to shower that night. But he did quickly. He was actually quite pleased with the way things had worked out. Almost as if it was fate. He knew everyone would hit the sheets quickly, which left noone to wonder exactly where he was. Everything was perfect. So he would lose some much needed sleep but it was worth it.
He poked his head out his door and looked up and down the hallway grinning when he saw noone. He grabbed his room key and headed down the hallway. When he reached his destination he knocked softly. Smiling when the woman answered the door. She allowed him in and he sat on the couch sighing.
"Been a long night."
"I know I'm so tired."
"Yeah."
"So?"
"You were right. Absolutely one hundred percent right."
She grinned. "I knew it."
"Yup and I have the perfect plan."
"I have one also. We can work together."
"Yeah but it is gonna take some time. Time we don't have."
"AJ we have to. You know we do."
"I know. Your right."
"Always am." She joked.
"So, where do we start?"
<<
>>