Nick came barreling into the kitchen with Ananda on his shoulders. The guys jumped in surprise but laughed when they saw the sight of Nick with a baby practically on his head. Nick put Ananda down and she ran to Brian, who picked her up and held her. Kevin smiled and then turned to Nick. "Umm... So did you tell Tina about... you know..." Nick looked slightly embarrassed and shook his head. "I figured I'd tell her like... maybe right before we left... so she wouldn't be sad..." He said looking at the floor.
Brian and Kevin glanced at each other. Brian said as nicely as he could put it, "Yo Frack...man...you know you can't just leave her hangin like that. You know what happens when one of us does that." Nick looked up from his feet to look at his best friend. "I know Bri...I'm just worried about her and Ananda when I leave...I don't want to leave her..."
Kevin and Howie and AJ looked at each other, and Kevin said, "Hey Nick, we're gonna be goin, ok? We have to finish up...the new song at Jive... ok?" Nick nodded absently and waited for Brian to answer him. Brian waved to the guys and watched them leave. He shifted Ananda, who was still in his arms, and looked once again at his best friend. He sighed and said, "Frack, you gotta tell her. Do you know how upset she'll be if she finds out you just up and left? That would kill her."
Nick stamped his foot and cried, "I hate this!" Brian gave his friend a hug and said, "Yeah...but it will all work out. I promise. Anyway, I better be going... You're the only one who's finished the work for the song..." He handed Ananda to Nick and grabbed his keys off the kitchen table. "I'll see ya later man." Nick nodded his head and sat down after Brian walked out the door. Ananda was poking around with his mouth, and made a smile out of his lips on his depressed face. She giggled, and Nick laughed.
*three hours later*
Nick was lying on the couch, Ananda asleep on his bed. He had been playing nonstop with her, and both were completely worn out. He was just starting to drift off...
RINNNGGG! RINNNGGG!
Nick awoke with a jump as he heard a noise. "Ohhhh... the phone..." He thought sleepily and stumbled into the kitchen to grab it, hoping it wouldn't awake Ananda upstairs. "He...Hello?" he said in a sleepy voice. "Nickolas! Why in the world were you sleeping at 3:00 in the afternoon?" a voice came at him. "Tina!" he practically shouted. She laughed and said "Hey." He sat down and said in a quieter voice, "I miss you so much baby" Tina sighed and said, "I miss you too. But my mom is getting a lot better, so I can probs come home soon" Nick frowned. "How long is soon?" He asked. "Ummm...maybe a few days. How's Ananda?" she asked quickly, not wanting to upset him even more. "She's upstairs, sleeping." Nick said. "K" Tina said. "Well, I better go, cuz this is the hospital phone." Nick replied, "Ok..." Tina frowned. "What's wrong Nicky?" He put on a fake smile and tried to sound happy. "Nothing. I'll talk to ya later k?" and hung up.
Nick burried his head in his arms and cried like a baby.
Chapter 8
Hearing In The Wind index