An hour and a half later, Nick and Alex showed up at sound check fifteen minutes late. Kevin glared at them with a set jaw. He was really getting sick of seeing the two of them together. It was as if they were suddenly attached at the hip.

"Glad you could fit this into your busy schedule guys. Wouldn’t want to put you out or anything."

Alex turned casually to glance Kevin’s way. His face was the picture of disinterest. "Glad to hear it. You did enough of that earlier."

Kevin’s fists clenched. So, this was how it was going to be, huh? Alex was going to treat him like the enemy and not even a worthy enemy at that. Two could play at that game.

"Alex, buddy, I haven’t even started to put your ass out yet." Kevin answered flatly.

Alex just snorted.

Howie stepped between them and looked from one to the other. "Ok guys, let’s not do this now. We’re already behind schedule. We can get into it later, deal?"

Alex shrugged. "Nothing to get into. You guys gave me an ultimatum, I took you up on it. End of story."

Howie looked at Alex and it scared him. There was nothing there. It was like Alex didn’t give a shit about them anymore. This was bad. Kevin had warned them, but he hadn’t taken him seriously enough it appeared. "Aje, we didn’t do this to hurt you. You do know that right? We did it for your own good."

"Yeah sure, whatever. I have no intention of talking about this with you guys. It’s over and done. I’m going to see the damn shrink. End of story. Let’s get this check over with."

Nick watched the exchange. Alex was shutting everyone but him out. His heart ached for him. He was so detached. He knew what they’d done had hurt him, but for him to just shut down like this, he had to have been hurting really bad. Nick thanked God he hadn’t been a part of the decision to bring in the head doctor. He valued Alex’s friendship too much to have him cut it off like he had with the others.

After sound check was done, it was time to head out to the meet and greet. While they were there Alex joked and laughed with the fans, turning on the charm and playing it to the max like usual. After it was over, when the fans were gone, he went back to the same disinterested attitude he’d had during sound check.

Somewhere in the last couple hours, Kevin had adopted the same attitude. He looked like he could give a damn less about Alex. Howie and Brian looked at each other in concern. The group was falling apart around them and neither of them had a clue what to do about it.

Brian cleared his throat as Alex was heading out the door. "AJ, can we talk?"

Alex stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. "No."

Without another word, he turned back around and left. Brian and Howie just sat there shocked at the dismissal. Kevin grunted as if the reply had been expected and Nick shook his head in concern.

At the concert that night, it was more of the same. Alex put on a show for the fans, but as soon as the curtain fell, the act fell. He walked off to the showers alone. Nick trailed after. The rest of the guys followed suit, not really wanting to be in the same room with Alex, but having no choice. They were all sweaty and stinky.

After the showers, they all stood around in the locker room drying off and dressing in silence. Kevin kept sneaking glances at Alex while he dressed until Nick caught him. Kevin’s face turned red and he made a big production out of getting dressed himself, being careful not to look Alex’s way again.

After Alex pulled on his shoes, he stood and slung his backpack over his shoulder. "I’m outta here, Nick. You coming?"

"Where are you staying at tonight?" They had the next night off and Alex’s house was about an hour away. Still, he doubted he’d stay in the hotel that night.

Alex shrugged. "Don’t know, wherever I end up. Right now I’m going out clubbing." God it felt good not to have to hide it anymore. He could care less if the guys knew how much he drank and screwed now.

Nick nodded. "Sure I’ll go. Just give me a minute. And hey, if you want you can crash at my place. It’s a lot closer than yours."

"Sure, thanks. I’ll be outside." Alex turned and started to leave.

Nick looked at the other guys and sensed some sort of intervention was imminent as soon as Alex left. "No, wait Alex. I’m ready." He stood as he pulled on his last shoe.

Alex turned and looked at Nick. He’d called him Alex and his voice had sounded a bit on the desperate side. As he looked around the room he could see why. The other’s looked like they were ready to pounce on him. Shit. Taking his side was costing Nick. He felt bad about that, but there was nothing he could do. Kevin had drawn the battle lines. It wasn’t like he could erase them.

"Sure Nicky, just hurry, ok? I need a smoke."

After they left, Howie said, "Alex?"

Brian answered, "Nicky?"

Kevin laughed humorlessly. "That’s what I’ve been saying. They’re acting weird and they’re attached at the hip. Something’s going on."

Brian shook his head, picking up on Kevin’s train of thought. "No. It can’t be what you’re thinking, Kev. Bone, maybe. I can see him with a guy, but Nick? No way."

Kevin almost burst out laughing. If only Brian knew. But he’d promised Nick he’d keep it quiet, so he didn’t say a word. The other part of what Brian had said stuck in his head though. He could see Alex with a guy, huh? Kevin couldn’t…or rather, didn’t want to. Alex with a guy made his stomach clenched for unnamed reasons. Especially Alex with Nick.

Howie cleared his throat, deciding he should tell them something he’d been holding back for a while now. "Guys, one time, a couple years ago when we were all still sharing a bus, I walked in and heard Alex sobbing in his sleep. He was dreaming. I woke him up and he hugged me close, crying on my shoulder that it could never be. He could never be with him, the one he loved, because he was straight. I asked him who he was talking about and he wouldn’t tell me. I guessed it was someone in the group and he admitted as much, but refused to say who. Maybe it was Nick?"

The thought of that made Kevin recoil. Alex was in love with Nick? His brain screamed NO! But at the same time it made sense. He wished he knew why it bothered him so much. He decided to ignore the feeling. It felt a lot like jealousy, even though he knew that was ridiculous.

Later that evening they were sitting at a table in the VIP section of yet another nameless club. Alex was well on his way to being wasted and Nick was half-way there. Alex pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. Grabbing one out, he lit it and took a long drag. "Damn, that was intense in there, huh?"

Nick nodded, knowing he was talking about the locker room earlier. "Thought they were going to tie me down and lecture me endlessly or something." He paused to shudder for effect. "Thanks for waiting."

Alex chuckled. Nick hated lectures. Considered them a fate worse than death. "No problem. I’m sorry about all this you know. You shouldn’t have to be caught in the middle."

Nick shook his head. "Don’t worry about it. Just don’t leave me alone with them, k?"

"Sure."

"Alex?"

"What Nicky?"

"I heard you yelling at Kevin earlier. At the hotel. You told him you hated him. Is that true?"

Alex thought about it for a minute, really thought about it. "I don’t know. I’ve loved him for so long, I don’t know how to feel anything different. I guess I don’t hate him. I just feel so hurt and betrayed. I never thought he’d threaten me with something that important to me. Hell, I never thought he’d threaten me period."

"I still can’t believe they did that."

Alex frowned, staring down at the double shot of JD on the table in front of him. "Let’s not talk about it ok? I just want to have a good time and forget what’s-his-name and the rest of them. I want to party and get laid."

Nick smirked that sexy smirk of his that drove the girls nuts. "Sounds good to me. That girl over there is checking you out."

Alex looked over. "Nah, not in the mood for curves tonight. I’m gonna head over to this other bar I know that has what I’m looking for. You coming? Or staying here?"

"Coming."

Nick didn’t mention that after the night before he wasn’t in the mood for curves either. He needed a man. Neither of them mentioned that they could get what they needed from each other, without scoping out clubs. It was an area neither of them wanted to go…at least not yet.


Chapter Twelve
BROKEN LOVE Contents