~*~*~Three~*~*~



The next day, Brian called Nick. They had a very loud conversation. "Nick, I'm sorry for what happened yesterday." Brian said.
"Why did you call me? You were mad yesterday and told me and your mom and your bandmates to leave. I don't think that was very nice of you. What happened?" Nick said.

"Nick, yesterday the doctors gave me 48 hours to live. Now, it's 24."

"Whawhat? How did this happen?" Nick started to cry hysterically.

"The chemotherapy isn't working very well and because of that, the cancer can't be treated."

"Brian, listen to me very carefully. I want you to call you mom after you get off the phone with me and tell her. I don't want her to get any more surprises. Got that?"

"Nick, I want you to come down here, along with the other guys."

"Are you gonna call your mom?"

"Yeah, I will. I think she's had enough surprises. She needs to know about this."

"Okay, I'll see you in a few."

Brian said bye and then called his mom. " Mom?" asked Brian.

"Yes, Brian?" asked his mom.

" I'm sorry for what happened yesterday. I have a good explanation for what I've done and said."

"Brian, what are you talking about? What happened?"

"Mom, yesterday the doctors said that the chemotherapy isn't working very well and they gave me 48 hours to live, now, it's only 24."

"Oh my God. Brian, why? Why now?" Brian's mom started to cry hysterically.

"Mom, I don't know. Um, I have to go. Are you gonna come up and see me today?"

"Yes, honey, I will."

Brian hung up the phone and sat up in his bed. He put his head in his hands and started to cry. "Why? Why this way? Why must I die in this manner? Why?" Brian cried.

"Brian, what's wrong?" Howie asked when he came in the door.

"Wait, and I'll tell you. Wait until the others get here. Okay?"

"Okay. I don't know why you acted like that yesterday."

"Yo, Brian! What was up with you yesterday?" A.J. asked.

Brian looked at him with tear stained eyes. " A.J., I'll tell you when Kev and Nick get here. Okay?"

" Fine, don't tell me now." A.J. joked.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Down the hall, Nick and Kevin were talking. "Nick, do you know why Brian asked us to come down here?" Kevin asked.

"Yes I do but I can't tell you." Nick said.

"Why not? He shouldn't tell you something that you can't tell me. Tell me!"

"No! He told me not to tell anyone! So just wait."

They got to Brian's room after a lot of arguing. Kevin didn't want to talk to Nick but he had to. "Brian, tell us why you acted like you did yesterday." Howie pleaded.

When Nick got into Brian's room and saw Brian he started to cry. "Nick, why are you crying?" asked Kevin. "Brian, why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"Guys, Nick already knows this, that's why he's crying. Guys, yesterday the doctors gave me 48 hours to live." Brian said. By this time Nick was crying hysterically. "That was yesterday and now it's only 24."

Everyone was crying by now. Kevin especially. He should be, he's his cousin! "Brian, why didn't you tell us before? I think you hurt your mom's feelings yesterday." Kevin asked.

"Because I didn't know how you guys would react. I mean, you guys really care about me and I thought that if I didn't tell you, you wouldn't have to worry about it." Brian explained. His mom came in the room. "Mom!"

Everyone turned to the door. "Brian, honey, why didn't you tell us earlier? You know better than that." Brian's mom asked.

"I know, I know. I was afraid of how you would react."

"Brian, I'm your mother. You're supposed to tell me these things. Why would you be worried about how we would reactOh my gosh. You're father is out of town. He doesn't know about any of this. Oh God help us."

"You didn't tell him yet? Did you tell Leighanne? Did you tell anyone?" Brian asked.

"No to all three questions."

The boys except Brian looked at each other. "Brian is gonna get mad." Nick said to them.

"Uh-oh, you're right Nick. Oh man, can't wait to see him yell." AJ said.

"Mom, go call Leighanne for me and tell her. No, better yet, call dad. Nick, you go call Leighanne. Please?" Brian asked.

They both said sure. They called whom they were told to and when they got done, there were 2 more upset people in Kentucky.

Leighanne came right away and ran to Brian. "Brian, why didn't you tell us? You were gonna keep this a secret, weren't you?" she asked.

"I'm sorry! Can you guys forgive me?" Brian asked.

Everyone forgave him and left.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Nick came back and saw Brian. He was gonna cry so hard. "Nick, remember what you promised me. Okay?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, why do you want to know for?" Nick asked.

"Stay gold, Nick. Stay gold."

"Brian, what are you saying? Brian? Brian? Oh my God. Why! Why!"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Nick, come on." Kevin said.


"Hold on." Nick said. He bent down in front of the gravestone and put Brian's cross on it. "I'll never forget you."


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