“Brianna!” Megan, a friend from one of Brianna’s classes yelled as she ran up to her out of breath. “Oh God! Have you seen the TV? Have you talked to, “ then in a whisper, “talked to Nick?”?

Brianna felt her heart start to pound. “What are you talking about? I haven’t heard anything what’s going on?”

Just then a group of girls with tears running down their cheeks rushed passed them and she caught part of the rapid conversation.

“Rehab? I didn’t know it was that bad.”

“Nick was crying and didn’t say a word.”

“I hope he’s gonna be okay.”

Brianna felt the blood drain from her face and the floor started to spin. She stumbled against the wall to get control for a second. Then it’s like she went into hyper mode.

“Oh God! I’ve got to call Nick. Where’s a TV? What channel was this on? Damn it why haven’t gotten a cell phone!” She rushed off in search of a TV with Megan right behind her.

“It was on MTV. During TRL. I only saw part of it. They were all quiet and stuff.”

Rushing into a student lounge she saw the TV turned to MTV, but it was a commercial. “Damn it!” She yelled and everyone in the room turned to look at her. Two or three knew that she was friends with Nick. When they saw her they came over and gave her a hug. Shaking them off, “Will someone tell me just what the HELL is going on!” She was shaking, mad, scared, upset, and worried, all at the same time.

One of the other girls, who had apparently been watching since the beginning started, “The Backstreet Boys, they came on TRL. Something’s been going on with AJ. Losing his grandmother, being depressed, drinking all the time. They said it’s been going on for a while.” She stopped to look at Brianna to see if she’d say anything, if she knew anything more than what was said on TV.

Brianna had her hand over her mouth. “Oh God. I’m so stupid. I’m so friggin’ blind. I knew he wasn’t telling me something.” She said to no one in particular, just to herself.

One of the other girls picked up, “You know Nick broke his hand the other day?”

Brianna nodded. Nick had told her he punched something. God please let it have been a wall and not AJ.

“Anyway, something’s been wrong for awhile. They said they were even hesitant about starting the second leg of the tour. Denise and a counselor have been on the road with them.”

Brianna knew Denise was on tour, but apparently she didn’t know the full reason why. Why didn’t he tell me? Any of them tell me? Don’t they know they can trust me? I’ve never told a secret of theirs.

“Well, that wasn’t working. Something happened. Something big. But this morning AJ finally went to the guys and admitted he had a problem and needed help. He’s already at some secret rehab center. You mean you really haven’t talked to…him?”

“What? No, I’ve been in class. Damn it, I’m getting a cell phone immediately, TODAY. Fuck, I need a phone. I gotta go. Home, maybe he’s called.” She turned on her heal and took off at a run. Her dorm was all the way across campus and she hoped she didn’t get a ticket trying to get there.

<~ Chapter 21 or Chapter 23 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003