Chapter 15
"Ah, finally back to a normal schedule in the world of Backstreet," Howie smiled.
AJ beamed stuffing his face with the delicious breakfast. "A beautiful world where Kevin isn't allowed near a stove!"
"Watch it."
"Yeah, yeah, old timer."
Brian sipped his juice. "I don't know how you can be so happy, Howie. Now, we go back to cursing managers and cold tour buses."
"And Kevin's bitching," AJ added.
"I do not, I do not bitch."
AJ adjusted his sunglasses. "Yeah, and Nick doesn't whine."
Nick merely lifting his head unable to come up with a catchy comeback.
"Kev, you feeling better?" Brian asked.
"One hundred precent. How do you guys feel?"
"I feel thirty bucks richer," Brian smirked.
Howie sighed. "This was an odd situation indeed."
Kevin nodded. "Yeah, but the flu bug has flown and now it's over."
"And Nick didn't even get sick. This really makes you look bad, Kevy Kev."
"Don't call me that," the older man snapped.
Howie poured himself some juice. "I'm just glad you're all better. Especially, Kevin. Kev, you're a bad patient."
"I am not!" he spat.
AJ rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Superman. You were a whiny little shit and you know it."
He shrugged. "So, I was doing a Nick impression."
"Nick's never that bad. He woke up without a fight and did his homework this morning. You had him beat," Brian said in the defense of the youngest member.
Nick stared at his plate. "This is awful."
Howie frowned. "My cooking isn't that bad."
"Not the food, D, going back. That bus is freezing and Johnny makes me sick."
"Johnny makes everyone sick, kid," AJ snorted.
"It'll be okay, Nick," Brian assured him. "Now, eat your breakfast."
"Not hungry."
Kevin groaned. "Just eat it, Nick."
"But I'm not hungry."
"Nick---"
"Okay, okay, I'm eating," he whispered picking at his toast.
They were distracted by a loud knocking at the door.
AJ groaned. "It's the energizer bunny. His bad attitude just keeps on going and going..."
Brian stood. "I don't turst the rest of you to be nice enough to answer to answer."
Kevin smiled. "I'd answer the door-then slam it in his face."
The others became visibly displeased as they heard Johnny enter. He stood over them. "Morning, boys. Ready to work?"
"Yes," they relayed in unison.
Kevin cleared his plate. "We're always ready to work, pity you can't do the same."
The man's nostrils flared. "Good morning to you too, Richardson."
"Well, it was a good morning but then you had to show-"
"Kevin..." Howie pleaded facing Johnny. "He's still not feeling very well as you can tell."
Kevin grunted placing the dishes in the kitchen.
Johnny sighed. "You guys know it isn't all me...Lou makes more deicisions than I do. It's my job to inforce them."
AJ nodded. "We know, Johnny. We don't think you're all that bad. Especially compared to the Big Man."
"That's very comforting, AJ."
"Is Miggy Piggy related to Lou?" Nick blurted aloud unconsciously.
The others burst into a fit of laughter-even Johnny couldn't resist.
Nick's face turned red as he laid his head on the table.
"I think they could be cousins-I see the resemblence," AJ snorted.
Brian shook his head. "Nah, Miss Piggy is kinda' hot -for a muppet."
Kevin wiped the tears from his eyes that the laughter had created. "Okay, Nick, I've got to hand it to you. You're a funny little rugrat. But I seriously don't want to hear you making fat jokes about people, okay?"
Nick shook his head. "I'd never hurt someone's feeling because their weight. I'd hurt their feelings because they're mean."
Brian patted his head. "That's a good boy."
Johnny cleared his throat. "I hate to break up the powwow, but it's time to get a move on."
"A move on?" Nick repeated zipping up his heavy coat.
"Yep, let's get on the bus."
Nick groaned trailing behind the others. "Get on the bus....The cold, drafty, icky bus..."