Chapter Two: The FIX Is In
I left an hour early which, by usual Nick standards, meant I would be forty-five minutes late. I arrived five minutes early. That was a shocker. I didn’t expect that. Neither did anyone else. I didn’t give them time to get their stories straight. Or hide the evidence.
Kevin looked the most surprised. If it was the fact that I was early or alone I couldn’t tell.
“Hey Kev!” I sounded happy, and I was. For Kevin. I really like Kristen because she makes Kevin happy and she is a nice person. I mean really nice, not the fake “sugar sweet” nice like some people. And not nice as in “nice to everyone no matter how they act.” It’s hard to explain, except that Kristen liked who she was just fine so she didn’t try hard to make other people like her. I hope that makes sense.
“Nick?” Kevin sounded like I did when I had done something wrong and was about to get caught. This could be good. “You’re here.” Well, now that we had that established....
“Can I come in?” I hated to ask, but it was raining by this time, and I was invited.
“Sure, come on in NICK.” Oh, goody. I was being announced.
“Nick?” A question from the kitchen. Strange, I thought I new that voice and it sounded just like...
“Hey Kev, have you seen Amanda? She left her stuff all over our room and I can’t find...” AJ stopped dead. I should feel important. It’s not just anyone that can make AJ look guilty.
“AJ! Nick’s car is here and...” Amanda also had the good grace to look guilty. Not Kevin. He was looking at Howie, who was looking at Maggie, who was Howie’s current “the breakup was temporary” flame. I’ll just bet roommate at Kevin’s goes along with that.
“HI EVERYBODY!” Big smile. That ‘a boy Nick. Rub it in.
“Um...well....” Kevin was at a loss for words. So was everyone else for that matter. It was up to good ole Nick to save the day. Would he be mature and walk in like nothing was going on? Would he throw a fit? Would he come in but pout the entire time he was there? Would he call Kevin a bastard? Nick really shouldn’t think through all his options. It gives someone else the chance to cut in and ruin his moment.
“Hey, what’s going on down there?”
Everyone turned to look at the guy on the stairs. He looked a bit like Kevin, but as I was to be told about a million times that weekend by every woman I met “ ...about a thousand times better looking.” I’ll describe him now, as this will be important later. He was about six-two with shoulder length black, black hair. That’s really all I noticed at the time, but later I overheard several conversations about his “...fantastic build..” his “...perfect features and skin...” his, well you get it. Oh, he also had really blue eyes. I found that out later and in a most interesting way.
“Are we playing the quiet game?” He looked as confused as Kevin did guilty. “Why do you always start games without me?” He cracked a smile, a really warm one. The only warm one in the room. The only real one in the room.
He looked around as he came through the hall. I guess he was expecting something. I have no idea what. I wasn’t armed.
“I’m Mike...Michael.” He extended his hand to me. Oh well, what the hell.
“Nick, and it’s not the quiet game, it’s swinging statues. They started without me.” Guilt should be enforced at every opportunity.
“Oh, Nick this is my cousin Michael.” Kevin’s announcement started everyone in motion, which meant AJ and Amanda headed out of the room faster than the time they ate road side burritos, Kevin went to “check on something” (I assumed to update Brian, Leigh Anne and Kristen on the current situation), Howie and Maggie went who knows where, and I was left standing in the rain.
“Would you like to come in?” Michael sent a pissed look in the direction of Kevin’s retreating back. Hey, I could get to like this guy.
“Thanks.” Due to the sudden downpour and my lengthy stay on the porch I was soaked to the skin.
“Listen,” Michael looked around but no one else was to be seen. “come up to my room. I’ll get you something to wear and then we’ll find out where the hell everyone went.” He smiled at me, but I could tell he was mad. It seems that Michael believed in good ole southern hospitality, and his cousin was in for it.
“Thanks, but I’m not sure you’ll have anything that...”
“No problem, I’m taller and I have sweats.” I was thankful he didn’t say “loose clothing”. Michael had manners.
He showed me to the room he was staying in which shared a bath with a room no one was staying in. I guess the “no room at the inn” excuse was out. Michael rummaged through his luggage, which I was noticed was in worse disorder than mine, and found sweats and a tee as well as clean socks.
“Sorry,” he handed me the clothes. “my shorts are all dirty, but I figured you wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s undies anyway.” Yep, he was Kevin’s cousin.
I dried off and changed in the bathroom while contemplating the events of the past fifteen minutes. Obviously Kevin had invited the other guys and their girlfriends to stay, but believing that Mandy would accompany me I was excluded. Of course I HAD been invited, but only in the single capacity. I assumed from the guilty looks below that the plan was to have Amanda, Maggie and Leigh Anne over at Kevin’s parent’s house with Kristin by the time I arrived. They had counted on good ole Nick to be late. Good ole Nick had counted on them to tell the truth, so no one got what they wanted.
“Nick?” Michael was waiting for me when I got out. My clothes were no where to be seen so I assumed one of the guilty parties was taking care of them. “Listen, I don’t know you and it’s not my place to interfere..”
“No, please do!” I hated that tone of voice, Michael didn’t do anything to deserve it, but I was mad. “Sorry, I just...”
“No prob. I’ve been “..I just...” with Kevin before.” Michael smiled again, which helped take some of the sting out of the next words. “Brian came back here and told Kevin that your girlfriend wasn’t with you..” Now Michael looked uncomfortable. What the hell was up? “...they are planning on setting you up.” Michael blurted the last line as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. Combined with what had occurred downstairs I found it a bit distasteful myself. “Sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything. Actually you’ve been the only helpful person here.”
“Yea, well. I’ve also been on the receiving end of several “fix ups”.” For a split second Michael looked like he was going to toss his cookies. “I think they should butt the hell out, but they are determined to ‘save’ you from something.” Or someone.
“Thanks. Thanks for warning me.” I couldn’t very well hide here and without my clothes I couldn’t go back to the hotel. Not that I would have. I had done nothing wrong and I’ll be dammed if I was going to make a break for it. “Let’s go down.”
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