"Holy shit, we're really late Nick!"Jessica exclaimed fractically, struggling to put on a white spaghetti strapped top and a pair of light blue jeans. "Kevin's gonna have heart failure. You know how is is with schedules. I told you we shouldn't have done that."
"Chill, we're not that late,"Nick replied, clearly not as worried as she was. He took his time, pulling a black wife beater over his head nonchalantly. "Do you think I really give a flying fuck what Kevin thinks? Do you think it's really gonna make that much of a difference if we're 15 minutes late getting to the hotel. Do you know I'm at the point where I don't even know where we're going and do you know that I don't even give a shit anymore."
"Ok Nick, I get the point,"Jessica snapped. "Even if you may not care, I do."
"Fine, ok,"Nick said. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah I'm ready,"Jessica replied softly. "Are we checked out??"
"Taken care of."
"Good let's go."
*******
"Aight, we're here, we're HERE!!"Nick announced, bouncing onto the bus. They were late. As usual.
"Look who's gracing us with their presence. Did you two finally decide to put some clothes on and join us in the real world?"AJ joked, sitting in the living room area of the bus.
"You know, you're just funny as shit in the mornings Bone. I just can't get enough of your lame ass jokes,"Nick muttered sarcastically, taking a hold of Jessica's hand.
"Guys shut up. Nick you're late. AGAIN. See and you bitch us out because we call you in the mornings but clearly you can't get here on your own,"Kevin said in a fatherly tone.
"You know what Kev-"
"Ok everyone just relax please,"Howie said, desperate to stop a potential fight.
"Relax?? I'm tired of him talking to me like I'm a fuckin kid,"Nick said, his tone rising.
"Well maybe if you didn't act like such a fuckin kid no one would treat you like one,"Kevin snapped back. Jessica watched with wide eyes as a fight managed to break out between all of the guys.
"Kevin shut up, he's right. You act like that with everyone. It's getting old,"AJ grumbled.
"Who the hell asked you AJ??"Kevin asked in a disbelieving tone.
"Yeah, ain't nobody asked you to get into this AJ,"Nick added.
AJ looked at Nick in disbelief,"I was fuckin defending you!"
"I don't need no one to defend me!"Nick yelled.
"Nick come on calm down man,"Brian said, trying to settle his friend down. He knew Nick had a hot temper and didn't want him to say or do anything he'd regret.
"Brian stay out of this,"Nick warned.
"Come on Nicky, let's go into the other room,"Jessica said, softly linking her fingers with his, giving him a sympathetic look.
"Why should I have to go to the other room??"Nick said, his tone touchy and angry.
"Let's just go baby ok?"Jessica said softly.
"Fine,"Nick muttered reluctantly as Jessica led him into the "game" room.
"Nick are you ok?"she asked him, sitting down on the couch.
"I don't know, I'm just so tired Jess. I'm tired of touring. It's just so hard sometimes. I love the stage, you know that, but I hate living out of suitcases with the same assholes for months. I don't even know how long we've been on tour. I stopped caring a while ago. Don't even know what city we're goin to next..."
Jessica looked at him. He was upset, more upset than he wanted to admit. She wrapped her arms around him letting him rest his head on her lap. She ran her fingers through his soft hair soothingly.
"It'll be ok Nicky, it's not going to last forever. I know how you feel though. It's hard,"she told him.
"I miss my family and I miss Florida. I just want to sleep in my own bed in my own freakin house. I'm sick of hotels and I'm sick of this fuckin bus,"Nick said, his fingers rubbing small circles on her thighs.
"You still have me Nick and I won't leave,"she told him, in hopes to comfort him.
"You can't leave, you work for us,"Nick said, with a slight smile.
"True,"Jessica smirked but then got serious again,"But you still have me with you and you always will."
"Promise?"Nick asked almost childishly.
"Cross my heart Nick."
"I'm gonna hold you to that,"he warned her playfully.
"Ok babe,"Jessica smiled and fluffed his hair.
Later that day, things had settled down on the bus and everything was back to the usual chaotic state.
"Ohh WHAT NOW ROK?!"Nick howled, breaking out into a fit of hysterical laughter. He stook up and did a little victory dance, just for added effect of rubbing yet another Playstation 2 victory in Brian's face.
"Ok I'm done with this thing. I suck,"Brian said standing up.
"No come one just one more game. PLEASE BRIAN??"Nick begged, following Brian into the other room.
"Hey kids!"AJ hollared as Brian, with Nick tagging along closely behind him, came into the game room. He along with Kevin and Howie were watching a movie while Jessica had her headphones on with her eyes closed, singing to the music.
Nick plopped down on the loveseat next to his girlfriend who didn't even open her eyes when he sat down. Her body was gently swaying to the sounds of Nelly Furtado. He stared at her in amusement.
"...and the day will see if your gonna get some...now that girl they say she act so tough, tough, tough who's gonna turn off the light, turn off the light..."Jessica sang outloud.
"It's not that your girlfriend doesn't have a lovely voice Nick but can ya please tell her to shut her hole?"AJ joked, staring at TV.
Jessica's eyes popped opened and she slid the headphones off of her ears,"What was that Bone? Ya wanna start with me?"
"Let's go, I can take you,"AJ said, looking her her with a fake menacing look. After Nick and Jessica broke up for the short period of time, Jessica dated AJ. He fell in love with her but Jessica's heart still belonged to Nick.
"Yeah ok,"Jessica smirked.
"Well I swear to god Jess, if you start singing I'm Like A Bird it's on,"AJ warned, half seriously.
"I happen to like that song,"Jessica said, glancing at Nick for the first time since he sat down. "Hey Nicky. When'd you get in here?"
Nick rolled his eyes.
Jessica grinned, placing the headphones back on her ears,"Kidding..."
"Yeah I'm sure,"Nick replied, putting his arm playfully around her neck, bringing her head closer to him, giving her a kiss on the side of her face.
"Hey watch it Carter. I can take you AND Bone. At the same time,"Jessica said.
"Oooh wouldn't that be fun,"AJ smirked.
"Perv,"Jessica replied.
"I am not,"AJ said.
"Oh PLEASE, you're the poster child for perverts,"Nick retorted.
"Hey? What is this?? Y'all are ganging up on me now,"AJ said defensively. "I'm not a perv. Kev, back me up on this one, man."
"You're on your own AJ,"Kevin replied, not taking his eyes away from the TV.
"...I'm like a bird I'll only fly away, I don't know where my soul is I don't know where my home is..."Jessica sang loudly, with a smile in AJ's direction.
"Oh GOD, it's that SONG!"AJ moaned, covering his ears dramatically. "Make it STOP!"
"Jess, please stop,"Kevin said. 'I'm Like A Bird' was not a Backstreet favorite.
"Alright I'm done,"Jessica smiled. "So who won?" She was looking expectantly at Nick and Brian.
"Do you even have to ask?"Nick boasted with a cocky grin.
"Brian?"Jessica asked, knowing it would get a rise out of him.
"Brian??"Nick huffed. "He couldn't even hold a candle to me. I kicked his ass."
Brian rolled his eyes,"Never again Jess. Next time YOU play against him. He gets violent."
"I do NOT,"Nick protested.
"Suuure Nick. I think chucking the controller at the TV when I almost beat you qualifies as violent. What if you would've broken the TV?"Brian said.
"Whatever. You're just mad coz you can't beat the MASTER!"Nick grinned. Brian rolled his eyes again and let out a loud laugh.
"I'm sorry I even asked. Geez,"Jessica said.
"What movie are we watching?"Nick asked, draping his arm around Jessica's shoulders.
"Silence of the Lambs. That's exactly why I was listening to my headphones. Hannibal Lector eating some guy's face isn't really an image I want to see,"Jessica replied,scrunching up her face.
"This is a good movie,"Nick said, leaning back and relaxing.
"It's sick and gross and just plain wrong,"Jessica replied, standing up and pulling up the top of her jeans. "Ok I'm out. I don't wanna see it."
"Aw come on, stay,"Nick whined.
"NO, I told you I'm not watching this,"Jessica asked as Nick grabbed a hold of her slim waist, bringing her back down on the couch.
"Chicken!"Nick yelled out with a grin.
"I am so not a chicken,"Jessica huffed.
"You always wuss out when we watch movies like this. That makes you a chicken!"Nick laughed loudly.
"Kids! Can we keep it down to a dull roar?"Kevin commented.
Jessica ignored Kevin and turned to Brian,"When's Leighanne coming back on tour. I miss her."
"Yeah me too. In a few weeks, I think. It sucks not having her here,"Brian replied.
"Yeah it does, it also sucks for me being with you losers without someone to keep me sane,"Jessica teased.
"You better watch yourself,"Nick joked, wrapping his arm around her neck playfully.
Jessica gave him a look and then took his face in her hands kissing his lips quickly,"You know I love you baby."
"Aww, don't I just feel the love,"Nick grinned cheesily.
"Well I'm glad you feel it from her coz you sure as hell ain't getting it from us Carter,"AJ smirked.
"Shut it Bone,"Nick replied.
"EWW, no way he so did NOT slice off that guy's skin and put it on him!!"Jessica screached, her face scrunching up in disgust while sneaking a peak at the offending movie.
"Yeah he so just did,"Brian laughed.
"Oh that was great! He's brilliant!"AJ exclaimed, clapping his hands together in delight.
"You know, it's scary that he thinks along the sames lines as a psychopatic nutjob,"Howie commented.
"Howie, AJ is WAY past the psychopatic nutjob status. He's actually starting to worry all of us a great deal. Or didn't you know that?"Brian said with a laugh.
"I don't enjoy the whole bus pickin on me tonight, it's just not right. If I had known that today was designated 'pick on AJ day' then I would have been more prepared,"AJ said.
"See this is why I don't watch these movies. It's too real. There could be some scarily smart, crazy psychopathic cannibal running around in the world,"Jessica said her eyes still glued to the TV, ignoring the conversation about AJ and snuggling closer to Nick.
"Hey honey watch who you hang out with,"Nick said in fake sinister voice, licking his lips.
"You are such a dork,"Jessica said with a laugh and a roll of her eyes, giving him a light shove. "I have an idea, why don't we watch Pretty Woman."
"Um chick movie? Yeah, I don't think so Jess,"Kevin said. "Besides we're watching this now."
"Hey I liked Pretty Woman,"Howie replied.
AJ let out a loud cackle,"Yeah you would D."
"Dude shut up,"Howie said defensively.
Suddenly the bus came to a halt.
"We here?"AJ hollared to their driver.
"Yeah we're here guys,"he called back.
And so it went. Another city. Another hotel. Just one more stop of the "neverending tour".
