“Get it right Nick!” Kevin barked as the
practiced they chair routine to “As Long As You Love Me, once again for the
hundredth time, “Honestly you act like you’ve never done this routine before!”
Nick
flicked Kevin off very openly and stormed off the stage. They took a
break. He’d be back in five minutes.
“Kev,
maybe you should lay off the kid,” Brian said pouring a few squirts of water
over his head, “He ain’t lookin’ so good.”
Kevin
groaned, “Do you think that’s what it is Brian? You think maybe he’s not
feeling well? I really wanna know what’s going on… cause as of right
now, I wanna kill him!”
Howie
frowned as he watched AJ slide off the stage. He knew he was going after
Nick, but what Howie didn’t know is what he would say to him. That’s why
he worried as he watched AJ leave in the direction Nick took off in.
“Hey,”
AJ said casually to Nick as he purchased himself a candy bar out of the vending
machine. He saw Nick scowl at him, “That dumb old man. He thinks he
can tell me what to do?” Nick was blabbering. AJ came to sit beside Nick
on the table, “How old does he think I am? I know how to do that stupid
dance. I’m just not in the mood to do it! Dumb ass Kevin… What?
What are you looking at Jay? You’ve been staring at me all day.
Like I’m gonna grow a second head. What’s up man? What’s
going on?” Nick’s eyes widened with curiosity. AJ could only blink
and shake his head. Why had he followed Nicky? He certainly didn’t
want to confront him, not alone…but, “Nick, what are you on?”
“The
table. You idiot, you’re sitting right…” Nick paused then his eyes
enlarged and he did an about face to stare AJ down, “What am I on?”
“Yeah,
are you high, man?”
Nick
laughed humorlessly, “Ok, ok. So what, now you think I’m a druggie, AJ?
Why? Are you jealous AJ? Jealous, that I seem to be holding
my shit together better than you? Is that it? This is just great AJ!
Kevin yelling at me up there, and you accusing me down here… I can’t
get away from it.” Nick’s eyes filled and he spun away from AJ.
AJ
cringed, he couldn’t be wrong… but if he was, Nick would never forgive him.
“Nicky, look man, I’ve been around people on… on speed and cocaine, even
heroine. I call them as I see them man. Just tell me what you’re
taking. It can be between us, and I will get you help. We can talk
about it, just you and me…”
Nick
shoved him, “SHUT UP! You and I can’t talk about anything, you’d never
understand now. You might have then, but then nobody wanted to listen!
Leave me alone, AJ.”
“Nicky
please,” AJ grabbed onto Nick’s arm as he tried to exit the lounge. Nick fought
at him, “Leave me ALONE!” Nick cried, his voice breaking. He broke free
and whirled around to hit AJ but stumbled. He fell forward, and AJ lunged
to catch him. He slowly lowered him to his knees on the ground and
kneeled beside him, “You ok?”
Nick
wouldn’t look at AJ, ‘’I’m fine,” he muttered, “I gotta get back to rehearsal.”
“No
Nick, not like this. Come on, we’ll get the guys, and we’ll talk.
I’ll help you t…”
“I
gotta get back to rehearsal,” Nick uttered again, he rose shakily to his feet,
“Leave me alone AJ. Butt out, you weren’t there before so why should you
be here now. “ AJ felt his eyes stinging. He viewed Nick walking
unsteadily out of the lounge door, and stopping to grip the wall briefly
for support. He then righted himself and then continued on.
The
familiar taste of salt stung on his lips as a tear had somehow cleared a path
from AJ’s eye to his heart. Nick needed help, and soon. But Howie,
his best friend didn’t believe him when he tried to tell him, what gave him the
right to think that anyone else would either?