I'm restless, I know I can't really go anywhere but staring at the walls of my hotel room is going to slowly drive me non compos mentis. I had to laugh at myself, I heard that in a movie and it just stuck. I've learned more from movies than I did with my tutors growing up on the road. I picked up the phone and dialed Howie's number. Maybe he would hang out with me. Before he could completely answer I spoke up,
"Hey Howie, what's up?" I heard him sigh, he hates when I interrupt in the middle of him saying hello,
"Hi Nicky." I could hear a girl giggling in the background and shook my head. Always a girl, all the time and people talk about me. I sit up in my room without girls alot more than people give me credit for,
"Hey man, get rid of that trick and hang out with me." He started to growl or something,
"Nick, don't talk about my sister like that." My eyes widended and I laughed,
"Oops, sorry man. I didn't know it was your sister. You know I love her." Actually, I can't stand the broad. She annoys the ever living fuck out of me but that's his family so I just keep my mouth shut and disappear when she's around.
"She's about to leave. Come over." I'd rather not even see her,
"I'll meet you downstairs in the bar in ten minutes." I hung up and looked around the room for my shoes. I looked down and shook my head at my baggy jeans and T-shirt, there was no way I was changing, I don't care what hotel we were in. I walked back over and dialed Carl's hotel room, he left his room number on a pad next to the phone. I swear they think I'm helpless, ok well sometimes I am. Sometimes you do have to lead me around but not as much as people think. After getting run over a few times I learned the easiest way to get over on people is to let them think they are getting over on you. Add a little ditz routine in there and you can get away with anything.
"Hey man, I'm going down to the bar in like ten minutes." That would give him enough time to do reconaissance on the bar to make sure it was ok. By the time he comes back to get me he will already have an escape plan and lookouts. Sometimes, it just wasn't worth it.
"So, how are things with Jane?" Things with my family had been good after we reconciled but naturally there were more bumps in the road. The past three months had been rough and I dealt with the problems the way I always did, I ignored them, thinking that they would eventually work themselves out but of course they didn't. I had to deal with them and I did that about three weeks ago, before we were in LA. It was emotional and I cried more than I had in the past two years but things seemed to be better now and all the things that caused a rift were now water under the bridge,
"They're cool now. It's all good now." I looked around the bar and noticed a group of girls in the corner. Any other time, I would try but I'm just not in the mood tonight. I just want to chill,
"So, where did your sister go? She's not staying here?" Not that I really care so why did I bother to ask. Well, it would be conversation I guess,
"She was just here today, her plane had a lay over here and then it was cancelled. She had a few hours to kill so she came by." I nodded,
"Cool." I envy Howie and his family. Brian and Kevin's too. That close family, Brady Bunch Walton's shit is fucking awesome and it breaks my heart sometimes that I don't have that, no matter how many times I talk about my siblings in interviews. We love each other, no doubt about it and I'd stick my foot up anyone's ass if they messed with any member of my family but with our love came drama. It's something that I've just decided to accept. Then I think of AJ and I think maybe we are dysfunctional but we've got each other. I couldn't imagine my dad walking out on us. My parents may not be fit for a TV sitcom but we were there for each other when the chips were down. My dad did whatever he had to, no job was too low to make sure we were taken care of and I respect him for that. I'd rather have my unfit parents, as people like to call them, than nothing at all. They are the hand I was dealt and I'm going to make the best of it, I have no choice.
"Can I get a picture with you guys?" I looked over to see a young girl standing at our table. I'm surprised Carl didn't have her in a headlock by now, she was way too close for his usual tastes. I looked around the room, if we took pictures with them everyone was going to want one and that was just something that I was not in the mood for.
"Ladies, they can sign autographs but they can't take pictures." I looked over at Carl and I was happy that the man seemed to be able to read my mind, it comes in handy when you don't want to do something but you don't want to be the prick and say no. We signed their autographs and it was obvious they wanted more. Why do they have to do that? Make you feel like shit because you don't give them what they want. I was ready to stand up and take the damn picture,
"Ok ladies thank you." Carl, once again, I smiled at them and waved as they walked away. My phone began to ring and I looked to see an unfamiliar number.
"You're not going to answer that?" I shook my head,
"Nope, if it's important they'll leave a message." Howie didn't have to deal with the cell phone shit the way I had to, his fans were relatively normal. I was the only one who attracted the psychos. Once the phone stopped ringing I dialed Brehan's home number so I could leave a message. She had just called me from Paris but I figured I'd leave a little message on her voice mail,
"Hey Brehan, it's Nick. I know you're in Paris but I thought I'd just call and leave you a little message. Hope your trip was ok and get some rest I'm sure you're tired." I glanced up to see Howie looking at me and once I started to give her my home address I could see his eyes widen,
"Gimme a call whenever. Talk to you later." I closed the phone and looked at Howie,
"What?" He shook his head,
"What?" I rolled my eyes,
"Why are you looking like that?" He shook his head and shrugged,
"I've never known you to call a girl just because. Especially one that you know isn't home. You were just calling to say hello?" Yeah, I wasn't the type to just get on the phone and talk for no reason. I didn't even do that with them unless I hadn't talk to them in a while and I wanted to see how they were doing.
"She called me earlier tonight and I was just. I don't know dude, she popped in my head and I just decided to call, it's no big deal. Haven't you ever called someone just to call?" He nodded his head,
"Yeah, but we're talking about you here." I looked at Carl and he simply rolled his eyes and looked away. I smiled, his cheerful disposition about some things amused the hell out of me.
"It's no big deal and before you even ask it's nothing. We're not dating, so make sure you make that clear to AJ when you tell him because I know you will." He smiled,
"We better get up to bed. It's an early and long day tomorrow. " I nodded,
"Yeah, I hope I can fall asleep. We all can't be like you D." He smiled and winked,
"I'm just lucky." I stood and walked over to the bar, not wanting to wait on the waitress to make her way back over so I could pay. I paid then smiled at some girls who were at the bar and had been watching us,
"Good night girls." They all looked at each other and stumbled for words,
"Night Nick."
"Sleep well." I could hear them gasp and speak loudly to each other as I walked away. I have to admit, that shit is fun sometimes.
Chapter 32
Stranger Than Fiction
Stories
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