Nick made it back to Atlanta just like he promised. He went through the back entrance, he didn't want fans to see him coming back into the hotel with a bag, the guys probably told MTV he was sick. Once he made it to his room he called AJ,
"Hey man, I'm back." AJ sighed,
"I don't even want to hear it Nick. Where are you right now?" Nick frowned, he'd think AJ would happy he made it back on time,
"In my room." AJ didn't respond he just hung up in Nick's ear,
"Damn, what the fuck?" Nick thought as he looked at the phone before hanging up.
The loud banging on the door caused Nick to jump. He went over to door and before he could get it open all the way Kevin came busting through with AJ, Brian and Howie right behind him,
"What the hell?" Kevin whirled around and caught Nick off guard. Before he knew it Kevin had his shirt in his fists and slammed Nick against the wall,
"Where have you been? Did you even leave Atlanta?" Nick looked at him, the nervousness obvious to everyone,
"Of course I did. My bag is right over there with the tag on it. I told you I had to take care of-" Brian walked over,
"Yeah, family business. Your mother had no idea what family emergency was going on. We had her worried until we assured her it was part of one of your pranks." Nick was angered now,
"You called my mother? You had no fucking right-" Kevin rolled his eyes,
"No right? Like you had no right to ditch an interview last night? I don't know what your problem is but you are on thin ice." Nick pushed Kevin off of him and lunged for him but AJ and Howie held on to him,
"You asshole, you don't know shit." He struggled and threw his arms around swinging wildly,
"Get off me. I don't need this." He walked past them and towards the door,
"Nick, get back here." He turned to look at Brian,
"Why Brian? So you guys can yell at me some more like I'm a little kid? And not listen to me?" Kevin snorted,
"Yeah, cause you really acting like an adult right now." Brian sighed,
"Well, what's going on Nick? We're listening." Nick's cell phone rang and he walked over to answer it,
"Hello?" He ignored Kevin's muttering as he listened to his mother,
"Hey momma. I'm fine. Hold on, let me get these guys out of my room and I can talk. I'm ok momma, I swear." He looked over at the guys and Howie began to usher them all out. AJ was last and turned to Nick,
"What happened to calling last night so we knew you were ok?" Nick eyes stretched briefly and before he could say anything AJ was out the door. Nick quickly assured his mom that everything was ok, not bothering to tell her about Quinn and Mac, maybe when Mac was eighteen he'd tell his mom.
Before he knew it he was standing before Howie's door taking a deep breath as he knocked. Once Howie opened the door Nick smiled weakly,
"You said if I ever needed to talk..." Howie nodded and waved him in,
"Of course, come in Nicky." Nick sat on the couch and waited for Howie to come over and join him,
"So what's going on?" Nick sighed,
"I know I've been a little irresponsible lately but it has nothing to do with drinking or anything like that. I just need you to believe me." Howie looked at him, trying to determine if Nick should be trusted,
"Well, what's going on?" Nick sighed and held his head down,
"I just have a lot of stuff on my mind." Howie pushed more, hoping to get Nick to open up to him,
"Stuff like what Nicky? Maybe I can help. Maybe we all can help if you talk to us." Nick shook his head,
"Not this time, besides Kevin doesn't give advice he tells you what to do, how to do it and when. And if you don't follow his orders then you're wrong and ungrateful. This is my problem but I won't let it interfere with work anymore, I promise." Howie shook his head,
"Kevin only wants to help you. He sees something in a different way because he's not in the situation and its easier to see straight when you aren't blinded by the problem." Nick sighed,
"Ok but does he have to be an asshole?" Howie took a deep breath and let it out slowly,
"Nicky, Kevin just doesn't want you to make the same mistakes that he made, that we all made. People just want to save you all the pain and aggravation." Nick shrugged and shook his head,
"But its my pain and aggravation. They say sometimes you have to learn from your own mistakes right?" Howie nodded and Nick continued,
"Ok, well how am I going to learn if I just follow what people tell me to do and I don't get to make decisions? When I'm thirty I can't call up and Kevin and ask should I get married or not. You guys are the men you are now because of what you went through...good and bad. And all of you are pretty great guys, your mistakes didn't kill you. You have to let me go through that growing up thing too thats the only way I'm going to become the man you all think I should be. I'm not a machine, you can't make me the man I'm supposed to be now. I'm not ready to be that great person yet, I have more stuff to go through to get there." Howie sat there stunned, his mouth open. Nick looked at him and frowned,
"Howie? Howie? Hello, Howie. Dude, say something." Howie shook his head,
"Wow, you're right. I never really thought of it that way. I guess none of us did. But that still doesn't mean you can't take a little advice every now and then does it?" Nick nodded,
"Yeah, I guess I could listen a little more." He stood up and pulled Howie into a hug,
"Thanks D man." Howie nodded and patted him on the back,
"Anytime you want to talk I'm here. And like it or not I might have an opinion too." Nick smiled,
"As if you don't always have one." Howie sat back down and watched Nick leave the room. Once the door was closed he shook his head and whipsered,
"What are you going through Nicky?"
Chapter 19
Reunited
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