Brian stared out the window at the stars. He couldn't seem to
think about anything else but one thing, and everybody knew what that one thing
was. Mariah. Brian glanced up and saw a figure proceeding to the back of the
bus. They were on a small tour in Canada. They played at some small arenas
across Canada. There were 3 concerts a week. The rest was travelling.
The figure got closer.
"Brian, what are you doing? It's 3:00 in the morning."
"Nothing, Kev," replied Brian. "I just couldn't
sleep. That's all. What are you doing up?"
"I had to go to the bathroom. I shouldn't have drank so much
pop after the show tonight. I've learned my lesson."
Kevin paused then said, "Look Brian, you haven't been the
same since you got out of the hospital. It's like you didn't even want to
leave. I know you, and something's going on. I mean, the other's don't buy the
'I'm just tired' excuse anymore. It's a little old. I think you just need to
get off your butt and get back to your old routine."
"Sure Kev, whatever you say." said Brian. He was already
lost in his own world.
"Bri, just tell what's wrong please? I'm worried." Kevin
had a concern look on his face.
Brian let out a sigh. How could he explain to Kevin, let alone
anyone else, what he was feeling. He missed Mariah so much. They would just
think that he has feelings for her. He doesn't, he just missed talking to her.
She was someone who he could relate to. They've been down the same road.
"Kev, remember that girl you saw at the hospital?"
"Oh yeah, Mary, or something or other."
"It's Mariah," said Brian.
"Right, sorry. Go on."
"Okay, well," started Brian. "I miss her. A lot. I
know you probably think that I have feelings or something like that towards
her, but I don't. It's just that, I can relate to her. I know how she feels and
she knew how I felt. I just miss her so much."
Brian paused, then said, "You know, the couple of weeks that
I spent with her were so much fun. We did everything together."
"Even showering?" teased Kevin, with a playful smile on
his face.
Brian looked at his cousin. "Okay, fine. ALMOST everything.
There, better?"
"Okay." said Kevin, chuckling.
There was a moment of silence between them. Then Brian broke the
silence.
"I felt like I was deserting her when she needed me most,
Kev. That's what's been bothering me. I feel so bad. I mean, when my friends
left because I was in the hospital so much, it crushed me. I know that they
didn't mean to, but it still hurt. What am I going to do?"
Kevin looked at his cousin. He looked like a lost puppy. No where
to go or hide. Just sitting there with a sad look. He couldn't stand to see his
cousin like this. They had been through so much together when they were kids,
so Kevin knew how hurt Brian was when his friends left him.
"Well," began Kevin. "Why don't you just go back
and visit her? It's not like it's forbidden or anything."
"Kevin, Donna would kill me if I left. I need all the
practice I can get. I'm not sounding too good out there. I mean, tonight I was
off key."
Kevin look at Brian thoughtfully, then said, "You know, I bet
that you could sing much better if you went to see Mariah and stopped
worrying."
Brian looked at Kevin. He never thought about that. He always that
the problem about his singing was that he hadn't had enough practice, but maybe
this time it was just stress and worry. Maybe, just maybe, Kevin was right
about this.
Brian sat there and thought.
"Maybe you're right." he finally said.
"Hey, what are you saying that I'm always wrong?" asked
Kevin with a shock.
"You know I didn't mean it like that." said Brian.
"Oh yeah, sure, whatever. Like I'm really going to believe
you." Kevin said, pretending to look hurt.
"Okay, okay, I confess. That was exactly what I meant. How
did you know?" Brian said with a smile, humoring his cousin.
"I'm just psychic I guess." Kevin replied looking
satisfied.
The two relatives began to joke around. There was sparkle in
Brian's eyes that had been missing ever since he entered the hospital. It never
returned until now. The old Brian seemed to be returning.
Brian felt so much better talking to Kevin. He knew he could
always count on Kevin. He planned to talk to Donna about taking a small trip
back to Florida.
Kevin and Brian sat around the table drinking coffee and just
chatting. They started to laugh so hard at a joke that they couldn't stop.
Brian couldn't hold it in and bursted out laughing. Then footsteps could be heard.
"Hey! Shut up!" came a voice. "I'm trying to get
some sleep!"
That just cracked them up some more.
"Sorry, AJ!" yelled Kevin through laughter. "Go
back to sleep."
There was some silence then a two dark figures approached. They
seemed to be holding something, but before Kevin and Brian could realize what
it was, it was too late. They were getting wet.
"Hey! What's the big idea?" cried Brian.
"That's for waking us up!" yelled Nick.
"And that's for making fun of my mom!" yelled AJ.
All the commotion stopped and everyone stared at AJ.
"Oh, sorry, did I say that out loud? That was in my
dream." said AJ sheepishly.
They stared for minute and bursted out laughing. They began to
play around again, AJ and Nick on one team and Kevin and Brian on the other.
AJ's team had water guns, Kevin's team had the hose-like spout that was
connected to the sink. Kevin was holding the hose. Brian didn't have anything
so he began to scoop water with his hands and throwing it at them.
"Oh yeah Brian, like that's going to help!" said Kevin.
Brian shrugged his shoulders and continued to scoop water.
This went on for about five minutes, until someone else walked in.
It was Howie.
Howie rubbed his eyes and asked, "Hey, what's going on? I'm
trying to get some sleep."
The four looked at each other and grinned.
Howie looked at them and said, "Hey, don't get any ideas.
Look, I'm just going to walk away and pre--"
It was too late. They sprayed Howie until he was soaking wet. He
looked like he had jumped into the pool with all his clothes on. They all stood
and laughed while Howie looked shocked. Then he joined in on the laughter.
After that, they sat down to calm themselves down.
After sitting in some silence, but a comfortable silence, Nick
said, "Well, I'm beat, I'm heading back to bed."
"Yeah, me too." said AJ and the two wandered off
together to sleep.
"I'm going to bed too." said Howie. "Good
night." and with that, he went back to bed.
Kevin looked at Brian. "You know, I haven't seen you that
goofy in a long time. You going to be okay now?"
Brian looked at his cousin and smiled. "Yeah, I am."
"Good," replied Kevin. "I'm going to bed. Good
night."
"'Night Kevin." said Brian.
Brian watched his cousin wander off in the little aisle from the
back of the bus to his bunk at the front. Then he looked out the window and
looked up at the sky.
"Hang on, Mariah. I'm coming really soon."
Brian got up and looked around the kitchen. Donna was sure going
to be in a surprise tomorrow when she sees this big mess.
'Oh well,' Brian thought. 'Maybe all this water will evaporate by
morning.'
He laughed at himself
and then went back to his bunk to get some sleep.