Chapter 6

“Well Nick… your test results came back negative. You only have bronchitis. I’m going to give you an antibiotic for it and get plenty of rest when you can.”

“Ok,”

Dr. Oberlin pulled a script from her clipboard and wrote down the prescription.

“Which hotel are you staying at?” She asked.”

“Marriott,”

“There’s a drugstore right next door to it. How about I just call your prescription in and you can pick it up when you get back to the hotel.”

“Great… thank you,”

“No problem… I just understand your grueling schedule,” She smiled.

She shook Nick’s hand, then left, allowing Nick to get dressed. He untied the gown and slid it off, tossing it into a nearby trashcan. Then he pulled his jeans back on and then his shirt and jacket. After retying his shoes, he took Meggie’s hand and led her to the front desk to pay for his visit. After writing a check for one hundred and eighty four dollars, they left, hoping to find a cab outside. With luck, there was one parked near the entrance.

“Marriott Hotel,” Nick said as they climbed into the backseat.

“Yes sir,” The man replied, turning the light atop the car off. After the short drive, he pulled up in front of the hotel.

“Eleven fifty,” He said.

This time, Nick dug into his pocket, pulling out a ten-dollar bill along with a few ones. He handed it to the driver and received two quarters back. “Thank you,”

Nick and Meggie walked next door to the drug store and went up to the Pick-Up counter.

“Last name?” The pharmacist asked.

“Carter,”

The man dug through a basket of small sacks and pulled one out. “Nick?”

“Yeah,”

“Insurance card?”

Pulling out his wallet, Nick handed the man a card.

“Ok, your total is seven dollars and twenty-six cents.” He said, handing Nick back the card.

Nick handed him his credit card and the man swiped it through the cash register. After handing the card back, Nick signed the receipt then they left the small store.

As they walked into the fancy hotel lobby, Brian and Kevin stepped off of the elevator.

“Hey guys,” Nick said as they came near them.

“Hey…what’d you find out?” Brian asked.

“Just have bronchitis and to take it easy for awhile.”

“Lunch?” Brian asked, as he began walking towards the restaurant built inside of the hotel lobby.

“I’m in,” Nick said, then looked down at Meggie. She nodded then followed the three men down the small corridor to the restaurant. A waitress seated them in a corner booth and left four menus at the table.

“Ohmygod… too much to pick from,” Nick whined, his eyes falling over the front of the menu.

“Close your eyes and point,” Kevin laughed.

“Bad idea… then my finger would land on sushi or something,” Nick wrinkled his nose. Meggie laughed as she set the menu back down.

“Done already? Geez girl…” Brian remarked.

“They have spaghetti,” Meggie said. “Good enough for me,”

“You know…” Kevin started. “You and AJ are exactly alike… you eat the SAME thing WHEREVER you go! I mean… he gets a cheeseburger wherever he can, and you get spaghetti.”

“We don’t like change. Change is bad,” She chided.

“Hello, my name is Candace and I’ll be your waitress today. Are you ready to order yet?”

“I’d like the steak and salad meal with an iced tea,” Kevin said. “And I want the steak a little pink in the middle,”

“I’ll have a chicken fried steak meal with mashed potatoes and a sprite,” Brian said.

Nick laughed then stared at the menu thoughtfully and looked up.

“We both want the spaghetti dinner with Dr. Pepper’s to drink,”

”Ok. Will that be all?”

They all nodded and folded the menus up, handing them back to Candace.

“What’s so funny?” Meggie asked Nick who was trying to contain his laughter.

“The way Brian said chicken fried steak… geez Brian… and you’d think you were from Kentucky.”

“I was raised on chicken fried steaks, thank you. And just because I don’t say it with a Floridian accent doesn’t mean anything!” Brian said jokingly as if he were mad.

Their lunches were soon served and they enjoyed a peaceful lunch, despite stares coming from various hotel guests.

“I’m going to go catch some z’s before we have to leave for the venue,” Nick said, stifling a yawn. “Do you have the extra key, Meg?”

“Yup,”

Nick kissed her on the forehead before leaving the room.

“I’m going to go check out the city… wanna come?” Brian asked, slipping his jacket on.

“Sure… might as well let Nick sleep soundly,” Meggie replied. They said their goodbyes to Kevin who disappeared into the elevator, then left the premises.

Three Hours Later

Nick was startled awake by the sound of himself coughing. He sat up to catch his breath before shuffling through his backpack for a cough drop. A sour look appeared on his face as the sweet taste kicked in.

“Love the look, Nicky,” Meggie said as she popped her head out of the bathroom.

“Why, thank you. When did you get back? I didn’t hear you…”

“About a half hour ago… you were dead asleep.”

“Oh… well… are you done in the bathroom?”

“Yup… it’s all yours,” She replied, plopping down onto the unmade bed with the remote control. As she turned it on, the ‘Rugrats’ theme began to play.

“Uh… Nick… you’ve been watching Nickelodeon?”

“Haven’t turned the television on since we’ve gotten here,”

“Sure…” She said, rolling her eyes. Nick scowled at her as he shut the door the bathroom. The water began to run in the shower as he climbed in. The scalding water hit his chest, loosing the tightness from the bronchitis.

Soon he climbed out and dried himself off with a towel. He pulled on his favorite pair of boxer-briefs, and then pulled his Nike trainers on over those. After hanging his moist towel over the curtain rod, he opened the door, letting the engulfing steam out.

“Nick! Look!” Meggie screeched as she jumped off the bed, pulling sheets after her.

Surprised, Nick stopped in midair as he went through his suitcase. Meggie rubbed his head and laughed.

“What’s so funny?” He asked, bemused.

“You’re hair is growing back. You have peach fuzz,”

He groaned as he eyed his almost-bald head in the mirror.

“I prefer to call it short hair,” He laughed. “I don’t feel like being a peach today.”

She kissed him atop the head then returned to her spot on the bed. He pulled on a white wife-beater, and then grabbed the bright yellow long-sleeved tee shirt that lay on top of his suitcase. Nick lay down on his stomach beside Meggie, propping his head up with his hands.

“Whatcha watching?” He asked, giving the TV a crooked look.

“Home Improvement rerun… there’s absolutely noth-“ Meggie was interrupted by a loud knocking at the door.

Nick rolled his eyes as he stood up and walked to the door. He opened it, to reveal Kevin.

“You about ready to leave?” He asked, hurriedly.

“Yeah… let me grab my backpack and girl,” He said, a smile across his face.

“Alright… meet us downstairs in a few,”

“Yes, sir!” Nick saluted. Meggie chuckled from the bed as she got up. Nick slid his backpack over his shoulder and took Meggie’s hand.

“Have the key?” He asked before shutting the door.

“Yup,”

Nick pulled the door shut with a click. The locked turned from green to red, and the door was locked. As they walked down the hallway, they practically trampled Howie as he walked out of his room.

“Sorry D…. couldn’t see you way down there,”

“That’s an old one Nicky,” Howie scuffed as they all got into the elevator.

“Just like you,” He teased.

“That’s right, youngin’,” Howie retorted back.

“Nickolas… leave poor Howie alone,” Meggie said, slightly slapping his arm.

“Am I not allowed to have fun?”

Meggie rolled her eyes as she leaned back against the wall.

“Go bug Kevin,”

“No… because then I’ll get in trouble,”

“I hate being nice,” Howie mumbled as the door opened.

“Hey guys…” AJ greeted.

“Yo…” Nick said, still laughing from the elevator.

“Awww Nicky… are you picking on Howie again?” AJ laughed, looking at the face Howie was given.

“No… I would NEVER pick on.. Hoowwwaaaarrrrrddddd,” He said in a high, squeaky voice.

“I’m taking the opposite van as this dork!” Howie announced.

Nick stuck his tongue out immaturely as he got into the van.

“Aww come on Howie… there’s room for one more in here. I’m sure Meg wouldn’t mind riding with AJ,” Brian laughed from the backseat.

“I won’t mind riding with him either,” He said, getting into the other van.