Kev pushed open the door of the V.I.P bathroom
''You ok Nicky?''
Nick coughed ...
''Yeah........I'll be fine ...give me a minute''
Nick pressed his forehead to the cool of the bathroom mirror and groaned.
He emerged a few minutes later to a sea of worried faces.
No- one spoke........what could they say that would make him feel better?
The drive back to the hotel was as silent as the trip to the airport!
As soon as they arrived at the hotel..Nick dissappeared straight to his room............their room!
Howie watched him go....
''Do we stay with him''
''Why? he's a grown man... he'll live...he'll get over it''
Brian glared at AJ...
''You are such a shit sometimes AJ......trouble is my friend.....we know you care...
you just can't admit it!''
AJ shrugged and wandered off in search of something less challenging!
Back in their room Nick walked slowly into the bedroom ...he stared around the walls as if he could see the last two weeks reflected in them!
His hand slipped into the drawer of the nightstand.......and pulled out a pale green silk slip.............. Nick held it to his face breathing in deeply.
''What you got there?''
Nick jumped''Shit Brian you scared the crap out of me!''
Brian grinned happy to see the spark returning to his best friend
''Sorry bro''
Nick tried to hide the slip but Brian pulled it from him.
''You taken to wearing womens' clothing now Frack?''
Nick blushed
''Hmmmmm..now did she forget this 'little' item or does she not know
she's forgotten it?''
Nick surrendered to the good natured teasing
''Okay okay! so I kept a little something ...... she won't know!''
Brians face was full of mischief...he was determined to bring that
smile back to Nicks face. ''What if she wants to wear it?''
Nick looked horrified ''Why would she want to wear it...it's hardly the kind of thing you
wear to photograph a volcano.......''
Nick snatched back the coveted item of lingerie
''don't forget....she's staying in a mud hut with her fellow volcano
freak....and he's a guy so this is for her own protection..!''
''Whatever you say Nick''
''Besides.. '' added Nick....''when she's wearing this it's for my eyes
only.......'' a smile spread across his face.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the pretty green silk in his hands.
Brian touched his shoulder gently
''It won't be long you know''
''Yeah I know..... I'm fine really............I'm fine''
Kevin bounced into the room
''We're gonna eat...... you coming Nick?''
''No I'll stay here........ she could ring any time''
''Nick....... her plane took off less than an hour ago............ it's gonna be at least two more hours before she can call''
''She may call from the plane''
''They don't allow that Nick.......remember?''
''Come on you have to eat...''
''No really you go ....I'll just wait...here..''
They guys decided he wasn't gonna be persuded so they left in search of food..
Nick stared at the phone ''Come on baby call me.!''
He laid down on the bed and gazed at the ceiling...mentally planning a wedding.
A couple of hours later the guys returned
Nick was exactly where they had left him
He grinned as they walked in.
''Hi guys''
Howie held up two bags full of food
''We didn't forget you''
''Thanks but I'm not hungry''
''It's pizza!''
''Okay I'm hungry!''
Kevin sat on the bed and pushed Nicks legs out of the way. ''Have you been sat there all the time we've been gone?''
''No!'' said Nick defensively ''I've been laid here as well''
''I take it she hasn't called''
''How'd you guess''
Kevin simply smirked 'I just know okay?!
Nick sighed........
Kevin glared at him
''Don't you dare say it!''
''What?''
''That you think she's forgotten you!''
Nick blushed
''I told you it will be quite a while before she gets to a phone''
''But her cell phone?''
''My guess is she'll wait until she is somewhere private to call you''
A huge grin spread across Nicks' face as he realised just what Kevin
was trying to get at!
''yeah........''
''Come on Nick we brought all this pizza don't waste it!''
''Okay .......I gotta pee first''
Nick leapt off the bed and dashed to the bathroom.. falling over an assorted mess left by himself in his habitual untidiness.
The guys laughter at Nicks clowning was interrupted by the phone
A hurricane shot out of the bathroom as Nick bounded out of it ...hurdled onto the bed and bounced at the phone........ he grabbed it panting for breath!
''Heather is that you?''
''Nick...how did you know?''
''I've been sat by the phone for hours willing to ring ....then I go to the bathroom and it does ring...it had to be you!''
Heather giggled........
Nick loved that sound.........he felt the ache in his belly ''Heather?''
''Yeah....''
He struggled to keep his voice from shaking ''I love you babygirl''
He closed his eyes as she answered ''I love you too Nick''
Suddenly the phone was snatched from his hands.....
''Hey Heather......... you missing any underwear honey?''
Nick made a grab for Brian and the phone....... but Brian dodged him and Nick fell off the bed!!
Brian laughed....
''No I swear Heather.... he has this thing of yours...pale green..with a lacy bit round the erm..........''
Brian looked at it realised where the lace was... blushed and simply said.....''there!''
Nick could just here giggling from the other end of the phone
''He stole it from you Heather''
''Give me back that phone Frick..........now!!''
''I gotta go Heather..... he's gettin' all upset with me''
''Hi Heather''
Brian held the phone to Kevins ear so he could talk to her.
Nick couldn't hear the conversation from her but Kevin grinned and said 'you too babe'
Nick stood on the bed and tried to reach the phone but Kevin just chopped his legs from under him!
Nick was getting mildly irritated now.....he wanted to talk to her alone!
AJ had been watching the antics and calmly strode in ''Say goodbye Rok!''
Brian did as AJ said.
AJ took the phone ''Hey babe....I'll give you back to Nick and we'll leave you two
alone....... take care of yourself now you hear me?''
Nick was astonished .......after all the sarcasm AJ had dished out!
Nick took he phone and smiled ......AJ smiled back and ushered the guys from the room closing the door behind him!
''Baby....you still there?''
''Of course I am.........did you really steal some of my underwear?''
''No........ it must have got mixed up..''
but even as he said it she was giggling
''Oh ok!..... I took it to cuddle...... it's as good as it gets for me at the moment!''
''What do you do with it?''
Nick paused for a minute wondering if what he was about to say sounded too weird!
''Uhm I erm ......smell it!''
He waited for Heather to have hysterics...........
''Oh you mean the way I smell this shirt of yours?''
''What?''
''You haven't checked your shirts?''
Nick climbed off the bed and opened the closet quickly flicking through his shirts
''The blue one?''
''The blue one!''
Heather giggled again
Nick closed his eyes.......... ''god ......I love you baby.......I wish you were here in my arms
so I could kiss you''
''Don't Nick you'll make me cry''
''Good........ then maybe you'll come back to me''
''I gotta go baby ........I haven't eaten all day!.........Simon is taking me to dinner .........last decent meal for two weeks and all that!''
''Simon?''
''Yeah .........my fellow volcano freak .......remember?!''
''Oh yeah''
Nick did remember......... he felt the knot in his belly once more even though he had plenty of assurances that there would be no rekindling of the romance of previous years!
''Well I can't let my angel starve can I.....just don't enjoy his company too much''
'I promise''
''Will you do something for me babygirl?''
''Anything Nick!''
He was tempted to say 'come home'
''When you're alone in your room tonight call me...I wanna fall asleep with you''
''That sounds nice''
Heather thought better of telling him she was sharing the room with Simon...feeling sure she'd think of something to keep him out of the way!
''If I can just listen to you breathing I may be able to sleep''
The conversation was interrupted by Simon ''Heather for crying out loud come on..I'm starving to death here''
Nick heard him ''Put him on the phone...he can't talk to you like that''
''Nick calm down he's only teasing..I'd better go''
They said goodbye and Nick put the phone down slowly...something was bothering him or rather 'someone'