"It doesn't look good," Brian said. The guys felt defeated, almost lost,
somehow. "His arm is really screwed up. That tree weighed,like,a ton,and
it could have crushed the bone in his arm.They'll have to put in plates
and screws,and-", Brian was interuppted by their manager,and Nick's parents.
"Guys,guys," Johnny Wright called."Look,we've got to keep our focus on Nick
right now.Forget about the tour,forget about it all for the time being.Nick
is going to need our support,no matter what else happens," Kevin nodded.He
knew that what Johnny was saying was true. Howie and A.J. were sitting off
to the far right wall of the room,talking quietly."What happened to you guys?,"
Kevin snapped. He'd suddenly realized that if Howie and A.J. hadn't been
missing,this whole nightmare wouldn't exist."What happened to us?We got lost,
man.I told Brian I thought I heard something outside,and went to check it
out. I don't know how Howie ended up out there with me,but-", A.J. began,but
Kevin was so angry he cut him off,"So you just go wandering off like it's
no big deal?Do you guys realize that this thing with Nick wouldn't have
happened if you hadn't been galavanting off through the woods?" "Whoa,Kev,
slow down," but Kevin just brushed Brian aside."This is your fault," he
hissed,pointing at A.J. "MY fault?!Are you crazy?I'd give anything to have
taken Nick's place!," A.J. cried.People began to stare at them,but Kevin
didn't notice."Guys!Cut it out!," Howie tried to step between them,but Kevin
lunged at A.J. first. Johnny seperated both of them. "I honestly don't
believe this!What's the matter with you?You're so busy pointing fingers
that you can't stop to think about what Nick must be going through!," Howie
snapped. They could only watch him.They knew he was right."This is crazy.
Seriously crazy.You're twisted....all of you," Howie tossed up his hands
and walked away.Brian had never seen him so ticked off. Howie normally
prevented the fights in the group,being the one to see both sides.Now he
was getting just as upset as everybody else."Hey,isn't that the doctor?,"
Johnny walked towards the white coated man just as Brian and Kevin did.
"Ah,hello," the doctor obviously knew who they were."Mr.Wright," he shook
Johnny's hand."It seems that Nick broke the bone in his arm,but it didn't
do any damage that a cast and a brace setting can't fix," the doctor told
them.They all breathed a sigh of relief. Nick was wheeled out right after
the doctor left."Guys!," he called. They all raced to his side,amazed to
see the big grin on his face."I'm a little woozy.Whatever they're giving
me,it sure is working!," he cried,laughing. Brian suddenly realized that
A.J. and Kevin weren't talking. They were both staring at their hands."Well,
we'll get you outta here in no time.Back onstage,right?," Brian asked.Nick
nodded."Yeah,sure," he called,"But right now I have a date with this nurse
who's gonna wrap my arm!" the nurse wheeled him away,and Brian turned to
find Howie standing behind him."Look," Howie told them,"I didn't mean to
blow up like that.It's just that you guys are so worried about who to blame
that you're not worried at all about Nick.I think we should call a truce."
Kevin and A.J. nodded,and shook hands.Kevin pulled A.J. to him for a hug,
and they apologized."We'll get through this," Howie told them.They nodded
and sat down to wait more news on Nick's condition."Guys?," Donna Wright
walked over to them,as they sat up in their chairs."Nick wants to see you,"
she said."Is he okay?," Howie asked."I don't know.I think you should talk
to him," she replied.They filed down the hall to Nick's room. They didn't
know what was awaiting the,but they got the completely unexpected."Come in,
please.Sit down," Nick called.They stood around his bed,and he looked nervous.
"You're probably wondering why I wanted to see you," he whispered. He fingered
the blanket around his legs."I wanted to talk to you about the band," he
continued,"I think this whole mess has been really hard on all of us.And
that's the reason I'm quitting." Brian heard all of them gasp in suprise.
"Nick,"Kevin spoke first,"you can't be serious." Nick only nodded,and kept
his eyes away from them. "I talked it over with my parents.They said it was
my decision,but they stood behind me no matter what," he answered."You've
wanted this your whole life.We all have.Why would you quit now?We're doing
what we love," Howie said.Nick just continued to stare at the blanket,avoiding
their gazes."You don't understand," Nick murmured,"I'm not going to be able
to perform with this cast on.It may be months before my arm heals.That means
no dance moves,no nothing.I have to be extremely careful.And the best way
to do that is to quit." "You're lying,"the others stared at Brian as he
protested,"You're lying and you know it." He walked right over to Nick,got
in his face,and said,"Look me in the eye and tell me you want to quit.Tell
me that you don't want to sing anymore.You never wanna perform again.You
don't care about the fans.Tell me that,Nick." They watched as Nick lifted
his eyes to meet Brian's."I quit," he said.They all heard him.Brian stood
there,frozen. Then he said in a voice filled with tears,"I thought I knew
you," and he walked out of the room."I'm sorry,"Nick said quietly,"But this
is the best thing for everybody." Johnny was standing outside the door when
the boys walked out.Brian was down at the end of the hall,his head in his
hands.He wasn't taking his bestfriend's news well at all."I take it that
you already knew,"Kevin said to Johnny.He only nodded."So,what does this
mean for the Backstreet Boys?," A.J. asked,"What do we do now?"
The Backstreet Boys minus Nick.It would never be the same,not for the boys or for Nick.So what happens next?What exactly does this mean for the fab five from Florida?Find out in Chapter 5 of MISSING:A Fan's Worst Nightmare.
© 1997 emilybsb@hotmail.com
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