Chapter 7

Brian’s point of view

I threw the basketball at Nick.

Brian: And hit him right smack dab in the head.

Nick: Hey!

I had offered to shoot some hoops with him when he got back from…wherever he wandered off to. But he seemed a little absent-minded.

AJ: Gee, that’s a new one.

He had screwed up some easy shots that a first grader could shoot no problem.

Nick: Hey!

Others: *snicker*

Nick caught the ball and slam-dunked it.

Nick: Oh yeah! Who’s da man now?

For once he hadn’t missed it.

Nick: Hey!

AJ: Ha ha!

"What is it?" I asked suddenly. He looked at me.

"What do you mean?" he questioned, retrieving the ball.

"You seem a little off today. Whassup?" I asked again, concerned.

Nick waved his hand casually, "Oh, nothing. I just feel tired, that’s all."

Nick: Oh no, this better not be another one of those stories where I find out I have some kind of terminal cancer.

Kevin: Nah, that would be way too much drama. You’ve already had a car accident and gone blind, remember? The author wouldn’t give you cancer too.

"Well, if you’re feelin’ tired you should lie down, not play b-ball!" I pointed out.

"I’ll be fine!" he insisted, as he threw the ball at the net. He missed for the fifth time. I looked at him, as if to say ‘I told you so’.

Brian: I told you so.

Nick: Huh?

"OK, OK!" he exclaimed, sitting down. "Maybe I’m a bit too tired for this."

I sat down next to him. "Aw, c’mon, Nick!" I persisted. "What’s wrong?"

"Well, you’re gonna think I’m mad but…."

Nick: Why would I be mad?

Kevin: Crazy, Nick. She means crazy, insane. Not angry.

Nick: Ohh… like the Mad Hatter in “Alice and Wonderland”!

Kevin: Uh… yeah.

Nick proceeded to tell me about this stranger at the hospital the year before who he believed cured his blindness. I paused and looked at him for a second when he had finished.

"You were sort of right before, you know," I informed him.

He glanced at me sideways, "So you think it’s true too?"

"No, I meant about the bit where you said I’d think you’re crazy."

AJ: Ha ha, you got that right, Rok!

Nick: Hey!

"Oh," Nick realised.

Brian: Realized what? That he’s crazy.

AJ: About time.

Nick: Hey!

"But you say you met her at that bar," I continued. "So go and ask her about it!"

"I was gonna but she left before I could ask!" he told me.

"Ah, tough luck, huh?" I replied. "Lets go inside, I’m thirsty."

I was trying to change the subject to cheer him up a bit. He seemed very disappointed at that last fact; not being able to meet the girl, Jennifer, straight away. But he’d get to sometime. I mean, it’s not like she was goin’ anywhere…. was she?

Howie: Hm… foreshadowing… maybe she’ll die.

AJ: Yeah, probably so. It’ll probably be a car crash too, and that damn Pearl Jam song will be playing. You know, “Last Kiss”? It always is when a chick dies in a car crash in fanfiction.

Nick: What’s foreshadowing?

"OK, but don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to change the subject!" he stated. I grinned. He knew me too well.

Nick’s point of view

"But I think I should go back sometime soon, because the guy at the bar said she’d be back at about ….hmm…." I paused to look at my watch. "12:30, and it’s about 11:50 now. I’d better go and see if she’s there. It takes a while to get there."

"Good Luck, man!" Brian called to me as I left to go to the bar.

I drove back to the exact same spot. As I got out of my car, I heard a lot of noise coming from the bar. It sounded like someone was trying to strangle a cat. I rushed in, to see two large men having a punch up.

AJ: A punch up? *laughs*

Brian: How would that sound like someone strangling a cat?

Kevin: It’s just a simile, Bri.

Nick: What’s a simile?

Jennifer was standing a safe distance away, trying to threaten them into stopping.

"Hey, I told you about fighting in here!" she bellowed over the dim of the two fighters. "This is the third time! If you two don’t stop, I’ll have you barred from here!"

They both ignored her completely and continued their brawl across the room. I had to jump out of the way as one of them was thrown into the table next to me. Jennifer seethed in rage, clearly unafraid.

"That’s it! I’m having a word with Karlos about you two, and he won’t be pleased!" she yelled.

The victor of the two picked up the loser and hurled him straight at Jennifer. Acting swiftly on instinct, I dashed across the room and pushed her clear out of the way.

AJ: My hero! *pretends to swoon*

The unfortunate loser only had a barstool to break his fall. He stumbled upright and ran out of the bar, mumbling insults to his enemy.

I stood upright and helped Jennifer up.

"Hey again!" I greeted.

"Oh, Nick! Why do you always seem to come out of nowhere?" she asked smiling at me.

I laughed and shrugged. She proceeded to turn angrily to the other man who was fighting and lecture him about damages. He scowled and skulked off.

Nick: He should have gotten arrested! I almost got arrested just for arguing with a cop! *glares*

AJ: Dude, chill, Nick. It’s a story.

We both watched him leave, and Jennifer turned back to me again.

"So what can I do for you?" she asked, heading back to the bar counter.

"I just came across to talk with you," I claimed.

"You sure like to talk a lot," she commented, smiling at me enchantingly.

I grinned, and sat down.

"Can you excuse me while I call someone?" she asked.

I nodded and leaned back on my chair. At least one chair hadn’t been destroyed.

I heard Jen come back from making a call.

"Just had to call Karlos about those two guys. So, what did you come to talk about?"

"Oh, well, it was about yesterday, when I heard you-"

She looked at me, nervously, "What? What about yesterday?"

"Well…." I paused when I saw the panic in her eyes.

Howie: Hm… wonder what’s up with her.

She didn’t want to talk about this. I knew it, but I had to know what really happened. Then again, I didn’t want to ruin my chances with her before I even got to know her.

"Oh, nothing. But I was wondering, is it alright if I sorta… hang out here and talk to you? I’m sorta local and I’d kinda like to get to know you….."

I waited anxiously for a reply.

"Well, I guess…." She answered finally.

"Thanks, I’d really appreciate that," I thanked her.

My cell rang, and I picked up.

"Yep!"

"Hey Nick! You wanna hang out shoot some hoops or somethin’?"

AJ: Let me guess… it’s Brian.

It was Brian on the other end.

AJ: Oh yeah, I’m good. Dude, Rok, do you realize how much basketball you play in these fanfics? It makes it sound like you’re freaking obsessed.

Howie: Uh, AJ, he calls himself B-Rok. I’d say he is obsessed.

Brian: I am not!

AJ: Whatever you say, B-Rok.

I hadn’t spent much time with him because of all the tour details we each had to sort out.

AJ: Wait, weren’t you just playing basketball with him? Or has some time passed?

Others: *shrug*

"Well, OK. I’ll be back at the hotel in ten!"

I hung up and put my cell away.

"Must dash. I have to go hang out with a friend of mine." I claimed.

AJ: Dude, Nicky, you’re ditching a chick to go play basketball with Brian? What a loser!

Brian: He’s just being a good friend!

AJ: No… he’s definitely a loser.

"That’s cool," she commented. "Come back again!"

"I will!" I smiled as I got up to leave.

As I drove back, I could help but remember the hint of doubt in her voice when she agreed to get to know each other better.

Howie: Hm… she doesn’t want him to get to know her… because she’s hiding something! This is getting interesting!

AJ: D, you get waaaaay too into these things, man!