Chapter 57:

 

Separation

"Does it hurt here?"

"Ow, yes, dammit!" Nick scowled at Kevin, trying to swat away the older Backstreet Boy's hand. "Get away!"

Wincing, he carefully peeled away his sock to reveal an ugly bruise forming at the base of his middle toe. Kevin and Howie bent over to take a better look.

"It's broken," he wailed, touching it gingerly.

"How do you know?" questioned Howie.

Nick glared at him. "Because it feels like it!" he shouted. "Jeez!"

Kevin placed a reassuring arm on Nick's shoulder, relieved. With the mauling Nick had received, it was a wonder he hadn't been injured more severely. "You were lucky."

"He was damn lucky," commented Xavier dryly.

Heads turned as they saw AJ and Brian entering the room; Xavier leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed. Brian sensed the frustration in Xavier's voice and knew that the bodyguard had intended for something more serious to occur.

AJ shook his head. "What happened, Nick?"

"Well, as soon as we got off the elevator, I got mobbed. I felt someone grab me and pull. Since it was a guy's hand, I thought it was Xavier, ya know? Trying to help me. But it wasn't. It was some other dude, and he kept punching me! I tried to jerk away, but he was strong. Then all of a sudden he let go. I think he got pushed outta the way by a bunch of girls. Anyway, I heard Kevin and Xavier yelling at me to run. I managed to break free, but not before I tripped. I smashed my foot into something."

Nick gazed intently at his left foot, experimentally wiggling his toes, then grimaced. He looked up at AJ. "Yeah, it was weird, like that dude wanted to hurt me instead of grab at me like most of the fans try to do. I don't know…." Nick shrugged, at a loss. "I wonder how the fans knew where we were? We usually don't get ambushed that easily."

Carefully keeping a straight face, Brian leaned over, examining Nick up and down, thanking God that things didn't go the way Xavier had planned. Except for being extremely irritated, Nick looked fine. A wave of indescribable euphoria washed over him and he gave a relieved laugh.

Nick stared at Brian, a weird expression crossing his face.

"I shoulda known you would laugh," he sneered. "It wouldn't surprise me if you planned it."

Brian froze, his smile evaporating. The other three shifted uneasily, stunned by the vehemence in Nick's voice.

"Nick…hey, I wouldn't do that…why would you think I'd try to hurt you?" The disbelief in Brian's voice was unmistakable.

"Oh, I don't know," Nick jeered, "Maybe finding you outside my door with a switchblade has made me a little paranoid! What do you think?"

So that's where it went, thought Brian. He opened his mouth, then closed it, slumping in defeat. There was no way he could explain. He met Nick's angry gaze and said nothing, backing slowly away from him. Nick shook his head disgustedly, taking Brian's silence as admission to his guilt. Glaring meaningfully at AJ, Kevin, and Howie, Nick's eyes dared them to object. None did.

Brian turned to each one, hoping, praying for a flicker of support. Kevin stared back, his distaste evident. Howie bowed his head, his gesture saying more than words could. AJ was unreadable, his face set in stone. Brian nodded numbly. The damage was done, complete. Brian turned stiffly away, meeting Xavier at the door, feeling the burn of Xavier's smug satisfaction.

"Let's go," he said lifelessly.

***

 

 

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