Chapter
9
Brian
stared out the window at the stars. He couldn't seem to think about anything
else but one thing, and everybody knew what that one thing was. Mariah. Brian
glanced up and saw a figure proceeding to the back of the bus. They were on a
small tour in Canada. They played at some small arenas across Canada. There
were 3 concerts a week. The rest was travelling.
The
figure got closer.
"Brian,
what are you doing? It's 3:00 in the morning."
"Nothing,
Kev," replied Brian. "I just couldn't sleep. That's all. What are you
doing up?"
"I
had to go to the bathroom. I shouldn't have drank so much pop after the show
tonight. I've learned my lesson."
Kevin
paused then said, "Look Brian, you haven't been the same since you got out
of the hospital. It's like you didn't even want to leave. I know you, and
something's going on. I mean, the other's don't buy the 'I'm just tired' excuse
anymore. It's a little old. I think you just need to get off your butt and get
back to your old routine."
"Sure
Kev, whatever you say." said Brian. He was already lost in his own world.
"Bri,
just tell what's wrong please? I'm worried." Kevin had a concern look on
his face.
Brian
let out a sigh. How could he explain to Kevin, let alone anyone else, what he
was feeling. He missed Mariah so much. They would just think that he has
feelings for her. He doesn't, he just missed talking to her. She was someone
who he could relate to. They've been down the same road.
"Kev,
remember that girl you saw at the hospital?"
"Oh
yeah, Mary, or something or other."
"It's
Mariah," said Brian.
"Right,
sorry. Go on."
"Okay,
well," started Brian. "I miss her. A lot. I know you probably think that
I have feelings or something like that towards her, but I don't. It's just
that, I can relate to her. I know how she feels and she knew how I felt. I just
miss her so much."
Brian
paused, then said, "You know, the couple of weeks that I spent with her
were so much fun. We did everything together."
"Even
showering?" teased Kevin, with a playful smile on his face.
Brian
looked at his cousin. "Okay, fine. ALMOST everything. There, better?"
"Okay."
said Kevin, chuckling.
There
was a moment of silence between them. Then Brian broke the silence.
"I
felt like I was deserting her when she needed me most, Kev. That's what's been
bothering me. I feel so bad. I mean, when my friends left because I was in the
hospital so much, it crushed me. I know that they didn't mean to, but it still
hurt. What am I going to do?"
Kevin
looked at his cousin. He looked like a lost puppy. No where to go or hide. Just
sitting there with a sad look. He couldn't stand to see his cousin like this.
They had been through so much together when they were kids, so Kevin knew how
hurt Brian was when his friends left him.
"Well,"
began Kevin. "Why don't you just go back and visit her? It's not like it's
forbidden or anything."
"Kevin,
Donna would kill me if I left. I need all the practice I can get. I'm not
sounding too good out there. I mean, tonight I was off key."
Kevin
look at Brian thoughtfully, then said, "You know, I bet that you could
sing much better if you went to see Mariah and stopped worrying."
Brian
looked at Kevin. He never thought about that. He always that the problem about
his singing was that he hadn't had enough practice, but maybe this time it was
just stress and worry. Maybe, just maybe, Kevin was right about this.
Brian sat there and thought.
"Maybe
you're right." he finally said.
"Hey,
what are you saying that I'm always wrong?" asked Kevin with a shock.
"You
know I didn't mean it like that." said Brian.
"Oh
yeah, sure, whatever. Like I'm really going to believe you." Kevin said,
pretending to look hurt.
"Okay,
okay, I confess. That was exactly what I meant. How did you know?" Brian
said with a smile, humoring his cousin.
"I'm
just psychic I guess." Kevin replied looking satisfied.
The
two relatives began to joke around. There was sparkle in Brian's eyes that had
been missing ever since he entered the hospital. It never returned until now.
The old Brian seemed to be returning.
Brian
felt so much better talking to Kevin. He knew he could always count on Kevin.
He planned to talk to Donna about taking a small trip back to Florida.
Kevin
and Brian sat around the table drinking coffee and just chatting. They started
to laugh so hard at a joke that they couldn't stop. Brian couldn't hold it in
and bursted out laughing. Then footsteps could be heard.
"Hey!
Shut up!" came a voice. "I'm trying to get some sleep!"
That
just cracked them up some more.
"Sorry,
AJ!" yelled Kevin through laughter. "Go back to sleep."
There
was some silence then a two dark figures approached. They seemed to be holding
something, but before Kevin and Brian could realize what it was, it was too
late. They were getting wet.
"Hey!
What's the big idea?" cried Brian.
"That's
for waking us up!" yelled Nick.
"And
that's for making fun of my mom!" yelled AJ.
All
the commotion stopped and everyone stared at AJ.
"Oh,
sorry, did I say that out loud? That was in my dream." said AJ sheepishly.
They
stared for minute and bursted out laughing. They began to play around again, AJ
and Nick on one team and Kevin and Brian on the other. AJ's team had water
guns, Kevin's team had the hose-like spout that was connected to the sink.
Kevin was holding the hose. Brian didn't have anything so he began to scoop
water with his hands and throwing it at them.
"Oh
yeah Brian, like that's going to help!" said Kevin.
Brian
shrugged his shoulders and continued to scoop water.
This
went on for about five minutes, until someone else walked in. It was Howie.
Howie
rubbed his eyes and asked, "Hey, what's going on? I'm trying to get some
sleep."
The
four looked at each other and grinned.
Howie
looked at them and said, "Hey, don't get any ideas. Look, I'm just going
to walk away and pre--"
It
was too late. They sprayed Howie until he was soaking wet. He looked like he
had jumped into the pool with all his clothes on. They all stood and laughed
while Howie looked shocked. Then he joined in on the laughter. After that, they
sat down to calm themselves down.
After
sitting in some silence, but a comfortable silence, Nick said, "Well, I'm
beat, I'm heading back to bed."
"Yeah,
me too." said AJ and the two wandered off together to sleep.
"I'm
going to bed too." said Howie. "Good night." and with that, he
went back to bed.
Kevin
looked at Brian. "You know, I haven't seen you that goofy in a long time.
You going to be okay now?"
Brian
looked at his cousin and smiled. "Yeah, I am."
"Good,"
replied Kevin. "I'm going to bed. Good night."
"'Night
Kevin." said Brian.
Brian
watched his cousin wander off in the little aisle from the back of the bus to
his bunk at the front. Then he looked out the window and looked up at the sky.
"Hang
on, Mariah. I'm coming really soon."
Brian
got up and looked around the kitchen. Donna was sure going to be in a surprise
tomorrow when she sees this big mess.
'Oh
well,' Brian thought. 'Maybe all this water will evaporate by morning.'
He laughed at himself and then went back to
his bunk to get some sleep.
***
