Chapter
12
“Get it right Nick!” Kevin barked as the
practiced they chair routine to “As Long As You Love Me, once again for the hundredth
time, “Honestly you act like you’ve never done this routine before!”
Nick flicked Kevin off very openly and
stormed off the stage. They took a break. He’d be back in five
minutes.
“Kev, maybe you should lay off the
kid,” Brian said pouring a few squirts of water over his head, “He ain’t
lookin’ so good.”
Kevin groaned, “Do you think that’s
what it is Brian? You think maybe he’s not feeling well?
I really wanna know what’s going on… cause as of right now, I wanna
kill him!”
Howie frowned as he watched AJ slide
off the stage. He knew he was going after Nick, but what Howie didn’t
know is what he would say to him. That’s why he worried as he watched AJ
leave in the direction Nick took off in.
“Hey,” AJ said casually to Nick as he
purchased himself a candy bar out of the vending machine. He saw Nick
scowl at him, “That dumb old man. He thinks he can tell me what to do?”
Nick was blabbering. AJ came to sit beside Nick on the table, “How old
does he think I am? I know how to do that stupid dance. I’m just not in
the mood to do it! Dumb ass Kevin… What? What are you looking at
Jay? You’ve been staring at me all day. Like I’m gonna grow a
second head. What’s up man? What’s going on?” Nick’s eyes
widened with curiosity. AJ could only blink and shake his head. Why
had he followed Nicky? He certainly didn’t want to confront him, not
alone…but, “Nick, what are you on?”
“The table. You idiot, you’re
sitting right…” Nick paused then his eyes enlarged and he did an about
face to stare AJ down, “What am I on?”
“Yeah, are you high, man?”
Nick laughed humorlessly, “Ok, ok.
So what, now you think I’m a druggie, AJ? Why? Are you
jealous AJ? Jealous, that I seem to be holding my shit together better
than you? Is that it? This is just great AJ! Kevin yelling at me up
there, and you accusing me down here… I can’t get away from it.”
Nick’s eyes filled and he spun away from AJ.
AJ cringed, he couldn’t be wrong… but
if he was, Nick would never forgive him. “Nicky, look man, I’ve been
around people on… on speed and cocaine, even heroine. I call them as I
see them man. Just tell me what you’re taking. It can be between
us, and I will get you help. We can talk about it, just you and me…”
Nick shoved him, “SHUT UP! You and I
can’t talk about anything, you’d never understand now. You might have
then, but then nobody wanted to listen! Leave me alone, AJ.”
“Nicky please,” AJ grabbed onto Nick’s
arm as he tried to exit the lounge. Nick fought at him, “Leave me ALONE!” Nick
cried, his voice breaking. He broke free and whirled around to hit AJ but
stumbled. He fell forward, and AJ lunged to catch him. He slowly
lowered him to his knees on the ground and kneeled beside him, “You ok?”
Nick wouldn’t look at AJ, ‘’I’m fine,”
he muttered, “I gotta get back to rehearsal.”
“No Nick, not like this. Come
on, we’ll get the guys, and we’ll talk. I’ll help you t…”
“I gotta get back to rehearsal,” Nick
uttered again, he rose shakily to his feet, “Leave me alone AJ. Butt out,
you weren’t there before so why should you be here now. “ AJ felt his
eyes stinging. He viewed Nick walking unsteadily out of the lounge door,
and stopping to grip the wall briefly for support. He then righted
himself and then continued on.
The familiar taste of salt stung on
his lips as a tear had somehow cleared a path from AJ’s eye to his heart.
Nick needed help, and soon. But Howie, his best friend didn’t
believe him when he tried to tell him, what gave him the right to think that
anyone else would either?
***
