Part 1:

Beef Jerky and Mountain Dew

"Okay, you know that you are never going to wear those.”

"No, I don’t know that.” Nick tugged on the pair of black cowboy boots, running his hand over the obnoxious tooling on the sides.

Brian leaned in a little closer to inspect, coming to the conclusion that the design was a large bird of some sort. "In twenty-two years, you have never had the need to buy a pair of cowboy boots. What would make you think you’d need a pair now?"

Nick shoved Brian back in his seat and stood up, stomping his foot the rest of the way into the boots, while the salesman looked on behind them.

Catching the salesman’s eye, Nick smiled, letting the guy take his cue to come forward and gush. "Those look so fabulous on you! I can’t believe you have never owned a pair of cowboy boots. It’s definitely a good look for you!"

Nick looked at Brian with an “I told you so” smirk. Brian just rolled his eyes.

Nick clomped over to the full-length mirror, admiring the boots from all angles. The salesman hovered over his shoulder like a little ghoul, smiling his approval. Sitting back in his chair, Brian folded his arms over his chest and laughed.

"I have to say, Nicky, I especially like them with the shorts.”

Nick slapped the palms of his hands on his long, multi-colored, Hawaiian shorts. "I’m gonna start a new trend, bro.”

"I don’t think ugly will ever be in," Brian said under his breath, but loud enough for Nick to hear.

The salesman seemed appalled by their exchange and turned his back on Brian. "Sir," he said, placing a hand on Nick’s shoulder, "you know that you make the clothes; the clothes don’t make you. With your good looks and build, you could pull off the retro Hawaiian cowboy look.” Brian could tell the guy was freaking out at the thought of losing the commissions on Nick’s $7,000 impulse purchase.

"I completely agree," Nick replied with a grin, once more checking himself out in the full-length mirror. "Maybe I should get a pair for my friend, in case he changes his mind?" Nick waggled his eyebrows at the salesman, and the salesman raised his own eyebrows in response.

"I don’t think that’s such a bad idea, sir. I mean, he will be kicking himself in the morning if he passes up these great, one-of-a-kind shoes.”

"If they’re one of a kind, then how can Nick possibly buy a pair for me and a pair for himself?" Brian shifted in the plush, velvet chair, ignoring the gorgeous blonde who had taken a seat beside him to try on a pair of outrageous red stilettos.

"Well, you see, sir, every boot from this company is one of a kind. So these are the only pair like this…" He waved a hand towards Nick’s boots like he was Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune. "But we have another gorgeous pair of boots with a similar bird on the side in red.”

"Oh my God.” Brian slouched down low in his seat as the salesman knelt down and dragged from a box a pair of scarlet red cowboy boots with a giant bird on the side, just like Nick’s black boots. Both Nick and the salesman had huge smiles pasted on their faces as the guy dragged off one of Brian’s Timberland boots and proceeded to jam the ugly red creation on his foot.

Twenty minutes later, Brian and Nick walked out of the store in their matching cowboy boots onto Rodeo drive.

“We look cool,” Nick said, swinging the bag that held his old shoes by his side.

“We look like two rejects from a porno movie,” Brian replied, picking up his pace to the car.

“You act like that’s a bad thing,” Nick replied. “Besides, speak for yourself, man. Maybe you would be rejected, but I would be a shoe-in to star in one of those.”

Stopping, Brian sat down on the sidewalk, oblivious to the stares of the shoppers around him, and pulled off the red boots, dropping them to the pavement. Then he pulled his Timberlands out of the bag and proceeded to tug them on with an irritated sigh. “You can be such an idiot sometimes,” he said, jamming the boots into the bag, just as a woman in head-to-toe red leather with silicone everything dropped a dollar bill at Brian’s feet and kept on walking.

“If I’m such an idiot, then how come you’re the one on the ground that people are tossing money at like you’re a bum or something?”

Picking up the dollar bill, Brian stuffed it in his pants pockets and stood up, slinging the bag with the cowboy boots at Nick. “Here, take your stupid porno boots.”

“Here, take your stupid porno boots,” Nick mocked with a laugh, following in step behind Brian towards the car. “Besides, that’s just all the more pairs of cool boots for me.”

Brian grabbed his keys from his pocket and pointed them at the sleek, black BMW at the curb. Two beeps, and the car unlocked. Nick pulled open the passenger door and slung his two bags over the front seat into the back seat and then climbed in. Brian walked around the car and climbed in the driver’s side, slamming the door shut behind him.

“God, you are always in such a sour mood.” Nick pulled his door shut as Brian pushed the master control to lock the doors. “I was just having some fun.”

“Yeah, $14,000 worth of stupid fun. I swear, you don’t think sometimes. Do you have any idea how long it takes some people to make $14,000, and you just flush it down the toilet on two pairs of dorky-ass boots that will end up in the back of your closet, gathering dust.”

“One pair was for you,” Nick said in a pouty voice.

Throwing the car into drive, Brian peeled out from the curb and flipped a U-turn, heading up towards Beverly Hills.

They wound up through the hills, past the incredible homes with even more incredible histories. It was hard to imagine the way life used to be here, with all of the famous movie stars, directors, and film producers that had once inhabited the glorious mansions. Brian had been living in Beverly Hills for almost a month, in a rented home that had once belonged to Frank Sinatra. When he called his real estate agent and asked her to find him a place to rent while he was in California, he never dreamed it would the house of a great legend. He said yes before the monthly rental price was even out of his agent’s mouth.

It seemed so strange to be here without Leigh. Their time off they had always tried to spend together, being their own little “family.” But this time it was different. They were at a crossroads.

After the tour had ended, Brian wanted to work on his own dreams for once and not the dreams of the group. He wanted to work on a solo album of his own. Something mellow and beautiful, full of songs he had written with his wife in mind. And he also wanted to start a family. Leigh had been putting him off for awhile now, saying she wanted to have time together as husband and wife before they introduced a baby into the mix. And Brian had agreed.

But as more and more time passed, he began to get more baby-hungry, and Leigh had begun to get less baby-hungry. She talked more about her career then a family, and when she had come to Brian with the idea of taking a six-month acting workshop in New York, Brian knew that his dreams of a bunch of little rugrats running around the house was all but over.

They fought about it for almost three solid days. Neither one of them slept, instead opting for loud yelling matches that lasted all night. And in the end, Leighanne had taken up residence in the guest cottage in the back of their house, and Brian had made reservations for two tickets to California, hoping that a little time away for them would do the marriage good.

He presented the tickets to her one morning, on a tray with eggs, toast and jam, and a rose in a crystal vase. She looked so beautiful and natural sleeping in the guest bed, her blonde hair fanned out on the pillow and no makeup on her face. Fluttering her eyes open. she seemed more put out that he was standing there than happy to see him. Placing the tray over her lap, she went immediately for the tickets.

“What are these?”

“I thought we could use some time away. Maybe we could go to the spa in Palm Springs. Do a little golfing and sleep late everyday. Try to get our marriage back on track?” He sat down on the bed beside her and took her hand into his. “I love you, and I know we can make this all work out. The baby, your career, my career.”

She pulled her hand away, shaking her head. “You just don’t get it, do you? I don’t want to have a baby. Not now and maybe not ever. I have wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember, and I feel like I am really making progress, and I am not going to screw that up by having a baby.”

Brian stood up, a hurt look in his eyes. “Don’t you love me anymore?” he asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

“Yes, yes, I love you, Brian,” she said, picking up the tray and moving it to the other side of the bed. “I just don’t love us.”

The words hit him like a blow to his face. His heart pounded in his chest, and his hands began to slightly shake.

Leighanne rolled over and opened the drawer to the nightstand, pulling out what looked like an airplane ticket. “Brian, I am going to New York, to that acting workshop. They have a place reserved for me, and I already bought my plane ticket.”

“Okay, fine, that is fine. Then we’ll go to New York together.” Brian was talking fast. He felt like his life was slipping away from him, and he was trying desperately to hang on. “Forget California, forget a baby for now. We can talk about it again after the workshop. We’ll just go to New York and…”

“Not we,” she cut in. “I’m going to go to New York, and I think you should go to California. We need some time apart.” She held out his plane tickets to him. “You go your way, and I will go mine, and in six months, we can figure out what happens next.”

When he didn’t take the tickets, she sat forward and took his hand, pushing the tickets into his open palm. “Please, Brian, let’s not make this any more difficult than it already is. Just take the tickets.” His hand curled around them as they stared into one another’s eyes. “It’s for the best.”

And so that was what had happened. Leighanne had gone to New York, and Brian had gone to Beverly Hills, taking up residence in Frank Sinatra’s old pad, which somehow seemed kind of fitting given the circumstances. Old Frank had had a few rocky marriages in his time, one that worked out and three that didn’t. Brian wondered if his odds would be any better.

Pulling up to the gold, iron gates with the swirling "S" for Sinatra, Brian rolled down his window and started to punch the numbers into the security key pad to open the gates that lead up the drive to the house.

"I want some beef jerky and a Mountain Dew," Nick said, kicking one of his booted legs up onto the dashboard.

"Huh?" Brian turned to look at Nick to see if he was serious.

"You heard me. I want some beef jerky and a Mountain Dew.”

"Well, you know there isn’t any beef jerky in the house, and the only drinks I have are Coke, water, and milk.”

"So let’s go and get me some jerky and a Dew.”

"Go get yourself some jerky and a Dew, you dork.”

"But we’re already in the car, Bri. All you have to do is put it in reverse, back up, and drive until we find someplace that has beef jerky and Mountain Dew.”

"In Beverly Hills, that could take forever. We would have to go down more into the city.”

"Bri," Nick whined, kicking his other leg up onto the dash. "I’m not getting out of this car until I have beef jerky and Mountain Dew.”

They sat there staring at each other, neither one blinking, as Brian’s face turned three shades of red with irritation.

"Fuck, Nick. You know, you piss me off sometimes.” Throwing the car into reverse, Brian backed out into the street, not noticing the smile that Nick was trying to hide under his hand.

"Oh hell, Brian, I piss you off all the time. Why should today be any different?"

Turning out onto the street, Brian jerked the car into drive and headed back down towards the city without a word.

***

Nick fiddled with the radio station, stealing glances at Brian out of the corner of his eye. They hadn’t spoken in almost three months, when Nick got the call one Saturday afternoon, almost three weeks ago.

"Hey Nick, how are you?"

"I’m good, how about you?"

"I’m good. I’m spending a little time in California.”

"Oh yeah? That’s cool. You and Leighanne taking a little vacation?"

There was a long pause on Brian’s end, and Nick thought he had lost the connection when Brian spoke again.

"Hey, do you think you might have some spare time to come out here and keep me company? I’m renting this great house in Beverly Hills.”

Nick sat up in bed, glancing over at the redhead sleeping beside him. What the hell was her name again? He’d picked her up at the club the night before. They’d danced until 2:00 a. m. and then she had spent the night with him at his place.

"Yeah, sure, I haven’t got anything going on. Do you think that Leigh will mind?"

"No, she won’t mind. She isn’t here.” Brian didn’t go into details, and Nick didn’t press.

"So just call me back on my cell with your flight info, and I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

"Okay, bro, I’ll talk to you later.”

Dial tone.

Rolling over, Nick tapped the sleeping redhead on the shoulder. "Hey," he whispered, trying desperately to remember her name. Katie… Kelly… Kimmy… "Hey you.” He poked her again and waited while she moaned and opened her eyes. "Hey, you have to go now. I’m going out of town.”

***

Walking up the terminal concourse, Nick spotted Brian right away. He was leaning against the wall in a faded blue baseball cap, a t-shirt, and baggy jeans, holding a sign with the word "CARTER" scrawled across it in big bold letters. They both laughed, exchanging hugs and hard slaps on the back.

"God, man, I am so glad you’re here," Brian said into Nick’s shoulder.

Pulling back, Nick looked into Brian’s bloodshot eyes and knew something was wrong. He was pale and thinner and looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. But he knew Brian well enough not to pry. Brian would talk about things when he was ready. So Nick filled the silences with stupid chatter and tried his best to make his old friend smile.

It wasn’t until the end of their first week hanging out together that Brian finally confessed that he and Leighanne were separated. They were in the middle of a heated game of poker when Brian broke down and started to cry. Nick sat there, not knowing what to do or say, as Brian poured out the whole story. He had never seen Brian cry like that before. And Nick didn’t know how to give advice on this subject. He had never been in love with a girl so deep that it was painful when she left him. And he certainly didn’t know what it was like to be married and share that kind of bond with anyone. His mind quickly went through all the things that people said in the movies…

"Good riddance.”

"You’re better off without her.”

"She doesn’t deserve you.”

But none of them seemed to work for this particular situation; Brian’s life wasn’t a movie. So in the end, Nick said nothing. He just scooted his chair over beside Brian’s chair and pulled him into a big, awkward bear hug, offering Brian the only thing he could think of. A shoulder to cry on.

***

This morning, Nick had tried to think of something fun to do to get them out of the house where they had been holed up for three weeks, playing video games, swimming, and watching movies on cable. He knew that Brian wouldn’t want to go clubbing, and strip bars were out of the question, so he had come up with the next best thing. Shopping. But Brian had been in a foul mood since the early morning phone call he had gotten from Leighanne. He hadn’t told Nick what they had discussed, but Nick knew it wasn’t good when Brian had come down the stairs, car keys in hands, growling, "Let’s go, I haven’t got all day.”

Nick picked Rodeo Drive for their spree, but Brian just wasn’t in the mood. He had lagged behind all day and was merely content to sit in the chairs in the stores while Nick tried things on or flirted with the sexy sales girls at some of the more trendy stores. The boots had been a joke to get Brian’s mood out of the gutter, but all it had seemed to do was piss him off more. So now Nick had come up with the beef jerky and Mountain Dew idea to keep them out of the house and away from the phone, where Leighanne might call him back and make things even worse.

***

Two hours later and many miles out of Beverly Hills, and they were still driving around, looking for a place that sold what Nick craved. They had found places that had Mountain Dew or places that had beef jerky, but none that had them both stocked at the same time. The last place they went, Nick told them that he wanted a twenty-ounce Mountain Dew, not a sixteen-ounce. Brian was so mad, he had screamed profanities at Nick on the way back out to the BMW, throwing his car keys at Nick’s head and missing by an inch.

"Why can’t you just get the fucking Mountain Dew at one place and the beef jerky at the other!" he shouted, pointing a finger at Nick as he stooped to retrieve the keys from the ground.

"It’s just not the same. I want a twenty-ounce Mountain Dew and a pack of peppered beef jerky from the same place so I can eat them together.”

"OH MY GOD!" Brian screamed as he walked over to Nick, snatching the keys from his hand. Climbing back into the BMW, Brian started to back out before Nick was even all the way in the car. Pulling his foot in, Nick grabbed onto the door and pulled it shut as Brian peeled out and headed west. "One more place, Carter. That’s it. I am not driving any further. If the next place doesn’t have it, then too bad.”

Twenty minutes down the road, Brian spotted a tiny gas station on the corner. Cutting across oncoming traffic, he rolled up into a parking stall and jammed the car in park, leaving it running.

"Okay, I am going in there alone, and I am going to get you Mountain Dew and beef jerky. If they don’t have Mountain Dew and beef jerky, than I am getting you Coke and Twinkies. If they don’t have Coke and Twinkies, then I am getting you freaking root beer and a ham sandwich. Whatever I bring out of there, you will drink it and eat it, and you will shut the hell up and like it, do you understand?"

Nick opened the glove box and pulled out his sunglasses, popping them onto his face with a smile. "You betcha, buddy. I read you loud and clear.” Nick jumped as Brian climbed out and slammed the door shut behind him, stomping inside the gas station with a scowl on his face.

Smiling to himself, Nick leaned forward and fiddled with the radio, finding an old Run DMC song that reminded him of being a little kid. Settling back in the seat, he closed his eyes and mouthed the words.

It was about five minutes later that the passenger door to the car opened.

"So, what’s the verdict? Sprite and Ding Dongs?" Nick asked with a small laugh.

Brian didn’t answer him.

Opening his eyes, Nick looked over and did a double take. The person standing in the passenger door was wearing a black t-shirt and black Levis. Brian hadn’t been wearing black? Pushing his sunglasses up on his head, Nick sat forward just as the person knelt down.

"You’re not Brian.”

"That’s right, Pardner," the guy said, looking down at Nick’s cowboy boots. "I like your boots.”

The guy had black, greasy hair that was slicked back on his head, a bushy black mustache, and dark, angry eyes. Nick’s eyes flashed to the front of the gas station, searching for any signs of Brian coming out.

"Your friend is still looking for your drink," the guy said, licking his dry, cracked lips. "Did you hear what I said to you?"

Nick shook his head, his eyes darting around for help.

"I said I like your boots.”

Nick tried to reach for the door handle to pull the door closed, but the guy blocked his reach and pushed him back in his seat.

"I also like your car.”

Shit, the guy was carjacking them.

"Look, you can have the boots, and the car," Nick said nervously, reaching down to tug off one of the boots.

The guy shoved a hand into Nick’s chest, pushing him back in the seat. "You’re right I can have the boots and the car. Now move over behind the wheel. You’re going to drive.”

Nick tried to protest, but the guy was already moving in on top of him, pushing Nick into the driver’s seat. Nick’s foot got caught on the open glove compartment, and he fell forward onto the steering wheel, honking the horn as he landed awkwardly in the driver’s seat.

"You stupid motherfucker.” The guy quickly reached into the waistband of his jeans and pulled out a gun. He pushed the barrel of the gun into Nick’s left temple so hard, he drove his head into the driver’s side window with a loud crack. "You try something like that again, and I will have no problem blowing your brains out all over the interior of this fine car. Now drive.”

Pulling the car into reverse, Nick backed out of the parking space, wincing from the pain of his head hitting the window and wondering if the guy was going to kill him.

***

Just then, Brian came walking out of the gas station, a twenty-ounce Mountain Dew in one hand and a bag of peppered beef jerky in the other, watching with confusion as Nick peeled out onto the main road, leaving him in his dust.

***

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