Chapter 7
Nick... Nicholas... hey NICK!"
Nick was jerked sharply from his thoughts by the sound of AJ calling
out his name.
"Huh... What?" He said turning abruptly to see AJ staring at
him, a concerned expression upon his face.
"What's on your mind?" AJ asked hoping that maybe, just maybe
he could delve into the blonde's innermost thoughts and convince him to talk
about what was really going on inside his head.
"Nothing really..." Nick said, "Just thinking I
guess."
"Nothing??? Bullshit Nick! For God's sake just talk about it
already!"
"Talk about what Aje... there's nothing to talk about."
"Damn Nick! Talk about the fact that the love of your life has
cancer! The fact that she had a major freakin' operation this morning and for
some strange reason while she is laying in a hospital bed in a completely
different state you are sitting here with me on this damned beach THINKING
about NOTHING," AJ spat growing increasingly frustrated with his friend.
Nick sighed, tears forming in the corners of his eyes, "I don't
know AJ... I just don't know anymore..."
"What don't you know Nick?" AJ said softening his voice and
leaning over to place a comforting hand on his friend's back, "Dude you
have to talk about this."
"I... I really don't know AJ. I guess... I just, I'm scared."
Nick finally blurted out as the tears began to spill down his cheeks. As he
reached up to wipe the moisture from his face with his sleeve he felt AJ's grip
tighten on his shoulder and his friend edged closer to him.
"What are you scared of?" AJ knew Nick needed to get this off
his chest and now was as good a time as any.
Nick looked back out towards the ocean for a few moments before burying
his face in his hands. "I, I... I'm scared of losing her!" Nick
finally sobbed.
"Nick." AJ stated, rubbing Nick's back as he choked back the
sobs that were coming more quickly with each passing moment, "I understand
what you're saying, I really do, but seriously, what the hell dude?! Do you
really think that hiding out here in North Carolina is the answer to that? If
you keep this crap up Nick you really ARE going to lose her."
Nick sucked in a breath and looked over at AJ's face. He couldn't
believe what he'd just heard. He stared at him for a moment and then wiped his
eyes and shrugged his shoulders away from his friends embrace.
"You don't understand AJ. None of you do! You will never
understand what this is like for me."
"You're right Nick. I don't understand exactly what this is like
for you but..."
"Damn straight you don't." Nick snapped throwing himself
backwords onto the sand, laying there with his arms folded beneath his head he
glared at AJ.
"Do you love her Nick?"
Nick looked up at the stars that were scattered across the night sky
and he couldn't help but smile thinking about her. He thought of all of the
plans he'd had for their life together. He thought of her smile, her eyes, the
way she smelled. He thought of her laugh... god her laugh...
"More than anything in the world AJ."
"Then get on the fucking plane Nick."
With that AJ stood up and walked up the beach to the house leaving Nick
laying there in the sand looking up at the stars.
***
