Chapter
7
When AJ got off the phone with Brian, he felt horrible. He couldn't
believe what Brian had just told him. He had wanted to cry, but didn't want
Brian to hear him. He was supposed to be tough. He sat for a few minutes, then
decided to call Howie. He dialed the number and waited. Howie answered on the
second ring.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hey, D. It's AJ," AJ said.
"Hey, Bone. How are you doing?" Howie asked, happy to hear
from his best friend.
"I'm okay," AJ said. "Whatcha doin?"
"Nothing much. Kev and I are just watching some lame movie. We've
been out really late the last couple of nights, so we decided to stay in
tonight."
"Kev's there in your room?"
"Yeah," Howie replied.
"Good," AJ said. "I've got something to tell you
two."
"What?" Howie asked.
"It's about Brian," he said.
"What? Is he okay?" Howie asked, concerned.
"Not really." AJ paused. "He's got cancer, D."
There was a pause as Howie took in what AJ had just told him.
"Oh my God," he said slowly, still in shock. "Is he
alright?"
"I guess so. I talked to him. He sounded depressed, but alright.
He's at Orlando General." AJ gave Howie Brian's number. "Don't call
him tonight though. I just got off the phone with him and told him to go to
bed. He sounded really tired."
"Are you down there or are you still touring?" Howie asked
AJ.
"I've got three more shows left. Bri told me not to come down yet.
He said his parents are there, and Nicky's on his way."
"Well, Kev and I will be too. We'll try and get a flight
tomorrow," Howie said.
"Ok. Brian will be happy to see you guys." He paused.
"Well, I'd better let you go, D. You've got to tell Kevin this, and I have
a feeling he's not gonna take it well. You know how sensitive he is."
"Yeah," Howie said. "I know."
"Well, I'll talk to you later. I should be down in Orlando in few
days."
"Ok, AJ. Take care. I'll see you later." Howie hung up and
turned to face Kevin, who was standing behind him.
"What happened?" Kevin asked, alarmed.
"Brian just found out he has cancer," Howie said softly.
Kevin's green eyes went wide. Then, they slowly filled with tears. Howie held
out his arms. "Come here, Kev," he said. Kevin came up to him, and
they hugged.
"How can this be happening?" Kevin asked, his voice trembling
as he cried into Howie's shoulder. "Why Brian? He's always the one to have
something happen to him. First his heart problems, and now this. What did he do
to deserve all this?"
"I don't know, Kev. I don't know." Howie was just as confused
as Kevin was. It was true, Brian always seemed to be the one to have problems.
It wasn't fair.
Kevin and Howie talked and comforted each other for hours that night,
until, finally, Kevin went back to his own room, and Howie went to bed.
***
