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Brian's mansion.
Their video was on the TV screen.
Brian hummed along to the song, while AJ was busy criticizing.
"Look! There! Weren't they suppose
to cut that scene?! How embarrasing! I can't stand this... Oh no! Look
at the way they filmed my face on the close-ups! Toooo close! Look! Oh
shit. Oh no I can't stand this anymore, I'll go home to grandma and cry!"
AJ's blabs were accompanied with
Nick's. "I look like a big fat white monster! Are they nuts? Shoulda tell
them not to powder my face that much. Ack! They got that dance move! I
fell doing that flip... There! Did you guys see that? There I go again!
See that? See that?" "Shut up, Nick. You too, AJ." Kevin tried to focus
on the video. Howie wasn't with the guys. He was on his very special date
and he wouldn't miss it just for seeing the group's video premiere. The
other guys, on the other hand, had nothing better to do. Kevin's wife,
Shaz were visiting her family in Colorado and she had taken the children
with her.
Their video ended. Brian offered
everybody a drink and went to the kitchen. "Hey guys," he shouted from
the kitchen. "I'm dead bored just kickin back in here. Let's go out and
have fun, whaddaya say?" "Sounds neat!" Nick replied. "But can you take
Katie along?" "Why?" the other guys asked in unison. "I have the feeling
you're growing too fond of my lady, Nick," Brian sighed. "But OK. I guess
I'll call her and ask if she wanna come or not." "Great!" Nick was being
stared by AJ and Kevin in a very negative way.
Town club.
All the boys brought their girlfriends,
except for Nick, whose girl had gone to Europe for her study, and wouldn't
be back for the next 2 years or so.
Brian and Katie danced and were
very happy with themselves until they noticed the lonely Nick was sitting
by the bar. Obviously AJ and Kevin were dancing with their partners as
well, so Nick was left alone, with his alcoholic drinks.
"Hey pal. Enjoying yourself too
much, eh?"
"Uh-huh. I feel like throwing up
about now."
"Those drinks can kill ya. Stop
it right now, man."
Nick stood up and asked Brian to
permit him dance with Katie. Brian said yes, in order to keep his mate
away from the bar. Nick asked Katie the dance, and she accepted after passing
Brian a glimpse. Brian decided to order himself a drink and sat on Nick's
place.
Later on, softer music came. Nick
rested his chin on Katie's shoulder and they swayed along with the song.
Katie, un-aware of Nick's desperation, considered that as a friend's need
of caring. Brian grasped his glass hard and stare at the two on the dance
floor. But he didn't stop them. AJ came to him.
"Oi B-rok, what're you sitting around
for? Aren't you gonna grind with us?"
"Yeah. Later." His eyes were still
on the pair. AJ took notice of the sight.
"Aren't you gonna do something?
I think Nick's gettin a little bit too close."
Brian shook his head. "His longest
relationship practically ended when Tammy walked out on him - man, that's
tough. What do you think I should do, man? Maybe he's just trying to ease
it out right now."
"Hmm. I wish I can believe you.
But unfortunately you don't seem to trust what you were telling yourself,
Brian." He left Brian after taking his drink and his partner's. Meanwhile,
Nick opened a tough conversation.
"Katie, what do you REALLY think
of me?"
"Huh?? I think you're nice, Nick.
Why all the sudden...?"
"My girl left me, Katie. Am I that
worthless to her? I feel so un-important!"
"Hey hey, it's only a matter of
time that she'll realise she's sorry for leaving you."
"I don't think so. Katie, you're
so pretty but you're kind and loving... and I'm sure you're a very loyal
girlfriend. Too bad you're already taken."
"..... Uh, well, yeah... Too bad,
huh? I'm thirsty, Nick. Can you get me some drink?"
"Yeah. Don't go away, be right back."
Nick went to the counter for their
order. Katie immediately went over to her boyfriend.
"Brian, Nick sounds drunk. We'd
better take him home."
"What did he say?"
"Nothing. Let's take him home, Ok?"
"Ok," Brian agreed. Though, he was
still wondering when they took Nick home. After they dropped Nick off,
Brian asked her again.
"He said something, Kate?"
"He said I'm pretty and he's sorry
that I'm taken already."
"He likes you, Kate. I know he does.
He just won't admit it."
"Are you really okay with this?"
"Come on, every boy has his dream.
He'll get over it when he finds someone else."
"What do you mean? A girl prettier
than me? Ha-ha No Way!"
"Hey, hey. Easy girl, it's Nick
you're competing to get!" Brian warned jokingly.
"Why shouldn't I? Anyway what girl
wouldn't want her fan stick to her?" she argued.
"What about me?" he pouted. "Am
I just a fan to you?"
Katie smiled and gestured Brian
to lean closer. Brian readily obliged. Their car Brian drove stirred to
the other line of the street. The car almost knocked down a lamp pole before
Brian stirred it back into its path. They're fortunate the street was empty.
------------
The next morning.
Nick woke up to the 'beep' sound
of his timer. He went down for breakfast and found a note attached to the
fridge:
Dear Bottled Son,
We're going to the beach. You
watch the house for us! That's what you get for drinking too much. Later!
Love,
Dad
Nick grumbled and threw the note
to the waste can. He was sitting there eating his breakfast appetiteless
when he heard the doorbell. He covered his ears in his hands and ran to
the door, before the loud noise kills him.
He opened the door and gasped. He
found his guest was that special person who had filled his heart for so
many years.... And had been the one who decided to leave him months ago.
"Oh man I must be totally drunk!"
Nick scrubbed his eyes.
"Nick," she called softly. "It's
really me."
"Tammy...... what are you doing
here? Just dropping by to the old neighborhood? Well it's still the same
old place." he said, stiffing his jaw and giving her a cold stare. It wasn't
what his heart intended to do. He was just holding back his feelings.
"Nick, I'm sorry, really really
sorry. I didn't know what to do, I only knew it was my dream, but I didn't
know I was going to lose you for that.... I'm really sorry Nick, I love
you so much! Please forgive me!" she asked, tears fell from her eyes. Nick
lunged towards her and hugged her.
"I won't let you go again, Tammy,
NEVER!!" They kissed and hugged again for what seem like eternity.
Coffee shop.
"I told you she was gonna come back
to you! I was right." Katie said, sipping her soda.
"What? You told me that? When?"
Nick asked without a simple guilt on his face.
"On the night you were drunk, idiot."
Brian answered. "You don't remember anything?"
Nick tried hard to remember but
he couldn't. He shrugged. Brian gave Katie a winning smile. She pouted
and pinched her lover.
