Chapter 7

 

Brian slowly sauntered down the street. His mind drifting to every aspect of his life and situation. How could he have let it get this bad? His world seemed to be crashing down and he was left with absolutely nothing and no one. He had been wandering down the desolate streets for over an hour. At first his goal was to find AJ, now it was to think.

 

“Excuse me, are you… are you…” A man asked stepping out of a small coffee shop to have a cigarette.

 

“Yeah, a Backstreet Boy,” he sighed tiredly.

 

“I knew it! My granddaughter talks about you all of the time!”

 

Brian smiled weakly and kept on his way.

 

“Say, you look like you’ve had better days.”

 

“Much,” Brian replied, his gaze resting on the evening sky.

            “

Why don’t you come in and have a coffee. We don’t get much business down here, so you won’t be recognized. This part of town’s pretty quiet.”

 

“Thank you, I’d like that.”

 

The elderly man led Brian into the small shop and he ordered a cappuccino. “I’m sorry… I never caught your name sir.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry, it’s Robert Legret.”

 

Brian nodded and looked at his watch. It was getting late and he was getting tired. Mr. Legret returned promptly with his cappuccino and Brian sat sipping it slowly. Trying to remember where the hotel was but to no avail. Nick had dropped him off not too far from the arena but the arena was far from the hotel. If he walked into town now he was sure to be spotted. 

 

“Umm, excuse me, Mr. Legret… do you think that you could take me to my hotel. I’m not sure where to find it.”

 

“Certainly. Just let me shut up the shop here,” he smiled.

 

Brian rested his head down on the table momentarily until Robert returned. Then they both climbed into his car and they headed to the hotel.

 

Nick sat on his bed and watched the clock. He was ready to go searching for Brian when he heard Kevin talking to someone outside of the room. He gently pushed the door open and peered out. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw Brian standing with his head down listening to Kevin lecturing him about being out late without a bodyguard in a town they don’t know.

 

Finally, Kevin shut up and allowed Brian to go to his room to get some sleep.

 

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“Morning AJ, you okay man,” Kevin murmured softly, standing at the door waiting for his friend to awake. He made his way to his bed, picking up miscellaneous things that lay scattered on his floor.

 

“Yeah, coming…did Bri come back?”

 

“Yep, he’s fine. I don’t even know where he went. I worry about him. Lately he just doesn’t seem to act like himself. He’s just so aloof and quiet. I mean maybe he’s having problems with Leighanne or something,” Kevin rationally suggested, biting his lip in concentration.

 

“Yeah, well I hope he gets it together, Leigh’s a great girl and he doesn’t know what it’s like to lose someone you love so much,” AJ said, his voice soaked in depression.

 

“I know, you don’t worry about Brian, focus on getting better yourself. Ok? You just remember, we love you and we’re always here to listen, no matter what.”

 

“I know,” AJ replied putting his head down sadly.

 

“What happened in here,” Kevin inquired, motioning to the glass that was scattered everywhere.

 

“Don’t want to talk about it Kev.”

 

“Fine,” Kevin sighed in a defeated tone. How was he supposed to get through to AJ if he wouldn’t even talk to him?

 

He walked out of his room and slowly made his way downstairs to the dining area, where all five of them were supposed to meet to have breakfast and go over their itinerary for the day. However, Kevin knew very well that none of his band mates would arrive promptly.

 

“Hey Kev,” Nick groaned, taking a seat next to him, rubbing his eyes.

 

“Hey, Nick please don’t tell me you were up all night again? When are you ever going to learn your lesson,” Kevin scolded harshly.

           

“Kevin, back off! I wasn’t up all night because I wanted to be! I have a lot to think about! Maybe you’d understand if your whole family hated you,” Nick retorted sharply. His eyes narrowing into slits, glaring at Kevin.

 

“I can’t take this anymore from any of you! None of you will talk to me! What am I supposed to do Nick? You tell me,” Kevin demanded, just as Howie was pulling up a chair.

 

“What’s going on you two,” Howie asked, his voice etched in concern.

 

“Nothing,” Nick replied brusquely.

 

Howie frowned down at both Nick and Kevin but chose to ignore their brazen behavior.

 

Brian was the next to join them to breakfast. He appeared to be tired but they were surprised that he wasn’t the last to the table. Usually, that’s how it was.

 

The first thing he did upon entering the dining area was glare at Nick. Ticked, evidently that his friend had abandoned him.

 

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted out of the car,” Nick defended.

 

“So what, I had to hitch a ride from some old man from a coffee shop! You could have at least came looking for me!”

 

“Yeah well, maybe you should have been smart enough to listen to me and not get out of the car in the first place!”

 

“Enough, enough you two, jeez I’m at the end of my rope with this group,” Kevin cried sternly.

 

“Me too. I can’t put up with all of this. You guys need to either get it together or-” He was interrupted when AJ came darting down the stairs.

 

“Sorry guys, my mom called right before I was out the door. You got our schedule Kev?”

 

“Yes.”

 

A young waitress appeared at their side a minute later, a piece of paper and pen in her hand, ready to take their order.

 

“What can I get you gentlemen this morning,” she asked politely.

 

“Nothing,” Brian replied bitterly, standing up and storming out of the dining area and up the stairs. The other four sat watching in amazement. What was he trying to do to the group?

 

Kevin then turned to the waitress; “I think that we’re gonna need some more time.”

 

“Sure,” she replied and hurried off to the next table.

 

“I’ll talk to him,” Howie began reluctantly.

 

“I will,” AJ suggested. “It’s always you D.”

 

“Why don’t we just leave him alone,” Nick began, “I mean come on, that’s what he wants, attention. Someone to feel sorry for him. Just let him be. He can find out our schedule later by Rich and he can explain why he doesn’t know it. Ok?”

 

“Nick’s right,” Kevin agreed. “Let’s eat.”

 

           

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Brian entered his room and reached for his cell phone. He quickly dialed Leighanne’s cell phone, needing desperately to talk to her. It rang and rang and rang until finally Brian hung it up and sunk into his bed, succumbing to sleep that he allowed him to forget all of his problems…