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Day 3 - Part 16

Stockholm. What a great city. Kevin leaned back in a car and watched scenes passing by. It felt like coming home. They�d spend so much time over there that it was partly their home.
Kevin glanced back. Rest of the guys were in the other car, except Howie who had stayed in the airport waiting for Alicia. They would go to their house they had rented. Kevin sighed. He wasn�t sure that Kristin would come at all.
Sure they talked over the phone every other day. But it wasn�t the same. There were too many unsolved issues between them. And more they tried to avoid them, more obvious those came. But he couldn�t find the words. He hoped he could do that when seeing her. If she would come.
Leighanne and Helen would join them in two days. Nick had moped about others having someone and him being single. But Kevin knew he had at least two girls who to call if he needed someone. Even for a minute that black haired man didn�t stop to think how it was to live every day waiting for a call that maybe wouldn�t ever come. Or turning down other men thinking that one Viking was coming in town just in two months.
-Could you please drive faster? he asked from the driver. Suddenly he just wanted to get to the hotel, eat something, take a long shower and go to bed and forget who he was.

Brian entered the room. It was empty. Funny, he thought Nick said to meet him there. Loud laughter came from bathroom.
-Nick? Nick, are you here?
Bathroom door opened and AJ came out.
-Hey Bri! How are you? he asked cheerfully.
-I�m fine, I guess. Wouldn�t want to leave my wife alone. Ain�t you supposed to be with Helen?
-She�s doing some shopping. What�s a use of buying all that maternity clothes? You�re gonna wear them for a few months or so.
-Don�t know, Brian shook his head. -Listen, is Nick here or what? It�s late and I want to go to bed.
-Oh don�t be such a prick! Nick�s voice was heard from the bathroom.
-Nick? Did you have something to tell me?
AJ flashed a grin.
-I think he has something to show you.
-What is going on?
Nick came to the room petting his head.
-Now what do you think? Is it cool or what?
Brian gasped. -What on earth you�ve done?
AJ laughed and Nick smirked like an idiot.
-What? You don�t like my new haircut?
Brian shook his head with disbelief.
-It�s um... really short?
Nick looked at AJ. -See I told you he would love it!
-I�m not so sure, AJ said when his phone rang. He answered it while Nick offered his head to be touched by Brian. -Yeah? Oh, I�ll be right there. It was Helen, he said after hanging up. -She wants me right there.
-You better go, Nick said. -After all she�s mother of your child.
-Oh grow up! AJ commented on his way out. Nick was already standing in front of a mirror.
-Cool, isn�t it? I look almost like a bad guy.
-You look almost like Justin, Brian said wryly.
-Oh shit, never got to think about that, Nick panicked. -But he has longer hair now, right?
-When is the last time you thought about something? Besides I have a surprise for you.
-Really? What? Are you gonna go out with me tomorrow after all?
-No, Brian said. -But Aaron�s gonna come here.
-Aaron? You mean my pain in the ass -little brother?
-How many Aaron do you know?
-Twenty at least. They always say to me �You know I�ve got same name as your lil�bro�.
-And half of them want to be your angel?
-Brian, you�re being mean again. So when does he come?
-Early in the morning. Just that your mother doesn�t know he�s here.
-Good. So we can go out tomorrow!
-It�s gonna be on papers, you know?
-Well, that�s why I have to do it before she makes me swear I wont take him out. Come on, what could possibly happen in a city like this?

-First Stockholm was easier to me, you know staying in the one place. And I liked that city. It was really beautiful. And small.
-But not as small as this one?
-No, what do you think? You can call this one a city? This is village or something, I don�t know.
-You know I�m running out of drink.
-Yeah. But you can�t take anymore.
-Why? Are you being my mother now?
-Because you get all crunky when you�re having a hangover. And I want you to be completely sane when you watch those videos.
-When do I get to see those?
-Don�t whine. If you�d see those now, you wouldn�t understand. So will you listen? Or do you really want to walk out on me right now?
I sigh. -No. I want you to tell me. So Stockholm was nice?
-Yeah. For the beginning. When wives and other significant ones came, it was really really happy. Also Aaron came, did I mention that?

-Aaron!
Nick jumped up from the sofa and ran to hug his little brother.
-Nick! Aaron imitated but was at least as happy as Nick. -Mom hasn�t called, has she?
-No, not yet.
Nick grinned. Aaron grinned too.
-You know what that means? Nick asked.
-We�re gonna PAARRTYY!

Cara had just finished her dinner and was snuggling deeper into her wide bed when she heard a knock on her door.
-Yeah, come in! she yelled. Kim came in.
-Hey, are you going to be already? It�s just 8 pm.
-I was just about to start to watch a movie. You know, full stomach and everything...
-Too bad. I was wondering if you�d come with me to see this singer.
-Who?
-She�s not known. But she sings like this Joni Mitchell early 70�s stuff.
-Oh, I love Joni Mitchell, Cara sighed. -When is she going to play?
-Around ten. It�s gonna be just few hours. Come on, Cara, you�ll get your beauty sleep. Besides you have day off tomorrow.
-I never have day off.
-You know what I mean. You�ll be back in no time.
-So do got tickets?
-Yes, Kim nodded. -Will you come?

-Explain me once more why we have to go there? Aaron asked with painful voice.
-Because, Nick started. -Our mom doesn�t know you�re here, right? How could you sneak out without she knowing?
-I was supposed to do this charity thing in France but it was cancelled. So?
-If we go here, maybe they�ll take few pictures and I hope, I definitely hope, that they will let us be for the rest of the evening. It�s not even midnight when it ends.
-And then we go clubbing?
-Then we go clubbing.
-Grreeat, Aaron said like a tiger and bounced as one too. Nick tried to calm him down by putting his arm around his shoulders but they ended up hopping forward to the little bar.

Nick listened to the music. He really liked it and was actually happy they bothered to come there. It wasn�t often when he had chance to listen some artist live. Usually he heard about someone, bought a record, listened it trough once and gave it forward. Hearing music live is just different. You don�t get annoyed if there�s a mistake because presence forgives so much. Seeing the piano, microphones, hearing every tone in her voice... It was beautiful.
Aaron instead squirmed in his chair.
-Can�t we go yet? They�ve got their story, he said nodding to the reporters. When coming in they�ve stopped shortly to answer questions hoping that they would end to the papers and make Mother Carter happy.
-Shh... Nick whispered. Aaron started to look around. In few minutes he saw something he wanted to stare. So he did.
Another song ended and audience applauded. Nick turned to his brother to comment melody and noticed that he was gazing at someone. Oh. Fine. Nick nodded slightly as did ladies.
-What, you know them? Aaron asked with passion.
-Yeah, that�s Kimberly, our costume designer and the other one is... Well, I don�t remember her name but she�s been hanging with us for few months.
-Hanging? As...
-No, Nick was annoyed. -There�s none hanging with us in that meaning. I think she works for us.
-Really? She�s kind of cute.
-She�s way out of your league, bro.
-You think so? Aaron asked. -You have your mark on her already?
-No, Nick answered realizing at the same time that girl was actually looking to their direction. Nick turned to see performer. -But you don�t have either. OK?
-But look at her. She�s only one beautiful in here to draw my attention.
-Beautiful? Nick barked. -And shut up, I want to listen.
But he couldn�t concentrate on the artist anymore. His eyes kept drifting back on her. No, she wasn�t beautiful. But there was something in her. Same something that took his breath away in New Year�s Eve. He had barely heard her saying a word. Once he thought he heard her laugh but wasn�t sure of that either. She was there when needed and took care of her job as quietly and efficiently as possible. All he had said to her was just thank you. If she wasn�t gone until he noticed her even being around.
-Let�s go, he said when it came clear to him that he couldn�t just enjoy same way he just had few minutes earlier. Smile spread over Aaron�s face.
-Really?
-Yeah, really, let�s go now, before I change my mind.
Their leaving in the middle of the song made a little fuss. But Cara didn�t realize it until she didn�t feel his looks on her anymore. Then she quickly turned, like something was missing and found no one there.