| Chapter 74 "Hey," Brian said walking into Lyn's house. "Morning," Lyn said, stepping aside and letting everyone one in. They all made their way to the living room and sat down. "Where's Nick?" Tara asked. "Still in his room," Lyn answered, "I woke him up an hour ago but he hasn't come out yet." "I'll go in and get him," Brian said, getting up and walking to Nick's door. He opened it and walked in. Nick was sitting on the bed, his back to the door, writing in a notebook. Brian walked around the bed and sat down next to him. Nick looked up, "Hi," he signed. "Connie will be here soon," Brian told him. "OK, I'm almost done," Nick signed. Brian looked over to read the words, "Whatcha doing?" "I had an idea for a song. Thought I better write it down before I forget it," Nick said. "Oh, OK," Brian said getting up. "I'll be right there," Nick said, going back to his writing. Brian came out of Nick's room, shutting the door behind him. "He OK?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, he's actually writing lyrics down," Brian answered. "Really?" Howie asked. "Yeah, he said he'd be out in a minute," Brian said sitting down. "That boy just keeps on surprising me," A.J. said. "What's so surprising about him writing down lyrics?" Kevin asked. "I dunno. Just knowing that he'll never hear what he writes, but he still does it," A.J. said. Just then the bell rang. Lyn got up and let Connie in. "You have a beautiful house," Connie said as she followed Lyn to the living room. "Thank you," Lyn said, sitting down. Connie set the bags down she had carried in and looked around, "Um, aren't we missing someone?" Lyn got up, "I'll get him." She walked into his room, and tapped him on the shoulder. Nick jumped, "She here?" "Yes," Lyn said. Nick closed his notebook and joined the others. "OK, before we actually start the lesson I have something I want to show you," Connie said and signed. She pulled a box out of the bags she had brought with her and opened it up taking out what looked almost like a small computer. "What's that?" Nick signed. Connie smiled, "This is how you're gonna be able to talk on the phone." "Ohh, this is one of those machines you lay the phone on and type right?" Howie asked. "Yes," Connie said. Connie proceeded to show them how to set it up and how to use it. "Go over and set one up and then call over here," Nick told Brian. Brian grabbed a box and ran next door, followed by Gary, Howie, Leighanne, and Tara. In just a few minutes the phone rang. Nick picked it up, placed it in the machine and started typing. Lyn laughed, watching Nick, A.J., and Kevin take turns typing. Nick seemed extremely happy, now he wasn't so shut off from everything. Kevin walked over to Lyn and Connie. "Connie, can I talk to you about something?" he asked. "Sure," she said. "Well, we've all noticed that Nick is signing more and talking less. Is that normal for him to do?" Kevin asked. "Yes, as time goes by, and he gets more used to signing, he will talk less," Connie said. "He won't completely stop talking will he?" Lyn asked. Connie shrugged her shoulders, "Some people do. It gets to where it's uncomfortable for them to talk. They don't know how loud their talking, cause they can't hear themselves, so it's easier to sign." "I'm not sure I could handle him completely silent," Kevin said. Connie looked at him, "I'm sure that around you guys he will talk, cause he's comfortable with you. But I know when he goes out in public that he won't." "How do you know?" Lyn asked. "I've been doing this a long time. It's rare for them to," Connie said. They watched as Nick finished his conversation and hung up the phone. Nick turned around and looked at them. "Why do I feel like I'm the topic of conversation?" he asked. Lyn smiled, "Because you are." "Oh, what'd I do now?" Nick asked. "Nothing," Kevin said, going back over to sit down. "It's just that you don't talk as much as you did," he said. Brian came through the door, "Man, that thing is easy to use." "Yeah, now you just have to learn how to type," Tara said teasing him. They walked into the living room, and noticed the serious look on Nick and Kevin's faces. "Uh oh," Leighanne said, "What'd we walk in on?" "I was just bringing up the fact that Nick doesn't talk as much anymore," Kevin said, filling them in. They all sat down and looked at Nick. He looked around the room, "Guys, it's just easier to sign. I don't feel comfortable talking anymore, cause I know that I'm probably yelling at everyone." "No you're not," Howie said. "Yeah, actually you talk softer than you used to," Tara added. "Really?" Nick asked, not believing them. "Yeah, sometimes I can barely hear what you're saying," Brian said. Nick looked at them skeptically, "Are you guys shitin me?" They all started laughing. "What's so funny?" Nick asked. "Just the fact that even when you sign you still find some way to use slang," Tara said. "Nick, there are signs for some slang words," Connie said. "Oh God, don't encourage him," Brian said. "No, let's see em," A.J. said, suddenly becoming interested. "Wait, we still haven't resolved our issue," Kevin said. Nick sighed, "Kev, if it makes you feel better, I'll talk more." "Yes it would, and thank you," Kevin said. "OK, now back to the slang," A.J. said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After the lesson, everyone went to do their own thing, deciding to get back together for supper that night. Brian and Tara were walking on the beach, hand in hand. "Did you talk to Steve today?" Tara asked. "Yeah, earlier," Brian answered. "Did he say how the sales for the CD were doing?" she asked. "He said they were good, but I really wasn't paying attention to the numbers," Brian said. "You get first week totals in a couple of days right?" she asked. "Yeah, Steve said he'd call," Brian said. Tara stopped and looked at him, "And you really don't care do you?" Brian stared into her green eyes, "It just doesn't seem to matter anymore." "Bri, you know that CD is serving a purpose," she said. "I know, but right now how many CDs I sell doesn't matter compared to my best friend losing his hearing," he said. "Brian I'm not saying that it should. I'm just saying that Nick is moving on, and we need to too," Tara said. Brian motioned for them to sit down. After they sat, he looked at her, "I know, but I'd feel like I was abandoning him." "Brian, we can't stay here forever. Nick's doing better, he's already far ahead of us on the signing, and we can continue lessons at home. We need to go before he starts feeling like we're here just to baby-sit him," Tara said. Brian started to say something then stopped, looking out at the ocean instead. Tara watched him, she could tell he was struggling with his feelings. "Brian, Nick needs the chance to adjust, and I don't think he can truly do that while we're here," she said. He sat silent for a long time, then finally looked at her, "OK. I'll talk to Kev and see when would be a good time to go." Tara reached over and hugged him. Brian tucked her hair behind her ear and gently kissed her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was sitting at his drawing table, working on a sketch of Lyn. He looked out the windows, seeing Brian and Tara sitting on the beach kissing. He smiled to himself. Lyn noticed him staring and walked over, seeing what he was looking at. "They're good together," she signed. "Yeah," Nick said. Lyn sat down at the table next to Nick, staring at him. "What?" he asked. "Are you happy?" she asked. He smiled, "Yes." "Really?" she asked. "Yes," he signed, "Why are you asking me that?" "I don't know, it's just that sometimes when you don't think anyone is looking, you get this look in your eyes. I can't describe it, but it's almost a sad look," she said. Nick looked away from her, but she pulled his face back around, "You just did it." "I'm not sad, not by a long shot," he said, "I just..remember things sometimes." "Like what?" Lyn asked. "Just little things that made us us ya know. But I'm not sad about them, I'm grateful," Nick said. "Grateful?" Lyn asked, confused. "Yeah. If I never had Tara in my life, then I wouldn't know what real love was, and I wouldn't be able to share it with you. She taught me alot about life, and now I know why we were allowed to be together," he said. "Why?" she asked. "She was teaching me what I needed to know, so that I could be with you," Nick said. Lyn smiled at him. Nick took her hand, "Lyn, I love you," he said, "And I always will." Lyn's eyes filled with tears, "Nick, I've loved you from the first moment we saw each other." Nick pulled her to him, hugging her for what seemed like hours. Lyn closed her eyes, loving the feeling of his arms around her, not wanting to ever let go. As Nick finally pulled away, she noticed what he was sketching. "Nick, that's so good," she said. He looked down at his sketch, "It doesn't do the subject justice." Lyn leaned over and kissed him, "Well I think it's good." He kissed her back, slowly at first, then becoming more passionate. Lyn broke away and stood up, walking into her room. Nick followed her in, and shut the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Alright Nicky!" A.J. yelled. He was standing at the windows, looking over at Lyn's house. He could see Nick and Lyn sitting at the drawing table, and watched as they went to her room. "Jeeezze A.J.," Howie said, "Do you have to be the cheerleader?" A.J. turned around, "What? Like you aren't over there just as happy as I am that Nick's got someone he loves and is happy." "I didn't say I wasn't. I'm just not gonna cheer from the sidelines," Howie said. A.J. walked over and sat on the couch next to Howie. "D, you think that Nick's gonna come back with us or stay here?" A.J. asked. "He's not ready to travel yet," Howie said. "I know that," A.J. said rolling his eyes, "I mean when he is. Do you think he'll come back?" Howie looked at him, "I don't know." Kevin walked into the room, "What's all the yelling about?" "Nick," A.J. said smiling. Kevin looked at him for a moment, "OK, I'm not even gonna ask." "It's better that way," Howie said. Kevin walked into the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the frig, then joined Howie and A.J. to watch TV. They were watching ET when they saw a picture of Brian. "....the recently divorced Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell's debue solo album is climbing the charts, despite his absence in promoting it. Rumors have been circulating about Littrell's absence, with his management only saying that he had some personal business to take care of, but that he would be doing interviews and performances soon." "Did that come out already?" A.J. asked. Howie grabbed the pillow and slammed it into the side of A.J.'s face, "You bone head, it came out last Tuesday." "Sorry, I was a little preoccupied," A.J. said, rubbing his face. "Yeah, I think we've all been. Have you guys heard the whole CD?" Kevin said. "No," Howie said. "Neither have I," Kevin said. "OK," A.J. said getting up, "I'm going to Virgin, who's coming?" Howie and Kevin smiled at each other, and followed A.J. out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gary and Leighanne drove up, just as Kevin, A.J. and Howie were getting out of the car. "Where you guys been?" Leighanne asked. "Went to Virgin to get Brian's album," Howie said. "Have you heard it?" Kevin asked. "No," she said. They walked into the house, and Kevin opened the CD and put it in the CD player. They all sat down and listened, as each song came on. Gary put his arm around Leighanne, "He's really good." "Yeah," she said. "I've never heard him sing like this," Kevin said. "Yeah, he sounds different somehow," A.J. said. Brian and Tara walked through the door. "Bri, is that you I hear singing?" Tara asked as they walked into the living room. "Bri, this CD is awesome," A.J. said. Brian looked surprised, "Where did you guys get that?" "Virgin," Howie said. "Oh, there was a story on you on ET too," A.J. said. "Oh Lord, what now?" Brian asked, sitting down. "No, nothing bad. Just that your CD was doing well, despite you not promoting it," Kevin said. Tara looked over at Brian, and he nodded his head. "Guys, we need to talk about something," he said. "What?" Leighanne asked. "About how much longer we're all gonna stay here," Brian said. Kevin turned the music off and looked at Brian, "You're not thinking about leaving are you?" "Yeah, actually I am," he answered. "Why?" Howie asked. "Because we all need to get back to our lives," Brian said. "Nick needs to have some time alone to adjust," Tara said. "I think he's adjusting fine," A.J. said. Howie punched him in the arm. "Hey!" A.J. said. "Not that kind of adjusting you idiot," Howie said. "So when were you thinking about leaving?" Gary asked. "In a couple of days," Brian answered. They all looked at each other, knowing they did need to be getting back to their own lives. Kevin sighed, "I hate to admit it, but you're right. What we're doing here, we could be doing at home." "And I know Nick knows we love him, but I also think that sometimes he feels like we're here to baby-sit him," Tara said. "Yeah, and we all know how much he hates that," Leighanne said. The guys just nodded their heads, knowing all to well. "So, when are we gonna tell him?" Howie asked. "At supper," Brian said. "What if he doesn't want us to leave?" A.J. asked. "We tell him we have to. The longer we stay here, the harder it's gonna be for all of us," Brian said. Kevin sighed heavily, "So are we all agreed?" Everyone reluctantly nodded their heads. "OK, let's go get ready for supper then," Brian said. "Um, we defiantly need to call before we go over," A.J. said. Howie threw the pillow at him. "What?!" A.J. said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone was sitting down at the table. Nick sat down next to Lyn, signing something to her that only she could see. She laughed, handing him the bowl of potatoes. Everyone shot Brian glances, and he knew he just had to come out and say it. "Lyn, I need to talk to Nick," he said. Lyn got Nick's attention and pointed to Brian. Nick looked at him. "Nick, I wanted to tell you that we're leaving at the end of the week," Brian signed. Nick looked shocked, "Leaving? Why?" "Because we need to," Brian said. "I don't understand. Why do you need to?" Nick asked. "Nick honey, we all have our own lives we have to be getting back to," Leighanne said. "And it's not fair to you for us to stay here," Kevin said. "What do you mean it's not fair to me?" Nick asked. "Nick, you have alot of adjusting to do, and as long as we're here, we're keeping you from doing that," Tara said. Nick stared at her for a moment, seeing in her eyes how hard it was for them to leave. Lyn reached over and squeezed his hand. He looked at her and squeezed back. Nick took a deep breath and slowly let it out, "OK, if that's what you guys need to do." "Nick, you know we love you, and anytime you need us we'll be here," Howie said. "But right now we are more of a hindrance to you than a help," Leighanne said. Nick nodded his head, "I understand. It's OK." "Really?" A.J. asked. "Yeah, really," Nick said, "Some one pass the corn." They all glanced at each other as Kevin passed Nick the corn. Nick dumped some in his plate, and looked up, "Aren't you guys gonna eat?" They all slowly went back to their meal. Lyn signed to Nick, "It'll be OK." He smiled, "I know." Chapter 75 |