| Chapter 24 Diane woke up, turning over and stretching. She reached for Nick, not feeling him in the bed with her, she opened her eyes. He wasn't in the room. She got up, running a hand through her hair and looked in the bathroom, he wasn't there either. "Nick!" she called, going downstairs after having searched her room and still not finding him. She was near panic when she opened the patio doors and stepped outside, not finding him in the house. She scanned the patio, then the beach. Finally she spotted him sitting on the pier with Misha next to him. As she walked to him she took deep breaths trying to calm herself down. She didn't want to yell at him, or be angry with him, but he had scared her to death. He looked up as she got to the end of the pier and sat down next to him. "I've been looking all over for you," she said, trying not to sound angry. He stared at her, reaching up to cup her cheek in his hand. "How'd you get out here by yourself?" she asked. He pulled his computer out of his jacket pocket: Walked slow. Diane couldn't help but laugh, "Baby you scared me, and it's not safe for you to be out here by yourself. What if you had a seizure and fell in the water?" Nick looked down and bit his lip: Sorry. I didn't think of that. "It's OK, just tell me next time you want to come out here. That way I can keep an eye on you," she said, placing her hand on his knee. Nick nodded, looking out at the ocean. Diane watched him, seeing the emotions cross his face. She could tell he was worried, nervous. "Nick, is something wrong?" she asked, leaning over to look him in the eyes. He smiled at her and shrugged. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" she said. He sighed: It's stupid. "Baby, anything that has you this worried is not stupid," she said. He looked at her, seeing the concern in her eyes. I'm nervous about tomorrow, he typed. "Tomorrow? Oh yeah, you start with your new speech therapist," she remembered. He nodded: What if I don't like him? "Then we'll find another one," she said, "Baby you don't have to do this by yourself. I'll be here the whole time, and if you don't like him, then just tell me and we'll end the session." Promise? he asked. She smiled at him, "I promise, even if I have to throw him out myself." He laughed, imagining her throwing anyone out of the house was just to funny. "Hey now! I may be small but that doesn't mean I can't kick someone's ass if I need to," she said proudly. I'm sure you could, he typed, still laughing, Thank you. "No problem. What do ya say we call the guys this afternoon and set up your Instant Message accounts so you can talk with each other?" she suggested, knowing it would do him good to talk with the guys. Nick smiled and nodded. "OK, you wanna come in, or do you want to sit out here for a little while?" she asked. Go in, he typed. Diane got up and offered him her hand, "Come on then." Nick took it, getting up and slowly walking back to the house with her, arm in arm. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hey woman, how's my little brother doing?" A.J. asked. "He's fine, how are you guys?" Diane asked. "Good," Howie said, "So how are we doing this?" "You guys are on speaker phone right?" Diane asked. "Yeah," A.J. said. "OK, I'll call Brian's and get you guys on the three way," she said. A.J. burst out laughing. "Shut up Alex, that's not what she meant," Howie scolded. Nick looked at Diane and shook his head, stifling a laugh. "Only in your dreams A.J.," she said, "K, hang on a sec." She dialed Brian's waiting for them to answer the phone. "Hello?" "Hey Leigh, it's Diane," she said. "Oh hey, hang on a sec and I'll get Kevin and Brian on," Leighanne said. "Hey little sis," Kevin said. "Hey Kev, how are things?" Diane asked. "Going alright, Brian starts his physical therapy tomorrow," he answered. "Yeah so does Nick," she said, "Is Brian there?" "Yeah I'm here," he said, "I'm trying to figure out how to turn this thing on." Everyone laughed. "Bri, have Leigh help you, I don't want this to turn into the longest phone call in history," Diane laughed. "Here baby, see right there," Leighanne said. "OK, everyone's computers are on and dialed in right?" Diane asked. "Yeah." "Yup." "Wait a sec," Brian said, "OK." "Alright, first you have to download the messenger," she said, looking at Nick's computer, "Just click on download now." She waited as everyone's computers downloaded the file. They were talking amongst themselves, laughing and carrying on. She glanced at Nick and could tell he wanted desperately to join in the conversation. "Guys, let me know when your done," she said. After a few moments everyone was. "OK, here's the hard part, you gotta think of an ID to use. You guys have any names you want to use?" she asked. The line went silent. She could just imagine the four of them trying to think of a name. Nick shrugged his shoulders. "Anybody?" she asked. "Can't think of a damn thing," A.J. said. "Me either," Howie agreed. "Kev, Brian?" Diane asked. "I got nothin," Kevin said. "Nada," Brian replied. Diane sighed, "OK, let me think of something." She thought for a few minutes, then a smile crept across her face, "I got it." "What?" Kevin asked. "Well it's something a few of us in the on line fan club came up with one night while we were board," she said. Nick shook his head: Not Thor, please. Diane laughed, "No not that. Wait, you know about that?" "What?" Howie asked. "Um Nick told me he didn't want Thor. You guys know about those?" Diane asked. "Yeah we heard," Kevin said, "We'd rather not use those." "No that's not want I was gonna suggest," she replied. "What then?" Brian asked. "Well we named each one of you a candy bar ... it's a girl thing, we were goofy and hungry and so the conversation just turned to what candy bar would each one of you be," she explained. "OK, so what are we, and more importantly, why?" A.J. asked. "OK, I can't believe I'm telling you guys this, but they aren't as bad as the other names, I promise," she said. The guys laughed. "Kevin, we named you three musketeers's because of the way your hair looked at the time. You looked like you could be in one of those movies, ya know?" she said. Kevin laughed, "Yeah I guess I did, I like that." "Brian, we named you Caramello," she started. He laughed, "Why that?" "Because of how smooth your voice is," she said, turning red. Nick laughed at her. "Aww that's nice," Brian said. "Me! Do me next!" A.J. said. Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head. "A.J. I told you, only in your dreams baby," Diane teased, causing everyone to burst out laughing. "OK, OK, A.J. you were M&Ms," she said after she calmed down a bit. "Why?" he asked. "Cause of the slogan, ya know, melt in your mouth, not in your hands," she said. "Ohh Alex, how come he gets the nasty one?" Howie asked. "It's not that bad," Diane defended, "It coulda been a lot worse." "True," Brian said. "OK, Howie, you were Mounds because of the way your chest looked in the Quit Playing Games video," she said. "Well, I dunno whether to be offended or flattered," Howie said. "Be flattered," Diane said, "It's a good thing." Howie smiled, "OK then." "What was Nick's?" Brian asked. Diane looked at him, he grinned, waiting for her to tell him. "It was Snickers," she said, "Because of his laugh." "That fits," Kevin said. Nick laughed, proving her point. "OK, so is that what you guys are using?" she asked. "Yeah, might as well," A.J. said. Diane talked them through the rest of the set up and also how to add each other to their friends list. "Ok guys, I'm gonna set up a chat room and invite all you in, she said, turning Nicks computer around and setting it up, "OK guys, start typing." Caramello: Hey Nick, how's it going? Snickers: OK, I start speech tomorrow. 3Muskateers: Are you nervous? Snickers: Yeah, but I guess I'm OK with it. Diane will be here too. Mounds: You know if you need us we'll come down. M&Ms: Yeah man, you just say the word and we're there. Snickers: Thanks guys, but I think I'll be OK. 3Muskateers: How have your seizures been? Snickers: Alright, I've only had one since I've been home. Caramello: That's great Nick. M&Ms: So um, how's the love life? Mounds: A.J. that's not nice! M&Ms: What? I'm curious, and don't tell me you aren't cause I know you are. 3Muskateers: Guys cut it out! Snickers: lmao Caramello: what does that mean? lmao? Snickers: lmao= laugh my ass off Caramello: ohh ok, I'm new at this chat stuff. M&Ms: Yeah Bri we know *rolls eyes* Snickers: Be nice, he cant help it if he's technologically challenged. Mounds: Wow, I didn't know you knew that word Nick. Snickers: I know lots of words, wanna hear some? *grins mischievously* Mounds: Ohh no, that's OK. Diane watched as the guys bantered back and forth. The smile on Nick's face as he chatted melted her heart. He looked happier somehow. It amazed her how just a goofy conversation between them could change his mood so much. She knew without a doubt that Nick would never make it through his recovery without them, and neither would Brian. She laughed as Nick and Brian somehow started bugging the other guys. Even on the computer they could annoy their friends mercilessly. As she sat there, she felt somewhat honored to be witness to such friendship. She had a few friends like that, but not many. Ironically most of them she met in the chat room of the on line fan club. She shook her head, They have no idea how many lives they've changed over the years. She noticed Nick yawning. "Hey, I know you wanna talk, but maybe we should go to bed. Tomorrow is gonna be a long and tireing day," she said. Nick nodded, turning back to the computer. Snickers: I gotta go, it's late and I have a long day tomorrow. Caramello: Me too, you take care and if you need anything have Diane call. Snickers: I will, ty M&Ms: ty=thank you, before you even ask Bri, hehe Mounds: Goodnight guys. 3Muskateers: Nite, talk to you soon Nick. Snickers: OK, nite guys. M&Ms: Bye. Caramello: bye Mounds: k, bye. Snickers: nite, bye. Nick clicked out of the chat, looking up at Diane and smiling. She smiled back, "You're welcome." Nick pulled his little computer over and pulled up the address book, pointing to it. "You want me to add Carter's ID in your friends?" she asked. He nodded. Diane quickly added it, seeing that Carter wasn't online. "Maybe he'll be on the next time," she said, seeing the disappointed look on Nick's face. He nodded, shutting down the computer and getting up. He took her hand and together they walked upstairs to bed. Chapter 25 |