Chapter 12
Once back on their floor, AJ went straight into his room, without saying another word. Kevin watched him vanish, and sighed. He wasn't sure what to do, and that troubled him. He headed to Brian's room and knocked softly. The door opened, and Nick let him in. Kevin entered the room, and closed the door behind him, before heading over to the sofa with the others. "Any luck?" Brian asked softly. Kevin sighed.
"AJ wants to be alone."
"That's not good." Nick replied.
"Your telling me."
"So, what happened?" Nick asked, impatient for answers.
"Sounds like Leona broke up with him. And from AJ's reaction, it wasn't a very amicable break up"
"That explains a lot. The bitch, I knew she'd do this to him." Nick said angrily.
"Yeah, but I thought she'd have done it before now." Kevin replied.
"So, how's he taking it?" Brian asked.
"Not good. I think Howie's right. He's shutting himself off from everything, everyone."
"We can't let him do that."
"I know Bri, but what do you suggest?" Brian sighed heavily.
"I have no fucking clue." He looked up at the others. "Goddamn it, things were going so well. Is it written somewhere that we can't just go a whole month without some crisis coming up?"
"I don't know man, it sure seems like it though. And poor Howie's taking this almost as hard as AJ." Nick replied. "The big question is, what do we do now?" Kevin looked at the others, a resigned look on his face.
"To be honest, I don't think there's much that WE can do." He held his hands up to stop their protests. "I didn't say we wouldn't try, it's just that we can't help if AJ won't let US." He gestured to the three of them. He could almost see the light bulb click on over Nick's head. Nick looked at him, a wry smile on his face. "Howie. He always listens to Howie." Kevin nodded. Brian looked uncertain.
"But Howie's in almost as bad a state as AJ is, he can't help AJ right now, he needs help himself." Nick looked at him as if Brian were stupid.
"Well duh, we know that" he began. "But Howie won't turn us away." Kevin filled his cousin in.
"We help Howie, and he helps AJ, and with any luck, those two will get a clue and get together."
Brian grinned, finally getting it. "Ohhh, cool, so who gets to talk to Howie?" He asked. The other two turned and looked at him as if he really was stupid. 'Ohh,' he thought. 'Lucky me.'