***RECAP: "That is just too much," [Bailey] said, "it’s too bad you left on such bad terms."
"Yeah," Lauren answered, thinking about the two great weeks they all spent together and how much fun they had, "it is a shame."***
"This has gone on long enough," murmured Howie, looking at the two empty chairs at the table where him, Kevin and Brian sat, in the offices of TransContinental, "we need to get those two back together...or at least speaking to each other!"
Kevin nodded and said, "I can understand why AJ’s upset....he had every right to be...but Nick is just acting immature and selfish! People come and go, and you gotta let go of things that aren’t yours and never were in the first place!"
Howie winced, but Brian just looked sharply at Kevin. "What exactly are you saying?" he asked carefully.
"I’m saying that Nick needs to get a grip," Kevin answered.
"Maybe it’s AJ that needs to get a grip," Brian said defensively, "Nick is the victim here......he lost someone that he loved."
Kevin made a noise and shook his head. "Nick doesn’t know what love is....Nick loves his Nintendo....he loves going to the beach.....he loves his mom! But he doesn’t know how to truly love someone....he’s only 17!" he laughed.
"Just because he’s young, doesn’t mean he’s stupid!" Brian said back, starting to get angry, "he’s not a child...he knows what love is!"
"Why are you defending him all of a sudden?" asked Kevin suspiciously.
Brian rolled his eyes, and was about to answer with a comeback, but was interrupted by Howie, who said, "Okay guys! That’s enough, all right? Let’s just call both of them and tell them to get their asses over here, or else!"
Kevin nodded, and so did Brian. "Fine," said Howie, who picked up the phone and dialed both of them. They were both reluctant to come, but did so after much coaxing on Howie’s part. While this was going on, Kevin and Brian sat in silence.
******************************
"Why did you call us here?" asked Nick, the minute he walked in the door. AJ was already seated, and once again staring off into space. Nick gave a rude glance in AJ’s direction, but it was returned with nothing but a scowl.
"Because," answered Brian, standing up, "we think that for everyone’s sake we should all try and get along.....that means resolving any conflict that we have with each other."
Nick blinked and shook his head. "I’m not talking," he said stubbornly, pointing to AJ, "especially to him."
"Fine by me," AJ responded, "‘cuz I’m not talking to him."
"Stop it, AJ!" Brian screamed, suddenly losing his temper, "why are you being like this?!"
AJ’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What the fuck do you mean, Brian?! Why aren’t you yelling at little Nicky over there? Or does it hurt you too much to hurt his little bitty feelings?!" he said, in a fake cutesy voice.
"God...can’t you for one minute stop being an asshole?" Nick muttered to himself, directing his comment, though, at AJ. AJ glanced at Nick, then at Kevin. "If everyone is done insulting and ridiculing me, I’ll be on my way," he finished, as he stood up.
"Don’t even think of going anywhere!" Howie exclaimed, "we need to fix this!"
"Howie, buddy, they didn’t build Rome in a day," AJ answered, giving a smartass look to the others.
"I’m outta here," Nick announced, standing up as well. "Nick, sit the fuck down," Kevin boomed, "you aren’t going anywhere!"
"That’s what you think..." he mumbled, but was interrupted by Kevin, who said, "this selfishness and immaturity has dragged on long enough! Just get a fucking grip on your life, and come back and join us!"
"Just because you’re the oldest one here doesn’t mean you can be the biggest BITCH to everyone!" Nick shot back, slamming his hand down on the table for effect.
Nick and Kevin began bickering back and forth, and were soon joined by AJ and Brian, who seemed to be having their own argument. It was total chaos. ‘Oh shit,’ thought Howie to himself, looking at the scene around him, ‘I’ve gotta stop this!’
"HEY!" screamed Howie, interrupting the arguers, "will you all just shut up for a second?! God, if all of you don’t stop yelling at each other like this, you’re gonna collectively break us all up!"
Silence stunned the room. All four of them looked at Howie with horror and fear in their eyes. Howie himself, felt sick just saying it. "Well, it’s true," he continued, unsure of his own words.
Nick looked down at the table. ‘What is going on here?’ he thought, ‘why is my world coming crashing down on me like this? Maybe what I need is some time....’
Just then, AJ, mirroring Nick’s thoughts, said, "Well, I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t be here like this anymore....too much shit has gone down, and I think we need time to just cool off...we need to stop fooling ourselves...."
Tears came to Nick’s eyes, but masked them by looking down again. Brian grabbed his sweatshirt off the table and headed for the door. Before he walked out, he turned to face the four guys, and said, "If it’s over, it’s over." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
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