Nick didn’t show up until almost time to go on stage. I didn’t get to talk to him before the show started so I figured I’d catch him afterwards. All through the concert I kept a watchful eye on him. He looked drained which surprised me since he’d slept so good the night before. I figured he either really was sick or that Alex and him had fought again.
He didn’t look at the other guys during the performance. He kept his eyes fixed on the crowd and ran through the routine with little or no passion. That seemed to be happening a lot lately and it bothered me since I knew how much he loved to perform. I couldn’t wait for the show to get over so I could talk to him.
He left though as soon as we performed our last number. He grabbed a towel and ran to the van. It left a few minutes later to take him back to the hotel. He left early a lot more recently I hadn’t really noticed until now, but it had started to become a habit. He’d show up late and leave early. He was probably just trying to avoid Alex I reasoned.
I went off to shower knowing it would be awhile before the van came back to get the rest of us. I took a long hot shower and let the warm water massage my body. The van still wasn’t back by the time I got out. I waited for about twenty minutes before the van came back. All the other guys were already gone so I figured the van had come back while I was in the shower.
Once I finally got back to the hotel Alex was in their room. I could here him yelling at Nick halfway down the hallway. I went into my room and slammed the door. Nothing pissed me off more then the yelling. He was constantly yelling at Nick. So many times I just wanted to go over there and drag him out and beat the living shit out of him for treating Nick the way he did. It was beyond me how someone could stay with a person that treated them so bad.
It seemed like I wasn’t going to ever be able to talk to Nick. I slid down the closed door until I hit the floor. I let my head fall in my hands and I rubbed my eyes tiredly. I wished I were in more control of the situation. I felt helpless and I hated it. I hated that I couldn’t help him. I was always the one he turned to fix all his problems and I couldn’t fix this one and it ate me up inside. I felt like I was letting him down.
About an hour or so later I heard a door slam and I jolted awake. I hadn’t even realized I’d fallen asleep. I opened my door and stepped out into the hallway. The hallway was silent and I caught sight of Alex getting into the elevator so I knocked on Nick’s door. I prayed he didn’t see me.
I knocked gently and waited for some kind of answer. I heard him yelling to hold on from inside the room. My heart stopped and my stomach lurched when he opened the door. Both of his beautiful blue eyes were black and both his upper and lower lips were busted and bleeding. A bruise the shape of a hand print decorated his cheek.
I felt myself fill with rage and I would’ve went off after Alex if Nick hadn’t threw himself in my arms. I heard a strangled cry leave his throat and he was in my arms in a second.
He wrapped himself around my body and buried his face in my neck and cried his broken heart out.