---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nick looked over at AJ, studying every angle of his face, every twist and turn, every muscle as his body moved. He wanted to kiss him, wanted to hold him tight and kiss him, lay him down and remove his clothes, making love to him for hours upon hours.

Now was really not the time though, and that he hated more than anything right now.

The sun was shining, the day was perfect, and he hated that as well.

His back yard had been made into a press conferance room, with two levels, ove where they would sit, a little higher than the rest of his yard. Then there was where all the media people would be, which was pretty much just chairs that had been placed on his lawn, and was currently killing his green grass.

He knew that the time was coming closer and closer, and that he should be talking to the others, planning how they were going to drop this bomb, but he just couldn't.

Right now he had to be strong. He had to dig up all his coruage in order to make it outside so he could tell the world. He didn't care what people would say or do, but he did care about the fact that right now, his own back yard seemed like the most dangerous and scary place on earth.

At least he was still standing.

*****

AJ looked over at Nick, trying to find out how his lover was doing. He knew Nick was having some serious problems with this, but he also knew that sooner or later his baby had to face his fears. He didn't want Nick to be afraid though, but he knew that this was something Nick had to do alone. He couldn't make it all better for him, and he couldn't lock him up and protect him from the world forever. Sooner or later, Nick would have to walk alone outside without the nervous breakdowns.

Sooner rather than later.

"He'll be fine" Howie said, and AJ turned toward him and smiled.

"I know, but I still worry" he replied, a sad look flashing over his face.

"I know you do. But Nick is a big boy. He'll make it through this day, and he'll make it through tomorrow. And then day after that, and the day after that, and the...do I need to continue, or have you gotten the point?"

AJ smiled, the sad look leaving his face. He laughed as he shook his head. "I get it D. He'll be fine." After a beat he added, "we all will".

"I hope you're right" Kevin said, his hand motioning towards the driveway. The first press people had started to arrive, and within five minutes, Nick's lawn was dead, and full of people.

*****

"Welcome to you all, and thank you for coming on such short notice. I do believe we are all here, so lets get started" Kevin said. He figured they didn't need an introduction, and pictures they could take later.

The five of them sat down, Nick in the middle with AJ on his right and Kevin on his left. Then Howie was next to AJ, and Brian next to Kevin. The seating had been carefully planned by Kevin, but Nick didn't quite understand it, except from the part where he was in the center. After all, he was going to do most of the talking.

They then waited, and it didn't take long for the first question to hit them.

"Kevin Langley from NTC News. Is it true that you are breaking up due to Nick's recent injuries?"

Nick looked at Kevin, trying not too laught. What was it with the press and them breaking up? They had said it was a shocking message, and then they were asked this.

"No" Kevin finally said. "We are not here to tell you we are breaking up. We are on a tour, which we will continue on when Nick is one hundred percent"

"And I wasn't that hurt in the car accident" Nick added. "I just lost my sight for a while, but other than that I didn't get any fysical injuries."

Nick could almost see confusion in the eyes of all the reporters and press people. If they weren't here to tell them they were breaking up, what was all this about?

"Kate Beck, Channel 9. What are these shocking news of yours then?"

"That's a very good question" Brian said cheerfully, and turned to look at Kevin. "I'm not he one who should tell you though" he added.

"Nor am I" Kevin said, and looked at Nick.

"It's me who should tell you, because it involves me. It's rather personal, but you don't care about that do you. It's a difficult thing to tell, but you deserve to know, I bet."

He stopped talking for a second, while he took a sip of his water bottle.

"It all started when I got hit by that car. As you all know I lost my sight. For over a week I couldn't see a thing. I had toubles getting dressed, eating, walking. I felt like a stranger in my own house. That's when I met a true stranger. During those blind days, I fell in love. At the time I didn't know who it was I fell for, but I knew it was real. It felt right. When I saw who it was I had come to love more than life itself, it scared me at first, but that feeling passed. Cause I knew that it was right, that it was meant to be, and that nobody could make me change my mind."

The people in front of him all had their attention locked on him. Again he took a sip of his water bottle.

"So you're saying that we will be shocked to hear that you've fallen in love, again? What, are you getting married or something?" someone said, sounding irritated.

"Married? Never thought of that. Now that you mention it, might be fun." Nick said, laughing a little, casting a glance at AJ.

"Then what is it?" someone else asked.

"See, the thing is, I'm in love with a guy" Nick said, and looked around to watch the reactions of the press.

 

Return to The Story Index.