Nick prayed that Brian wouldn’t mind.
“You gonna be ok?” He asked her on the phone, which instigated a playful mockery from AJ, who was standing up restless, nearby.
“I miss you!” AJ shouted down the phone, as Nick tried to kick him away. “I miss you Heather.”
”Fuck you AJ.” Nick said kicking at him. “Ignore him.” He instructed Heather, as Aaron approached with two coffees from Starbucks. He sat down on the chair nearest Nick, and waited until he was off the phone to hand him his coffee.
”Ok, I’ll call you when I get there. Ok. Bye.” Nick said hanging up.
”AJ man you are such an asshole.” Nick joked, taking the coffee Aaron had offered him.
“Oh, don’t be a baby” AJ joked. “You soo have feelings for her!” He teased.
“Hey Brian.” He giggled as Brian approached. AJ was acting like a child, but it had Aaron in fits of laughter, and of course Nick was used to his playful ridicule by now. “Back me up, Nick has feelings for that Heather girl right?” Brian sat on the opposite side to Nick from Aaron.
“Oh most definitely.” Brian exaggerated, grinning from ear to ear, taking a sip of Nick’s coffee.
“Just lay off guys” Nick asked.
Although he was fairly certain he had an infatuation for Heather, he wasn’t certain how soon he wanted to share it with the other guys. He was nervous to. He didn’t want it just to be because of what was happening to him recently.
“Oh by the way” Brian said after a brief silence. “She can visit while you are at my house for a few days.” Nick smiled at a smiling Brian.
“Thanks man.” Nick said.
“No problem.” Brian said back knowing how obviously important her visit would be to Nick, before intently listening to the flight that was being called. It was Aaron’s flight back to Florida. He stood up and slung his bag over his shoulders, Nick picked up his little suitcase.
“Do you want me to walk you?” Nick said, as he noticed that Aaron had regained his sombre face after laughing at AJ. Aaron nodded at him, keeping his head down. Nick assumed Aaron was near to crying. “Alright. I‘ll be back shortly ok guys?” There was a united acknowledgement that Nick was leaving.
He walked silently to Aaron’s gate and handed him his suitcase on its wheels when they got there. Aaron stood in front of him, and had no idea what to say, knowing this, Nick started the conversation.
”I’m sorry we couldn’t spend as much time together as I would have liked” Nick said regretfully and Aaron nodded, as Nick watched as a tear, he was so desperately trying to fight back, fell from one of his eyes.
”Oh, don’t cry on me!” Nick joked before grabbing him and hugging him. Aaron laughed.
“I’m such a wuss.” Aaron declared.
“Yeah I know.” Nick agreed, before Aaron punched him playfully in the stomach as they ended their hug. “Things will be alright though ok?” Nick reassured as Aaron wiped his tears, a smile coming across his face.
“Ok.” Aaron agreed.
“You can just pick up the phone if you need me, you know that.” Nick reminded him in a more serious tone.
“Yeah I know. Thanks for spending time with me anyway man, I miss you, you know” Aaron confessed.
“Yeah I know, I miss you too.” Nick confessed back.
“But you’ll always be my brother.” Nick declared.
“And if you’re that, then we can never really be separated.” Aaron smiled and gave Nick another hug.
“I love you man.”
“I love you too.” Aaron said back.
“Take care of yourself, have a safe flight.” Nick said as Aaron approached a stiffly dressed air hostess who took his ticket.
“Hey Nick.” Aaron called back, before walking through into the gate.
“What?” Nick said.
“Give my love to Heather.” He teased and laughed as Nick stuck his middle fingers up at him. Aaron waved as he walked away and disappeared into the plane. Nick held himself there for a few moments, reminiscing privately of some happy memories with Aaron. He imagined one day, when both of their careers were to quieten down, that they could live nearby and spend time together like they did when they were kids. He heard his own flight be called, and rushed back to meet the others.
Nick took sedatives as he sat on board waiting for the plane to take
off, he wanted to sleep, and wake up in New York. His first class chair was comfortable, and “Superman” by Five for Fighting in his headphones, let him drift into sleep-He dreamt of Aaron, and of Heather, comforted and quietened by the feelings of love and support and togetherness. He said he would call Dr. Belkin when he arrived, and have an over-the-phone session. As a reminder, this fact wandered into his dreams. His pleasant dreams were then poisoned with re-enactments of his sessions and having anxiety attacks. Heather’s smiling face made him breathe strangely, and painfully. White spots blurred his dream images and he became disorientated. He was awoken ten minutes before the aeroplane was due to land by AJ, and an air hostess who offered him a brown, paper bag to hyperventilate into, or throw up in. Welcome to New York, Nick thought to himself, as he threw up into the bag, embarrassed and worried-the stress was finally catching up to him.
