“You feeling better?” Howie asked Nick handing him a tablet of some sort, and a plastic cup of water. Nick popped the tablet without asking what it was and swallowed all the water in one go.
“I-m not sure.” Nick said, feeling his temperature rise a notch. He didn’t want to let anyone down- his anxieties were building, and building. “Are you sleeping?” Brian asked. “Are you eating properly?” Howie followed immediately after Brian’s questioning. Nick felt like he was in interrogation, but he knew that they didn’t mean it that way.
“Not exactly” Nick trailed off in confession, and both Brian and Howie frowned in unison. Nick pulled a towel from the rack and wiped his face down.
“Don’t look at me like that guys.” He pleaded. “I can-t handle it right Now” He walked out of the room, and took calming breaths as he headed back to the room where they were recording the vocals. He embraced the hug AJ offered him when he arrived back in.
“I-m sorry guys; I-m just going through a rough time” Nick tried to explain, but Kevin stopped him.
“It-s alright.” He reassured. “We just want you to be healthy, and to be at your best. We know this song isn’t easy for you” Nick sighed.
“I’ll have another try.” Nick said, wandering back into the booth, and focused himself. His anxiety levels were high but, he managed to pull of his vocals on the track and not mess it up too much. He was proud of himself, and walking a little taller afterwards. He pushed his panic attack to the back of his mind and relaxed for the rest of the session.
“Lookie, Nick, I drew a picture.” Baylee said, holding above his head, a drawing he had done. Nick smiled. It was a drawing of him, singing in the booth. Baylee handed it to him and he observed it closer.
“Hey, little man that’s pretty good.” He congratulated him and showed AJ the picture too, who he was sat beside. Brian had offered their babysitting services to Leighanne without their consent, but they were still happy to entertain him for a few hours while they weren’t working. Leighanne on the other hand, was shopping and taking a day off from being “Mom” which Brian felt she deserved.
“Why not draw one of Daddy, Baylee?” Nick suggested pointing to Brian who was singing now.
“Ok.” Baylee said enthusiastically, resuming his place at a little coffee table and drawing again with his coloured pencils. AJ cracked a joke for Nick, to which he was laughing in hysteria when he phone began to rumble in his pocket. He stood up to retrieve it, and his laughter stopped immediately when he read “Paris Mob” on the screen of his phone. His heart skipped a beat before violently leaping into his throat. He had no idea what he should do. If he had actually had a panic attack earlier, this would likely induce his second of the day.
“Who is it?” AJ enquired still giggling at his own joke.
“I’ll be back.” Nick said as he headed out of the door. He answered the call without too much hesitation or thinking. “Hello.” He said, feeling faint and weak.
“Nick?” Paris- voice was trembling. She sounded as if she was crying.
“What?” He said firmly, wanting to know what she wanted, so he could hang up and forget this phone call ever happened.
“Where are you?” She asked wearily. She sniffed afterwards and this proved to Nick that she was crying.
“I’m recording.” Nick said calmly.
“I need to see you.” She stated. Nick paused, and shut his eyes. “I don-t need this” He said to himself. He felt it was just his luck. He was feeling better and she had to shatter his strength.
“No, I-m not seeing you.” He said, standing his ground. “You’ve treated me like shit, Paris, and I don-t want anything to do with you anymore.”
“I’m so sorry Nick; I made a terrible mistake” She began fully crying down the phone. Nick felt a twinge of sympathy for her. He didn’t want to have her crying. The heart strings she still had a hold of, were being tugged by her violently and painfully. On the other hand, he was tempted to describe to her the nights he had been crying and hurting, and being sleepless. But he didn’t. He refused to. He was going to be the bigger person.
“Goodbye Paris.” He said softly, and hung up. He deleted her number from his phone. “Goodbye Paris.” He said to himself one more time, before returning to the sofa in which AJ still sat. Brian was out of the booth, and having a listen to “Poster Girl.” Nick sat down and encouraged the feeling of relief that was engulfing him. He felt much better.
“Who was on the phone?” AJ asked being nosey.
“Aaron.” Nick lied, replacing the phone back into his pocket and folding his arms.
“Oh, cool.” AJ commented, leaving the subject there, where Nick hoped he would. After listening to some clips, Brian sat down on the other side of Nick, and ate a pear.
“Hey Baylee.” Nick began. ”Show your Dad, your drawings.” Baylee leapt up from his place on the floor leaning on the mahogany table, with his drawings and Brian picked him up, sitting him on his lap.
“That’s Nick.” Baylee described and Brian took the picture and laughed.
“Nick look at your nose man!” Brian pointed out and Nick chuckled.
“And that’s you.” Baylee continued and Nick watched as a warm smile crept across Brian’s face. Bayle’s interpretation of him clearly pleased him and made him proud. It was a look only seen in Brian since he became a father. He was complete and content-more than content-happy. Brian had more money than most people dream of having in a lifetime, but Nick noted then, like many times before, that Brian was a rich man only when his son was smiling on his lap.
“That’s great!” Brian said, kissing his forehead. “You know what time it is Baylee?” Baylee began laughing frantically, knowing exactly what time it was. “Aeroplane time!” Brian squealed, picking Baylee up, and turning him on his side. Brian span around in a circle, swinging Baylee like an aeroplane. Baylee laughed hysterically, causing Nick and AJ to laugh subsequently. Nick looked around him, like he was watching from inside a glass jar. This saddened him, but filled him with hope also. He wanted to fully be there with them all, and not be trapped behind the glass. However he knew it was only a matter of time before he was to be back with his friends. He smiled to himself-this was all the family and all the love he was ever going to need.
