Nick sat Indian style at the edge of the water watching Kevin swirling the line above his head from the one remaining fishing rod. The circular motions were having an almost hypnotic effect on the younger one as his head moved along like a cat following a flashlight.
“You know Kevin; I can come in there and join you.”
“We only have one rod Nick.”
“I know but still maybe I could like navigate or something.”
“There’s nothing to navigate besides I don’t want you anywhere near this water.”
Nick shook his head; he knew that for at least a year he’d have to never be anywhere in or near a body of water without getting a nervous glare from Kevin. That’s just how the guy was. For fun he toyed with the idea of rolling into the water just to get a rise out of his friend but then decided not to.
“You know Kevin…its just water I’ll be fine.”
“I like you right where you are thanks.”
“You are too much.”
“Yeah well, one near death experience an outing is my motto and besides that is my only extra pair of pants.”
“Okay then I better not have an accident in them, I would hate to wee wee myself.”
“Wee wee yourself?” Kevin shook his head, tossing his line into the water.
“Yeah, you know like pee?”
“Oh is that what wee wee means? I didn’t know that because I’m a moron,” He said in his best Rain Man impression.
“Aww okay I’ll speak slower from now on Kevy Kev.”
“Wow you haven’t called me that in years.”
“I haven’t?”
“Nope.”
“Did you miss it?”
“Nope.”
“Shucks then I’ll have to remember to use it more often.”
“I’m sorry when did this become pick on Kevin day? Did I miss the memo?”
“When you told me I couldn’t pick on Howie or go into the water…besides who else is there to pick on?”
“Okay good point I guess.” Suddenly Kevin turned his attention back to the rod that he felt move slightly as if a fish was nipping at the bait.
“Whoa!” He said steadying himself since the slippery rocks underneath almost made him fall. He needed to catch something after what had already felt like a long day. Once again he felt a tug followed by a pull. There was definitely a fish now; he began to reel the line which kept giving him resistance.
“What’s going on Kev?”
“A fish.”
“What about a fish?”
“I am trying to reel in a fish.”
“Oh.”
He pulled a little harder as he reeled in the line, smiling as he saw the fish jumping around at the end.
Nick seeing the same thing now grew excited and stood up, “Whoa there’s a huge fish Kevin! Don’t lose him.”
“I’m trying not to Nick.”
“Just like… I don’t know… get him up.”
“Shut up Nick.”
Just like that, the fish managed to get way from the line making Kevin lose his balance and fall at the sudden lose of extra weight. Nick couldn’t help but giggle seeing his friend tumble into the water. This of course resulted in another glare from Kevin.
“I’m sorry Kev…you okay?”
Kevin waded back to the edge close to where Nick had once again sat down Indian style.
“Yeah I’m fine…thanks for your concern.” Nick offered his hand to Kevin helping him out of the water.
“Fly fishing looks easier then it is huh?” Nick asked smirking and squinting to see his friend through the glare of the sun.
“Stop being a smart ass.”
“Sorry, I can’t help it it’s my nature.”
“Yeah I know…so…” The way Kevin stopped, his words drifting off made Nick shake his head. He knew the proverbial ‘how are you feeling now?’ Question was going to pop up and he was going to do everything in his power to change the subject.
“Buttons.”
“Huh?”
“You said so…and I said buttons…get it? Sew buttons?”
Kevin looked confused once again giving Nick a look, “I don’t know how you sit like that, when I sit like that my feet fall asleep.”
Nick looked down to his pretzel crossed legs, “I don’t know…it’s just comfortable for me I guess.”
“You always sit like that, for as long as I’ve known you… Even back when you were a teeny tiny thing.”
“A teeny tiny thing?”
“Yup.”
“So back in the day, you referred to me as a thing?”
“Back in the day I referred to you as many things…barely any of them were nice.”
“Yes that I remember.”
“Luckily I haven’t had to refer to you as those things since you have grown up a bit...a tiny bit.”
“You still give me that same look though.”
“Oh THE look you mean…the one you named after me?”
Nick nodded, “That’s the one.”
“I think that’s in your head.”
Nick laughed out loud, “Hardly, Kevin every time I speak on TV or in an interview or sing part of one of our songs, I feel you staring at me. Then of course when I see that interview played back I’m right. There you are giving me THE look.”
“I watch people when they talk.”
“No, watching is different. You don’t watch you glare and it’s not everyone it’s me. Ask the rest of the guys they see it too.”
Kevin sighed and rested his hands behind him, stretching out his legs and lying down to rest on his arms. “I guess I’m just used to keeping an eye on you.”
“You mean making sure I won’t mess up.”
“Not true…gosh you really are paranoid.”
“You would be too if I always stared you down.”
“I won’t look at you any more than…happy?”
“Ah! You just did it again! You said that as you were giving me THE look!”
“You know what? If I give you the look all the time then YOU always give ME the eye roll!”
“I do not.”
“Yes you do, ask the other guys.” Kevin said in a mocking tone which had Nick roll his eyes.
“Why is it that all we do is argue Kevy Kev?”
Kevin gave Nick THE look and shook his head, “Because we both know how to get under each other’s skin.”
Nick smiled, uncurled his legs and started to stick his foot in the water, “Look Kev…I’m going into the water…”
“If you drown this time I’m not saving you.”
Nick huffed and once again placed his legs Indian style, “You’re no fun.”
“So how’s the family?” Kevin asked now closing his eyes to shield them from the sun. He felt his cheeks burning but didn’t feel like going to the car to get his lotion.
Nick grimaced, annoyed that he managed to let Kevin get to his questions. He snuck it in there when it was least expected. The truth was he hadn’t spoken to his family in months. Only to Aaron once and that call lasted for about ten minutes. He had lied to the boys at Christmas time, telling them he was going to spend the holiday with his father and his new step mother. They had no idea that he spent the holiday all alone, playing computer games and eating take out Chinese.
They had no idea what a lonely life Nick led actually, he was so pre occupied with his girlfriend that when she went away he for the first time, realized he had no one. It was a sad realization but one that he knew deep down was coming. They had their families, they had their lives but Nick felt like he didn’t have either of those things, so he would lie about it. Tell them he had just gotten off the phone with BJ or that he was hanging with Tommy in Malibu when in all actuality he usually went home alone, sat in his big house and thought about things.
The only people who would steadily call him were the people that his band mates referred to as the loser crew. The ones they felt were just using him for his money and in the end would end up hurting him. Thing was Nick knew that too but still it was company and he had the money to spend so why not?
Hanging out with losers was much better than hanging out alone, in his opinion anyway. So he would call them, they’d come over and instantly his sad lonely house would turn into party central.
“Earth to Nick…” Nick looked down at Kevin whose eyes were still closed.
“They’re good. Just spoke to Angel the other day…seems her modeling thing is going really well.”
“Does she like the new mom?”
“Um…yeah she does. At least I think she does.”
“What about you?”
“Do I like her you mean?”
“Uh huh.”
‘Well Kevin, I have never even talked to the woman. I was so pissed that my dad shacked up with her that I haven’t even wanted to give her the time of day. She’s only a few years older than you Kev…so I guess maybe my mom should marry you then it would make everything copasetic. Yeah I know that word because contrary to what you think I’m really smart I swear!’
“She’s nice…I mean we get along okay.”
“Good, you need to have her come to a show so we can meet her.”
“Yeah I’ll do that.” On the tenth of NEVER maybe!
“And Bob too…Brian and I were just talking about your dad the other day.”
“Something good I hope?”
“Yeah we were talking about the time he taught us how to play poker you remember that?”
‘Of course I remember that. It was one of the only times I wasn’t afraid of him Kevin. I fear my father; he actually scares the crap out of me most times. You wouldn’t know that though because I don’t let you know that. The last time I saw him, we fought over his little marriage and he ended up giving me a fat lip. Yup I inherited his temper. I can’t see him without getting into a shoving match nowadays, much different then how it was when I was younger. We used to be best friends me and my dad or so I thought but then I grew up and realized he didn’t much care either. But it’s all good since I’m not a child anymore right? And no he doesn’t hit any of the others just me…I wouldn’t have it any other way. Oh and sometimes my mother, my real one. He hit her too sometimes… And before you ask, I don’t talk to her either… well unless you call her sometimes random messages to me in the National Enquirer or Entertainment Tonight conversation.’
“Yeah I remember that. You beat everyone if I recall right?”
“Yup, Howie ended up paying me about $500.”
“And AJ had to make your bed.”
“For about a month, he was lucky we were staying in hotels wasn’t he?”
Nick laughed, “Yeah…I still think you should have had him dress up as a maid. Now THAT would have been funny.”
“You’ll have to tell Bob I said hi.”
‘Yeah maybe I will if I can find his number. I threw it out the other day. I actually threw out Jane’s as well, deleted them from my phones and address books. I’m trying to start over Kevin. I think you’d be proud but probably more worried than proud.’
“I will. So how’s your family?” Nick asked hoping to change the subject away from him once more. A tactic he learned during his solo venture, just as it dawned on him talking about his life was kind of depressing.
“They’re all good…considering today’s a hard day for them. I’m going to call them tonight when we get back and Kris and I will end up going over tomorrow for a little bit. You’re welcome to join us.”
“No that’s okay…I should get back tomorrow morning…give them my love though.”
“I will.”
Kevin opened his eyes and stood up grabbing Nick’s shoulder as we walked back towards the water, “I’m going in for round two of fish vs. man.”
“You know you could always try to catch a guppy or two. I bet there are some caught in my pants.”
“Nick that sounded so wrong.”
“What? I don’t mean these pants I mean my pants in the water.”
Once again Kevin turned on his best Rain Man, “Oh really? I thought you meant swimming in your drawers that you have on right now.”
“Oh that’s right I’m supposed to speak slower. That should be your states motto…I’m from Kentucky…speak slowly.”
“Oooh I have one…how about, I’m Nick Carter; I’m going to get my ass kicked by a guy from Kentucky…” Kevin said giving Nick THE look once again.
“Nah…I like the speak slowly one better.” Kevin shook his head and waded out to where he was before, leaving Nick sitting at the edge of the water sitting Indian style once again.
Nick smiled at his friend as he cussed under his breath, looking into the water as if he was a caveman hunting for food.
‘I’m glad I came here with you Kevin, because sometimes you are the only person who makes me feel safe. Well all four of you guys. I love you all and I needed this’
“Hey old man…make sure you don’t break any bones out there! I’m not allowed to come into the water to save you.”
Kevin turned around and gave Nick THE look and Nick couldn’t help but giggle.
Thanks for reading :)
