They walked into the small restaurant tucked in the middle of nowhere and automatically put their heads down when the door tinged announcing their arrival.
“Why does everything in Kentucky have to ding?” Nick asked as he felt everyone’s eyes in the diner looking at him. He was probably being paranoid, but then again didn’t he have reason to be a little paranoid?
Kevin ignored the question and smiled at the waitress sitting by the door. “Welcome to Chris’ Diner, go and take a seat anywhere.” She said not even bothering to look up which was another thing that Nick noticed about people in Kentucky but decided to keep that thought to himself.
“Thanks.” Kevin said ushering Nick towards the back of the diner and into a booth.
The jukebox was playing American Pie as they both grabbed their menus from behind the napkin dispenser.
“Wonder what’s good here?” Nick asked glancing at the menu of mostly generic things. He couldn’t help but smile thinking about what Paris’s reaction would be if he were to take her to a place like this. She would have thrown ten and a half fits before storming out of the place.
Thank God she was out of his life now.
“What is on your mind? You seem far away.” Nick looked over at Kevin who once again had that look of concern on his face. Why they were always so concerned about him he didn’t know but then again he didn’t mind it either.
“I was just thinking about what Paris would say about this place.”
“Ugh who cares?” Kevin said without missing a beat.
That made Nick shrug, “Well you asked.”
“I know, sorry…you know how I feel about her.” Just by the shift in Kevin’s posture and evident disdain in his voice, even a stranger could tell how he felt about her.
Nick nodded, “Yeah I know.”
Kevin smiled over at his friend trying to lighten the situation but he couldn’t help it, when that woman’s name was brought up, it just made him angry.
The way she treated Nick while they were together just gnawed at his insides, not just him but all of the boys. She treated him much the same way she treated that stupid wet rat of a dog. Dressed him how she wanted him to dress, made him act the way she wanted him to act and tried to mold him into a male version of her. He couldn’t help it, he rolled his eyes.
“What did I do?”
Kevin looked up at Nick, “Nothing why?”
“Because you just rolled your eyes at me.”
“Sorry it wasn’t directed at you.”
Nick laughed, “Then who was it directed at? There’s no one behind me but the wall.”
“Just thinking about your ex.”
“Oh…”
They sat in silence for a few minutes after that, humming along about the music dying and driving Chevys to levies; looking at the small menu. A waitress walked over to them, pencil over her ear and dirty apron on, she could have walked out of a sitcom carrying her stereotypical green pad as she stood over the boys waiting to take their order.
“What’s good here?” Kevin asked making eye contact with the waitress who had to be in her mid forties if she was a day.
“Honey if you came for GOOD food you have come to the wrong place,” she said cracking herself up but her laugh was so infectious that Nick couldn’t help but giggle along.
She looked down at him and then a sudden wave of recognition hit her face. “You look familiar do we know each other?”
Nick shook his head and smiled at the woman, “No sorry.”
“Okay well you look like someone I know, I’ll have to place you and come back…but for now what would you like sugar?”
She pronounced it like Shoogah as she blew a bubble with her gum, crackling it and not even caring how loud the pop was.
Nick pointed over at Kevin since he had no clue what he wanted so the waitress’s eyes went to the older man. “I’ll have the turkey club please with a side salad instead of fries and a Coke.”
She smirked when he said salad and once again Nick giggled, “you’re a very happy little guy aren’t you son?”
“I guess I’m in a good mood.”
“That’s always nice to hear.”
“I’ll have a burger cooked well well done with fries and a chocolate shake.”
“Okay one dead cow coming up.” She winked at Nick and walked away.
“Why were you laughing?” Kevin asked fiddling around with the juke box that was on the table, now American Pie had given way to a song by Kenny Chesney.
“I just thought it was funny that even in a dive like this you are trying to eat healthy.”
“You should too Nick.”
“I came because I wanted ice cream remember?”
“I hope that shake counts as your ice cream because I’m not buying you a sundae on top of a shake!”
“Relax Kevin…you are too tense has anyone ever told you that?”
Kevin responded by placing his middle finger just high enough for Nick to see it. Then quickly his eyes shifted towards a number on the juke box, “Wow Nick they actually have Help Me on here.”
“My Help Me?”
Kevin nodded and placed some change into the juke box, “Kevin what are you doing?”
“I’m picking your song.”
“Why?”
“Because I like it.”
What should have made Nick happy, excited even, just kind of panicked him. Here I’ll give you an analogy to help you understand, it’s kind of like when you are chubby and people tirelessly make fun of you. It doesn’t seem to bother you half as much as it does when a good friend is there sitting and suffering right beside you and that was what Nick was afraid would happen. He didn’t want someone to say something about how horrible his solo effort was while sitting across from Kevin, a man whose opinion meant so much to him.
Sure, once again he was being paranoid, most of the people in the small diner loved hunting, fishing and country music, you could just tell by reading their hats they would have no clue who Nick Carter was. Still, to have someone talk about how horrible his album was or the song itself in front of Kevin would kill him. Maybe that’s why his album not doing well didn’t bother him quite as much as it should have. He knew deep down no one he loved at the time, really much cared either way. Nick also knew that the boys were well aware of how poorly his album did in comparison to just about all the other people who went solo at around the same time as him, yet because he didn’t regularly talk to them he couldn’t see the embarrassment on their faces, or maybe the look of disappointment. He knew by their avoidance of the subject at all costs, that they were disappointed.
When he first heard his single, and his album was so far away from the eventual failure it would become, all he wanted was for the boys to call him up so he could play them tracks. He wanted them as excited as he was because in his life, his excitement was always relative to the people around him; if the people around him were happy about what he was doing than so was he, if those same people were indifferent about things than once again he would be too.
He hated being a chameleon but that‘s all he knew how to be, so one day when Kevin had called him out of the blue and sang to his answering machine he finally felt like his album was going to be unstoppable. Even after it failed, he would think back to that one stupid phone call and feel better knowing that no matter what at least Kevin was proud right?
Once the album did start dropping off the charts and critics started to pull it apart, he then purposely shied away from calling or talking to the boys. When they all finally got together it was like that time in his life didn’t even exist. Any talk of Nick solo went to his tour not his album which was fine by him.
“I’d rather you didn’t Kev.”
Kevin had already placed his money in the juke box and was about to punch in the numbers for Help Me when he looked over confused. “Why? I thought you would enjoy hearing yourself blaring through this place.”
“Uh, have you seen these people Kevin? I’m afraid if they hear this song they’ll shoot you.” He motioned over to the two men sitting at the counter with hunting caps on.
“Nick it’s not nice to stereotype.” Kevin shook his head and punched in the code for Help Me and then Charlie Daniels The Devil Went Down To Georgia. “There we go,” Kevin sat back in the booth and smiled wide at his friend.
“Maybe we’ll be done by the time it comes on.”
“I don’t understand Nick, you were serious? You really don’t want to hear it?”
The waitress walked over with Kevin’s Coke and Nick’s milkshake and smiled at the boys as she placed them down, “Your food should be out right quick boys.” She said popping her gum once more as she walked away.
“Good our food will be out right quick so maybe I’ll be spared the reaction.”
Kevin watched as Nick nervously twiddled his thumbs while sipping on his shake. He thought playing the song would make his friend feel better but once again he was only shown that maybe he didn’t know HOW to make Nick happy anymore. That thought saddened him.
“How’s your shake?”
“Good…you want some?”
Kevin shook his head, “You know when you were a kid and we used to do this, I would ask you for a sip of your shake or a taste of your ice cream and you’d bat my hand away.”
Nick smiled, “Well technically you didn’t try, I just might well have bat your hand away this time too.”
“Good point.”
As the waitress opened the swinging doors to bring the boys out their food the beginning strands of Help Me began to blare through the diner, Nick couldn’t help but slink back on his chair. If he could have hid under the table he would have.
“Here ya go Turkey club and a salad for you and very crispy burger and fries for you…is there anything else I can get you?” She winked at Nick once again as she placed his platter in front of him.
“No thanks we’re good.”
“Well if you need anything just holler honey.”
“Will do.”
Nick found himself glancing around the restaurant to see if anyone had reactions to his song and found relief that no one cared either way, relief mixed with a slight tinge of sadness. Kevin noticed his friend looking around and also realized why he was doing it, “Did you expect people to start randomly throwing their food at you or something?”
Nick took another sip of his shake and then finally bit into his burger. After he swallowed he answered, “Or something.”
“If they look like they’re about to let loose make sure you tell me so I have time to duck little man.”
“Very nice Kevin, no way if they throw something I’m going to make sure you get hit too for putting the song on in the first place. If I’m going down then you’re going down too!”
Kevin laughed but watched as Nick’s posture continued to decline, showing how insecure he was about something he had worked so hard on. He felt bad for not supporting him as whole heartedly as he should have but back then priorities were all jumbled.
If Kevin had only known how badly Nick had needed the support he would have jumped on the bandwagon so much earlier. He was there now though, there to watch out for his baby brother and help to guide him through the bad times.
When the final chorus ended and the fiddle started on the Devil song, Nick finally let out a breath of relief.
“See? That wasn’t so bad now was it?”
“Kevin…” Nick gave Kevin a look that spoke volumes.
“Sorry buddy, next time I’ll choose Nsync okay?”
“Are you getting ice cream?”
“Probably not, my stomach is acting up.” Kevin gripped his stomach and let out a tiny belch.
“Old age again huh?”
“Shut up.”
“Can I get an ice cream cone Kev?”
“No you just had a shake you hog!”
“Excuse me…” Both men looked up to find two teenage girls staring at them, where they came from neither boy had any clue.
“We love you guys and were just wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a picture with us?” She motioned towards her camera phone and smiled, her arms shaking slightly as she did.
“Sure sweetheart not a problem at all,” Kevin stood up and hugged the girl who asked.
“What are you guys doing in Kentucky?” The other one asked Nick as he stood up a little slower than Kevin had.
“Fishing.”
“That’s so neat that you guys hang out together, is everyone else here too?”
“Nope the other guys are back in LA, only Nick and I on this little trip.” Nick moved to one side of the girls and Kevin to the other, the one with the camera motioning for the waitress to come over and take a picture.
“Well goodness gracious what have we here?” she asked in her thick southern accent.
“Can you take a picture of us please?” The girl pleaded. Now Nick was becoming self conscious as the few people in the diner turned their heads to see what was going on, including the two guys at the counter wearing those hunter caps.
“Sure honey bunch…”She grabbed the camera phone, “Say cheese!” To which all of them did.
When the picture was taken both girls hugged each boy. “Thanks so much for doing that. Nick I love you so much!”
“Thanks baby” He said making sure to include that trademark smirk of his.
They stared as they walked out of the restaurant backwards, turning the phone towards them so they could see the picture and no doubt call everyone they knew. Ironically the waitress at the front door still had her head down totally oblivious to what had just happened.
“Okay…the check would be nice about now,” Nick said fidgeting nervously in his seat.
“I didn’t think we would get recognized in the middle of nowhere.”
“Me either Kev...but now everyone is staring.” Nick looked over at the two hunters and smiled, they quickly turned back towards the counter.
The waitress walked over to the table and handed them their check, “Thanks for visiting us over here.” She winked once more at Nick, “Oh and for the record, I am glad you left that Paris chick. She seemed like bad news.” She smiled once more knowingly at Nick and then at Kevin before turning and heading towards the kitchen, this time humming Help Me.
“Well I’ll be damned…”
Nick pushed the check over towards Kevin, “You’re still paying right?”
Kevin rolled his eyes at his younger friend, “Yeah Nick, I’m still paying.”
They moved out of the booth and walked towards the cashier, eager to get out of their and back to their fishing spot.
Once in the car, Nick turned to Kevin, “Thanks for lunch.”
“You’re welcome and for the record, I’m also really glad you dumped that Paris chick.”
Nick shook his head and smiled as they pulled back onto the road, the two girls from earlier still in the parking lot hoping for one more look.
Thanks for reading! And sorry about the delay ;)
