Nick stared passively at the moniter, the music blaring from the other side of the thin particle wall, ignoring Becki as she plastered the make-up across his face. Brian watched Nick, worried. "Buddy, you okay?"

Nick averted his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine"

Brian raised his eyes skeptically. "You sure? You look a little ... zoned"

"I - I'm a little sleepy, thassal" he explained unconvincingly.

"Does this lack of sleep have to do with Kristy by any chance ... I've noticed you guys are avoiding each other"

Nick sighed. It was enivitable that Brian would figure it out, if any of the guys did. Although, unless you were blind or incredibly dense, it was alittle hard to miss. "Uh..." he stalled. "Yeah, sorta. We had a little fight, kinda thing ... and I just ... I miss her."

"So talk to her" Brian emphasized. He made it sound so simple.

"I can't" Nick's voice dropped an octave.

Brian watched Nick. "Why?"

"Cause I can't, it's a long story Bri, but I can't talk to her ... she won't talk to me either"

"Are you going to take it, just let her leave you? Cause if you give up now ... she's gone Nick, there's only a little while left on tour..."

Brian's words drilled into Nick's heart. He stumbled over the thought. It was true, and he knew it. Nick gazed at the screen. Kristy's face glistened with beads of sweat, and she danced, not knowing that backstage was someone who thanked God she was created, and wished he could repair the damage he'd done. Someone who longed for her loving arms to hug him, and prayed that it wouldn't be too long until everything was allright again, but knew it wouldn't be anytime soon. "I'm gonna give up" Nick whispered his silent goodbye to the moniter, and invisible tears pooled in his eyes.

Brian was shocked. Never had he pictured Nick giving up so easily on something he wanted so much. "Nick, are you sure that's what you want to do?"

"If I wasn't sure, why would I say it?" he said quickly, covering the tremors in his voice.

"Maybe you're too much of a guy to admit that you're hurt" Brian reasoned. "All guys do it, myself included"

"I'm not!" Nick shot back angrily. "Just leave me alone Brian, I'll be fine!"

Brian bit his tongue. Nick's temper never failed to kick in when he was sad. "Sorry, I'm just worried. You haven't been yourself lately, it's freaking me out man. You're so quiet, never saying anything. Kristy's just sitting there most of the time, doing nothing. It's not like you guys, the two most psychotic people on the bus."

"Maybe we've grown up" Nick clung to anything that would get Brian to shut up. "Matured and realized it wasn't meant to be"

"It wouldn't happen within a week Nick-" Brian began, but Nick cut him off.

"Listen Brian, I appreciate the whole 'Big bro-Little Bro-Gotta look out for eachother' thing, but like I said, leave me alone!" Nick was insistent. Brian headed out the door silently, and Becki clucked her tongue.

"Nick, sweetie, you've gotta give it time. Things will find a way in a few weeks" she consoled the sad teen. Becki's figure retreated out the doorway, and Nick was left alone.

"I can't wait that long" he told the TV screen.