~~~~~~~~2 weeks later~~~~~~~
"No stop....please...I'm sorry!" Brian woke up to Nick talking in his sleep. He got up and went over to Nick's bed. "Please sir...I'm sorry....please stop." He begged. Sweat was dripping down Nick's face along with tears.
"Nick...buddy wake up." Brian whispered rubbing Nicks back. "you're having a bad dream." Nick woke up fast and curled away from Brian not sure of what was going on.
"Nick buddy... It's me..Bri." Brian said trying to calm Nick down.
"Oh sorry Brian. Bad dream." Nick said laying back down.
"You sure you're ok?" Brian asked worriedly
"Yea I'm fine." Nick said closing his eyes hoping that Brian would get the hint to leave him alone. Brian sighed and went back to bed.
Few more weeks past and Nick kept having the same dreams and Brian kept getting more confused by them. He decided to go up to Kevin and talk to him about it.
"Kev I need to talk to you."
"Yea Bri. What's up?" Kevin asked
"Well for the past few weeks Nick has been having these nightmares. Like someone is attacking him." Brian said worried and looked over at Nick who was talking with AJ and Howie.
"Ok Brian. I will see if I can get him to talk to me after practice." Kevin said softly.
~~~~
After practice they all went back to the hotel for the night.
"Nick come here for a minute." Kevin said calling Nick over. Nick walked over to Kevin wondering if he was mad at him.
"Yea Kev?" He asked looking up at him. "Are you mad at me?" Nick said getting scared.
"No, why would I be mad?" Kev said putting his arm around Nick. Nick flinched and this time Kevin noticed. "Nick are you ok?"
"Yea, I'm ok."
"Brian said you have been having bad dreams the past few weeks." Kevin said sitting Nick down on one of the couches in the hotel lobby. Nick stayed silent. "What are the dreams about?"
"Nothing Kevin. I don't remember them after Brian wakes me up." Nick lied
"Nick you can tell me." Kevin said in a comforting tone. Nick wanted to tell him but couldn't. John would kill Nick if he told anyone.
"I'm ok Kev. Can I go to bed now? I'm tired." Nick said yawing.
"Sure Nick. Let's go back to the room." Kevin said and headed to their rooms. When Nick entered his and Bri's room, Brian was already asleep so Nick got changed and went to bed.
That night Nick was awakened by another nightmare. 'Good I didnt wake Brian up this time' Nick thought to himself seeing that Brian was still out cold. He looked at the clock.
6:30am.
Nick decided not to go back to sleep, he had to be up by 7 anyway. He figured he would get ready now so he wouldn't be yelled at and would be the first one done. He got in the shower and looked at his body. The bruises had healed in the past few weeks, which allowed him to wear short sleeves, but the belt marks on his chest and back were still there.
He finished his shower and began to get dressed.
"Knock, Knock." someone said while opening the door. "Oh my God!" was the next thing the person said. Nick froze then slowly turned around.
"Brian...ummm" was all Nick could get out. He quickly put his shirt on.
"Nick! What happened to your back!?" Brain almost yelled.
"Brian you can't tell anyone...Please!" Nick pleaded getting scared
"But Nick you were hurt!" Brian said going over to him.
"I'm ok...just dont tell anyone please!" He begged.
"I can't keep this a secret Nick."
"If you tell I'll...I'll run away!" Nick threatened. Brian stared at Nick.
"Ok I won't tell. But if you get hurt again I will." Brain said.
"Thanks Bri." There was a knock on the door.
"You guys ready? It is 7:30!" Kevin said on the other side. Brian opened the door.
"Yes Kev. Let's go." Nick, Brian and Kevin joined AJ and Howie in the lobby and they all walked out together. In the van Brian would look at Nick every now and then with worry on his mind. 'Who did that to little Nicky? I won't let it happen again' Brian thought to himself. The van stopped and they piled out for a long day of rehearsals.
