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Chapter 11

Normally when the tour bus pulls into Orlando everyone is full of excitement. However, this
time that was not the case. After Nicks blew up at Brian, the mood on their bus was extremely
tense. Brian had gone back into the arena and Sara just knew that something had gone
down. But Brian decided to be stubborn himself and didn't share what had occurred between
the two best friends.


Nick had even slept in the main area of the bus, just slept on the couch still in his after show
clothes. Sara had woken up first and found him there. She looked at him for a second and
could see that something really was troubling the young man. Looking around she found a
blanket and set it over him, then continued her way to the kitchen area.

She heated up some brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts for her and Brian, then headed back to
their room. She set the plate on the night stand on Brian's side of the bed and gently shook
him awake. "Mornin' hun, I made breakfast for you."

Brian slowly opened his eyes and looked at his wife, "Oh, mornin'" He said sleepily. He
looked over to his plate and let out a laugh. "So, you made breakfast, looks like you strained
yourself there."

Sara looked at Brian with her mouth dropped open, "Fine, I'll just eat your too. Lets see you
brown your own pop tarts as well as I can." She finished with a smile as she snatched his
plate up.


Brian not really wanting to have to make his own pop tarts decided to give in. "Well if you put
it that way, no one can toast quite like you." He did his big grin.

"Oh just hush and eat your pop tarts, Littrell!" Sara said as she handed him back his plate.


***

It was about 10 am when AJ was rudely awakened by his cell phone blaring in his ear. He
quickly picked it up and looked at his caller id. He was happy that he saw it was Lori, but then
wondering why she was calling earlier than her normal lunch-time call.

He answered raspily, “Hey baby.”

“Hey yourself.” Lori said through the phone line. “Sorry to call you so early, but I just couldn’t
wait till one.”

“No problem, what’s going o­n?” AJ asked as he rubbed his hand over his face.

Suddenly Lori sounded nervous, “Well, um...gosh, I don’t know how to say this.” She let out a
shaky breath.

AJ quickly sat up in bed, not used to hearing that tone in Lori’s voice, “What is it, is
something wrong?” He said this loud enough to get Kevin’s attention.

Lori quickly put his worries aside, “No, it’s nothing wrong. It’s just that, well....we’re gonna
have a baby!” She said delightfully.

AJ couldn’t even say anything, he just sat there, frozen in his position. Kevin saw the look o­
n his face and began to get worried. “Jay, is everything alright?”

“AJ, AJ...are you still there??” Lori asked.

AJ blinked a few times, “We...we’re gonna have a...a...a baby?”

Lori let out a laugh, “Yes baby, we’re gonna have a baby.”

AJ quickly looked at Kevin, “We’re gonna have a baby!”

Kevin quickly pulled AJ into a hug and patted the young man on the back. “That’s great
Bone!”

AJ pulled away from the older man and began running through the rest of the bus proudly
letting everyone know of his news.

***

Once the busses pulled into the hotel at 5pm, AJ was quick to share his news with the others
on the other bus. Of course everyone was excited, but the tension between Brian and Nick,
and Nick and Jenn was very obvious. No one wanted to ruin AJ’s happy mood, so they all put
on happy faces and imagined everything was normal.

Jenn was the first to say something, “Oh Jay, that’s wonderful news! I knew you and Lori
would get there eventually. You’re going to be a great father.” She walked up to him and
gave him a big hug. Everyone else pretty much said the same things and soon AJ was
running off to his room to call Lori to let her know that everyone knew of their big news.

Jenn and Nick shared quick glances, not really wanting to speak to one another. Jenn quickly
let out a huff and briskly made her way into the hotel. Nick rolled his eyes and headed back
into the bus to get a few things, trying to bide his time.

Brian and Sara decided to leave the two alone for now, and headed inside the hotel along
with Kevin and Howie. “Do you guys know what’s going on between those two?” Howie
asked.

Brian just looked down then with a shake of his head began, “They haven’t been the same
since our little Christmas getaway. I don’t really think any of us should get in the middle of
that.”

Sara grabbed his hand and held it tight, happy that they were actually getting together in
these hard times. She hoped that Jenn and Nick would work through this.

“Maybe the start of a New Year will change their tune.” Kevin said with some hope to his
voice as they approached the elevators. “What are you two planning for tonight?” Kevin
asked Brian and Sara.

Brian and Sara exchanged brief smirks, “Well, I’m planning on taking Sara out on the beach
for the fireworks tonight. We’re are going to head out there in about an hour.”

Kevin gave a nod, “Sounds like some fun for you two.

***

Jenn was just sitting on the bed, trying to keep the tears from falling. She had felt so lonely
that night, in the bed all alone. She knew that she had been a bit at fault for that, but still,
Nick should have slept in their room with her. Just the thought of being home, in Orlando,
and knowing that their kids were hours away, was just tearing at her soul.

Jenn pulled the blankets up close to her chin, wanting to forget all that has happened to her
recently. The restlessness she felt from last night was catching up to her, and she was
quickly asleep.

She woke up some time later, she was guessing that she had been asleep for a few hours.
Tossing the covers aside, she looked around the dark room. Reaching over and flicking on
the lights, she blinked a few times. She felt anger wash over her when she saw that Nick had
not come to their room.

Since they were going to be at this hotel for almost a week, Jenn began to do some of her
unpacking. As she was unpacking she came across a few items that the hotel had left in their
room for them. There were many items for celebrating New Years, which Jenn had
completely forgot that this was New Years night. The bottle of champagne that she came
across she just knew she was going to have some of. A little bit may calm her nerves, she
thought.

She removed the cork and pulled herself out a glass. Just as she was about to begin
pouring, the door swung open. Looking over she saw that Nick had just entered. He didn’t
even glance her way and entered the bathroom. ‘Bastard’ Jenn thought.

She stared at the door for a minute, then finally began to pour herself a glass of the
champagne. Just as she was about to take a sip, Nick reentered the room. This time glancing
at her, “Couldn’t even wait one more hour for midnight.” The tone in his voice was
condescending.

Before even responding, Jenn thought about how she had slept for so long. That just pissed
her off more cause she was so sick of being sick. “Damnit Nick, can’t you just not bother me
right now.”

Nick quickly made his way over to her and grabbed the bottle himself, reaching over he
grabbed a glass of his own and began to pour the champagne. He also grabbed one of the
party hats and placed it on top of his head. They both stared at each other for a long time,
glasses in hand, as if waiting for the other to drink first.

Jenn brought the drink up to her lips first, with Nick following close behind. Both of them
quickly gulping down the contents.

Suddenly Jenn’s glass slipped from her hands, shattering on the floor. Nick brought his
attention to her at the sound, only to see her eyes roll into the back of her head as her body
crumpled to the ground. Nick went to reach out for her, only to feel himself also falling to the
ground.

He tried to figure out what was going on, but everything in his mind was swimming. As he
continued to lose his fight against unconsciousness he heard the door to the room opening.
Then too his horror, as his vision became even more blurry, he saw a face that looked
exactly like his.