Nick was no sooner parking Aaron’s truck than Lani and Aaron came out of the downstairs apartment.

“Do, um…do you think Ben’ll talk to me?” Nick had no idea what Lani had said or done, but the teenager standing in front of him was not the same teenager he’d left only minutes before. His shoulders were slumped, eye contact was impossible and he was barely understandable because of the tell-tale “I’m embarrassed” mumble.

“I dunno – guess you’d better come and find out.” Nick tried to read Lani, but couldn’t. She was in full work mode. Social worker. Friend. Mentor. Confidante. He suddenly felt like a client again. A client with a secret - he knew where to kiss her to get her to smile. So he did.

And she did. Only instead of softening her body to his form, she moved away and pointed an accusing finger. “Más tarde.”

“Oh, don’t go talkin’ all Spanish on me…you got somethin’ to say to me…”

“Aaron, Christ.” Nick thwapped Aaron on the back of the head while Lani just laughed at them. “Paranoid much? She just told me to kiss later.”

He rubbed his head and stumbled for a moment. “Oh. I guess I’m nervous. And I’m still hung over, ass…that sucked.”

“Tough. And you should be nervous. I hope he reams you a new asshole.”

“Thanks, bro. You’re a real pal.”

“Any time.”

Nick charged right into his house, Lani close on his heels, stopping when they realized that Aaron wasn’t with them anymore. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes as big as saucers. “What the fuck is wrong with me?”

“Growing pains. Get up here.” Nick stood in the door way and held out a hand, saying more to Aaron in one gesture than he could have in a good two hour lecture.

“I’m so sorry, Nick.”

“Good – now tell that to Ben.” Nick pushed him into the house and the two teenagers stared each other down from across the room.

Ben looked to Nick who suddenly wasn’t sure if he should stay or go, but Lani answered it for him by pulling him into the kitchen to let the boys talk. Present, but not.

“I fucked up, Ben.”

“Ya’ think?”

“Jesus…you gonna be snotty about this?”

“I might…not like I didn’t spend the last two nights here all by my fucking self, Aaron.”

“I know…I mean, I had a girl for yo-…” Aaron stopped himself when the glare from Ben’s eyes almost burned a hole through his head. “You didn’t want a girl…”

“No, I didn’t want a girl. I didn’t want weed, I didn’t want booze and I didn’t want blow. That’s not how I like to have a good time anymore and I TOLD you that!”

“I know. You did, but…but…” Aaron plopped down on the couch holding his head in his hands, having nothing intelligent to say. Lani had reasoned any argument he’d had right out of him and with her in the kitchen with his brother…he was out of any defense.

“Headache? I hope you puke ‘til your guts shrivel up.”

“I don’t puke hangovers.”

“I suppose that makes you a tough one, huh?” Ben looked toward the kitchen and saw Nick’s shadow moving about, knowing he was listening, feeling comfort from having him there again. Strength. But when his eyes trailed back to Aaron, thin, pale and barely able to keep his eyes open, he just wanted to be sick. “I can’t believe you’re Nick’s brother. Don’t you know how much he loves you??” It was too much. He was sick of running, but it was the only thing he could think to do. He stormed out of the room and into Nick’s bedroom, slamming the door behind him. That oughta do it. How could Aaron act like this when he had...

Aaron walked in uninvited and ignored the glare he received in welcome. “You’re not gonna say that shit to me and then walk out, Ben. No fucking way. You have no idea…no goddamned idea.”

“Don’t I? Yeah, I don’t have the fancy cars and the apartment all to myself and the 10 million teenaged girls ready and willing to fuck my brains out. I don’t have a trust fund or a bank account either. But I know your brother…” Ben stopped, his heavy, angered breathing matching Aaron’s. “…or is that your problem? You jealous that I have Nick now and you don’t? You’re too busy fucking and snorting it away?”

As soon as it was out of his mouth, Ben regretted it.

“So, because I have money, I’m supposed to be Mr. Model Citizen, is that what you’re saying?”

“Aaron, I make minimum wage doing your brother’s gardening, my mother’s dating a man who tried to molest me, my sister’s on the same path my mom’s on, and I’m the goddamned man of the house and I’m only 14 years old. And you know what? I don’t do anything to try and make it all go away.” He took a breath and wished for the floor to swallow him up. “Anymore. I’m saying that you have so damned much you’re just wasting it…”

“…just like his brother did.”

Ben and Aaron turned to Nick’s voice, paling at his presence and quickly rehashing what they’d said – making sure they didn’t say anything to slam the one thing they both agreed on – their love for Nick.

“So, because you had a big rock star life, it’s okay for him? I’m just bein’ a pussy??”

“Ben, did I SAY that?”

“No.” Ben sat on the edge of the bed, glaring at Aaron who humbly sat down next to him.

“You know, Aaron – you saw me go through this shit. You saw me high. Stoned. Drunk. Jesus, I performed on YOUR stage drunker than hell.”

“What’s your point?”

“You also screamed at me and yelled at me to stop. That you were afraid I was going to die. That I was wasting my life. My talent. Wasting us.”

“Yeah and you ignored me.”

Nick winced at that truth. He thought his argument was a good one. “Yeah, I did. So, what was that? Your invitation to be an asshole just like I was? That what you look up to me for? The great dipshit druggie?”

“No. But it sure helped you numb shit, didn’t it? And look at your life now. It’s all rosey and sweet. Well, here’s a newsflash big bro. Mine ain’t. I need numb right now.”

Ben shot a glare over to Aaron, disbelief shown in his gaping mouth. “You needed numb while I was here? Sorry I was such a lousy guest, Aaron…”

“No…no, that’s not what I mean. I mean, here. Home. Mom. Dad. My career is for shit…god, you really have no idea, do you?”

“You’re sixteen, Aaron. It’s not like your life is over.”

“No? What the hell else am I gonna do?” Aaron stood to leave, tired of the inquisition. Tired of the judgment. Tired.

Nick stopped him with his arm and pushed him back on the bed. “I’m not done yet. And neither are you. We still have to go talk to Dad.”

“God, one fucking drunken night and now I’m suddenly a problem child.”

“Uh, Aaron. You’ve been drunk every night I’ve been here.”

Now Aaron was glaring. “Thanks. Where’d you find this goody-two-shoes anyway? The candy store?”

“You’re right. We’re done. Get the fuck out of here.” Nick moved his arm from the door and let Aaron go under, knowing Lani wouldn’t let him leave the house. This conversation was getting him nowhere.

Ben threw himself back onto the bed and covered his eyes with his arm. “Why do I feel so guilty when he’s being the ass?”

“It’s the drugs, Ben. That’s not my brother.”

“Huh? You’re just gonna let him act like that because he’s doped up?”

“No. Am I suddenly talking a different language than you, Ben? You’ve never second guessed me as much as you have today.”

“I guess I don’t know what to think of anything all of a sudden.”

“Don’t let Aaron fuck up what we have, Ben…please. I mean, I should have…I should have stopped you from coming down here because something deep inside of me said he might be into this shit, but…”

“No…we’re fine. I’m just…foggy.” He slapped his arm onto the mattress and sat up, leaning on Nick’s shoulder when he joined him on the bed. “But, Nick. That was your brother…you need to face that.”

“Thanks, Dr. Phil. I meant that we weren’t talking to Aaron there – we were talking to the drugs. He’s coming down, he’s hung over from the booze – he’s just a shit face from the partying is all. He’s in there somewhere…but Aaron wouldn’t have talked to either of us like that.”

“But he did, Nick.”

“No. Yes. Just…I don’t expect you to not be mad at him for doggin’ you like this. I don’t. But…what he’s said today? You need to somehow let that slide off, man.”

They were quiet for a few minutes, Ben’s head never leaving Nick’s shoulder and Nick’s fingers never leaving his own mouth as he bit his nails down to nubs. “Does he need help?”

“He probably does. I doubt he’ll agree to it though.”

“He gets a vote?”

“If we want the help to actually help, yeah – he has to make the decision himself. Trust me, you can’t be forced into it. Not totally.”

“Did you…did you ever need to get help?” Ben finally lifted his head, suddenly looking to Nick like a small boy – a child looking to his father for confirmation that he indeed was the man of honor and integrity every small boy thinks his father is. And now Nick got the privilege of letting him down.

“I had some out-patient stuff, yeah. Probably could have used a good inpatient program a few times. It was pretty bad.”

“I guess I thought you just drank too much…dabbled in the other stuff.”

“I dabbled at being sober.”

“So, this uh…this looks kinda familiar, doesn’t it?”

“Probably why dad’s ignoring it. He can’t deal with it twice. Hell, three times. BJ’s a walking drug store.” Nick sighed and ran his hand down his face, looking up to see Lani standing at the door.

“Aaron’s ready to go talk to your father.”

“We’ll be right out.”

She blew him a kiss and disappeared again, leaving Ben and Nick in their tense silence. “We? WE!? I gotta go over there too?”

“Oh yeah, dude. He tells my dad one lie and you jump on it.”

“Oh Christ…”

Aaron yanked the door opened and finally realized he had company with him. “What is this? A fuckin’ circus?”

“Pretty much – get in there.” Nick pushed Ben, who fell into Aaron, who stopped quickly knocking Ben back into Nick, who promptly stepped back on Lani’s toes. “A very bad circus.”

Nick’s stomach dropped to his toes when he looked around. He hadn’t been here since his mom left and…well, it just didn’t look like home anymore. There were areas with no furniture that had once been filled with thick, traditional pieces, any flat space loaded up with family photos. Now, all that was left were carpet dents and…

“Nick! I didn’t know you were coming down!” …and Dad.

“Neither did I.” They hugged, Nick not really wanting it until his dad’s arm were around him. Then he remembered, this is where home is – it’s not in the furniture – it’s in the people. “I, uh…I want you to meet someone…” He pulled Lani to him and blushed. He felt like a junior high school kid. “This is, um…Lani – Solana…Romero – my girlfriend.”

Bob raised his eyebrows and looked her over, quickly approving. “I didn’t know…”

“No, you didn’t…and um…look. We’re not here for a social call. Ben called me.” He shot a glare at Aaron to gather up some strength. “Do you have any idea what the guys have been doing since he got here?”

“No, I figured they could take care of themselves…why, what’s up?” He motioned for them to follow him into the kitchen, completely ignoring or oblivious to the tension between his four visitors. “Coffee?”

“No, Mr. Carter…thanks. Look, I think we all need to sit down.”

Everyone but Aaron took a seat around the kitchen table and Lani pulled a manila folder out of her bag before Bob could start to ask questions. “Ben called Nick last night very upset because Aaron has been doing a bit too much partying…and he didn’t want to be a part of it.”

Bob looked incredulously at Aaron and Nick almost lost his eyeballs to the back of his head when they rolled. Like the man didn’t know. “Aaron – what’s this about?”

“Nuttin’.”

“Bullshit.” Ben was petrified but he was not going to sit there and listen to Aaron imply that Ben had been lying. “You’ve been drunk every night I’ve been here, you’ve left me alone at Nick’s place so you can have your women and you’ve been smokin’ so much weed, I’m surprised a plant’s not growin’ outta your ears.”

Bob had nothing to say, so he took the easy way out – ignoring the problem. “And what does this have to do with you, Miss Romero?”

“Well, when Ben called, I told Nick I’d come along because Ben’s been a client of mine for years. I work at the community center where Nick mentored Ben after his arrest.” She waited for Bob’s anger to soften in admission to his family’s failings. “Ben’s very special to me and to Nick and I thought I could be of some help – as a friend. But, I came prepared in case that role had to change.” She patted her folder, and opened it. “And it has…”

“So, I still don’t know why you’re here.”

“Right now, Mr. Carter, I’m here on behalf of the state of Florida, my employer. As a social worker, I am obligated by law to report any neglect or abuse I see either on the job or off…and permitting illegal behavior of a minor, especially under your own roof, is considered a form of neglect in this state.”

“You’re telling me it’s my fault that Aaron parties too hard?”

“Yes, sir, I am. He’s a minor. Therefore, he’s your responsibility…as well as Mrs. Carter’s.”

“There is no Mrs. Carter – yet.”

Lani narrowed her eyes as he minced words with her. “Your ex-wife, then…and yes, any future Mrs. Carter there might be. But before you get too defensive, sir, I have a plan to avoid any reporting of what I’ve seen here…only if you and Aaron can agree to the terms.”

“You’re blackmailing me.”

“No. I’m giving you an opportunity to fix your situation before I make the state of Florida come do it for you. The decision is totally yours and I’m not going to bat an eye either way.”

Nick leaned back in his chair, enjoying watching his girl take total control of the situation. He used to think she was a vampire, and he was right…and at the moment, he knew that’s what he had fallen in love with before because the reminder of it was making him fall in love with her all over again.

“You like this, huh Nick? Think you’re hot stuff?”

“No, Dad…truth is, I’m humiliated that this is what my family has come to. But yeah – Lani makes me very proud.”

“Okay, can we…can we get back to Aaron here?” Lani opened her folder and handed a list of names to Bob. “This is a list of drug counselors here in the Keys, up in Tampa, in New York and LA – wherever you might happen to be. I know and recommend all of them. What I’m agreeing to offer you is a chance to meet with one of them and set up an outpatient counseling schedule. For you, for Jane, and definitely for Aaron.” She handed him another sheet and continued. “You also said ‘yet’ when a Mrs. was suggested. Are you getting remarried?”

“Yes – two weeks.”

“TWO WEEKS!!?? Christ, Dad, you plannin’ on filling me in??”

“Didn’t think you gave a damn. You wanna come down, come down.”

“Fuck that…”

Lani shot a look at Nick and he backed down, lifting his hands in surrender. “Sorry – go on.”

“Okay, then I’d request that…” she looked to Nick for the future wife’s name and got it in a semi-audible grunt, “…Ginger be a part of this too, although it’s not required. My main concern is Aaron.”

“And it’s not mine?”

“Mr. Carter, I’m not giving accusations on how much you love or don’t love your son. I’m telling you what I saw and what I’m willing to do to help you out here.”

“Right. Go on.” He was not visibly convinced, but he also knew he was completely out of options – shy of kicking his oldest son and her snotty girlfriend out of his house.

“Okay, so here’s the deal. I give you a month to contact one of these counselors. I’ll be in touch with you to see who you’re meeting with, I’ll confirm with the counselor and a relationship with be set. If Aaron needs to travel, that counselor will connect you with someone in that area for his scheduled appointment times. The counselors I’ve listed specialize in addiction, but will also help with coping skills from the divorce, fame, how it all works with Aaron’s head.”

“I don’t get how one rowdy week means that he needs drug counseling.”

“I didn’t come here thinking that either, but what I saw going on in his room indicates a habitual user. The fact that he’s standing here in this kitchen and has been able to hold complete coherent conversations with us after such extensive drug and alcohol consumption in one evening, indicates that he is a habitual user. Do you want to know what we found in his room this morning or do you just want to go on my word?”

“Lani! No! Please…don’t…just…” The glares shot to Aaron from both his father and his brother, pushed him back to the counter he had been quietly leaning against. He was screwed.

“Yes – I think I would.”

“Glad to hear it. His floor is littered with beer bottles, Mr. Carter. Not sprinkled, not dotted – littered. We had to kick some aside just to get in. The shagged rug walls smell of marijuana, the bed linens, even the clothes strewn all over his furniture. There are ashtrays and saucers full of spent roaches. Full. Not a few, but a good 10 containers are completely overflowing with marijuana cigarettes. There were rolled dollar bills, glass plates and plenty of residual cocaine powder sprinkled around to show that this is not a now and again thing. And, while I didn’t see this for myself, I am told he had the company of two women over night.”

“That’s not illegal, Jesus.” Aaron had slid to the floor, and was studying the intricate ins and outs of the stucco ceiling above him.

“As a matter of fact, Aaron – it is. You’re a minor. It’s a law no one enforces or pushes all that often, but it’s still a law.”

Bob sat stunned and virtually speechless only able to mumble how shocked he was, how unbelievable it was, how out of control it all was.

Lani reached out and gently touched his arm. “That’s why I’m doing this, okay? You didn’t know - you should have known – now you do. This whole divorce, custody, emancipation, money…its taken a toll on him and you can’t ignore it any more.”

“How is Jane going to be accountable for this – she’s partially responsible.”

“If you give me the number of her attorney, I’ll take care of it when we get home. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Bob nodded, somewhat thankful he didn’t have to deal with her any more than absolutely necessary. “Okay, so I call one of these people, set stuff up…what if something falls through?”

“It won’t. That’s what this second paper is for. This is a signed agreement between you, me and Aaron that says you’ll do this. If you don’t by…” she pulled the paper back and calculated approximately a month into the future, writing it into the proper space, “…April 15th – a nice easy date to remember and enough time after your wedding – then I’ll go to the proper authorities and it become yet another legal issue for you and your family to deal with.”

“And then you’ll have to deal with me, because Dad – this whole thing just makes me sick. Didn’t you learn SHIT from me???” He turned to Aaron, “Didn’t YOU?”

“Nick, I’m sorry! I told you I was sorry and I meant it – you just have no idea what the fuck it’s been like here!”

Lani took the signed paper from Bob and quietly thanked him, signaling to Ben to leave with her, letting the Carter’s to maybe get some words out that have needed to get out for a long time. As they got to the front door, Aaron ran after them.

“Ben! Wait!”

“Aaron – you need to go talk to your family.”

“I know, Lani, just…” He looked to Ben and the walls that had been slowly crumbling, finally fell completely. “Ben, I’m really sorry – I let you down. I disappointed you…I really fucked up.”

“Yeah, you did. But it’s okay.” He grabbed the door and turned back, allowing a bit of sinful pride to creep into his voice. “See, I still have Nick.”