Oreos for Breakfast: Nick BSB Fiction

Oreos for Breakfast - Chapter 22

By
The Paperbag Princess & The Pumpkin Coach

How the hell did I end up here? I pulled my t-shirt over my head, hearing Jane's voice from outside the dressing room, "I never have the chance to do this. The boys don't like to go shopping… well, except for video games and electronics." She laughed and I stared at myself in the mirror, dumbfounded.

Okay, I guess the mom liked me, then. I pulled on the sweater she'd handed me earlier and smiled. Okay, she was right, this was pretty hot.

Should I be buying hot clothes with my boyfriend's mother? Was that wrong?

I mean, I usually got on well with the parents, but more so the fathers. Damon's dad and I would go out to the pubs on Saturdays, and he'd try to teach me the intricacies of English football. I was better at being one of the guys. It came from having older brothers, I think.

Hold up. Nick had sisters. Did Jane never see the girls? Did she never take them shopping? What kind of fucked up family was this?

"Let me see, Rachel…"

"Umm… it might be a little tight." Yeah, best to warn her, huh?

I stepped out of the dressing room, and she laughed, "Oh, my son will love you in that… you're definitely getting it!"

Actually, Nick would like me out of this. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I felt the soft angora against my skin, imagining how it would feel to have him pulling it off me. Right. Definitely shouldn't be having these thoughts with Nick's mom standing in front of me. I felt myself blush as I ducked back into the dressing room. Glancing at the tag, I nearly choked.

"Is there something wrong, dear? Need another size?" Jane's disembodied voice came through the door of the dressing room.

"Ummm… no, it's just a bit expensive, don't you think?"

"Well, you look good in everything, dear. Oh, to be young and pretty again." Was that a hint of jealousy in her voice? "You know, when we were first married, Bob would be away for weeks on his runs - did Nick tell you his father started out life as a truck driver?"

I hung up the sweater carefully and grabbed the dress that I'd picked out, pulling it over my head. Okay, the jeans probably had to come off, too. I hated trying clothes on. And it was weird without James…

"Ahh… yeah, he did. He used to drive Nick's bus, right?"

"Oh Lord! Yes! I think it kept them close or something, but now… well, the boy is entitled to his little bus secrets now that he's older, isn't he?"

What was that in her voice? Was she talking about that stupid tabloid article? Or, damn, did she know what we did on that bus? No… they might be close, but not that close, right? Fuck. I didn't like having to talk to her without seeing her face. I couldn't read her expressions through the door!

"Anyway, Bob would come back from those runs of his, and it was like he hadn't seen a woman in weeks - or at least that's what I told myself. Sometimes he'd barely get through the door before he had me pinned to the wall…"

Her voice trailed off, and I tried to breathe. Damnit, like father, like son?

Why was I talking about this with her?

"Oh, I see the cutest skirt over there. It would be perfect on you…I'll be right back!"

And she was off. Without thinking about it, I grabbed my phone and dialed Nick.

"Hey, baby, finding something sexy for me?" Nick answered the phone, and I heard Aaron laughing in the background.

"Oh, stop it! You have to come save me!"

He laughed at me. "You sound a little freaked out, Rache."

"I am. Your mom is telling me about your dad and her sex life and finding me sexy sweaters… this is just wrong, Nick!"

"You said you wanted her to like you," he teased, and I groaned, leaning back against the mirror and kicking off my shoes so I could take off my jeans.

"I do… but… this is just weird, Nick. She's acting like I'm her best friend. My mom doesn't do this to you!"

"Oh no, your mom doesn't freak me out, Rache," he replied sarcastically, "And your brothers have certainly never looked like they were going to kill me over my morning pancakes either."

"Stop it! They're just protective of their little sister."

"And Mom just wants me to be happy. She likes you, Rache…"

"I guess. Still… you and Aaron have to quit trying to blow each other up on those stupid games and come save me."

"Okay, okay… where are you?"

"Finishing up at Bloomingdale's. I think she wants to go to Victoria's Secret next, though."

"Oooh, if I come save you will you model a sexy bra for me later?" he leered, and I wanted to hit him.

I peered out of the dressing room and saw Jane coming back. "Shit! She's coming back… you better be here in twenty minutes, Nick!"

He laughed, promising to join us, and I put away the phone quickly.

"Come on, A…" I called to Aaron, throwing my controller on the couch and standing up. "We have to go save Rachel from Mom."

"Let her deal with the witch," Aaron groaned. "I've had her for months now. Man, when do I get to be old enough to tour alone? You never had to tour with her!"

"Yeah, well… moot point now, dawg. We have to go save Rachel. She's a little freaked out by Mom." He just stared at me, and I laughed, running into the bedroom to find my shoes.

It was good that Mom was liking Rachel, right? It took her months to come around to Mandy. Well, that wasn't true… she'd liked the idea of Mandy. She'd liked thinking that I had a steady girlfriend and that I wasn't off following the fellas' examples on the road. I blushed, thinking about the time she'd had Pops corner me in my bedroom to talk to me about the birds and the bees. No way that was his doing. I'd never seen him look so uncomfortable before. Before he could finish his little speech, I'd stopped him, taking the box of condoms from him and telling him that Kevin had already had the talk with me.

Dad wasn't pissed or anything, but maybe a little surprised. They had no idea what it had been like for us in Europe. Girls were so easy to impress over there. They didn't speak your language, but they thought we were cute and would follow us around. It's not like I was having sex… well, not really. AJ always said that touching and stuff didn't count.

I grabbed my keys, and Aaron followed me reluctantly. What was Aaron doing out there on the road? Had Dad had the talk with him? Or Mom? She was there all the time. I doubted he had the sort of freedom I'd had. Maybe I should have the talk with him.

Aaron sighed as I stopped to knock on Frank's door, and I looked over at him. I really didn't want to think about my brother's sex life. Yeah. Mom and Dad could handle that.

Frank answered the door and just raised an eyebrow when he realized it was me. "We have to go save Rachel. Aaron and I are walking down to the mall, okay?"

"Just a second, I'll grab my jacket."

It was no use whining at Frank. Now that we were both here, there was no way he was letting us out of the hotel without an escort. I didn't blame him, either. If one hair on Aaron's head got hurt, my mom would be all over his ass. And mine.

We found them in Victoria's Secret 20 minutes later. Oh, my girlfriend was so cute. I just watched her for a second through the window. She was smiling at my mom, and I could tell she was trying to be good. Mom was holding out a skimpy little nightgown, and Rachel just laughed, taking it from her and putting it back on the rack. Hey, no! I liked that!

A saleswoman came over to them, handing each of them a bag, and they turned, seeing us in the window and waving. Rachel's whole body relaxed when she saw me.

"Nick! What are you doing here?"

"Just missed my girls!" I covered, grabbing Rachel's hand and smiling as she stood closer to me. Aaron started to say something, and I glared at him, making him stop.

"Oh, that's so sweet. What will you do when your lovely girl is away in Europe next week? It's next week, right, Rachel?"

What the hell? Mom never even knew my schedule! And now she had Rachel's memorized?

"Yeah. Don't worry, Nick told me about a cell phone that works internationally. I'll get one of those."

No, I was getting her one of those. I started to correct her, and she squeezed my hand. Or not… what was going on here?

"What a good idea! My boys are so smart!"

Mom smiled at me and then put an arm around Aaron, and he managed not to flinch and pull away. He was just at that age where he didn't want to be with Mom in public wasn't he? Tough luck, bro.

"We haven't found anything for Kevin yet," Rachel told me, and I looked down at the bags she was carrying.

"What the hell have you been doing? You've been gone for like an hour!"

"Your mom is a really good shopper," Rachel said, smiling over at Mom.

"And Rachel is a very good model," Mom teased back. Did they actually like each other? That would be so cool.

"I pick Rachel," Kevin said, and Nick and I looked at each other.

"Hey!" Nick whined, standing behind Brian. Kevin and Brian were team captains. Kevin already had Carlos, and Brian had picked Nick. Which was sorta sweet, because even Nick admitted that he sucked at softball.

"I'm gonna kick your ass, Carter," I threatened, making everyone laugh. They probably didn't know that I'd played Little League, did they? I was better at basketball, but I could hit.

"I think you need to be separated," Kevin informed me, grabbing my arm and pulling me over to his team. "Otherwise you're gonna be making out the whole time you're not at bat."

That made everyone tease us, and I felt myself blush. Jane was still here, and Nick and I were not that bad!

Well… okay, I was a little annoyed that I'd be standing in the outfield all by myself. I'd been sorta looking forward to maybe having a bit of privacy. Sorta.

Brian picked Aaron, and I knew it was all over. I had to leave in a couple of hours. We'd play a game of softball, and I'd maybe grab a bite of dinner before running to catch my plane. Why had I decided to leave tonight? Why was I going home at all? I should just stay here and hang with Nick all week. Aaron and Jane were leaving tonight, and I'd have him all to myself again.

"Ha! I get to make out with Rachel in the dugout!" AJ cackled, running over and putting his arm around me. Oh, yay, AJ was on my team. That would be fun.

Man, I felt like I was in junior high. I hated playing team sports.

"Don't touch my girl, McLean," Nick threatened, and I giggled. We had totally degenerated into junior high, hadn't we? I blamed Aaron.

"They're kinda cute together, Nick," Aaron teased. "They're both short and have curly hair. Well, AJ used to have curly hair, before he started going bald."

"Oh, just you wait, little man," AJ lunged over, messing up Aaron's hair. "Someday all that pretty, blond hair will fall out and I'll laugh…"

Did Aaron have this affect on all of Backstreet, not just his brother? Dude. Or was it universal...all boys took any excuse to act 14?

It was probably the latter, considering my brothers. They were the same way when they got together, always teasing each other and putting each other down. I somehow didn't get that gene. Maybe it was a girl thing. Or maybe it was because I was spoiled by my parents and my brothers picked on me whenever they could.

Patrick and Jon would tell me I was just a dumb girl and I'd freak out. That's why I was so good at basketball. I would stand outside for hours, practicing free throws so that I could beat them. That's probably why they called me a dumb girl, wasn't it? Guess it worked out in the end.

Is that why Aaron was so good at everything? Was he trying to live up to his brother? He was better at basketball, and video games, and now he was challenging Nick to a contest to see who got more softball hits. Even on the same team, he made it a competition. Nick just thought it was funny, but maybe it was more than that…

Maybe I needed to stop psychoanalyzing my boyfriend's family and enjoy the softball game. It was nice day, and everyone was getting along, and Nick looked happier than I'd seen him in a long time. He loved his family. I guess I'd never realized how much. I was being selfish and thought I had the lock on loving family. Just because his family wasn't like mine didn't mean they didn't love each other.

But… there were those few months that he hadn't talked to them. And Jane had been his manager once and wasn't anymore. Was Aaron going to end up like that someday?

"No sliding into bases, Aaron. You've got a photo shoot tomorrow."

Jane joined me on Kevin's team, but I saw Aaron making faces at her back. I smiled at him, but he just rolled his eyes and went back to teasing Nick.

Damnit. I didn't know teenage boys. Damn my brothers for having girls first. Will was only two or something. He was no help! When would I get to meet the sisters? I was good with girls!

"Are you on my team, Jane? We'll kick their asses."

"Of course!" Kevin said, taking us each by the arm and leading us to the dugout. "I figure with the lovely ladies on my team, the fellas will be all distracted."

I looked around the dugout. Kevin had all the girl dancers on his team, and Carlos and AJ. Looked like it might be up to me and Carlos. I sorta doubted AJ was any good.

We kicked ass. Was it a rule that all the dancers had to play softball as kids? Who knew? AJ was the only weak link, and Jane turned out to be a competitive freak. I should have seen that one coming. Finally we sat down to dinner, amid much gloating from our side and much whining from the other. I had to kiss Nick to get him to stop pouting and sit next to me at dinner.

There was a lot of teasing and laughing at dinner, but I felt somehow removed from all of it. I was tired and moody, but luckily no one really noticed that I was being quiet. Nick gave me an odd look from time to time, but I just smiled and Aaron would distract him and it was fine. Ihad to leave in about an hour. I didn't want to worry him over my silly moods.

Then they brought out the cakes and set one in front of Kevin and the other in front of me. I gave Nick a questioning look, and he just beamed at me. "It's your birthday too, baby."

"That was weeks ago!" Or days. It seemed like a really long time ago now.

"And we all know he screwed it up," AJ offered, leaning across the table to take a bit of frosting on his finger, but Nick whacked him.

"Shut up! I wasn't there on her birthday. We could at least sing."

It was probably the nicest rendition of 'Happy Birthday' I'd ever heard. Even Aaron joined in. Could the girls sing? God knows my family always attempted to be as off-key as possible for the birthday songs, but this group had the harmonies down. I smiled around at everybody when it was done. "Thank you. That was very sweet. At least I get an extended birthday with, uh, the events of recent weeks."

Nick pouted as everyone teased him, but I saved him with a kiss. "It's okay, bunny," I whispered. "I like being the birthday princess."

Oh, I loved his smile. Why was I leaving again?

"I had no idea it was your birthday, Rachel," Jane commented, shooting a glance at Nick as she took the cake and started cutting slices.

"It was last week, actually." Or was it the week before?

"Did you get to see your family?"

"No. That's why I'm leaving tonight." Sorta. I knew there was a birthday dinner planned for tomorrow night, but I was really just going home to sleep.

"Do you have any birthday traditions? With the boys always on the road, it's sort of hit or miss if we get to see each other."

I took Nick's hand, leaning against him. That was so sad, wasn't it? "Yeah… Dad would always wake me up to see the sunrise, because the first time he held me, he watched the sun rise out the window of the hospital. Then he'd make my favorite breakfast and I never had to go to school."

Shit. I'd been so busy this year I hadn't really thought about all that. Good thing, because last year my birthday had been pretty terrible. I'd watched the sunrise by myself, remembering the story Dad would always tell, about how there'd been problems with Mom and I'd been two hours old before he'd gotten to hold me. He'd stood at the window of Mom's hospital room and told me what all the colors in the sunrise were, and discussed what my name should be.

"That's so lovely," Jane said, looking at Aaron and Nick. "I wish we had the time to do nice things like that."

"Nick spent his last birthday singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, Mom. I think we're okay," Aaron sighed. Yeah, he was at that age where he hated sappy stuff. The boys started talking football, and I slipped away. I was going to see my mom tonight, but I needed to talk to her for just a second.

She wasn't home, and I sighed into the answering machine. "Hi, Mommy, it's Rachel. Just checking in… flight home is tonight. You know that. Ummm… Nick's mom is here, and I was missing my own mom. Oh, tell Katie and Colleen I got to meet Aaron today. Love you. Bye."

"Happy birthday." I jumped at the deep voice next to me, looking up at Kevin, leaning across the wall from me.

"Sorry I co-opted yours."

He waved me away. "Please. Any excuse for more cake. Are you okay? You look a little upset."

"No, I'm fine. Maybe just a little homesick."

I miss my dad.

Kevin's eyes met mine, and I remembered that he knew that.

"Do you ever miss your dad so much you can't breathe?" I asked him, quietly.

He nodded, an understanding smile on his face. Man, he was really lovely. "At least once a day."

I swallowed, trying to smile. "This is my moment today. This might even be the weekly cry."

He hugged me, and I let him, biting my lip. Damnit. Usually I was alone with these moods, and I could get over it. "I know how you feel, honey, really," he said. "Birthdays are hard."

Kevin gave good hugs. I let myself relax in his arms and tried to steady my breathing. Shit, why was he so understanding? Why was I so moody today?

Howie had Mom all occupied, and I looked around to see where Rachel had gone. What the hell? Why is she hugging Kevin?

I went over to them, he was whispering something to her that I couldn't hear, and she had her face buried in his chest. "Rache?" I was too perplexed to even be jealous.

She heard my voice and looked up, brushing tears off her cheeks and smiling at me. "Hi, sweetie."

"Are you OK? What happened?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing. I'll be fine in a minute."

Kevin patted her shoulder as he left us alone, and she smiled at him. "Thanks, Kevy."

He shrugged. "You know where I am, if you want to talk about it."

I watched him go and then looked back at her. "What happened? You were fine a minute ago!" Even though she'd been talking about her dad and birthdays and stuff… damnit. I was so stupid. Aaron was demanding all my attention, and Rachel was having a Dad mood and I hadn't even noticed!

"Oh, I couldn't get my mom on the phone. Sweetie, it's nothing. You know this happens to me about once a week... but usually I'm not in the middle of a horde of people." She looked at me for a moment before hugging me. "He would have loved you. He would have met your mom and been totally charming and stuff."

I hugged her back. I hated these Dad moods. I never knew what to say or how to make it better. "That's okay. You totally won her over on your own."

She smiled, looking up at me, and I kissed her carefully. She responded with a small sigh against my lips, and I wondered what time it was. Did we have any time to be alone before her flight? I just wanted to hold her and let her cry, show her I could be there to comfort her. The sadness in her eyes tore my heart to pieces. I didn't want that to be the last thing I remembered seeing in her eyes before she was gone again.

"Rachel!" Frank bellowed. Damnit. "You need to go, or you'll miss your flight."

Her eyes met mine, and I kissed her again. I hated letting her go when she still looked so sad. "I love you," she whispered, pulling me closer.

"Let me help you pack," I offered. She still had to pack, so Frank was taking her back to the hotel.

Shaking her head, she moved away from me. "No, this is better. You stay here and play with your friends."

"No!" I tried not to yell. Fuck the fellas, and Aaron, and everyone else. I was going to be with her until her plane took off. "I want..."

She kissed me again. "I want you to stay here, so I know that you're having fun. Otherwise you're going to come with me and we're going to be all overwrought, and I don't want that now. Okay?"

I hated it when she was right. "Okay," I pouted, and she laughed, kissing me lightly.

"Come on, I'm going to go out there and be nice, but your mom cheated me out of sex today and I'm pissed off."

Tell me about it! She let me kiss her again and then she walked away, leading me out to the rest of the group. She was charming and sweet saying goodbye to everyone, even when Aaron pretty much ignored her. I went to grab him, but she pulled me back, telling me it was okay. I walked her to the car, and then she was gone.

Disclaimer | Sudden Silence Website
Feedback to Authors | Tragical Fiction (home)

Subscribe to receive an email when this site is updated!

Powered by groups.yahoo.com