Chapter 4

Nick and the guys got into their hotel rooms in Australia late at night, almost two days later. They were all exhausted, and went straight to their rooms to crash for the night. Nick lay there on the bed, almost about to fall asleep. He grabbed his cell phone, remembering that it was daytime back home in Florida.

“Let me try and call Amber,” he thought, as he picked it up, dialing her number.

“Hello?” he heard her say, as he smiled to himself.

“Hey there,” he replied, “We made it.”

“Well hey Nick, how was the flight?” she asked.

“Oh, it was okay. I love Australia, but I hate that it takes so long to get here. Believe it or not, I hate to fly,” he said.

“Really? Don’t you fly a lot?” she asked.

“Yes, exactly, and I damn hate it. Although I admit, it’s gotten better over the years. I can make it without throwing up now,” he said.

“Ewww,” she said, but then laughed. “So what are you up to today?”

“Well, it’s night here now. We have tomorrow off so we can rest up. But then we have two concerts in a row, two days off and then we have two concerts on the west side of the country. Well I think, damn I have no idea, I never look at the itinerary really,” he explained.

“Damn, sounds busy,” Amber said.

“Yeah, it always is, plus local press and stuff. We’re used to it,” he replied.

“Alright, well I’ll let you get some rest, I’m supposed to be on my way to meet a new photographer for the new jeans ad in a little bit. I’ve gotta finish getting ready and all,” she said.

“Okay, that’s cool,” Nick said, “Bye.”

“Nick?” she asked, as he was about to hang up.

“Yeah?” he answered.

“Call me ok, whenever you get a free second,” she said.

A smile spread across Nicks face. “I will, have a good day,” he said.

“Goodnight,” she replied, as they both hung up.

The guys got into full swing there in Australia. In the first five days, they had to do two concerts on the east side of the country, then a TV show, some local radio station interviews, and then they had a full-day photo shoot for the Australian music magazines. Needless to say, they were looking forward to a nice two day break before they had to travel over to the west side of the country for two more concerts and more radio press.

“Hey Nick,” Brian said, as they were standing on a backdrop at the photo shoot, “Want to chill at the beach tomorrow?”

“Dude, count me in,” Nick said, “I wanna go surfing.”

“Please Nick, last time you tried that, you almost drowned,” Kevin said.

“Oh shit guys, remember that? He was smacked down by that big ass wave, and Kevin had to go in the water and pull him out. Remember Nick? You were all coughing and hacking and shit. You were so little then man,” AJ said, as they all laughed remembering.

“Dude, the funny part was when we first got you out of the water, we thought you were gonna die, you weren’t breathing, and then Kev said he was gonna give you mouth to mouth, man you sat up so fast….” Brian said, as they were all hysterical.

“Oh yeah, okay, maybe not then,” Nick said, as the rest of them kept right on laughing.

“Dude, let’s go snorkeling,” AJ said.

“Aw, a family affair, why don’t we all go?” Nick said sarcastically, as AJ snickered.

“Actually, it does sound good,” Kevin replied.

“I’m down with some snorkeling,” Howie chimed in.

“Hey man, let’s invite the dancers,” AJ said, wiggling his eyes suggestively.

“Alright, we’ll let everyone know tonight then,” Brian said, as the photographer told them he was ready to go again.

“Nick! Your cell phone is ringing!” Howie yelled across the beach towards Nick.

“Pick it up!” Nick yelled back, as he threw the football to AJ and started walking over.

“Hello?” Howie said into the phone.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I must have the wrong number,” Amber said.

“No, you looking for Nick?” Howie asked.

“Yes,” Amber said, “this is Amber.”

“Oh hello Amber, it’s Howie , hang on he’s running over here,” Howie replied.

“Okay, thanks,” she said.

Nick took the phone from Howie, sitting on the blanket next to Brian.

“Hello?” Nick asked.

“Hey you,” Amber said, as Nick smiled instantly.

“Well hey yourself, what are you doing over there? What time is it?” he asked.

“It’s late, I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about you, so I took a chance you weren’t busy,” she replied.

“Thinking about me huh?” Nick asked, as he looked over at Brian who was making kissy faces at him.

“Maybe,” she said, as she giggled a little.

“Uh huh,” he said, as he ignored Brian.

“So what are you up to?” she asked.

“Man, me and the guys went snorkeling today. We finally had a day off, and it was so cool. Except this big shark swam past me, scared the shit out of me,” Nick said, as he heard Amber laugh.

“Wow, that sounds awesome,” she said.

“It was,” Nick said. “So why can’t you sleep? You feeling okay?”

“Yeah I’m okay, just wondering when you’re coming home is all,” she said.

“Well, a little over a week, how does that sound?” he asked.

“Sounds good,” she said, as she yawned.

“Look at that, I put ya right to sleep,” he said, as she laughed.

“Okay, well I let you get back to your day off, time for me to catch some beauty sleep,” she said.

“Not that you need it,” Nick replied.

“Aww you’re so sweet,” she said, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?” she asked.

“Definitely,” Nick replied, “Sweet dreams.”

“Bye,” she said, as they both hung up.

Nick tossed the phone on the blanket, lying down on his back.

“Dude, you’re blinding me with that cheesy ass grin,” Brian said, as he threw a towel over Nick’s face.

Nick took the towel off of his face and smiled wider at him.

“I take it things are going well with Miss Amber?” Brian asked, “You two talking every day now?”

“Yes practically, and it’s going very well,” Nick said, “I really dig her.”

“Well that’s cool, you been playing around on tour long enough,” Brian joked, referring to the late nights that he, AJ, and Howie spent.

“Yes Dad,” Nick answered sarcastically. “You happy now?”

“Are you?” Brian asked, more serious.

“Actually Rok, I think I am,” Nick said, as he grinned again.

“Ugh, I’m blind! Stop that!” Brian yelled, acting like he was trying to block his eyes.

Nick laughed at him. “You’re whack dude,” he said, “Come on, let’s try out these surfboards while Kevin aint looking.”

Brian rolled his eyes, but got up, grabbed a board, and ran down to the beach after Nick.