Without You

Hooky

*Chapter Seven*

Kevin walked into their photographer, Brad Mullen's studio with his fellow band mates behind him. He tried to keep his cool, but inside he was fuming. Nick has never done anything so reckless before. Sure he's been late showing up or hungover, but he never missed out on a deadline. Okay, he understood that he was angry; AJ certainly didn't help matters when he kept on insulting the girl. Nick was like a ticking time bomb and he finally blew up. He figured he just needed time to cool off. It's been over an hour since he heard anything from him and that was when he realized how severe the situation really was. He even tried calling him to reason with him; to talk to him like a civilized person. Yet, each time he called, he only got his voicemail. He lost count how many he left. He finally picked up and the only thing Nick did was scream...he barely got any words in. He didn't even know his location. Where did he go? Did he run back to that fan? Was this girl really worth losing his career over? Or maybe it was just some sort of cry for help, but how was he supposed to help him when he kept on pushing him away? Kevin wasn't blind; he's noticed the sudden change in his behavior. Nick was depressed...he's never seen him this bad before and it was starting to really worry him. He'd bring girls in the hotel nearly every night with AJ. He was drunk as a skunk and it was like when he came back from partying, he had no life in him. Kevin wanted to help him...hell he loved him; he was his baby brother...he just didn't know how.

"This is going to be fun," mumbled Howie.

Kevin glanced at him austerely, "Just let me do the talking."

He and the others approached Brad; not having a clue what to tell him. How could he tell him that Nick just bailed? He knew Brad wouldn't be fully surprised; he always gave him shit when he was late or hungover. But this was not like Nick...not to actually desert the guys for his own selfish needs. The more he thought about it, the more concerned he was becoming for his baby brother.

He watched as Brad set up the lights for their shoot and he could feel as guilt began to eat at him. He silently cursed under his breath. He couldn't believe Nick had done this; Brad was the one to suffer.

"Uh, hey, Brad."

"Good you're here," he said as he hooked up the equipment. "Go over to the green screen I have set up in the corner." His eyes were still to the black long stand, "I've decided to do a water theme so makeup isn't required."

Kevin could feel the guilt devour him as he tried to word it correctly that there would be no shoot today. Fucking Nick was all he could think. This was his fault. He ruined this for them and he was now wasting Brad's time. He couldn't wait until he got his hands around his neck; he was really going to give it to him this time.

His hand rubbed the back of his neck and into his dark hair as he let out a groan, "Uh...we have...we have a small problem."

Brad's eyes shifted from his project and up to Kevin who looked uncomfortable as his green eyes were full with remorse, "What?" He groaned when he saw the look of onus across his face, "Come on, I haven't got all day. I have four other shoots I need to do. What's going on?" His rough voice was thick with annoyance.

He let out a heavy sigh, "It's Nick."

"What about him?"

"He's...he's not here."

His hazel eyes grew wide as annoyance began to show across his aging face, "What?! What do you mean he's not here?! He knows the deadline!"

Kevin could see as the frustration began to build over his face from the lines creasing into his forehead. He was only thirty-five, but he was beginning to look more like forty-five with all the wrinkles that were slowly starting to appear upon his once youthful face. Brad shouldn't have to deal with this; he was a hard worker and phenomenal photographer.