CHAPTER THREE - WHAT ARE YOU?

It was only at the end of the concert that Brian had collapsed, his knees buckling underneath him as they entered backstage. Kevin had been the quickest, catching him before he hit the ground. He shouted to Nick and they both managed to carry him to the dressing room, screaming for anyone to call 911.

Now after all the excitement had died down, the paramedics proclaiming him fine but dehydrated, Brian sat alone with the other four, feeling their curious stares.

"Okay, Bri, what gives?"

Brian stopped fiddling with his water bottle long enough to glance up and see AJ's arms crossed over his chest, a tight frown forming. Brian gave an embarrassed shrug and mumbled something incoherent.

Irritated, AJ looked at Kevin, then back at Brian. "What? What did you just say?"

Brian closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. They had to know. They'd think he was crazy. Brian snorted to himself. They already do. "Guys, I saw her."

Blank looks.

"You know, her. The girl who sat in the middle, not moving."

Nick gave an exaggerated groan, stood up and walked away from Brian. He spread his hands wide in disbelief. "You're shittin' us, right? Not her again!"

Brian sat up a little straighter, angrily throwing his empty water bottle at the trashcan. "Yes, her!" he spat. "Don't tell me you didn't see her this time! I touched her, remember?" He sneered the last word, knowing that they had witnessed the whole thing.

A silence fell over the room as Howie, Kevin, Nick, and AJ stared at Brian then quickly looked at each other. Howie gawked at him, shaking his head; Kevin, a quizzical look spreading over his face. AJ scoffed a little, putting his glasses back on. Nick's mouth was wide open.

"What?" Brian yelled, his anger rising. "What?"

Nick came back to crouch next to his friend. "Rok, what girl?" His eyes pleaded, trying to understand. "There was no girl. The person you touched was a guy. Red hair. Tall. We all thought it was pretty funny, you jumping down and grabbing a guy, the only one, with all the other screaming girls just freaking cause you picked him instead of them!"

Brian blinked. Once. Twice.

"A guy?" he asked weakly, "not a girl? Short, dark hair, dark eyes?"

Nick nodded, his blue eyes framed with amusement. "Yeah. A guy." He smiled warmly and pulled Brian out of his chair, giving him a ruffled toss of his hair. "Come on. You'll be okay." Nick gave the other three guys a grin, throwing a friendly hand around Brian's shoulder and shaking him affectionately. "Damn, Bri. You need to get laid. I've never seen you mistake a guy for a girl before!" He began to laugh, along with the others until Brian roughly pushed him away. Glaring at all four for a moment, Brian reached over to grab his duffel bag and then stormed out.

Nick looked at everyone in surprise, shaking his head and raised his hands questioningly, at a loss.