Over the next couple of months Nick had a string of girlfriends. He felt like he wasn't making any progress and life didn't seem very meaningful for him. The only thing that did make sense was when he took long walks on the beach. Reason being the beach not only calmed him and helped him clear his thoughts, but brought him back to even balance and made him think twice about taking life for granted. He had certainly done that in the last few months. But Tony had said life must be lived not wasted.

Tony.....he brought his thoughts to the one person who could jeopardise his detoxing process. Nick knew he had a problem but he never knew the extent of it until he finally came to his senses about Tony. In the beginning he was always there for him. Giving him advice and guidance. Sort of what Skye was doing now...except he changed...dramatically...that's where the problems started. His life snowballed all because Tony made him feel like a used, cheap popstar and not the Nick he used to know in himself. It just wasn't him anymore. The drinking....the women...the one night stands...he couldn't do it anymore and he had to tell Tony that he could no longer hang out with him. How can you tell someone that you thought you trusted that you can't hang out with them anymore because they were the cause of all your problems circulating and making them worse? Nick sighed. He had been so reckless to believe Tony was a true friend...in actual fact he began to wonder if he wasn't famous would Tony still be his friend?

As Nick pondered, he saw a figure coming towards him. It was Tony. He had a smile on his face like he was up to something. That mind was always working overtime. All Nick wanted to do was have a bit of time to think and now Tony would want to vouch for his attention. Couldn't Nick just get attention for himself? He knew Tony would want him to go out with him tonight and Nick had to tell him no. If he wanted any chance to deal with any of his demons then he had to let Tony go. Something Nick didn't want to do but had to do...

" Yo Nick! Are you gonna come out tonight? " Tony sat beside Nick and smirked knowing Nick probably wanted some time alone.

" Sorry Tony I have plans tonight...hope you have a good time " Nick got up and walked the other way. Tony felt totally blown off. Nick NEVER back out to a night out on the town...something was up.

" Nick is anything up buddy? You been a hermit for like a few weeks now...Come and have some fun tonight and worry about it later...I promise you we'll have a good time..." Tony tried in his persistence but every time he asked he was faced with another "No" or "Maybe Next time" He was beginning to get frustrated.

" Tony I said NO! don't you get it? I don't want to go out nor tonight....nor ever again! Not for a while anyway...." Nick stared at the ocean and hoped he was doing the right thing.

" What? What are you talking about Nick? Not ever? What the fuck does that mean? " God doesn't this guy get a clue? Couldn't he see that Nick wanted some time alone?

" It means exactly what I just said! Not ever! No more Tony! I can't keep doing this to myself...I have problems going on that I need to deal with...not with alcohol and not with one night stands...proper help and I have it and I can't do this with you anymore. I'm sorry.." Tony grabbed Nick's arms and pulled him to face him and Nick met angry eyes.

" No..you can't be saying this Nick! We can go to another club if that's what you want! We can fix the problem....We don't even have to drink! " Nick moved away from Tony and looked at him. Really looked at him in surprise. He had truly changed and it frightened him.

" You don't get it do you? That is the problem Tony! You leave me to get drunk while you go off and chat up women. It's always been because I'm famous hasn't it? My celebrity status that I hold has gone to your head. You are only friends with me coz you can score with some chick in a bar and tell them you know me. You and the alcohol and the women have been my temporary escape, no more, I'm sorry a different club, or no drinking will not change that Tony...you are the problem I have to face...you and everything else and you won't definitely change..." Nick walked up to his truck and opened the door. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he knew Tony would try and put him on a guilt trip.

" You will never change either Nick! Don't you see? That's why you and I are so alike...I know what it is... It's that shrink you're seeing isn't it? She put you up to this didn't she? She's filling you're head with ideas that this will kill you in the end. That everything you have gone through will help you if you stop drinking or stop hanging out with me. But what you can't see is that as much as you want to fight to change the way you are...you are still the old self that loves women and alcohol and you and I will rule this town as we always have. Don't let her do this to you....She's messing with your head Nick! You can't change! " Nick turned around surprising Tony with his own angry eyes.

" Look Tony if it wasn't for her I'd be in hospital or out on the street lying in the gutter somewhere. She helped me throw up that night you decided to conveniently leave me for some cheap women and she was the one that nursed me back to health. She does care about me and unlike you who doesn't give a shit about anyone but Tony, you come first in your life and that's the only important thing for you. You won't miss me when I'm gone...Seriously? I have changed starting right this minute by telling you to go screw yourself and find some other popstar to hang onto coz this one doesn't want you anymore. Her name is Skye and no she hasn't filled my head with shit or messed with my head, you have made me to believe I was invincible and I'm not Tony! I'm sorry to disappoint you but I AM NOT PERFECT! NO ONE IS! Damn get your head out of your ass and realise that for Christ sake you're pathetic! " Nick climbed into his car and drove off leaving Tony in a jealous rage. Nick just hoped he had done the right thing....

" I had an run in with Tony..." I turned from washing up the dishes from dinner to face Nick's sad expression. He looked stressed. He must of had one huge run in with him.

" What happened? " Nick shrugged his shoulders and sat down. He looked so lost...but I think he was relieved as well.

" I don't know where we went wrong...I thought he was a true friend you know? Someone that I could talk to and wouldn't take me for granted...in the beginning it was like that but now all he wanted me for was his ticket to score points and that was it. He told me I would never change. but I know better. God I was so reckless to think that Tony was capable of being the friend that I wanted him to be. I was blinded...somehow, I needed a friend so much that I didn't see his ulterior motives and I let him run my life. I gave my life to him and let him do what he will with it. I let him run my life into the ground...I didn't care..I let someone handle my life, put it in their hands...He left me alone while he went off to get drunk with some women he met at the bar, tried to set me up and then give me tell all stories the next day either they were good or not...How could I have been such an ass? What did I do to deserve the people who cared about me? I didn't even realise what he was doing! " Nick put his head in his hands and he looked so ashamed. I put my hand on his.

" What did you tell him? " I hung onto his every word hoping he told that asshole off and wasn't going to see him ever again.

" I told him that I couldn't do the drinking anymore and he freaked as if to say what will I do now? He tried to take me on a guilt trip just like Mandy did... Those two would make a good couple. He thought you put me up to telling him where to go and sticking up for myself coz I normally don't say no to him....." I couldn't believe this asshole! What had he done to Nick? Gosh I wish I had been there to kick his ass.

" Nick...I'm proud of you...I know it must of been really hard to stand up to him and tell him how you felt about how he was treating you. But you did the right thing and I know I have said this before but he is a major threat to your detoxing process and I'm not just saying that so you'll stay away from him, this is the truth...there are many cases just like this where patients get the idea that their doctors only want them to stay away from the problems coz of their personal opinions of the people that have hurt them and I can tell you Tony is bad news but it's your decision to keep hanging around with him. I figure you sober yourself up and Tony won't know what hit him...just believe in yourself okay? You have me and the guys behind you and I am very proud of you..." I smiled looking into Nick's eyes and getting a smile in return. He sighed deeply.

" Yeah I know I just wanted to flog his ass and hopefully he wouldn't be able to sit on it for a week! Damn! I wish I knew earlier! " I watched him sitting there so frustrated and confused but I decided to give him this piece of advice.

" Nick...we always find out things for ourselves... Sometimes we don't realise our mistakes until it's too late, but you were lucky to have tuned into Tony's intentions before anything got out of control. You honestly did the right thing. You're better off without Tony, believe you me. Now I'm going to have a nap, just think about what I said okay? " I stood up and Nick gave me a quick hug.

" Thankyou Skye and not just for tonight...all the 3 months that you have been here..." He kissed the top of my head. We were interrupted by the doorbell.

" That's the door, I'll get that.." I raced into the lounge room and to the front door, opening it I got a shock. This guy looked like a splitting image of Nick but he was younger.

" Is Nick home? " I was a little taken a back. He looked so familiar....who was he?

" Yep...ah what's your name? " He stuck his hand out and announced;

" Oh sorry I should know more manners...I'm Aaron, Nick's younger brother...." Oh lord!

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