5 Chapter 5

On that same day; Nathan Hendrickson and the rest of the members of Fifth Avenue Square were in their house playing video games. Around the same time; the band's general manager; Scott, was getting ready to leave for a little business trip and was going over the boys' itinerary while he was away.

"Alright boys; I'm off to the airport. When I get back from my trip to the US; I expect all four of you have at least two songs written for the next album. I'm leaving Lexie's number on the fridge and that number is ONLY used for emergencies. Paul; you're in charge while I'm gone; Calvin, Landon don't do anything I wouldn't do and Nathan; do us a favor and stay out of trouble." Scott told them.

"Scott; if you hired us a personal assistant, you wouldn't be in this mess," Nathan said. "Plus it's not like I'm going to go anywhere. I'm still on house arrest for less than a month." he added.

"Please; I've tried to do that and look what happened to the last personal assistant I hired for you boys. She quit her job in less than two weeks." Scott remarked.

"That's because you keep giving us old nannies, at least hire someone who is at least a little bit older or close to our age," Calvin mentioned.

"Yeah, sorry; but that won't happen in a million years. Now, I'm off; I'll see you boys in a month." Scott said as he headed for the door.

"Is he finally gone?" Nathan asked Paul.

"His car just pulled out of the driveway and out of the gate; why do you ask?"

"Good riddance; I am going to the pub." Nathan said as he was putting on his motorcycle jacket.

"Nathan, you heard what Scott said; you have to stay out of the trouble. Besides you're not supposed to go out to any night clubs or pubs in the city; remember?" Landon retorted.

"Yes, I do remember and besides I'm not going to that pub anyway. I'm going to my aunt and uncle's pub instead which also happens to be the second place I'm supposed to be under house arrest at." Nathan mocked.

"Whatever; just don't do anything stupid like the last time, alright?" Paul instructed.

"Relax; I'll behave like a good school boy." Nathan said sarcastically. Nathan then walked out the door and went into the band's only car and drove off leaving Paul, Calvin and Landon in the distance.

"You know he'll never listen to any of us; especially Scott." Calvin mentioned.

"Oh, I know; but one of these days someone will get under Nathan's skin. Mark my words; someone will teach him a lesson or two about this band's reputation." Paul muttered. What the boys didn't know was that person was a certain up and coming author from New York.

While that was happening; Roxie was just getting off the big Red Bus at one of its last stops. As the bus drove back into the city, Roxie looked at the road ahead of her and let out a deep breath and started walking towards the pub. Every few minutes; Roxie would turn around and try to signal down somebody to give her a ride, but no one seemed to care and just drove on down the road. After a while, Roxie finally gave up on finding a ride and just continued on her journey. Meanwhile, Nathan had arrived at his aunt and uncle's pub and inn.

Now; the outside of The Smouldering Hog was like any other English pub and inn in the UK. However, unlike most pubs which were attached to either a little retail store or another business; The Smouldering Hog's exterior and interior was like a bed and breakfast. The pub was located alongside a small riverbed, it had a small shed in the back and it was the only major community watering hole in the small town that Nathan had grew up in. On the outside; The Smouldering Hog looked like a small farmhouse with a stone-like exterior and shingled roof. As for the interior; The Smouldering Hog was very homey. As soon as you walked in; you would see pictures of Nathan's family, some of his aunt and uncle's life long friends that have been long time customers and some of the town's citizens. And every time that Nathan would enter his family's pub he would always leave a kiss to a photograph of his mother who had passed away when Nathan was a teenager. When Nathan entered the pub, his cousin Annie walked to the hostess table. Now Annie was a very attractive young lady. She had wavy brown hair, green eyes, and fairly toned skin.

"Hi, welcome to-oh, Nathan; it's just you. Aren't you supposed to be at the house instead of being over here at the pub?" she remarked.

"Hi Annie; it's nice to see you too and for the record I can go to a pub I just have to go to one where someone can help keep a watchful eye on me. Besides; the championship football game is on tonight and I always watch football games over here at your mum and dad's pub." Nathan pointed out.

"Yeah, sure; I'd like to see you try to pull that excuse with my dad. He and my mum know about your little situation with the coppers the other night and as a fair warning I suggest that you stay on your best behavior tonight when you're around my dad because he is bloody pissed off at you already." Annie stated.

"It wasn't my fault anyway; I was having a good night out with a couple of lads that me and the boys hang out with here the city. It's not like we stole money from a bank or anything." Nathan said.

"Look; you can try to pull off any excuse this time Nathan, but my dad isn't going to budge this time around for you." Annie told him.

"Annie; who was that-Nathan, what a surprise! How is my darling nephew?"

"Hi Auntie Lizzie; I'm doing fine. I'm just here to watch the championship football game." Nathan said while he was hugging his aunt. Now Auntie Lizzie was like an older version of Annie. Like Annie; Auntie Lizzie had brown hair and fairly toned skin. However, instead of having green eyes; Auntie Lizzie had hazel green eyes.

"Good, I'm pretty sure Annie gave you the warning about your dear uncle. Now; what has gotten into you lately because I for one am tired of hearing about your wild nights in the city." Auntie Lizzie asked him.

"Auntie Lizzie; there's no need to worry about me. I'm 19 years old, I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself just fine thank you very much." Nathan said.

"Now just wait a minute young man; I am your aunt not one of your night club friends that you like to hang out with all the time. So don't you dare try to give me one of your little smartass remarks; do I make myself clear?" Auntie Lizzie ordered.

"Yes ma'am." Nathan muttered.

"Good; now let's get you upstairs before anyone else sees you here and gets you into more trouble." Auntie Lizzie instructed. Then Nathan followed his aunt up the stairs to one of the spare bedrooms where Nathan always changed his clothes. While Nathan and his aunt were heading up the stairs, Nathan's cousin Tom and Uncle Hank were just about to unload the pub's delivery truck with the food for the football game. Tom and Uncle Hank were somewhat similar to each other. Both had blondish brown hair and hazel toned eyes but as for their skin color; they were more olive toned than Auntie Lizzie and Annie.

"Who was that with Mum?" Tom asked Annie.

"Oh; that was Nathan. He came down to watch tonight's football game." Annie replied.

"Oh boy; Dad's going to be so happy when he see's Nathan." Tom said sarcastically.

"Tell me about it; once that argument starts, I'm going to head to the back so I won't be able to hear it." Annie sighed. Then Tom and Annie's dad walked into the pub carrying a box filled with carrots and potatoes.

"Hello Dad; do you need some help with the food?" Annie asked.

"Just a little bit could do for right now, but I think you should get started with the cooking. Tom, help out with the rest of the boxes. Now, where's your mum?" Uncle Hank asked.

"I'm right here darling, I was just dealing with someone upstairs. Oh, I ought to let you know that Nathan is here. Now; I know that you're upset about his incident the other night, but all Nathan wants to do tonight is just relax with his family and watch the football game. So; if you can, could you please try to watch your temper when you two start talking?" Auntie Lizzie pointed out.

"I can't guarantee you that Lizzie. He's my sister's son and he needs to be punished for his poor behavior. But, if you insist; I'll do my very best when I try to talk to him." Uncle Hank promised. Auntie Lizzie then kissed her husband and both Annie and her mom went into the kitchen to start cooking. After a while passed, Nathan came downstairs in a dark shirt, jeans and a hat and sat down at his usual table that had a good view of the pub's television.

"Oi; I thought that was you coming down the stairs." Tom said as he greeted Nathan.

"Hey Tom; how's it going?"

"Eh; not too bad, but I hear that you got yourself in heap of trouble the other night." Tom chuckled.

"Yeah, it wasn't anything big. I was just having a nice time out with a bunch of lads." Nathan shrugged off.

"Anything big; you, young man got yourself arrested for disturbing the peace?!" Uncle Hank remarked. Nathan then grimaced and turned around and saw his uncle behind him.

"Uncle Hank; it's nice to see you." Nathan said.

"Tom; go help your sister and your mum in the kitchen. I got to have a little chat with your cousin." Uncle Hank instructed.

"Yes sir; I'll see you later mate." Tom stated. Tom then left the booth and walked over to the kitchen.

"Is this spot taken?" Uncle Hank asked Nathan as he gestured to the empty space across from Nathan.

"By all means." Nathan said. Uncle Hank then sat down across from where Nathan was sitting. For a while the two of them just stared intently at each other.

"So what's new with you and your band mates?" Uncle Hank asked.

"Nothing much. Scott left for his business trip in the US and then me and the lads are busy writing and recording for the next album." Nathan replied.

"Right; your aunt wants me to go easy on you about what happened the other night. You know what you did was wrong and totally stupid. I just got to know; why in the world do you do crazy stuff like this all the time now? I promised your mum that I would keep an eye on you and your band mates while you boys are here in London doing your band stuff." Uncle Hank pointed out.

"And here we go again; Uncle Hank, I appreciate the fact that you and Auntie Lizzie are doing as much as you can for me and the boys, but I am not a little kid anymore. You have to stop treating me like a baby, I'm bloody 19 years old!" Nathan remarked.

"Don't you dare raise your tone at me boy. I thought I raised you better than that. You know; if it wasn't for me or your aunt, you and your mum would have been living on the streets alone and wasted just like your father." Uncle Hank retorted.

"Are we done here?" Nathan asked as he got out of his usual spot.

"No; what makes you think I'm done with you?"

"Well, I'm done with this conversation. Now, if you will excuse me; I'll be up in my room." Nathan argued. Nathan then went upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.

"What did you do this time Hank? I thought I told you to watch your temper. Now Nathan is going to have to eat his supper when the pub closes." Auntie Lizzie stated.

"Just leave him; someone's got to teach that boy a lesson Lizzie and mark my words it's definitely not going to be me." Uncle Hank said.