PRT 383- “Reunion Crazies”

“I’m going to go crazy.” I sighed.

“Relax. It’ll be ok.” Jon said as he rubbed my shoulders.

The others were off trying to get my bracelet and other items back from Mia, meanwhile I had been ordered to stay put. Jon had snuck over to my apartment to make sure I did stay. It was really hard for me to just sit back and do nothing, but with my bracelet gone I couldn’t transform and with my controller necklace gone I was too weak to sustain a Morph. To try to get my mind off it I was surfing the internet. Jon was standing behind me, rubbing my shoulders and trying to keep me calm as possible.

“I can’t take this.” I sighed as I shifted in my chair again.

“Mich, calm down…it’s ok. Come here.” He said as he pulled me up from the chair and into his arms.

“This is as calm as it gets.”

“Everything will be fine. Come on, let’s watch some TV.” He said as he walked with me to the living room. We sat on the sofa and started channel surfing. We came across Zack’s show on TNT.

“Ohh, my brother.” I said happily.

“Yeah, I have to say, it’s not a bad show.” Jon said.

I looked at him, “Did you just compliment my brother’s work?”

“Yeah. Hey, I’m not the one that has a problem. I like him just fine. He’s the one that hates me.”

“Fair enough.” I nodded.

We sat there and watched the show for awhile before there was a knock on the door. I went and opened it. It was Zack.

“Hey! We were just watching you on TV!” I cried as I hugged my brother.

“We? You have comp…any…” Zack said as he came in and saw Jon on the sofa.

Jon waved, “Hi.”

Zack sighed, “I should go.”

“No, Zachary, please…” I begged.

“Fine. I’ll stay for a little while.” He said as he came in and shut the door behind him.

“Have a seat.”

Zack nodded and sat down, “So, what do you think of the show?”

“Good stuff. You have an amazing character.” I said.

“Yeah, he’s fun to play.”

“It’s a well written show and the cast really meshes well.” Jon added.

Zack looked at him, “Um, thanks. Yeah, we all get along well.”

“So, life’s been a bit crazy.” I said.

“Since the reunion interview? Yeah, it has. It’s like the second coming.”

“Isn’t it? I hate it!”

Zack laughed, “You liked all the attention back then.”

“Where were you? I hated it then too.”

“You hated being mobbed, you liked the attention.”

“Eh, ok, I’ll give you that. But the insanity is coming back! I’m convinced the mobbing isn’t far behind.”

“Our fans aren’t teenyboppers anymore. They grew up too.”

“Hmm, ok…but the press hasn’t.”

“Yeah, that has gotten worse hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, quite a bit worse.”

I laughed, “But I noticed you’ve been keeping good humor about it. You’ve given them some hilarious quotes lately.”

“Yeah, well, I figure they aren’t going to go away so I may as well have some fun with them.” Zack said.

“You always were the more laid back one.”

“Some things never change. How are you doing by the way?”

“Oh, Sailor Nemesis turned out to be Mia pretending to be my friend, my future daughter is in this time period, Mia has my Amethyst controller and transformation bracelet, and I have to sit here and wait helplessly while the others try to get them back. That’s how I’m doing.”

“WHAT? Michelle? Ok, back up. Mia is Nemesis?”

“Yes.”

“And she has your controller?”

“Yes.”

“Are you physically ok?”

“As long as I keep the Amethyst with me I’m fine.”

“And your daughter?”

“Yeah, Mia brought my daughter here from the future. Her name is Harley.”

“Please tell me she isn’t Jon.”

“No…although I’m not sure who is the father.”

“Then how do you know it isn’t Jon?”

“Cause she told me. She said her full name is Harlyn Nicole DeSantos Bradley McKnight and that is all she’d say.”

Zack laughed, “Oh my god, that’s funny. That tells you nothing.”

“I know.”

“I think I like my future niece.”

“You’re not the only one.” I mumbled glancing at Jon.

“What? Oh no…did you hit on her?” Zack asked.

“Oh he did more than that.” I said.

“Mich, don’t…” Jon warned.

“More? Eww, you slept with Michelle’s daughter?” Zack asked.

“There’s more to it than that.”

“I don’t care what the reason was, that’s disgusting. You slept with my sister now my niece. This is disturbing in so many ways.”

“You’re telling me.” I agreed.

“What is it Morris women see in this guy? I don’t get it.”

“Good. If you did I would worry.”

“On that note I’m getting out of here before I punch him for touching my niece…future or not.”

“Fair enough. I love you.”

“Love you too sis, bye.”

I hugged him and he left. I closed the door behind him.

“Thanks Mich.” Jon said.

“Anytime.” I smiled as I sat back down at the computer. I decided to see what the buzz around the reunion was up to. I logged on to Google and typed in “Palisades High Reunion” and got a crap ton of news stories. It was everywhere. The fact we excluded Sam from the interview was making a lot of headlines, but thankfully the press seemed to blame Sam for it and sided with our decision in the matter. Anyway, it was just one article after the other…everyone was covering this reunion, like it was the biggest entertainment news ever. I was still scrolling, when I saw a headline that caught my eye:

“PH Not the Only Reunion for Michelle Morris”

I clicked the link and it discussed the success of the reunion but then went on to discuss my relationship with Jonny.

“Ugh! Enough!” I screamed as I felt myself start to cry.

Jon ran to my side, “What is it?”

I pointed to the screen, “Still? What does it take to get these people to go away?”

“I’m so sick of this. I just want to be left alone.”

“I know Honey. I know.”

I sighed and clicked the back button. Another headline caught my eye:

“PH Tell-all gets Derailed”

I clicked the link.

“Oh my god, Gotham Books dropped the project because the manuscript was full of ‘unverifiable claims’.” I said.

“Awesome! So it’s dead?”

“No. A Canadian publisher picked it up and promises a September release.” I sighed.

“Well, this still brings into question the validity of his claims.”

I nodded, “True enough. It’s still messed up.”

“Extremely.”

I started to cry again.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Jon asked as he rubbed my arm.

“I’m sick of this. I’m sick of being used, I’m sick of living in a fishbowl, I’m sick of it all.”

“Baby, this is all too much for you. You need to get some rest.”

“Maybe so.”

“Come on.” Jon took my hand and walked me to the bedroom. I laid down but I kept tossing and turning. It was frustrating.

“UGH!” I cried.

“Calm down, it’s ok. Just breathe.” Jon said trying to calm me down.

I sat up and grabbed my Vicodin.

“What are you doing?”

“These help me relax.”

“Yeah, that’s not their purpose…and how do you have a full bottle of those? You should be out.”

“I got more.”

“For the twinge in your knee?”

“They help me relax.” I said again.

“Not a good reason to take such a strong pain killer. You need to stop taking these.”

“My god, chill out. They aren’t bad. Just stop it.”

“Mich…”

“Jon, stop.” I said as I took a pill, “I could go for a scotch. Want one.”

“No, thanks.”

“What? It’s your favorite drink.”

“Sorry, watching my girlfriend kill herself doesn’t put me in a drinking mood.”

“Oh please.”

“You shouldn’t be taking those pills and you certainly shouldn’t be drinking with them.”

“This from Mr. Sunset himself?”

“Mich, you know my stance, drinking is one thing, drugs are another.”

“Yeah, but these were given to me by a doctor. They aren’t ‘drugs’ like you’re meaning.”

“Did the tragic end of Michael Jackson teach you nothing?! I don’t want to lose you the same way.”

“It’s just Vicodin.”

“That’s how it starts…just one…then that’s not enough so you need something stronger and it just snowballs. I love you too much to lose you. Please, stop.”

“You are such a drama king.” I said as I poured a scotch and sat back on my bed. I drank it then laid down, “Now maybe I can sleep.”

“Mich…”

“Are you going to lay down with me or not?”

Jon nodded and got in bed with me. He pulled me closer to him and held me.

“Mm, I like this. Just hold me. Nothing more.” I whispered as I closed my eyes.

“OK. I’ll hold you for as long as you want.” Jon said as he kissed my head.

Mina

~~~~

“OK, you guys know the plan. Let’s do it.” I said. I hid in a bush by Mia’s front door. Amara and Michele went to the door and knocked. Mia answered.

“Um…hi.” Mia said.

“Hey Mia, have you seen Michelle?” Michele asked.

“Not recently. Why?”

“She’s not answering her cell and we went to her apartment but she wasn’t there.” Amara said.

“Have you tried asking Serena or Raye or someone?” Mia asked.

“Um, we’re not really on good terms with them.” Michele said.

“We figured since you’re her best friend you’d be the most likely one to have seen her.” Amara said.

“I haven’t. I’m sorry.” Mia said.

“I’m really worried Amara.” Michele said.

“Yeah, so am I. Mia, are you busy? Maybe you can help us look for her.” Amara said.

“Um, ok. Sure.” Mia said carefully. I think she was convinced they didn’t know anything. She grabbed her purse and left with Amara and Michele.”

“Ok Artemis, let’s do this.” I said once it was clear. We came out of the bush and I picked the lock on the door. We went inside the apartment.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Kaya asked as she sprung at us.

“I got this Mina, you find Michelle’s things.” Artemis said as he jumped Kaya.

“I’ve waited a long time for this Artemis, bring it on.” Kaya said as she fought back.

“You’re just bitter I chose Luna over you.”

“You gave up something amazing! And for what? That stuffy, lame excuse for a feline.”

“Luna is ten times the feline you could ever be.”

“This is just weird.” I mumbled to myself as I dug around the apartment. I finally found the bracelet and the cell phone, but no controller. “Artemis, I can’t find the necklace.”

“Where is it Kaya?!” Artemis cried.

“You really think I’d tell you?” Kaya replied.

I gave it some thought. Michelle wasn’t in pain so Mia hadn’t had much contact, if any, with the controller. She said she gave it to Mia before they went back to the apartment…Mia’s car! It had to be in the car! I found Mia’s keys and went to her car. I looked everywhere but no necklace. I finally opened the glove compartment and there it sat. I grabbed the necklace and ran back into the apartment. I left the keys where I found them then I went up behind Kaya and grabbed her.

“Hey kitty, kitty. You’re coming with us.” I said.

“Not a chance.” Kaya said as she tried to scratch me.

“Nice try. I live with Artemis. I can avoid the claws. Come on Artemis, let’s get going.”

Artemis and I left. We got in my car and I put Kaya in a cat carrier.

“That should hold you.” Artemis said as he jumped on top of the cage.

“Mia will never let you get away with this.” Kaya said.

“Mia doesn’t have a choice.” I said as I drove off. We were back at full power and now we had the brains behind the Nemesis. Soon Mia would be defeated.