PRT 390- “Twisted Truth”

“OK, everyone, have a seat.” I said as I gathered my family up in our living room.

“Save it Dad. We all know you’re just going to lie again.” Jesse said.

“Yeah, you can’t tell us all the new pictures are fake.” Stephanie added.

“The kids are right Jon. I don’t really want to hear it. I think we need to talk in private actually.” Dot said.

“So you can plan your second divorce?” Jesse asked.

“Hey, hey, hey…stop. Just listen, please.” I begged.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, “What?”

“Ok, I know this looks bad. Really bad. But let me explain. First of all that picture of Michelle and I at the beach is very old. That’s from when we were married.” I started.

“She looked older than that in it.” Dot said.

“It’s a bad angle.” I said.

“Fine, even if I believe that, what about the pictures of you and her downtown? Those are clearly new.”

I nodded, “Yes. I was downtown with her. I don’t deny that. We were just hanging out though…as friends. Did you see a picture of us kissing or making out downtown? No. Because we didn’t. It wasn’t a date, it was two friends hanging out.”

“I thought you weren’t going to hang out with her anymore.” Jesse said.

“After the double date with your mother and Mich and Rich went so well I thought it would be ok. Clearly I was wrong.” I replied.

“Do you believe him Mom?” Stephanie asked.

“Well, he’s right…those pictures were of them together, not cuddling or making out. And I did say I thought Michelle wasn’t so bad after that double date.” Dot said.

“Maybe I should have asked before I hung out with her again and I’m sorry I didn’t…but I promise, Michelle and I are not having an affair like the tabloids claim. We’re just not.” I said.

“I don’t really know what to believe. I mean, I want to believe you Jon, but you’ve lied about her before.”

“Dot, she is dating my best friend. Do you honestly think I’d sleep with my best friend’s girl?”

“You make a point. I don’t think you would do that to Rich.”

“You believe him?” Jesse asked.

Dot nodded, “Yeah, I guess I do…but Jon, please don’t hang out with Michelle anymore without Rich or myself around.”

“Done.” I said.

“Thank you.”

I nodded. What a relief. I saved my family. Now if I could just get Michelle to agree to see me again life would be sweet.

Raye

~~~~

“Today I’m joined in the studio by Raye Hino.” Dan, the DJ, said. I was doing a radio interview to promote the album. “Raye, thanks for joining me today.”

“Well thank you for having me. It’s great to be here.” I replied.

“You have recently released a new single called ‘Sooner or Later’ that’s been rising on the charts. Tell us a little about that song.”

“Well, I actually wrote it when I was a teenager. It was about a guy I liked that was with another girl. I didn’t ever tell him what I was feeling at the time but I did put it into a song.”

“What’s the guy’s name?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“So what prompted you to record this song now?”

“I felt like it was a nice fit on the album and I’ve always loved this song, it just never fit before.”

“The new album, ‘Everything Comes and Goes’, is directed at a country audience. It’s your first solo album to do so. Are you worried about how your pop fans will feel about the transition?”

“I’m really not because I did venture into country with The Wreakers so it’s not completely new. I’ve also always done music that was lyrical and regardless of the music style you put with it, the meaning is still there. This is a more country album to be sure, but it’s still a Raye Hino record too.”

“Speaking of The Wreakers, that was a country duo you were part of with Serena Shields. What prompted a solo album instead of a follow up with her?”

“We were in different places creatively and it felt right to do solo albums. That doesn’t mean we’ll never make another Wreakers album. Serena and I are still close friends, but at the same time this seems like the direction to take right now.”

“You’ve also been working on a new album with Michelle Morris, right?”

“Yeah, I still played keyboard on Michelle’s upcoming album.”

“Any idea when that will be out?”

“No idea. She hasn’t released a single yet so I don’t know.”

“Any title information or anything to share?”

“Um, not really. She has a tentative title I think, but nothing that we’ve announced yet. Supposedly the first single will be a song called ‘You’ve Ruined Me’, but I honestly don’t know if that’s changed.”

“Like Michelle was, you’re in a high profile relationship with another artist, namely Chad Holdenford. How do you manage to stay off tabloids covers when your peers clearly can not?”

“The tabloids only care about people that sell papers. What sells is scandal and there is nothing scandalous about Chad and I. We’re one of the most boring couples you will ever meet. We do our jobs and when we’re not working we’re normally at our apartment trying to spend as much time as possible together.”

“You and Chad have been together for several years. Any chance of a duet at some point?”

“Maybe someday if the right project came along. I wouldn’t want to do a duet just for the sake of doing it, but if it were the right song, sure.”

“Chad has a new single out as well. Have you heard it?”

“Of course. It’s called ‘Hurry Home’ and it’s a beautiful song.”

“How do you and Chad manage to make it work in this business? So many couples cheat or break up and that hasn’t happened.”

I swallowed hard. I hadn’t really cheated though…had I? Yeah, I kinda had. I took a deep breath and focused on answering the question, “If you love someone enough you stay faithful and find a way to make it work.”

“What are you thoughts on all the controversy around your friend Michelle Morris?”

“It’s her life. It’s not my place to judge her or her choices. She’s a grown woman and I’m her friend regardless.”

“But you have to know if she’s seeing Jon or not.”

“To my knowledge Michelle and Jon are not currently seeing each other.” I replied. It was true because as far as I knew she’d broken it off.

Jon

~~~

Now that things with my family were settled, it was time to get back to work. I had a video that needed to be shot and I was already late.

I arrived in downtown LA (the location of the shoot) and went to join the band.

“Well there you are. It’s about time.” Rich said.

“Sorry. Had something to take care of. Let’s get started.” I said.

The concept of the video was simple, but we needed daylight to pull it off. We were just going to perform on top of a building. Nothing really over the top. The bulk of the video would be done in editing when we spliced clips of historical figures in with our performance footage. A few performance takes from various angles and our part would be done. I considered inviting Michelle to watch as a friend but when I got there and saw all the paparazzi lurking around and snapping pictures I thought the better of it.

Michelle was right. As long as we were on the press’s radar it would be hard, if not impossible, to see each other. I needed to figure a way around this. I couldn’t go without seeing Michelle. I just simply couldn’t. We’d been apart for too long as it was and I did not want to lose her again. This whole paparazzi thing was getting on my last nerve.

After we finished shooting the video I got in my car and drove. I needed to clear my head. I had been driving for a good hour or so and I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I turned on my speaker phone and dialed Michelle’s number.

“Hello?” Michelle answered.

“Baby, please don’t hang up.” I begged.

“Jonny? We shouldn’t be talking.”

“I know, I know. I miss you so much though.”

“I miss you too…but it has to be this way.”

I sighed, “Isn’t there some way we can work this out?”

“No…besides…even if we could…no. I can’t even look at you.”

“What? Why?”

“I know what you did with Mia.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, “She tricked me.”

“I know what she promised you. You sold me out.”

“She was going after you anyway. I was trying to spare my family anymore pain.”

“Yeah, and screw me.”

“There was nothing I could do for you.”

“Do you have any idea how much it hurt to see that video?”

“Video? She filmed it?”

“Yes…and she wasted no time showing it to me.”

“Oh god…Michelle, I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, of course you are. It just reminded me I’ll always be second best to you.”

“What?”

“Dot comes first. Always has, always will. I’ve had it. It’s over.” She said as she slammed down the phone.

“Damn it!” I cried. Mia was going to pay for this…somehow.

Raye

~~~~

After my last interview I headed for downtown LA. Chad and I were meeting for dinner. I was nearing the restaurant when I noticed and explosion a couple of blocks over. I pulled my car over and ran over in the direction of the explosion. Sure enough Nemesis, Black Lady, and Mistress 9 were randomly blasting building and cars. I took cover so I could transform.

“Mars Spirit Power!”

“Hold it right there!” I called as I jumped into battle.

“Look what we have here ladies. Sailor Mars came out to play.” Nemesis said.

“You bet I did, but I don’t think you’ll like my game.”

“My game, my rules honey. Bring it on.”

“Oh, it’s brought. Mars Celestial Fire, Surround!”

“Nice try, but you’ll have to do better than that. Black Lady, show Mars how it’s done.”

“With pleasure.” Black Lady said as she fired off some black energy at me. It hit me and I flew back.

“My turn.” Mistress 9 said as she fired off an attack at me as well. I was still struggling to get up from the first one so this one hit me straight on. I was thrown into a wall so hard it de-activated my transformation. I looked up.

“Poor little Mars…oops, I mean, Raye.” Nemesis laughed.

“This is too easy.” Mistress 9 said.

“Agreed. A victory now would be wholly unsatisfying.”

“Let’s kill her now. It’ll be one less Sailor pest to worry about.” Black Lady said.

“No, I want her to know the humiliation of defeat…and tell your friends I will make sure they all suffer until Kaya is returned to me.” Nemesis said.

I looked at her.

“We will meet again Raye. Count on that.” Nemesis said as she and her evil duo vanished.

I pulled myself up and sighed.

“Tell me I didn’t just see that.” A voice behind me said.

I turned around quickly and saw Chad standing there. “Chad!” I cried.

“You’re Sailor Mars?” he asked, clearly pained.

“I…yes…”

“What else have you been hiding from me?” he asked as he turned around and started to walk away.

“Chad, wait…we need to talk about this.” I said as I ran up behind him and grabbed his arm.

“What is there to talk about?”

“Please.”

“Fine. Talk.”

“Not here. Let’s go home. I’ll explain everything.”

“Fine.”

“Thank you.” I said as I started to head for my car, but my leg gave out on me and I started to fall. Chad caught me.

“You clearly need a doctor. You’re in no shape to drive.” Chad said.

“I just need to get home. I’ll call Amy. She’ll take care of it.”

“Amy knows? Wait, of course she does. All your friends know, except me.”

“Please, hear me out.”

Chad sighed and picked me up, “Let’s get you home first. You clearly are hurt badly.”

Chad drove me home. When we got to our apartment he carried me in and put me down on the sofa.

“How could you hide this from me?!” he cried.

“I didn’t know how to tell you.” I said.

“You told your friends.”

“They aren’t just my friends…they are my team.”

“What…no…you mean…Amy, Serena, Lita…all of them…they’re the Sailor Soldiers?”

I nodded.

“And do Andrew, Darien, and Adam know?”

“Does it matter?”

“Everyone knew but me! Yes it matters!”

“I wanted to tell you so bad.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t know how to and then the longer I waited the harder it was.”

“Were you ever going to tell me you had a secret life?”

“Yes! Of course I was!”

“When?”

“Soon. I was actually planning on telling you in the next couple of days.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I was.”

“Why now? What changed? You suddenly decided to trust me?”

“It was never about trust!”

“It’s always been about trust! You’re so scared I’ll walk out on you like your father did that you don’t let me in!”

“That isn’t true!”

“Yes, it is! How can I be with you with you can’t share you life with me? This is the distance I’ve always felt with us. It makes sense now!”

“I know! I want that connection with YOU, that’s why I was planning to tell you.”

“What else are you hiding from me? I feel like I don’t even know you.”

“Nothing else.”

“You have no other secrets?”

“I…”

“There is something else…I knew it. Something happened the other day. You’ve been more distant than normal.”

“I…I ran into Hunter the other day…we hung out…it was innocent but…he kissed me.”

Chad was silent for several moments before he spoke, “Did you kiss him back?”

I sighed, “Yes, at first…I didn’t mean for it to happen. We were talking about Nemesis and…”

“Wait, Hunter knows too?”

“Yes, he was a Power Ranger…and he dated Michelle…yeah he knows.”

“So you opened up about being Sailor Mars and you felt connected and you kissed him?”

“Something like that.”

“And you felt guilty so you were going to tell me. Great…great.”

“Chad, please…I know you’re angry…but you have to know how much I love you.”

“How do I know that? You lie to me, shut me out, cheat on me, and refuse to even entertain the idea of marrying me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Please forgive me.”

“I don’t know if I can. I don’t know who you are. You’re not the woman I thought I loved.”

“Yes I am! I’m still me, I just have another part of my life you didn’t know about. It doesn’t change who I am! I still love you and want to be with you.”

“Yeah, well I don’t know if I want to be with you. I need to get out of here. You should call Amy and get that leg looked at.” Chad said as he turned to walk out.

“Chad! Come back!” I cried, but he was gone. I sat on the sofa crying and crying. I had messed up so badly and I had no idea how I’d ever fix it.