PRT 404- “Happy Now?”
I was sitting on my sofa watching a movie. It was nice to have a little bit of alone time. Rocky had gone back to Angel Grove. He needed to get back to work. I was finally alone again and I was loving it. I had no idea how much I’d missed alone time.
Of course I am me and I can never be alone for long. My movie was interrupted by a knock on the door. I sighed and went to answer it. Jon was standing there.
“Hey! Come in.” I said as I let him in quickly and the locked the door behind us.
“Hey.” He said as he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
“It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. Did you get a chance to listen to the whole album?”
“Yours? Yeah. I did.”
“And?”
“Well, your line in ‘Brokenpromiseland’ about ‘rise my fallen angel’ gave me chills…it is quite possibly the sweetest line you ever have written for me. That being said…not all of the songs were quite so sweet. I know that ‘Thorn in my Side’ and ‘Happy Now’ were, at least in part, inspired by me.”
Jon laughed, “Yeah, well you know life together has never been all roses and yeah, you did piss me off some and I wrote how I felt. You know you do it too.”
“Yeah, I do. So…Brokenpromiseland…is
it meant to be
“Whatever the listener wants it to be.”
“You wrote it about
Jon nodded, “In large part. And for the record you missed a love song.”
“No I didn’t. ‘Love’s the Only Rule’. Wasn’t positive it was about me.”
“It was about us and about how nothing but love matters…or at least how nice it would be if that were actually the case.”
“It’s a beautiful song. My favorite is still ‘Superman Tonight’…although I get the distinct impression that you feel I need to be saved.”
“Michi, think about your behavior over the last few months or so…”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“Baby, even I see someone needs to save you.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m fine. Honestly I am.”
“I hope so.”
“So as much as I love seeing you I actually need to run to the mall and get some clothes. It looks like the PH Reunion mini-mall tour is going to happen and I need some suitable clothes.”
“So let’s go to the mall.”
“Baby, you can’t come with me. We can’t be seen together in public.”
“Screw the press, I want to be with my girl.”
“I want you to be with me too, but what about…”
“Stop worrying. I’m tired of hiding.”
“OK, if you’re sure, let’s go.”
We went to the mall and tried to be low key. We got inside and started browsing. I noticed a shirt in the men’s section that I thought Jon would look good in. I went over to the rack to take a closer look and when I did I nearly bumped into the man coming from the other side of the rack. I took a step back and noticed it was RJ.
“Oh…hi.” I said softly.
“Hi MJ…Michelle.” He replied.
We stood there in silence for a few seconds then Jon caught up to me and walked up behind me and grabbed my hand.
“Oh…” RJ said as he noticed Jon and I were together.
“How’s it going?” I asked trying to break the awkward silence.
“Good…I got a franchise offer for JKP. We’re going to open 5
more stores around
“Wow, congratulations.”
“Thanks. Heard you got Mia taken care of.”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“I knew you could.”
“Thanks.”
“And you two are…together?” he asked.
“Don’t start RJ. You don’t get a say.”
“I know…I just hope you know what you’re doing. He’s dangerous.”
“RJ, don’t.”
RJ sighed and nodded, “OK. Well, nice seeing you again.”
“Yeah, likewise. See ya.” I said as we went our separate ways.
“Are you ok?” Jon asked as we walked away.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I said looking down.
“I don’t believe you…but that’s ok. I’m here.” He said as he put his arm around me.
We walked through the mall and I stopped in several stores that I thought had what I was looking for.
“This is nice.” Jon said as I looked at some jewelry that caught my eye.
“Yeah, it is. But it’s dangerous being together…I mean…out like this.”
“Why are you so scared of saying we’re ‘together’.”
“I’m not…we’re just…we’re not.”
“Aren’t we?”
“How can we be? You’re with Dot and it’s not like you can leave her.”
“Say the word and you know I would.”
“No. Jonny, you can’t leave her again. You can’t do that to the kids.”
“I understand…and I agree. I can’t do that to the kids…it would tear them apart…but that doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”
“What are you saying? You want me to be your girlfriend or something?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say, “Even if I agreed, I wouldn’t be faithful to you as long as you’re not faithful to me.”
“Ok, what if we give each other a pass. We can each see one other person aside from each other?”
“So you have someone else and I get someone else too?”
“Yeah, 1 someone else. You’d have to end it with all the others.”
“Hmm, ok…that’s fair…as long as you’re not counting Rich as my someone else. He’s my cover, we’re not together.”
“Fine. Rich doesn’t count.”
“Ok. You get Dot, I’ll get Rocky, and we’ll be together.”
“Rocky? Really? Of all people you pick…”
“Jonny…” I warned.
“Right, right…sorry.”
I laughed, “I love you Jonny…I do want to be with you.”
“I love you too Michi.”
I smiled and hugged him then went back to shopping.
The rest of our shopping trip was surprisingly low key and peaceful. We managed to avoid vultures, as far as I knew, and I got some cute clothes for the tour. After we finished shopping we went back to my apartment.
“That was fun.” I said.
“It was.” Jon agreed.
“I wish you could stay the night with me.”
“Who says I can’t?”
“Don’t you need to get home?”
“I can cover myself for one night. Do you want me to stay?”
I nodded.
“Then I’m staying.”
I smiled and hugged him then kissed him. It was nice being with Jon again…I mean really being ‘with’ him. It was so safe and familiar…or familiar anyway.
The next day Jon accompanied me to rehearsal. I hadn’t performed the PH songs in years and honestly I didn’t even remember all the lyrics anymore and I certainly didn’t remember the dance routines. I needed to get both down very quickly. When I got there Zack was there too. I guess he wanted to show support.
“What’s he doing here?” Zack asked when he saw Jon.
“He’s with me.” I said.
“I figured as much. Why?”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“What?
“Don’t worry. He’s not leaving Dot, this is still a secret…but he is my boyfriend.”
“Oh god…for the love of…why do you do this
“Don’t start with me.” I said.
“Zack, relax…I promise to treat her like the princess she is.” Jon said.
“Yeah, until you get mad and punch her again.” Zack countered.
“If he does that I’ll fry him. Don’t worry. It’s fine.” I said.
“With him it is never ‘fine’.”
“Just chill. Now I have work to do.” I said as I went to the stage. The choreographer came up with me and we started working on the routine to ‘Show Me Love’. I wasn’t thrilled about this, but it was for a good cause.
After working for awhile I got a break.
“You’re doing great.” Jon said.
“Thanks. I feel so out of shape.” I laughed.
“You’ll get it.”
“Jon tells me you’re going on tour with him.” Zack said.
“I am. And don’t even start.” I said.
“I’m worried about you
“I’m fine. Now stop being an overprotective big brother. I’m a grown woman and I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, you’re doing such a bang up job.”
“Seriously Zack, we’re not kids anymore. Stop treating me like I am.”
“Then stop acting like you are.”
“Zack, I’m happy. If you can’t be happy for me then get out.”
Zack rolled his eyes, “Wow, you really have come full circle there kid. You’re becoming the same spoiled, messed up brat that you were. Congratulations Jon. You reverted her. You must be so proud.”
“Get out.” I said.
“I’m gone.” He said as he walked out.
I sighed.
“Baby, I’m sorry.” Jon said.
“It’s not your fault. It’s Zack. He still doesn’t get it.”
“I know…I know.”
I sighed again, “Ugh, it’s so frustrating. And it’s not going to get any easier.”
“I suppose not.”
“Especially at the wedding.”
“Wedding? What wedding?”
“Well, my friends Blake and Tori are getting married in a few days. I’d like you to be my date to the wedding…if you don’t mind.”
Jon smiled, “I would love to…but isn’t Blake Hunter’s brother?”
“Yeah, but Hunter and I aren’t together.”
Jon nodded, “Wouldn’t Rocky be a better choice for a function like that though?”
“Yeah, but I want you with me…unless you don’t want to.”
“Of course I want to. I just want you to be sure.”
“I am sure.”
“OK then, I’m in.”
I smiled, “Thanks. Now I gotta get back to work.”
I got back on stage and started working on the dance for ‘Always Forever’. I had a long way to go to get ready for this tour…but the wedding would be an event to remember…of this I was sure.