Love in the Shadows ~ Dean Portman x OC

Ch. 20: I Really Wish I Got To Kiss Him Tonight

Pov: Morgan Tibbles, December 31st, 1994 Chicago, Illinois

It's finally the Chicago concert. The crowd is full and electric but it feels empty without Dean. I foolishly keep scanning the crowd praying he'll just appear and I can finally confirm everything I think is between us. The concert feels half hearted and Adam can tell. He's here for PR and we've gotten closer. He still won't tell me who he likes but I can't force him so I'll guess I'll just wait it out. During the ball drop, a count down is displayed and the audience is shouting out the numbers with increasing intensity. I have to bring Adam out on stage even though I wish it were Dean and he wishes it was Mystery Boy.

10: I miss him
9: I wish it was Dean instead
8: Life is so unfair
7: I don't wanna kiss Adam again
6: Dean is probably a good kisser
5: Why can't Dean be here with me
4: I fucking hate cars
3: I wanna kiss Dean on New Years
2: This is not supposed to be happening
1: I can't do this

At the last second I slip my thumbs in between me and Adam's lips and avoid kissing him again. Nothing against Adam but it's not the same. Last time it was just a stupid meaningless thing but I imagined Dean the whole time. This is different. It's New Years. Thee big kiss of the year second only to "you may now kiss the bride" but I'm not getting married and I'm a teenager so this is a huge deal to me.

I smile at Adam and he's smiling back probably thinking the same thing I am.

"I really wish I got to kiss him tonight"

It's besides the point because I'd be sabotaging my career and Adam would get hate crimed. I wish life worked out the way we wanted to. That God who's writing my story didn't want to ruin my life (my bad dawg I wanted to make the book longer)

After the concert, Adam got dropped off at the airport after we said our goodbyes. I just went back to the hotel and lay on my bed hoping by some miracle Dean would call and tell me he loved me and was running through the pain to see me. The phone rang and I picked it up like a madman.

"Hello?!"
"Honey? Are you ok?"
I sighed "Yeah, I'm fine Dad what's up?"
"Nothing was just wondering what you wanted to do tomorrow"
"I thought we flew out tomorrow?"
"No we fly out on January 3rd to avoid holiday jams"
"Oh well I'll probably be packing I guess"
"Do you want to eat at the hotel?"

Note: Hotel food usually is a 3.5/5 but this particular hotel that's supposed to be the best in Chicago has the worst food I've ever eaten

"Absolutely not"
"Ok well then we'll get lunch tomorrow and maybe we can tour the city?"
"I'm kinda tired but lunch sounds good"
"Well we'll see how you're feeling tomorrow"
"Alright goodnight"
"Goodnight"

I stare up at my ceiling and picture Dean's face and all the scenarios that could've happened if he was at the show. I fall asleep with a bittersweet grin on my face thinking lovely thoughts (ok peter pan I see you).

As planned, me and my dad go out to lunch the next day and I'm still kinda tired my stomach prevails. We stop at this kind of empty cafe/restaurant thing because it's the only place open this early on New Year's day that isn't packed. An older woman stand behind the counter with a soft small. My dad is ordering and I let my eyes drift around the restaurant.

My eyes are caught on a shiny "employee of the month" plaque. Dedicated to Dean Portman. Nice. So I-

Hold on, Dean... Portman???? I practically leap over the counter from the speed I crank my body towards the plaque. Sure enough my Dean is not only an employee here but apparently he's their super star. "Is he here?" I ask the woman pointing at the plaque.

"No unfortunately he hasn't been here in a while. He got into an accident and has been bedridden for months"
"I'm so sorry" My dad pays no mind to this interaction and just pays and sits down. I devise a plan that will get Dean to know I was here.

I take a pen from the front counter and write on a napkin

Just stopped by after the concert. I wish I saw your face in the crowd but I wish you a full recovery even more. Call when you see this
(828) - 913 - 2024
Yours, MT

I went back up to the front counter but this time a man about the same age as the other woman was there. Men tend to be less sympathetic for these things so I got nervous and thought maybe he wouldn't take it.
"You're Morgan right?"
I was so caught off guard by the use of my legal name by a total stranger that I just stood there.
"The singer right? One of my employees talks about you all the time"
"Is it Dean?"
"Yes, are you two friends?"
"I'd say so"
"He's put some of your music on for customers and they really like it"
"Oh well thank you. Speaking of Dean, I was hoping you could give this to him and let him know I stopped by"
"Oh sure. Me and my wife are actually dropping food off at his house right after work. I'll give it to him then"
"How is he by the way I haven't gotten many updates"
"He's a fighter that's for sure. Doctors say he's making better progress than they expected. Still not really aloud to move much but thankfully he didn't loose any functions so he's walking around a bit"
"That's good to hear"
"He's the sweetest kid and such a hard worker. You know he's never missed a shift? Amazing"
"He's truly the best"
"Well he'd argue with that"
"What do you mean?"
"By the way he goes on about you I'd say he thinks you're the best"
"What does he say about me?"
"All sorts of stuff. About your voice, your face, your laugh, and for some reason he keeps bringing up a concert"
"That was my concert. I just had it yesterday"
"Oh well congratulations. I'm sure he would've loved to see it. He's been working overtime for months saving up for it"
"Yea I heard..."
"Well I'm sure he'd love to see you, why don't you come with me and Darla to drop off the food?"
"I'd love to. Let me ask my dad"

I ask and I don't tell him it's Dean I tell him it's for homeless people and he agreed but he wanted to go with me. I told him I'd be fine and promised to only go for a little while. He finally relented and allowed me to go. Darla and Doug - who I found out were the names of the couple - they would close up in about 6 hours so I decided to go back to the hotel to change, panic, and scream.

I call Connie and she picks up and I tell her everything. She's stoked to say the least.
"Omg I can't believe this is finally happening!"
"Me neither oh god I'm so nervous"
"Girl you'll be fine. Just wear something cute but not try hard cute"
"So like jeans and a plain long sleeve with a coat?"
"Definitely jeans and coat but it's not too cold in Chicago"
"It's 31 degrees (-0.61 °C) outside and there's 2 inches of snow"
"That's nothing try Minnesota"
"I'm good but I'm definitely wearing the long sleeve and maybe other layers"
"A crew neck would be cute"
"Ooh you're right ok I have the perfect outfit and I gotta go soon so I'll call with updates!"
"You better!"

I'm going to see Dean!
I'm going to see Dean

W/C: 1351