Just for Tonight

55.

Matti was the first to come to her. Ville had left with a heavy heart for the rest of the tour. He had promised Chloe he'd come back from time to time when he had a few days free between two gigs.

Matti couldn't hide his horror at seeing his friend's face. The circle around her eye, originally black, had taken on shades of purple and green.

Migé stepped aside, leaving them to talk quietly.

"So Raf is untouchable", Matti sighed, when Chloe had explained the whole story.

"Yes, but I think he has played his last dirty trick", Chloe replied confidently.

"It's still crazy that a guy like him controls the press."

"There aren't many of them. Usually, they're not even trained journalists. They have money, lots of money. And charisma. They become patrons or shareholders of one or more media outlets, which then feel beholden to them. From that moment on, it's these magnates who set the media's broad guidelines: the subjects to be covered, the opinions to be taken into account, the information to be passed over in silence".

She stopped short.

"Your time in London has taught you a lot! ", Matti exclaimed admiringly.

Then he noticed that she was frozen in place. "Hello, Chloe, are you with me?", he asked, laughing.

"Matti-Matt ... I've got an idea!", she cried, squeezing her friend's hand. "I know what I'm going to do ...".

"I'm all ears," he replied, consumed by curiosity.

She smiled and explained.

-------

Migé organized a party at his place with Linde, Gas and Burton, much to Chloe's delight. She lit a few candles and helped Migé in the kitchen. It felt like a return to normality, and she needed it.
Her stitches had been removed that morning. She really wanted to get away from this "victim of an aggression" or "fighter" label. She just wanted to be Chloe, the friend, and be surrounded by those she had considered family since day one. She missed Ville, and that evening even more, but her new project kept her mind occupied and gave her new vitality.

The boys arrived at Migé's house. They looked at Chloe's face intently, compassionately.

"In my memories, you were more skilful at make-up", Burton observed.

"And in mine, you did both eyes...", Linde added.

The atmosphere lightened immediately.

Only Gas remained silent. If Ville ever needed his help to break Raf's face, he was up for it.

Chloe enjoyed every minute of the evening. For the first time since her attack, she felt like she could breathe. Free. The four years of hell in London were finally slipping away.

She looked at each of her friends in turn. Linde, the quiet one. The gentle one. The talented guitarist. Over time, Chloe had learned to read him and observe his non-verbal attitude. Burton, the musician, the loyal friend, always positive. Probably the most reasonable, too. Gas. A character so opposite to Ville's, and yet she saw similarities. A heart made of gold, but clumsy. And finally, Migé. Her best friend, her brother at heart. Her confidant. She breathed deeply, happy to have such friends in her life. She fed on their energy and affection.

She was there in her thoughts when there was a knock at the door.

"Go open it, Chlo", Migé demanded, his arms laden with dishes.

She opened the door and there he was, standing in front of her, a smile on his face."Good evening, honey. Am I not too late?", he asked, teasingly.

"Ville!", she exclaimed, burying her face in his chest.

He held her close and breathed at last. Whenever he wasn't with her, he felt apneic.

He entered Migé's house and hugged each of the guys. Chloe smiled. They talked about Seppo, and Ville told a few anecdotes about the tour. Linde, Burton and Gas talked about their music and the bands in which they were now playing, about future projects.

"And you, Chlo, when do you think you'll be going back to work at the restaurant?", Burton asked.

She coughed, then looked at them in turn. Migé gave her an encouraging nod. "Actually, I'm not going back to the restaurant", she stammered.

All eyes turned to her.

"Honey?", Ville asked, astonished.

"When Matti came to see me, we talked about a lot of things. And mostly about the press, how it works, or rather dysfunctions. And I thought ... As you know, in London I saw and understood a lot about the media. So I had an idea ... I'd like to dig into this subject, do some real fieldwork, and turn it into a book. Not an accusatory of the press, but rather an inventory of the current situation, including social networks. And come up with solutions, reminding us of the code of ethics that should guide every journalist, a kind of more up-to-date instruction manual that takes into account the realities of our times...".

She paused for a moment, waiting for their reactions.

Ville was the first to react. "Chlo... It's wonderful!".

He looked at her attentively. He saw again the journalist he had hired, a few years before, to be his press agent on a tour, and who, shyly, had pitched ideas to him. Who had impressed him with her honesty and direct way of speaking. The one he had loved so quickly, so strongly, and loved more and more every day.

The others approved.

"What will the book be called ?", Linde asked.

"Through the Looking Glass," she announced.

-----

Hello, dear reader !

So Chloe has found her way, and it's not the stage ... What else could happen to our two cursed lovers? Tell me !