Old Friends (Janet and Toni Fanfic)

Chapter 42

Janet

I decided to throw an after party for my show in Manchester to surprise Toni and try to make her feel a little better. I had a feeling she was spending way too much time by herself this past month or so and I just wanted to lighten her mood when she got here.

I'd never been so excited in my life. I was going to see her. Even though we weren't apart for nearly as long as planned, I could hardly stay in my skin. And I don't know how we would have made it the whole duration. At this point, it seemed nearly impossible. Especially given all the things that happened to her while I was away that made it ten times harder for her.

I felt so bad. Toni didn't have a malicious bone in her body, and here everybody was, trying to take advantage of her. She wouldn't stand up for herself. Not the way I would stand up for her. So she needed to be away for a while, away from family, friends, anyone that didn't have her absolute best interest at heart. And it felt like I was the only one right now.

It had been about 5 days since we had the initial conversation and she was finally ready to come out. I felt jittery and unlike myself all morning, trying to get ready for the show and put finishing touches on the party. I wasn't planning it directly--I didn't have the time--but I wanted to at least make sure it was right. And I wanted all her favorite food and drinks (lots of drinks) on tap. I didn't have a show the next day and I just wanted her to lose all her inhibitions tonight and get back to her normal self. And then we could be low key and by ourselves tomorrow. It was fool proof.

Her flight was going to get in just a few hours before my show, which meant I wouldn't get to see her until afterwards, but it was okay. I had an outfit laid out for her once she got to our hotel, and everything was just going to fall right into place. Now, all I had to do was wait.

Everybody wondered why I was acting so silly and twirling in circles and just smiling for no reason. We were smack in the middle of the tour, and about 4 shows out from catching a second wind. The exhaustion was setting in, and it was for me too, until about 12 hours ago. No one knew she was coming out--I was going to tell everyone right before the show, so they could perform their absolute best for her. They had to. It was Toni. The only person that knew was Gil, since I put him in charge of all the party logistics and he knew her already. Besides me and maybe Preston, he was going to be the only familiar face. But soon she would get to know and love everyone in the crew just the way I had. So I was a ball of energy. And it seemed to pick up everyone's spirits a little along the way, watching me act like this. They could only imagine my disposition once I had a drink in my hand and my baby by my side tonight. Nobody was prepared.

"Alright Jan, are you ready?" Gil asked me as we started to get ready to start hair and makeup. He watched me through the mirror as Preston started to section off my hair to be curled. This was one of the bigger venues we would play the entire tour, and I wanted my look to be a little more dramatic. And maybe I wanted to show out a little for Toni. Just a little.

All I could do was grin from ear to ear, bouncing my knee and tapping some rhythm on my thighs. My assistant popped her head in my dressing room. "Janet, Toni just touched down." She said. "She's on her way to the hotel now."

I squealed. "Can someone ask her if she's coming to the show or if she wants to rest?"

"I'm on it. I'll let you know as soon as I have an answer."

"Thank you," I sang. Preston turned my head so that my back was to the mirror.

"Someone's excited." He said, wrapping a piece of hair around the hot iron.

"You think so?" I said dramatically.

"Jan's ready to get that after-after party in the hotel room tonight," Gil teased. I turned bright red and stuck my tongue out at him.