Johnny Castle's Second Chance (COMPLETED)

Chapter 21

The diner they ate at was truly just like being back home. Char knew the instant that she walked in it would become one of her new favorite places. She wished like Hell that she had an appetite, but she really didn't feel hungry at all. Johnny however made her order at least some french fries and a chocolate shake. He didn't know her very well as yet, but he knew that people needed to be reminded to eat when they were grieving sometimes. He wasn't going to let her waste away. As they waited for their food he watched her as she observed her surroundings. 

" I don't want to get you upset, but if you want to talk about it some more, I'll listen."

Her eyes met his and she took a breath. " I knew him since high school. His name was Mike. He was just as I said, that leather jacket wearing , bad boy. He could be such a jerk sometimes! He was worst when he was trying to get my number." Now the memory made her smile sadly." God he was relentless too. But I'm a stubborn pain in the ass sometimes and I didn't  want to reputation of being another notch on his bedpost ya know?"

Johnny nodded. " Yeah I can understand that. So the robbery, that's what brought you two close then?"

She affirmed," Oh yeah. I was suddenly terrified of being alone, and every little noise made me jump. This one night a damn possum knocked over the garbage can and I nearly jumped out of my own skin!" looked down shaking her head, fidgeting with her napkin as she waited for the food." So I asked him inside and then...well, you don't need to know all the details...Anyway, we just started spending a lot of time together. And believe it or not he actually had a soft side. It just took us being alone together for it to come out. He became protective of me. He just...let me see this whole other side to him that I had no idea existed. I tried to fight it, deny it. But I did start to like him. He was on his way to my going away party last night, and the roads were kind of shitty. This lady hit his truck as he was going through this intersection in town. It spun his whole truck around and not only did her car hit his truck but he smashed into a  telephone pole!" her bottom lip quivered. " It was so bad!" She said, now starting to shake again. " The next thing I know an old cop friend of mine came to find me and took me to the hospital because I was the only person Mike wanted to see!" She was crying , tears pouring out her eyes but was keeping quiet, not wanting to draw too much attention to herself.

" You made it in time then?"

Nodding, ripping a piece off her napkin and wadding it into a ball absently." Only just. He had time to tell me that he had loved me all that time, like for years! I had just thought he was a pain in the ass. But then, there was this chemistry between us. It's hard to explain, I mean unless you've had chemistry with some one..." Char said.

" I have. Long ago, and not really since..." He then remembered their late night the week before." I might again some day though. I do know that feeling. Like their touch drives you wild. and just being near them makes you happy and feel just generally good."

" Yeah. Exactly. So anyway, he started to have this attack, his heart was giving out from all the damage of the accident. And right then I knew I loved him! I told him to fight! And I know he tried, but he was just hurt too bad! It was too late! His heart failed!" She blotted at her eyes now stealing another napkin from the silver napkin holder. " A piece of me died with him!" 

Johnny reached across the table and took her hands in his, feeling how cold hers were. " I am so very sorry for your loss Char. Listen, I am happy to be here if you need anything. I can be your friend. I keep thinking of meeting you last week, and though I really did enjoy our visit last week, I am in no way going to be pressuring any more from you than friendship. I can see how hurt you are by losing Mike. I will be here for you, you can lean on me if you need to. But if anything ever happens again, it'll be when it is right and you've had an appropriate time to deal with what life has handed you. "