All The Hurt Would Go Away

Happiness and love appear...

I watched Lin drive off then decided to make lunch for myself, grabbed a pitta bread and a handful of salad and boom, lunch. After eating that I decided to call Lin, he should've calmed down by now. The phone rung a couple times before he picked up, and by just listening to him I knew he was in a bad mood.
"What do you want."
"Hey, just wondering if you wanted to talk about earlier?"
"No, Jon I don't think we should talk at all."
"What?"
"You need to get better by yourself and I need to look after my kids, don't contact me again please."
"Wait I -"
He ended the call. Did he mean forever? Or was that till he cheers up? Or when his kids grow up? Even though that is practically forever?
"Hello can I get an Uber please?"
I told the man my address then went to the hospital, might as well start getting better by myself.
"How can we help you?"
"Hi can I book a consultation please, Dr Foxx please?"
"Sure, let's see, ah he just came in for his shift. I can get you an appointment in five?"
"Perfect thank you."
"Would you like it printed?"
"No I'm alright thank you."
I sat down in the waiting room and began to freak out, everyone here looked so ordinary as if nothing was wrong. I was just sat there with clammy hands and shaking fingers, and a healthy avoidance of any eye contact.
"Jonathan Groff?"
"Jonathan Groff?"
I looked up to see the reception lady looking at me with an agitated smile on her face. Great she was nice too, I got up and walked towards the doctor with a nervous smile. He's probably already figured out why I asked for him since I've only done so once before. We sat down in the consultation room and he began.
"So Jonathan, long time no see."
"Yes, it has been a while."
"And how have you been?"
"Just now or in general?"
"Let's start with in general."
"A mess."
He let out a kind laugh, I wasn't making a joke.
"And how have you been just now."
"A nervous mess."
"I'm sure it's not too bad a case, why do you feel like a mess?"
"It's all a bit shattered, my heart, my emotions, my strength, all in pieces."
"And why is that?"
"Andrew."
He made an 'o' shape with his mouth as he took notes, a plus side of going back to the only doctor who knows what happened.
"And why are you now a nervous mess?"
"Cause I'm alone."
"You aren't alone I'm sure you've got a group of people who know and love you."
"I just lost the last of that group so I came here."
"What happened?"
"I don't know, he was just horrid to me all day then when I called him prior to coming here with wishes to make amends, he asked me to never contact him again and ended the call."
"Interesting, does he usually show this rash behaviour to you?"
"Never before. Only today he has."
"Well, I do have suspicions but it's outside of my job and it's not what you're here for. Actually, yes, we'll try that, why are you here today? What brought you here?"
"Well my friend of the past tried to get me to go but I refused and, since he was pretty forceful on that topic I thought it was only right to come here."
"Okay And why did your friend want to take you here?"
"So you remember Andrew?"
"Yes?"
"I-umm-well-I've just been struggling with more stuff surrounding him recently."
"Okay. Continue."
"So without getting my brain checked I drank my old friends' mug of coffee and caffeine is apparently terrible in my case. So he was pretty adamant on coming here since I could've got worse thanks to Andrew."
"So what would you like me to do?"
"A checkup then say I'm absolutely fine."
He smiled
"You know I can't do that unless the result is entirely positive. And with your history I suspect it won't be -"
"- But I'm fine!"
"We don't know that do we?"
He looked up from his writing pad to me and I sighed followed him to the consultation, fully expecting the hours I'd now lose all for a positive diagnosis. If not then this was a bloody waste of time. I hope Lin's alright, whatever I did it can't have been bad enough for him to leave the friendship entirely, I hope. He was pretty harsh on me too though, and Lin would've realised that since that's the guy he is. I'm surprised I called first, usually he feels guilty for the smallest things but it seemed he didn't care about how he treated me. It seemed like he didn't care at all. And the kids, he'll probably leave them with his parents too, I was the only one who pushed him to get a closer bond with the twins. Will I ever see their faces again? Ariella's little sparkle in her eyes when she gets happy, a tear welled in my eye as I thought of them. Until I saw the doctor waving at me in my peripheral.
"Jonathan, are you alright?"
"Yes, sorry. I'm just still a bit upset about losing my friend that's all."
"I completely understand."
I nodded and he proceeded with his questions which I mindlessly answered each time, all I was truly thinking about though was Lin's family who will now grow up without me. He'll probably talk to the Hamilcast too so I've lost them, Lin has a lot of power in the theatrical world now. He could make my name dirt, I could never get a part again, he could easily stop me from doing what I love. Then that means Ariella and Isaac would hate me, or they would forget me, Lin wouldn't mention my name too often I imagine. It's hard to believe that my closest friend for years could ruin me in a couple days max, and I can't do anything. I always knew he was smart and that the theatrical world loved him, but I forgot the fact he could use it to his advantage. Such a modest man before, he could not even do a thing. I don't know why I'm stressing out, he could do absolutely nothing and leave it. The personal side gone but professional side intact, I mean, it's Lin.
"Well that closes the session, I believe you'll be alright, but if you have anymore trouble contact me as soon as you can."
"Gotcha, thanks Doc!"
He laughed and waved me off, I grinned as I left with a spring in my step. That's a big worry off my shoulders then, and probably Lin's too when I tell him, if I tell him. I could get an Uber to his right now, I just don't suppose he'll enjoy my company too much, let alone the fact that he wants to be completely out of my life. In the end I just went home and, realising Lin wasn't gonna get me a phone anytime soon, I opened the phone Andrew got me. It was a nice phone, I'll give him that, I quickly scanned through the contacts I had yet to see one. Of course Andrew would endear me with his name once more. But, I don't know anyone's phone number off by heart, well, anyone I'd want to involve with this. And I still need to meet with dad despite the fact he's messed up too. With literally nothing to lose, I called the one contact I had.
"Baby, what a pleasant surprise!"
"Don't kid yourself."
"So why am I being spoilt with your lovely voice today then?"
"No reason, just the one contact you gave me on this phone."
"You can add contacts, or do you not know how?"
He laughed and I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah Lin's out right now and I don't know his number off by heart unfortunately."
"How unlucky is that. So you're home alone I presume?"
"Don't come over you said you'd leave me alone."
"Yet you're the one calling me. I feel obliged to check up on you."
"I haven't forgotten 911 so I wouldn't if I were you."
"Cute that you still think you have the guts, I'll spare you a visit for now. Got interviews and all since my last performance, did you watch it?"
I rolled my eyes again.
"If I say no you'll make me watch it again so yes, yes I did. You happy?"
"Extremely. And I'll make you watch it however many times as I please."
"You don't control me anymore come off it."
"You may think as you wish, or try to. I could still visit yours right now and I doubt you'd call the cops, or make any attempt to stop me."
"What's up with Lin."
"Pardon?"
"What's wrong with him? Why has he suddenly up and gone?"
"He's left has he?"
I heard a low chuckle across the phone, I don't think I was supposed to hear it but I did.
"I know you called him outside my house, he told you to leave. Why are you blackmailing him now?"
"Wow you are learning aren't you?"
"Why."
"Stacy, you, it's only fitting to go to Lin. I mean, I can stay with you if you'd rather that happen. I really don't care."
"He's coped with your bullshit for long enough I don't get why he's even eligible for you to pester him."
"If you're not careful I'll go back to you whether you want that or not. You are in no position to disrespect me Jon."
"Fine. I do apologise."
I ended the call in anger and paced back and forth across the corridor, I really don't want to visit Lin out of the blue, but do I really have a choice? After many paces I decided to walk, so if I changed my mind I didn't cause anyone any trouble, I could just turn around.
"Jon? What are you doing here?"
"You have to let me in."
"Jon I said to leave me alone."
"Let me in, please."
He looked torn and eventually let me into his house, thank god. Once I was sat down on the couch he began the conversation:
"Why are you here then?"
"I know you don't hate me, and I know you didn't mean what you said at all. We need to get rid of Andrew for good."
He looked up when I said the last sentence in surprise then relaxed into his usual calm demeanour.
"You didn't last long without me did you?"
He chuckled lightly and I shook my head.
"On that phone he gave me, the only contact I had was the man himself, I tried to get him to give me your number but he refused of course. Then I had no choice to visit, and hope you'd let me in too."
"If Andrew was outside it would've been much more complicated but thankfully he wasn't. He's probably on his way though."
"I don't care."
"Sounds like you two had a friendly conversation?"
I gave him a look and he laughed.
"I don't get it though, he said he'd leave me alone?"
"And he didn't mention me, it's a loophole. People are good at finding them."
"You're braver than me though so why would he go to you?"
"He likes a challenge. And I am nowhere near as brave as you, that discussion ends there."
"No, you stood up to him whenever he went for me, I just sat there."
"The discussion has ended so I'm not going to listen if you continue it."
He gave me a smug smile and I sighed, just then there were three knocks on the door.
"That'll be him."
Lin went to open the door as I stood my ground, time to put my plan to action while he listens. Since I'm no longer vulnerable he'll have to hear me out.
"Jon, what a pleasant surprise."
"Hello Andrew."
"By this I'm assuming Lin couldn't keep to our deal?"
"You and your deals, seriously, it's an issue."
He ignored me and turned to Lin prompting him to explain himself.
"I just realised you aren't worth it so I quit. Sorry."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You're not worth it anymore. Not worth a thing, whether it be a tear or a decision, besides if you'll hear me out I've got an idea."
Lin turned to look at me in interest and surprise while Andrew matched the response.
"However I need to tell Andrew this privately, sorry Lin."
"It's okay."
He shrugged and left the room, walking past a smirking Andrew.
"Do you remember saying you were going to a mental institution?"
"You mean the psychiatric hospital?"
He laughed to himself as I smiled.
"Exactly that. I think you need to sign up, and it's not me getting rid of you."
"Well, prove it."
"You've finished with me, as far as I can tell. That's why you moved on. However Lin has very quickly deemed you a waste of time and is thereby useless to you. So basically there's no more harm you can do to us, well, nothing we won't fight against. So I think it's time for you to get treatment, then, if I love you, you can try to win me back."
He laughed
"You still fucking love me?!"
He laughed some more
"Are you stupid or something?!"
"This is my point, unless you plan on being a waste of space for the rest of your life I suggest you better yourself then live the life you were supposed to. Book of Mormon and all. That is if somebody employs you."
"I am not a waste of space."
"Right now you are, I suggest you enrol and return when you're ready. Till then Andrew."
I walked out of the room passing Lin who was standing in the doorway shocked, I knew he'd listen in anyway all I wanted was for Andrew to think it was just us two.
"I believe I should be showing you the door then."
Lin exclaimed happily and Andrew followed him to the front door, I watched from the stairs. Just before leaving Andrew turned to look at me and I offered him a small smile, to my surprise he smiled back, I hadn't seen him genuinely smile in ages. He turned to leave and I entered the kids room to check on them.
"Is Uncle Jonny okay?"
I teared up at the name and nodded
"Yes Ariella, Jonny is all good now."
Both kids ran up to hug me and I chuckled at the impact, I looked over at Lin resting on the doorframe.
"Oh come on you."
He laughed and joined for the big family hug. Our big misshapen happy family.

AN: And I draw the sequel to a close! I don't know when the next idea will come for a book but this has been such a journey! It was very difficult to write in one characters perspective and I don't know if I'll do it again but it was fun to try. See ya!
:)