Dedicated to Nippy

1985 - (xxx) xxx-xxxx

1985

Beads of sweat fell down the side of Whitney's forehead. She took the microphone from her lips to avoid the cheering crowd hearing her almost gasp for air. She forced a smiled. She didn't even have the energy to thank them and her team like she usually did. She just let the crowd cheer her off stage.

"Ms. Houston, you were great that was amazing," someone said to her. She ignored it. She heard the same thing every night. She was praised and throned by anyone who was in earshot of her god-given talent. Don't get her wrong, she wanted this. She wanted to do what she loved more than anything. She just wished she could it on her terms. She wished her mother would leave her alone and let her branch out with her own career but, that wasn't gonna happened. She emerged to her dressing room and locked the door behind her. She needed to collect her thoughts before she went back out to deal with... people.

Whitney grabbed the phone and dialed the number she had accidentally memorized and waited as the line trilled. She kept her promise and spoke with Janet as often as possible. Which in most cases was every night.

"Whitney?" Janet answered.

"Hey, Janet!" Whitney sounded into the phone.

"Damn, you sound terrible. Your voice is so raspy... how was tonight's show?"

"Thanks for the compliment and just like all the others. Exciting but tiring. I wanna come back to LA so badly. My vocals are so tired. I'm not even supposed to be speaking."

"You know, Michael uses this 'remedy' for his voice when he's on tour. It's a mix of lemon, honey, warm water, and sugar. It helps a lot."

"Thank you. I'll definitely make some of that. But Jan, I might cancel these last shows. I'm ready to go home. I need to get a full night's rest in my bed. I can't take this anymore."

"Oh Whitney, don't give up now. You've done basically the whole tour. You'll be fine."

"You're right. I'll suck it up. I'll do it."

"Good. Now take a shower and get some rest. You have another show tomorrow right?"

"I sure do."

"Alright then, take care of yourself Whit. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

"Nippy?" Cissy asked for Whitney outside of her door.

"Ma, let me take a shower, please. I need to shower and sleep. That's all I wanna do."

Whitney stripped out of the gown she had performed in and started the shower. She pinned her hair to avoid getting it wet and stepped in. The water relaxed her. All she could hear was Janet saying over and over, '...take care of yourself, Whit.' She needed to learn to take care of herself. After this tour, she'd take a hiatus. She'd tour again in years to come.

"Hello?" Whitney spoke into the phone.

"Hey, Whit! Today's your last show, right? You're coming back to LA," Janet spoke excitedly into the phone.

"No... I'm not. The tour got extended... for another three months."

"What? They can't do that. You're gonna strain your voice."

"I have the rest of this month to rest and then I'm back on road. I thought I was gonna be able to rest," Whitney's voice cracked as her eyes welled.

"Oh no, don't cry. Don't cry. You'll be okay. You'll be fine."

"I'm tired. I wanna go home. I wanna see you," Whitney cried.

"I know... I'm sorry. How about I come to where ever you are right now so you can see me?"

"Really?" Whitney asked.

"Of course. You're my friend. This is what friends do. Now, what state and city are you being held hostage in?"

"Ironically, New Jersey, I'm from here. And I'm in Newark, my hometown. I'll give you the address of the hotel I'm staying in for the rest of the month."

Janet scribbled down the address on her arm, "Alright Whit, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll see you."

"Room service!" Someone called from outside of Whitney's hotel room.

Whitney knitted her eyebrows as she didn't remember ordering room service at all. She opened the door and dropped her jaw seeing her friend in her doorway smiling ear to ear with her suitcase.

"Janet!" Whiney immediately pulled Janet in for a tight hug.

"I told you I was coming," Janet laughed and hugged her back.

"Thank you, I need somebody right now. I'm stuck here and I'm bored."

"Exactly why I came. You can't be bored with me." Whitney let Janet out of the hug so she could drag her suitcase into Whitney's room.

"So what are we doing here?" Janet sighed as she sat on the couch of the suite.

"I was about to sleep. I'm tired and as you can hear my vocals are tired."

"Alright then, let's have a race to see who can sleep first."

Whitney rolled her eyes and giggled, "Alright fine."

"Okay, I'm gonna shower and change into my pajamas, wash off this jet lag."

"I'll be in the bedroom," Whitney sighed. They parted ways. Whitney groaned as she climbed into bed. She couldn't even wait for Janet as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light.

"Whitney?" Janet called into the quiet hotel suite.

Janet smiled to see Whitney sleeping soundly in bed. She got in bed next to Whitney and pulled the blanket up over both of them and drifted off to sleep.

Janet stirred hearing light whimpers coming from next to her. She was confused until she realized what was happening.

"Whitney..." she tightly tapped her.

"Huh?" Whitney turned to her, tears staining her cheeks.

"You're crying in your sleep, babe." Janet took Whitney into her arms, resting her head on her chest while running her fingers through her hair.

"I'm sorry..." she muttered.

"It's okay, go back to sleep."