It had been a week since Johnny had explained about his dad. Not that he wanted to mind you. It was Mikes fault in the end. He'd been chatting about a gorilla gang getting locked up, and the leader breaking out on the evening of the show. Whilst it shocked the other theatre members (thinking back now, Ash couldn't remember Johnny even reacting to the news), Mike didn't stop there. Ash was thinking that the mouse would say they helicopters that interrupted his performance didn't even catch the guy. But what left his mouth next was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.
'The guy handed himself back in! Couldn't damn well believe it. Guys at the bar said he was well known for being on the rougher side, if ya get what I mean. Why he'd just turn himself back in, makes no sense. Guy must have been off his rocker.'
Johnny had obviously had enough.
'He wasn't mad!' burst from the gorilla, before he even seemed to realise. Everyone had stared at him. Ash had to admit later on he had looked adorable, eyes wide, hands clamed over his mouth. But it was too late, and Johnny had no choice but to fess up.
'The leader… he was…he is my dad. He broke out to come see me after I performed….' Shuffling feet and flushed face broke several hearts that day. After they pulled a full explanation out of the guy (including his minor part in the gang), and reassured him multiple (seriously, he was so worried) that they wouldn't see him any differently, Rosita had one more question.
'Johnny honey, I don't mean to pry, but what about your mother? Didn't she have any say in this all?' Johnny ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck (Ash had noticed that that seemed to be a nervous habit of his) before mumbling the most heart breaking fact of the day.
'She died when I was little. Don't really remember her, and da never really speaks bout her.' Rosita, Meena, and even Ash herself, all teared up at that. Rosita had immediately hugged the guy, mumbling about how he was welcome around her house at any time, Meena claiming how he could come over for dinner anytime. Gunter stopped dancing, Buster had clapped Johnny on the back in a sign of support. Even Mike had pulled off his hat and bowed his head in respect.
As Johnny had stuttered his various thanks, Ash fell quiet. Guilt and empathy rose in the porcupine. She knew what it felt like to be alone. But her problems seemed miniscule in the shadow of Johnny's. Poor guy had been through so much, and it had barely shown. And the guilt hovered over the next week. Johnny had been much more subdue, barely ever speaking up, and staying hidden away in his practice room.
Today, though, was different. Ash was surprised to find the gorilla happily chatting to Rosita and Meena over a hot drink that morning. She smiled. He looked a lot more like the Johnny they had known. Moving into the new kitchenette, Ash put on the coffee machine for herself. Morning really weren't her thing. The others stopped talking to greet her.
'Ash! Where have you been?' Thanks Meena, for pointing out her lateness. The elephant really had gained a lot of confidence, especially when it came to sassing Ash.
'Good morning Ash, did you sleep well?' Rosita's motherly kindness was always a refreshing experience.
'Mornin' Ash,' Johnny grinned at her. She almost flushed. Damn he looked good when he smiled like that. Shaking her head slightly, she realised that she had yet to reply.
'Morning. Why exactly did Moon want us in at this ungodly hour again?' her grumbles were met with laughter.
'Ash, its 10 am, not the crack of dawn.' Meena gasped between giggles. Ash grumped well naturedly. It was no secret she was not a morning person in any sense of the words. Noon was her natural rising time, and any time before that felt waaaay to early. Rosita calmed herself and answered Ash's question.
'From what I've heard from Gunter, Mr Moon is thinking of putting on a musical.' Eyebrows raised. A musical? That koala, in Ash's opinion, was mental. Them, doing a musical? Hell, just Ash in that situation seems laughable. 'Come along now, we were due downstairs five minutes ago.' Rosita continues, staring at her watch.
Downstairs on the newly refurbished stage, stood Buster Moon, Eddie at his side. He gazed upon the mammals in front of him (Ash noted his gaze lingered on her coffee, still firmly in her hand. She snorted mentally, the koala can disapprove all he liked, she wasn't giving it up). Clapping his hands, Buster beamed at them.
'Now I'm sure some of you have heard, I am thinking of staging a musical.' Eye rolls followed. 'I want to do something new. I suppose you all know of 'bats in the night'? We are going to produce a modernised musical of it!' Ash tilted her head. That name seemed familiar. Like a book she had read in school or something….. Ah. It hit her. As Rosita paled. The mother also seemed to realise the implications. Gunter was looking curious and jiggling slightly to a beat only he could hear, Meena blushing wildly next to him. Mike was grinning like a mad man. And then Johnny. His blank face told Ash everything. He had never heard of it.
'Mr. Moon, I'm sorry, but are you sure that this choice is…. Appropriate? The story is a little intimate…' Rosita's voice shook Ash out of her thoughts. She couldn't help agree with the mother of 25. Sadly, Moon had a reply ready.
'Rosita my dear, no need to worry. It is a book covered regularly in the later years of school. There will be age limitations to admittance, but it is the perfect story. Love, drama, conflict, and many uses for great songs!' Ash felt like hitting the smaller man. Yes, the book was covered in school, mainly seen as one of the classics, but it was always surrounded by waves of Sex Ed, and permission slips were required from parents.
It seemed a bit dramatic at the time to Ash. The book only held one racy scene, two teens losing their virginity, but later Ash realised that it just put ideas in everyone's heads. And by the look of Meena (still school aged) she had recently covered it. The elephant was hiding behind her ears, only a strip of bright red face showing. Moon seemed to notice this.
'Meena dear, we will have to get your parents to approve of your taking part, but I'm sure it will be fine! Yes, Johnny my boy?' all eyes swung to Johnny, timidly raising his hand. He flushed slightly, dropping said hand.
'I'm sorry mister Moon, but I've never heard of that book….' Moon face palmed.
'Of course you haven't, sorry Johnny, I keep forgetting you were home schooled. No worries, I'm sure we can catch you up.' He grinned at the young gorilla, who smiled back. Damn he had a nice smile…. Concentrate Ash. The porcupine shook herself. Away from those thoughts, she realised something.
'You haven't read it….. You lucky guy Johnny. It's a palava just to be able to read it at school.' Johnny's head tilted.
'How come?' his innocent curiosity once again left Ash on the uncomfortable side of warm. Concentrating on the task at hand, she snorted lightly.
'Schools have to have permission from parents, and surround the whole thing with weeks of 'reproductive education' (quote marks included). Can't let the teenagers get any ideas or anything, can they.' She missed Johnny mouthing 'ideas' in confusion, as Mike decided to butt in.
'Not like that in our day kid, just got throw the book and told abstinence is the key, or you'll get pregnant and ruin your life.' Rosita, Gunter, Buster, and even Eddie nodded in agreement. Ash rolled her eyes, looking at Meena.
'Its way more involved now, ain't it Meena' a nod backed her up. 'Schools got to teach you every single detail of the business, and embarrass the living hell out of everyone in the process. And it takes like a week! Count yourself lucky Johnny, I'm betting your dad just gave you the talk one day, probably took an hour, then you forgot it ever happened and went on with your life.' She had turned to look up at Johnny's face. It was full of confusion.
'The talk? What talk?' Ash prayed he just meant they had a code for it, otherwise this was about to become hell.
'The sex talk, big guy. You know, the ins and outs of what to do and how to be safe bout it.' that was surprising tactile for Mike. Ash watched Johnny flush a bit, still looking confused.
'We didn't exactly talk about it much….' The gorilla mumbled, shuffling his feet. His shoes seemed to interest him greatly at that moment. Rosita's motherly side kicked in.
'Honey, he must have done something of the sort. You aren't completely clueless about it all… are you?' The anxious voice made Johnny shake his head. Grey ears were now completely pink, and his cheeks were slowly following. Stop staring Ash, before he sees, she reprimanded mentally.
'Well, he gave me a book about some stuff….' The large hand of her friend had snuck back up to the back of his neck. Ash exchanged a glance with Meena. They both knew Johnny was in for a world of embarrassment.
'I never would've taken you as the virgin type big J. Was it a book or a magazine?' Mike interjected, brows waggling. Eddie nudged the mouse with his foot frowning. Mike just shrugged.
'A book,' Johnny clarified, looking even more lost and highly embarrassed. Ash winced. Guy didn't even know what a porn magazine was. Oh hell. This might scar him for life. The porcupine was honestly tempted to grab him and do a runner. There was no way in hell Rosita was going to let Johnny walk away now. And the others were definitely participating by the looks on their faces. A mix of shock, concern, sympathy and mirth (stupid mouse) gazed at Johnny. But then it was too late for Ash's idea of damage control.
Rosita strode forward with a look of determination on her face. Grabbing Johnny's sleeve she led him to a seat back stage. The others followed, curious about the female pig's intentions. Johnny looked terrified. Ash and Meena trailed back, shooting looks at their friend, trying to tell him to run whilst he still could. Rosita swung round to address the various men behind her.
'Right, you four, time to act like the responsible adults you are meant to be.' The men blanched.
'Rosita, I don't we're very suitable…'
'Why the hell have we got to take part?'
'Why am I always dragged into these things?!'
'I've got to bes going, I am thinking I have left oven on, ja?'
Rosita's glare was deadly. She shifted her stance, widening in, hands clamping onto hips. The men froze. They all knew that look. There was no backing out of this. Even Ash shuddered at the look. Damn, Rosita could be scary. The pig spun to them suddenly.
'You either stay and support your friend, or leave. No hanging around purely for his embarrassment.' Ash and Meena exchanged another look. They had become close after the last show, and easily communicated through facial expressions. Stay and witness the horror, or leave and abandon Johnny in this hell. Meena looked determined. Ash sighed and nodded.
'We'll stay.' Meena announced. It was final now. It would be like watching a car crash, but they couldn't let the poor guy suffer alone. By now, Johnny had caught on. Gently rising from his chair, still flushed bright pink, he held up his hands.
'Rosita, it's ok, we don't…..' but he was cut short.
'Johnny, sit!' the sharpness in the pig's voice had the gorilla back in his chair in a millisecond. Ash would've laughed if the situation were different. Rosita continued. 'Right, now Johnny, when two people love each other very much…' she trailed off. Johnny's face was aflame. Rosita looked at the men behind her, gesturing that they should help. Mike decided he would help.
'Look kid, forget that crap. You know the basics. Just remember, use protection, and ladies take more warming up that us blokes. What you probably feel after just looking at a pretty girl, that takes skill to get her there. You gotta foreplay it a bit before you dive in, make it good for her. Got it?' Rosita glared at him. Buster jumped in to stop her killing the mouse.
'And you don't do it with just anyone, make sure you really care about them. It's a special thing, not to be taken lightly.' Johnny looked absolutely traumatised. God Ash could cry over how innocent and pure he was. Poor dude will most likely never look any of them in the eye again. And then Gunter decided to put in his two cents.
'It great fun with right person, big guy. Like dancing, can be spicy, no?' Ash face palmed at that. This was ridiculous. Eddie seemed to agree with his mumbled 'yeah what they said.' Rosita rolled her eyes at the sheep, before turning back to the gorilla turned plum. Ash didn't even realise he could reach that colour.
'Honey, you just have to remember to take it at what pace you're happy with, and not rush into anything. And be safe. Understand?' Johnny nodded stiffly. 'Good, any questions?' the guy's head nearly came off with how fast he shook it. Rosita smiled kindly at him, patting his arm. Johnny cleared his throat awkwardly.
'Can... Can I go now….?' Came out as practically a whisper. On Rosita's nod, Johnny shot out of his chair, and further backstage. They heard the backdoor slam behind him. Ash sighed, and turned to the others.
'Well I think you have officially terrified him. Do any of you honestly believe he has ever had an impure thought in his life?' Meena shuffled beside her. Ash glanced at the elephant, who looked as uncomfortable as Johnny had. Rosita sighed, addressing Ash.
'I know it seems harsh, but he's a teenage boy. His hormones need accounting for, and lord knows it's better to confront the issue before it deteriorates.' Ash sadly had to agree there. She herself had only just hit 21, and hormones were still a killer. Still, poor Johnny. The others still seemed wrapped up in their own humiliation, so she shook her head and made her way towards the back entrance. Someone needed to check on him. The door swung open to reveil a street that looked a tiny step up from an alleyway. Gazing round, Ash spotted the familiar dark truck. Short as she may be, she could just about see the dark figure slumped over the wheel.
It took a decent jump to reach the door handle, but she made it. Pushing of the side of the truck with one foot, the porcupine manged to open the gorilla sized door. Johnny looked up at the noise, just in time to seen Ash climbing into the foot well. He jolted, and immediately offered her a hand. Ash ignored it, she had a reputation to maintain (even if the gesture made her melt a little on the inside). Settling into the seat, she gazed up at him. Johnny wasn't meeting her eye, looking away instead to fiddle with the radio. RnB filled the truck after a second. Ash rolled her eyes. Typical Johnny music. He drummed his fingers nervously on the wheel keeping in beat with the music.
'Talk to me.' Was all that came out of Ash's mouth. Well, shit, wasn't quite how she wanted to approach this. The gorilla shifted nervously before blurting out,
'Did I ever tell you I once thought I ran my dad over? Then again, I probably haven't as not many people know I can't legally drive this truck…' Ok, he was rambling now. Ash stood up in the seat, taking a moment to notice she still only reached his shoulder. Johnny hadn't noticed, still busy rattling on about the truck. Ash sighed.
'Johnny!' that caught his attention. 'Whilst I am extremely interested in that story, and you will be telling me about it, that is not the point here. You have just experienced trauma designed for 15 year olds, from adults you have only known for 6 months. Are you ok?' Johnny slumped. Resting his forehead against the wheel, he shrugged a bit. The pink had still not completely died from his face. Hand once again reaching for the back of his neck, Ash couldn't resist.
'Do you know you do that?' She was met with confused eyes. God, they looked like chocolate.
'Do what?' was her reply.
'Rub the back of your neck when you're nervous.' Her companion froze, slowly moving his hand in front of his face, as if he'd never seen it. Dropping it onto his lap he looked a little lost. 'Heyy, it's not a bad thing. It's one of those things that's just awkward when someone points it out. Like that hell back there.' Johnny flushed again. 'Don't worry about it. It's over now, and no one is going to want to bring that back up again.' She shot him a reassuring grin, which he returned (hell his teeth were bright, and those canines did odd things to her insides). But it faded from his face and a blush reappeared.
'I guess it's just a bit embarrassing, is all. I mean being an eighteen year old gorilla who's a vir-virgin, not something you want everyone knowing.' God, Ash wanted to hug him. He looked like a kicked puppy.
'Johnny… don't worry about that no one cares. It's something that will happen at your own pace. It's not going to put anyone off you, let alone anyone who's got the hots for you. Everyone loves the big gentle, kind, sweet guy that comes in everyday, ready to sing his heart out.' Great, Ash was blushing now. She hoped to hell he couldn't see it passed her fur. 'And if anyone gives you trouble over it, they are nothing but shallow, and definitely not worth your time.'
Johnny had returned those big chocolate brown eyes to her. He was still pink around the ears, but smiling softly all the same.
'Thanks, Ash. That means a lot.' She smiled back.
'Any time big guy. It's what friends are for.' Never mind how she might keep admiring him with more emphasis than just a friend. Johnny stuck his arms out, as if to hug her. He jolted to a halt with a questioning look on his face. Ash internally squealed over how gentlemanly the action was, before shaking her head and tugging him into her with his jacket sleeve. One arm slowly wrapped around her lower back, the other hand cradling the back of her neck where her quills split. Her own arms wrapped around his neck, squeezing the much larger mammal. He smelt like leather and detergent, and Ash pulled in his scent as subtly as she could. God she wanted to bury her face in his neck and never come out.