Disclaimer: Yet again I do not own The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Shock Treatment. I still only wish I did. It all belongs to Richard O'Brien. Except for things and characters I make up I guess
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Janet put the phone down and switched off the TV. She threw the remains of her hot chocolate down the sink. What had she done? The return of Columbia could ruin her new life. People would find out about her past. She hadn't gone through six months of therapy and a year worth prescription of tablets for nothing. She climbed into bed and wrapped the clean white duvet around her.
Brad had left just two years before. They had tried to repair their relationship, but it wasn't working out. Brad seemed to take longer to get over what had happened and had many mental breakdowns. It was only when Janet first got her job as a singer she ended their relationship. Brad was too needy and dependent on her, thinking every person he met in the street wanted to dress him up in fishnets and force him to sing.
The morning came after a troubled sleep. The sun was shining through the window; the sky was a perfect cloudless mint blue. Even birds tweeted on the Elm trees outside Janet's bedroom window. Everything was perfect.
Janet fixed herself a smoothie, too nervous to eat. She took a shower and then explored her vast wardrobe in search for something to wear. She wanted to show Columbia that she wasn't the old good girl Janet Weiss she was before. She chose a short white skirt; a low cut pink blouse and white heels. She hoped that Columbia wouldn't don her hat and tails; she didn't want to attract any attention.
At twelve thirty Janet left her apartment. Her car was in for repair at the garage, so she walked the three blocks to The Ivy. It was a sunny day and everyone in the street smiled at Janet as she passed. One old couple came running up to her, telling her how they had enjoyed her performance last night and asking for an autograph. Janet managed to kid herself that it was just a perfectly normal day, until she turned the corner and saw who was sat on one of the outside tables at The Ivy.
"Janet!" Columbia cried, standing up. Thankfully she was just wearing a blue jumper that hung at her shoulders with a star motif and plain denim jeans.
"Columbia…" Janet said, trying to look enthusiastic.
"Sit down" Columbia said, pulling out a chair.
"Thanks. You're looking well" Janet commented as she took a seat.
"You're not looking too bad yourself" Columbia said. She whistled for a waiter, Janet cringed; The Ivy wasn't the sort of place where you did that.
"Can I just have a glass of water and a ham sandwich please? I'm not too hungry" Janet said to the waiter.
"'l don't want anything, I don't need to eat" Columbia said when the waiter turned to her. Janet looked confused but waited until the waiter had gone until she spoke.
"What do you mean you don't knew to eat? Everyone has to eat! Whats going on Columbia? How are you alive? What do you want?" Janet asked.
"Which question do you want me to answer first?" Columbia asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Just explain" Janet sighed.
"When Riff Raff zapped me that night, I died. Before they took off they threw all the dead bodies out of the house, but that was after you had gone. Dr. Scott decided to sneak back the next day and when he saw Frank, Rocky and me, he put us in his car and took us back to his house. He never liked Frank and didn't see Rocky as too special, so he brought me back to life instead" Columbia explained.
"That's impossible!" Janet gasped. Columbia smiled.
"I know, but he did it. Of course I freaked out, threw a chair across the room and nearly killed him! But after a cup of strong tea and a lot of explaining, I was fine. He told me to go and find a new life for myself, so I did. I always wanted to track down you and Brad, but I left it. But the curiosity was killing me. Then I heard you sang at Farley's so I knew I just had to and watch you perform. High pitched as always," Columbia said, "Toucha toucha toucha touch me! I wanna be dirty!" Columbia mimicked.
"Shut up!" Janet snapped, going pink, "And what about the no eating thing?"
"I have eternal life" Columbia replied, as simply as though she had been telling Janet the weather report.
"But won't people wonder why you aren't aging? Why you've been around so long?" Janet persisted.
"Maybe … but what are they gonna do?" Columbia shrugged, "Imagine how fun my life can! I can do anything I want, I'll be alive forever to do it and nothing will kill me. Might get a bit boring though…"
Janet couldn't believe how simple Columbia was acting about things. She couldn't get her mind around it all. She thought these people were long gone … but they were back, and by the looks of it Columbia would be around until the day Janet died, and long after that.
"What about Margaret and Richard?" Janet asked.
"Who?" Columbia said, "Oh you mean Magenta and Riff Raff!"
"Yes, I've never been too good with names" Janet confessed.
"Well I haven't seen them since Riff zapped me. They're all the way up there, in space on their beloved planet" Columbia said, staring into the sky as if she could see her old 'friends'.
"Oh, that's nice" Janet said, looking up too.
"So that's it really" Columbia shrugged, "Your turn to start speaking now. What happened with you and Brad?"
"It wasn't working out, I left him" Janet said, starting to pleat the cream tablecloth. Columbia knew it was a subject Janet wasn't comfortable speaking about but she went on.
"That's shame. Where is he now?" Columbia asked.
"Who knows? I don't really care to be honest" Janet tossed her hair, "I have a new man on the scene, it appears"
"Oh! Who?" Columbia looked around as if Janet's 'new man' was sat at a distant table.
"The manager of the club I sing at, Donald Dunk" Janet said.
"Donald Dunk! Oh God!" Columbia cackled with laughter.
"And what was the last relationship you were in?" Janet said bitchily.
"The only guys for me were Eddie and Frank, they're dead now" Columbia said sadly. Janet suddenly felt bad.
"Where are you staying?" She asked.
"Anywhere I can … still a groupie, that's me" Columbia sighed.
Janet looked at Columbia. She could be a valued person in her life, with her not being able to die and all. Maybe she was sick of tagging along with people and feeling like a burden? The apartment was quite big; there was a small guest bedroom. Janet could help her out…
"Why don't you stay with me for a while? Until you get back on your feet I mean" Janet offered.
"Wow! Really? Are you being serious?" Columbia gasped.
"Of course, why not?" Janet smiled.
Columbia broke down into noisy high-pitched tears. She buried her face into the tablecloth, smearing her black eye liner all over it. Janet reached over and gingerly patted her shoulder, trying to calm her down. People were staring.
"Oh Janet! No ones ever been that nice to me. I grew up in a care home you know? My parents never wanted me. I have a sister but I don't even know her. She wouldn't care about me even if we found each other," Columbia sobbed.
"Its okay. Where are your all your belongings?" Janet asked.
"Belongings? Ha, I should be so lucky! All I have are the clothes I'm sitting in," Columbia said, picking at her tattered jacket.
"I suppose we could do some shopping" Janet sighed.
"Aw thanks Jan! You really are too kind" Columbia said.
Janet flinched; she hated nicknames. She quickly paid for her lunch and the two left the café.