Just Give Me A Reason
The next day came fairly quickly. They were all hustling around to get everything together for their performances. Buster pulled them aside backstage, "Okay everyone. Tonight is the night you will show everyone that even though you are all amazing individually, you are powerful in pairs. I couldn't be happier with you all and I am proud of each and every one of you. You all came so far in the past year. Go knock their socks off. Alright, Gunter and Rosita, you're up first. Next, will be Mike and Meena. And finally, Johnny and Ash. Let's do this!" Gunter and Rosita got in their places.
Meena pulled Ash aside and whispered, "Are you going to tell him today?"
Ash blushed red then nodded, "Yeah...I just don't know how to tell him."
"Don't be afraid to tell him how you feel. It would be so very worth it in the end," she said. Seeing Ash's knee, she looked at her concerned, "Did something happen when you left here?"
"Yeah...I was followed by Lance. He kept coming after me so I grabbed a nearby skateboard and skated away. Eventually, he threatened to torture me or kill me, which one I'm not sure. I crashed the skateboard and hurt my knee. Just as he was getting closer..." she trailed off and smiled.
"What? What happened?"
"Johnny and his father came at that time and rescued me. His father took Lance back to jail, where more charges were added on to his sentencing. Johnny took me home and let me cry on him...twice. I told him my background...what happened with my parents...and he listened. He and his father both vowed to be there for me, no matter what. You know what happened with my parents...you know what I went through. We went to bed...and he held me all night," Ash said.
"They both truly love you. Isn't that reason enough to tell him how you really feel?" Meena asked with a smile.
"Yeah...it is. I'll tell him after we perform."
Hearing Rosita and Gunter's song come to an end, Meena said, "It's almost my turn to go on. Good luck Ash." She left the porcupine standing there thinking.
"Ash? You okay?" Johnny's voice asked from behind her.
She turned to look at him, "Yeah...just a little nervous I suppose."
"It's alright Ash. We'll do great. If we can sing together in your bathroom, we can sing together on stage," he said, toothy grin on his face.
Ash laughed, "True. Um...hey Johnny...you think we could talk when we get finished? There are some things we need to talk about."
"Alright...and yeah...there is a lot we need to talk about," he said.
Ash smiled, "Are you ready to do this?"
"Yeah. Let's do this," he said, just as Buster was announcing their names.
"I present to you, the duet between the soulful singer and the rockstar princess. Give it up for Johnny and Ash!" he said, the curtains opening.
Johnny began playing the soft melody. The spotlight shined on both of them as Ash held the microphone, sitting on the top of the piano. Ash was turned toward Johnny, microphone in her right hand, as she started singing.
Right from the start
You were a thief
You stole my heart
And, I, your willing victim.
I let you see the parts of me
That weren't all that pretty,
And with every touch
You fixed them
Now you've been talking in your sleep oh oh
Things you'd never say to me oh oh
Tell me that you've had enough
Of our love, our love
Ash reached forward and placed a hand under Johnny's chin, causing him to meet her crystal blue eyes with his chocolate brown ones. She then sang.
Just give me a reason,
Just a little bit's enough
Just a second we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again
It's in the stars
It's been written in the scars on our hearts
We're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again.
Johnny picked up his cue and started singing, looking at Ash.
I'm sorry I don't understand,
Where all fo this is coming from.
I thought that we were fine.
(Ash: Oh we had everything.)
Your head is running wild again
My dear we still have everything
And it's all in your mind
(Ash: Yeah but this is happenin')
You've been having real bad dreams oh oh
You used to lie so close to me oh oh
Both:
There's nothing more than empty sheets
Between our love, our love
Oh our love, our love
Ash sand the note, stretching it a bit. They both started singing again.
Just give me a reason,
Just a little bit's enough
Just a second we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again
Johnny:
I never stop,
It's still written in the scars on my heart
Both:
You're not broken, just bent
And we can learn to love again.
Ash:
Oh tear ducts and rust.
Johnny:
I'll fix it for us.
Ash:
We're colecting dust
But our love's enough
Johnny:
You're holding it in.
Ash:
You're pouring a drink
Johnny:
No nothing is as bad as it seems.
Ash:
We'll come clean.
They rested their foreheads together, looking into each others eyes.
Just give me a reason,
Just a little bit's enough
Just a second we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again.
It's in the stars,
It's been written in the scars on our hearts
That we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again.
They pulled back, only slightly, and smiled, singing their hearts out.
Just give me a reason,
Just a little bit's enough
Just a second we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again.
It's in the stars,
It's been written in the scars on our hearts
That we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again.
Ash:
Oh we can learn to love again.
Oh we can learn to love again, oh oh
Oh that we're not broken just bent,
And we can learn to love again.
Johnny played the rest of the tune on the piano then stopped and looked at Ash when finished. They both stood and bowed to the cheering audience. Before Ash could even think, Johnny had cupped her face with his hands and kissed her on the lips. The audience roared in applause behind them, but they could only hear their beating hearts.
Ash's eyes fluttered closed and she placed her hands on his wrists, kissing him back. They pulled back, looking in each others eyes, huge smiled on their faced. They rubbed their noses together in an eskimo kiss. The curtain closed.
"You had something to tell me?" Johnny asked.
Ash grinned, "Yes. I'm in love with you Johnny."
He smiled, "And I am in love with you, Ashlynn."
Her smile widened and she grabbed the lapels of his jacket, pulling him into another kiss. They pulled back laughing when they heard Gunter whistling at them. They looked at their friends, smiling widely.
They all moved the piano out of the way and all gathered on the stage once more, standing in a line. The curtains opened once more and the audience went crazy with applause. They all bowed to the audience. Buster walked up onto the stage once more, "Give it up for all of them. If I could ask, could I get their families to come up and join them on stage."
Their families all joined them on stage. Ash stood there alone until Johnny's father pulled her close and placed his other hand on her shoulder, smiling at her. She smiled up at him then laced her fingers with Johnny's. Before Buster could say anything else, two porcupines started walking toward the stage. They all looked at Ash shocked. Ash's eyes were wide and she was frozen in place.