but this is definetly my favor so chapter of this so far! sorry for the wait
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After Johnny, the next most affected individual from her memory loss was definitely Ash. During a few minutes Meena took to move some of Ash's sound equipment, the porcupine hardly said anything and would steal studious looks at Meena. Finally, as Meena was finishing up, Ash asked. "So are you scared of me again?"
"Huh?" Meena looked down where Ash was sat on the floor with her guitar.
"You once told me you use to find me scary. Like, that's why we weren't friends right away. Am I scary to you again." Ash looked up at Meena with deep, blue eyes.
Meena glanced off to the side. "I don't think 'scary' is the right word." She began with a mumble. It's true that Meena was surprised by their friendship, as Ash seemed tough, sharp-witted, and easily annoyed. The porcupine has reminded Meena of a few less-than-pleasant kids she gone to school with, so the elephant initially kept her distance. But she had still tried to make small talk. She had wished Ash good luck before watching the rocker cry on stage while attempting to sing "Call Me Maybe." In hindsight, that's probably where Meena stopped being so intimidated by Ash. "...it's weird knowing you've know me for two years and I've only known you for a few months. But you're not scary! I guess… I guess I'm just surprised we're friends is all." Meena gave Ash what she hoped was a comforting smile.
"Good surprised or disappointed surprised?" Ash cocked an eyebrow at Meena as she spoke.
"Good surprised! Of course good surprised! Who wouldn't be happy to find they're your friend?!" Meena's reply was immediate and surprisingly defensive of Ash.
Said porcupine beamed at at this. "Good." She started climbing up some of the speaker equipment. Once more level with Meena, she said. "Cause honestly, I was kinda worried I'd scared you off seeing as you didn't really remember much about us." She waved vaguely to the theater in general. "You free after work?"
"Uh, I think so?" Meena's answer was unsure. If she had made plans it's not like she'd remember them.
"Cool, we're playing video games at my place." Ash said as she hopped off the speakers and walked off. "Tell Johnny when ya see him."
It hadn't been a question. Ash had declared it, so it was happening. Meena got the feeling the porcupine was the leader of their little friend group. After getting the 'Okay' to go from her mother, Meena went on with her tasks.
A few hours later, Meena found herself once again stuffed in Johnny's truck as they drove to Ash's apartment. It start off much more awkwardly this time, however, as everyone was trying to have normal conversation without bringing up the elephant in the room. Or in this case, the elephant in the truck. Talking about your day at work became a lot less interesting when one of your party had amnesia.
Ash was squished in between the larger two this time, trying her best to give Meena some level on personal space rather than just sitting on her lap like last time. Everything about the ride was less comfortable and Meena felt like her was somehow at fault for it. Luckily for her, Ash got fed up with it and chucked all subtly out the window. "So what is the last thing you can remember?" Ash asked unprompted.
Both surprised and relieved by her blunt question, Meena immediately tried to track down her most recent memory before waking up at the hospital. "Umm, I remember the theater reopening. We were all out infront for a picture."
After a moment of silence from Meena as she tried to remember more, Ash asked. "What about the after party?"
"After party?" Meena have her a look.
"Yeah, Moon threw a big party after the reopening. There was dancing, Nana Noodleman gave a speech, Eddie ate a bunch of cheese samplers and was sick all over place." Ash listed off details to a blank-faced Meena.
"He got most of it in the trash." Johnny added with a shrug.
Despite the elephant's best efforts, she couldn't remember the party. Eventually, Ash dug her phone out. "Here, I think I've still got pictures from it."
Meena focused on the little screen. Ash swiped through a picture of Gunter striking a pose on the dance floor, a selfie Ash took in front of a giant chocolate fountain, and a picture of newly decorated interior of the theater lobby.
A switch flipped when Meena saw the last photo. She remembered those decorations. She suddenly remembered being at that party and being too shy to talk to anyone and having stayed plastered to her mother's side. She had ended up at a table with her mother, grandmother, Nana Noodleman herself, and Ms. Crawly. A whole flashback came back in her mind as she remembered watching Ms. Crawly and Johnny slowing dancing on the dance floor. Being the gentleman he was, Johnny helped Ms. Crawly over the table when she got tired. Ms. Crawly thanked him and promptly shooed him away to "go and find some young thing to dance with." Johnny allowed himself to be shooed away just as he spotted Meena at the table too. Seeing as she was the first "young thing" nearby, he immediately turned and asked if she'd like to dance. Meena, of course, shook her head nervously as she practically hide behind her mother, much to the amusement of the other ladies. Johnny pouted dramatically at her rejection, before sending her a smile and going on his way. Meena's mother teased her a bit about and Nana Noodleman muttered something about youth being wasted on the young. It was all so clear in her memory now, she was amazed she'd every forgot it.
"Meena? Earth to Meena? You good?" Ash waved a paw in front if Meena's face when the elephant had gone so quiet.
Blinking suddenly, Meena looked over to see the other two sporting concerned looks.
"Uh, sorry. But I do remember this! Or, at least, now I remember this!" Meena smiled as Ash swiped to the next picture. It was another one Meena had no memory of, despite being in it. The picture looked haphazardly taken and showed Ash, Meena, and Eddie with what looked like fair games in the background. Ash was excitedly holding a blow up guitar, Meena was hiding her face behind her ears while holding a broken mallet, and Eddie looked to be consoling her. "What's that from?" Meena asked.
Ash looked at it and beamed. "Oh yeeeeeah, that fair! I forgot I had that picture." Ash went into a tale of when a street fair had been set up on the same street as the theater. She had jokingly said she wanted one of the inflatable guitars hanging from a carnival games. It's was a high striker where one hits the target with a mallet to hit the bell. Gunter had immediately promised to win her one and attempted 5 times to do so before dragging Johnny over to the game instead. Johnny did much better but not well enough to win Ash's prize and gave up after a few tries. Of course, as soon as Ash spotted Meena walking their way, she pulled Meena over to the game. A mallet was pushed into the elephant's hands and she was nudged at the game. In one tried, Meena not only hit the top bell, but broke the cheaply made mallet as well, sending the top half flying into a dunk tank. The stunned game operator relinquished the inflatable to Ash and went on break.
Meena's brain tries so hard to picture these events in her mind when it all suddenly snapped back in a rush. One moment she can't remember it at all, the next Meena remembers exactly how embarrassed she had been about breaking the game mallet in front of everyone. Pretty much everyone from the theater had gone to the fair right after work (it was pretty hard to avoid) and had be cheering her, Johnny, and Gunter on. She remembered hiding behind her ears in guilt as Eddie had to reassure her the game operator wasn't mad and was more impressed than anything else. She even remembered Ash's little victory cry when she received her infallible guitar and demanding Johnny get a picture of them with her phone.
"Ya makin' that face again. You alroight?" Johnny asked as Meena was spacing out again. But she flashed a big smile and he knew right away. "You remembered again?"
"Wait, is this helping?" Ash ask hopefully. Meena nodded and Ash spend the rest of the car ride find pictures of memories on her phone and telling Meena all about them. Johnny added comments in here and there, but it Ash did most of the talking. This continued as they arrived and went into Ash's apartment, Ash storytelling the whole way and Meena hooked on every word.
On the drive over alone, Meena had recovered memories of a few shows that they took part in, a concert Ash had taken the other two to, and an ice skating event the whole theater gang had gone to that ended with Gunter laid out on the ice in a Christmas speedo and Santa hat. The apartment itself also served as a window into what Meena's life had contained. It smelled faintly of coffee and scented candles which brought back memories of hangouts and nights spent making fun of movies with Ash.
Honestly, Meena was starting to hope this would be the end of her amnesia and everything might go back into place. But alas, there came a point where Meena stopped remembering anything about any of the pictures Ash showed or the apartment, no matter how detailed Ash and Johnny's storytelling was. It was disheartening, but it didn't spoil the visit. Actually, Meena couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun.
All they really did was play some video games, eat microwave pizza, and talk. But it was so easy to talk to the others, and the hours slipped by without Meena noticing. When her mother called her to ask if she needed a ride home it was already past 9pm. Meena's friends assured her she had a ride home, so she declined her mother's offer and settled back onto the couch. They had switched from video games to a corny anime they were making fun of while watching. Meena just sighed happily, all worries about lost memories temporary forgotten as she enjoyed a moment of her "new" life.
The early awkwardness from the truck had faded quite a bit and Meena was quickly learning her friends didn't really bother with any kind of personal space. Johnny had his arm around her again and Meena let herself lean into his shoulder. She figured she ought to get use to this whole girlfriend-thing sooner or later. His hand was absentmindedly futzing with her ear in a way that was familiar and comforting. Ash had started the night sitting proper in her spot of the couch, but everytime she got up to get something or change something, she'd move spots and climb over her friends to get where she wanted to go. She was currently lying stomach down on her friends' collective laps, her chest and head lying on Meena's thighs and her legs stretched out on Johnny's. Their contact has made Meena a little flustered at first, especially considering they were all dressed for summer with more skin and hair showing, but she had soon adjusted and took comfort in their contact.
Between getting to work and sing at the theater and having such close friends (as well as a very agreeable boyfriend), she marveled at how perfect her life seemed now compared to a couple of years ago. Along with that thought, a pit formed in her stomach. She had kept secrets from her family about her love life and maybe other things as well for all she knew. On top of that, her grandmother's health had suffer from a stroke that would affect her the rest of her life (however long that was.) Meena shuttered a bit, realizing that while she had made close friends, but put distance between her and her family. There was nothing she could do about her grandmother's situation, but she had chosen to keep secrets from her family, hiding a part of herself from the only animals she thought she never hide from. Meena didn't feel entirely comfortable with that, but didn't really think she was in a place to tell her family about a relationship she didn't know much about.
The whole thing sat uneasily with her. It must have shown on her face, because she felt Johnny's voice rumble through his chest as he asked. "You okay?" Meena glanced up to find him looking at her with thoughtful and tired eyes.
"Yeah… just tired." She lamely answered. It wasn't a total lie. It was getting late and her eyes were starting to feel heavy.
"Ya wanna head out?" Johnny's voice was low and comforting. She could tell how close his mouth was to the top of her head and it made her flush, but she didn't want to pull away. She managed a little nod, not wanting to meet his gaze, but still felt a sting of disappointment when he started pulling his arm back to get up. "Hey Ash, we're gonna- … Ash?" Johnny started before looking down.
Meena looked down too and realized Ash was dead asleep. A smile tugged at Meena's lips as she carefully maneuvered her hands under the porcupine and picked her up. Meena was pleased to find she had remembered the apartment layout and took Ash to her room while Johnny shut off the TV and cleaned up a bit. Ash didn't even stir when she was placed in her bed. Meena found some sticky notes and left one telling the porcupine they left and they'd see her tomorrow, before heading out to meet Johnny.
The thoughts of secrets and her family from before still hung heavy in Meena's head. Honestly, it annoyed her. On the one hand, she had an itching urge to tell her mother and be rid of the secretary as soon as possible. On the other hand, she really didn't understand the nature of her and Johnny's relationship. In the car ride back to her house, her eyes kept drifting towards Johnny, the animal with the most knowledge about their relationship. Questions she had been too shy to ask before were bubbled up in the back of her throat with new, burning curiosity. She'd grown comfortable next to him and her normal nerves were numbed from tiredness.
"Johnny?" She hummed as they drove and he tilted his head towards her to show his attention. "You asked me out, right?"
Johnny smiled as he kept his eyes on the road and nodded. "Mm hmm."
"Why?" Meena's brain was too tired for subtlety. She wanted to know why they were together. What's more, she wanted desperately to remember him. But, for now, she would settle for answers.
Johnny looked surprised for a moment before smirking. "Uh, cause I loiked you?" They both knew that wasn't the answer she was looking for, and it earned him an unimpressed look from Meena.
"Why?" Fond as she was of him, the fact still remained that Johnny could have picked from a large number of, quite frankly, more conventionally attentive animals.
Johnny's knowing smile widen. "You've asked this before, ya know."
Meena's eyes narrowed. He was toying with her. "Well, what'd ya say last time I asked?"
They were already coming up to the corner of Meena's street. Johnny slowed at the stop sign and leaned over towards Meena. "I said….I had a thing curvy girls." Meena straighten up as her face went scarlet. "And of all your lovely curves, my favorite was ya smile." He said as he grinned cheekily at her.
Meena stared blankly and immediately calmed down as she realized she'd just been strung along for a corny pickup line. She tried to scowl at him, be it just morphed into an adorable pout. "Oh you're terrible." She scolded lightly, trying to will the red away from her face.
"You agreed to go out wit me." Johnny cheerfully reminded.
Meena's scowl wouldn't hold and a smile worked its way into her face. She shoved him playfully and leaned into him. They were getting close to her house and Meena realized she didn't want the ride to end. She didn't want to leave Johnny. "Come on, what did you actually say?" Meena insisted as the truck stopped in front of her house. The lights were out and it didn't look like anyone was up.
Johnny kept his gaze forward even after the truck had stopped. "I told you I loiked ya cause I didn't have to pretend around ya. I just always loiked bein' near ya." He started, looking less confident now. "You always laughed at my dumb jokes and you made me happy whenever I was wit ya. It made me want to be around ya more." He sighed, scratching the back of his neck and leaning back in his seat. And more into her. But still not meeting her gaze. "Look, I'm not daft, I get why you're surprise we're togethe' and all. But… I don't know how to explain it. I just felt bette' around you and I wanted you to feel happy around me." Johnny's face was ernest and flushed.
Meena suddenly got the feeling she was in over her head. She'd remembered enough about him to be interested by him. She'd remembered the moment he'd started interacting with her and she'd learned he was well mannered and charming along with talented and stereotypically handsome. She had thought 'Well, he's definitely gonna be popular' and had honestly thought she knew better than to catch feelings for a generic heartthrob like him. So much for that.
Still, Meena felt like he was confessing his feelings all over again. Meanwhile, she couldn't remember developing feeling for him or even seeing him as an option. She decided to try a different question to get him off the hot seat. "Ummm… w-when did you realize you liked me?"
Johnny relaxed at that question and puffed out a laugh. "About two months after everyone else knew." He looked over at Meena with an easy smile. "Apparently, I'm not very subtle. Ash was the first t' point out I was actin' doopier around ya. Then my dad started askin' who this 'Meena-girl' I kept goin' on about was. I'm pretty dense when it comes t' this stuff, so it kinda took me awhile t' figure it out." He looked sheepish and even under his hair and dim light, Meena could tell he was blushing. "Honestly, I didn't really know until David showed up."
"Whose David?" Meena asked as she settled in for a story, cozily curled up on the leather seats. The heat had died down since the sun had set, so Meena was quite comfortable against the leather seats and Johnny's shoulder.
Johnny sighed and rolled his eyes. "Eh, some guy Moon hired t' help move props around. 'E was an polar bear and theater nerd. All around alroight guy. … and then 'e started talkin' t' you." One of Johnny's hands rose and made lazy circular motions in the air. "'E'd always go outta his way t' tell you how pretty ya looked or try t' impress ya with some story or another. And just like that, I suddenly couldn't stand the guy! Ash was laughing at my sorry arse the whole time 'e was working wit us and tryin' to flirt wit ya."
Meena blushed and was smiling ear to ear. "Didn't think you were the jealous type." She teased softly as a yawn pulled at her mouth. They were curled up so close to each other that they were practically whispering back and forth. "So did this David ever actually ask me out?"
"Yep."
"Really? Did I say yes?"
"Nope!" Johnny chirped with the smuggest smile on his face. He turned his head towards her and hummed. "Guess I lucked out."
His smile was pretty close to the corner of her mouth. Meena was honestly impressed she wasn't freaking out or even uncomfortable. In fact, there was no where she'd rather be than snuggled up in Johnny's truck just talking to him. Memories or none, some part of her remembered this. Some part of her felt so at peace here, knowing she'd probably spent many hours in this truck talking about just about anything with the gorilla pressed against her. His voice and contact was comforting in a way she couldn't quite explain, but it made her want to stay right at his side.
And if she could just moved her trunk a bit, she could kiss him. Meena blinked as that thought hit her and imbedded itself into her mind. She could kiss him. All she'd have to do was titled head a little and she could kiss him. Was she supposed to do that? Were you allowed to try to kiss someone you hardly remembered? What was the protocol for relationships where one party lost their memory? They were both leaned into each other as it was. Was Johnny leaning on purpose?
Meena's mind started frantically trying to calculate what her next move should be. She was losing her nerve and her eyes darted around anxiously. Only then did she catch sight of the lite window on the front of her house. Meena shot up right. Crap, had someone seen them? Johnny had been leaning against Meena and fell against her arm when she suddenly moved away. His head popped up to see what she was looking at and saw the lite window. "Shite!" He breathed out.
Meena fumbled with the door handle and let herself out. "I should get going. See you tomorrow!" She called hurriedly before hopping out and speed walking to her house. She could still feel Johnny's eyes on her. At the door, she looked back and they quickly exchanged smiles before she ducked into her house. Her heart was jackhammering in her chest as she leaned back against her front door. Distantly, she heard his truck start up and drive off. She took a deep breath, sent a quick pray that no one in her family saw her and Johnny cuddled up just then, and pushed off into the living room.
The lite window had been the large living room window, so Meena pokes her head in to see who was up. She saw her grandmother, dressed in nightwear and sat in a comfy chair, looking at the window where Johnny's truck had been. The old elephant made no indication she saw or heard Meena enter the living room. Meena wondered if maybe her grandmother was just spacing out and considered turning back to go straight to her room. Before she could turn to leave, she heard her grandmother's soft voice. "You need t' be careful with that one."
Meena froze up inside. Her grandmother's words sounded a little hazy, but they were calm and direct. "Y-you mean Johnny? He's not dangerous!" Meena's voice was hushed but defensive.
"Oh, no." Her grandmother cooed. "No, not dang-... not dan-ge-ous." The old elephant struggling with the last word as some of her 'r's were weak, but there was determination in her expression as she kept talking. She turned her head to give her granddaughter a sympathizing gaze. "But he's a young man. And young men are so… sensitive. He's always looking at you, I've seen it. That boy's got eyes fo' you." She smiled approvingly. "He's a nice boy." Turning her head back to the window, she added. "And handsome too."
Meena's felt her face heat up. Out of everyone in her family, her grandmother would be the least to care what specie Meena dated. Still, although her grandmother would probably be nothing but supportive, the old elephant couldn't keep a secret to save her life. So Meena lied. "He's, uh, he's just a friend, grandma. Really." She shuffled her feet and forced herself to look at her grandmother.
Her grandmother eyed her and smirk. "Well then, twry not to go bw-... breaking any hearts now." The old elephant corrected her speaking and chuckled at her poor granddaughter's fluttered state. She then moved to grab her walker and get up. "Oof, it's late. I should get to bed befoe you're grandfather thinks I've gone off to join the circus. Don't twrouble yourself! I can get up." She shooed Meena back a bit when the younger elephant tried to help her up. Meena still stayed close by, just in case.
As much as seeing her grandmother struggle with the walker made Meena uneasy, it was relieving to hear her grandmother sound as jovial and carefree as ever. The old elephant bid Meena good night and made it to her to her room without trouble. Meena retreated to her room as well. She fell back in her bed with a heaving sigh, suddenly realizing how tired she was. The day had been more draining on her than she'd noticed. She pulled out her phone to set the alarm and found she had a text message from Johnny.
"made it home ok. did we get caught?"
Meena smiled and texted back.
"Almost. Good news is grandma approves of you."
Johnny sent back a number of happy emojis. Before she knew it, Meena found herself sending texts messages back and forth with Johnny rather than sleeping like she should have been. It was late, yet here she was, giggling over a text conversation like a middle schooler. Meena couldn't get over the bubbly feeling that had remained in her chest. Or the sharp sting of disappointment she'd felt when she had to say good night. She still wanted to be close to him. Wished he was there with her. It was the first time she'd known someone who could make her so nervous yet she still constantly wanted to be around them. Meena closed her eyes and lay back, letting the intoxicatingly giddy feel bask over her. She couldn't remember her relationship with Johnny, but some part of her remembered him. Some part of her still remembered and yearned for his presence. It was a confusing, almost scary sensation. But right now, it brought her more comfort than worry, so she just enjoyed the feeling her time with Johnny awoke in her and eventually drifted off to sleep.
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sorry for the long chapter, but it was fun to write! With having to write in memories meena lost, its kind of like getting to write multiple fics in one!