Set Me Free - Chapter 11
Rated: T
Confrontation
Chapter Summary: The group confronts Buster Moon but will he be willing to listen?
The confrontation with Buster was taken word for word from the movie so hopefully I didn't screw that up. :-P Anyway, thanks again for all your comments, faves, kudos, etc. Your support constantly astounds me! Xoxo
If Ash thought the drive to Rosita's was long, she was mistaken in thinking Eddie's house would be any closer. Driving farther north into suburbia that turned from more family homes into much less affordable for the average working animal. Seeing the hipster-ish sheep in person, with all of his laid-back lazy charm, it would astonish you to find out that he was crazy stinkin' rich. The address that was provided was well-known as an area that only millionaires would frequent or scarcely able to afford.
Johnny was just as wide-eyed as her as he continually followed the group farther into the mountainous hills filled with gilded mansions, wrought iron gates, alabaster and granite walls, and flawless, sky-scraping palm trees lining blocks as far as the eye could see.
"Wow. Only celebrities and millionaires 'ave in houses like these... Eddie seems so down to earth - hard ta imagine he lives up here." Johnny commented with a heavier Cockney accent than usual, eyes straying from the road while they were yielded for a moment at a stop sign. His large chestnut eyes taking up the scenery in rapt astonishment and Ash could scarcely blame him - it felt almost as if it was almost a different world from their worn city.
"Me either. Heh. Buster must really be suffering living up here in the slums." Ash replied sarcastically once the car started moving again.
Large gated mansions and opulent communities were nothing she was familiar with and she started pulling at her wrinkled clothes in a sudden sense of slight insecurity. She'd always hated more glitzy things for she was never one to be part of that - rather found herself rebelling against it. Ash was by no means impressed by anyone's wealth and just because they were affluent didn't make them any better than anyone else. She supposed it was part of being subjected to those privileged so-called glamorous girls in high school that would turn up their nose at her any opportunity they got.
Ash always despised them…
Johnny's sudden movement caught her eye when he suddenly adjusted in his seat and Ash was actually grateful for the distraction.
"You nervous?" Ash asked before she really even planned to speak out.
"Heh. Yeah, a little, I s'ppose." Johnny chuckled, pulling at the neck of his green sweater and Ash was given a sense of Déjà Vu about the first time they ever really spoke. Her sobbing like a sad sack atop that music case when he barged in and sat petrified beside her, his eyes kept checking his watch in an almost panic. Their short conversation and his words more encouraging to her than her boyfriend of five years had ever been…
It was hard to believe it was only over a month ago that all of this crazy roller-coaster ride started.
"…are you?" Johnny continued with a slight chuckle a moment later, "Ya know…nervous?" His warm brown eyes directed at the road as he made another sharp turn behind Rosita's car.
Ash leaned further back into the worn, soft leather; taut quills pricking the seat a bit as she shifted. In all honesty, hell yes she was nervous but she was quite hesitant to admit it. Especially to Johnny (for whatever reason, she wasn't exactly sure).
"Eh, kinda...not really…" the porcupine shrugged in an attempt to correct herself, "I guess this is the deciding factor, right? See if we should even bother at this singing thing or just give up and get a normal job." Ash surprised herself at the brutal honesty as to which she spoke, but at this point, what did hiding any of her own insecurities really matter?
Johnny was silent for a long time after the words left her mouth. Hands tightened over the steering wheel as he made yet another turn down a long and winding mountain road.
"…While that's true, I'm sure it'll work out." Johnny sounded a lot more confident than Ash suspected he felt. His quietness after her blurting at Rosita's place was no mere coincidence and it was only after ten minutes of following the mother of 25's car that Ash saw him finally crack a smile (and that was coming from a guy who was rarely without one).
"How can you be so certain?"Ash muttered, "You know as well as I do that Moon could just as easily turn us all down and then what? I'll tell you, we're pretty much screwed." Ash grumbled out, yet again felt like a harbinger of bad news and harsh reality but right now it felt warranted. She hated how she clung to these last rays of hope and was doing everything in her power to drown them out…a part of her grasped so hard to the hope lacing Johnny's accented voice and she tried desperately to shut it up.
"I'm not certain whatsoever." Johnny admitted with a hopeless smile pulling at his mouth and it was an understatement to say Ash was surprised at his honesty, "I just like to be positive."
"No kidding," Ash muttered under her breath, trying not to roll her eyes at the optimism still oozing from him. Luckily, Johnny didn't hear her for Rosita finally turned into open mansion gates along a dead-end street.
Ash stared ahead expecting to find larger dwelling but these were rather humble compared to the gaudy ones down the road. More modern mansion that was still obviously way more vast and expensive than most homes but it wasn't opulent by mansion standards; flat-roofed and obviously ample but nothing what she expected. It was simple and beautiful and a part of her was relieved at the rather tame view confronting them.
Johnny took a few moments to park in a free spot in the mansion's vast grounds behind Rosita.
The truck coming to a stop with a slight screech; Johnny put it into park and exited the vehicle all while Ash awaited Johnny to open her door (she gave it her damnedest to open it herself but to no avail - she'd rather wait than try to embarrass herself again). A few seconds later, Johnny had flung it open and while he did offer his hand again, Ash refused to take it; gingerly climbing down the truck on her own volition. Yeah, she knew she was being stubborn as all hell but if it was the one thing she could control right now -so be it.
Once her feet were firmly planted upon the sidewalk, Ash turned around and saw Johnny waiting for her. His thumbs hooked into his jean pockets and his loose fingers were drumming nervously on his thighs. Ash didn't say anything regarding his obvious trepidation, instead continued past him where he followed her toward Rosita, Gunter, and Meena.
Miss Crawly was waiting nearby in some shade, her Oldsmobile parked a few yards away and Ash wondered how the hell the ancient lizard even procured a license (you know, namely regarding her astronomical age and the fact she only had one functional eye…was that even legal?).
"Hello... How is everyone?" Ms. Crawly droned out, her voice shaky as she awaited the approaching group.
"Good." Rosita answered for all of them .
"Why, that's wonderful. So nice to see you all again." Miss Crawly drawled a bit, "Now that we're all here, let's go." she continued before she began slowly walking toward the mansion.
The group looked at each other and the lack of filler but all followed behind Miss Crawly regardless. Ash suddenly felt nauseous as she trailed closely after Johnny's towering form; her gut twisting painfully into knots - damn her nervous stomach…
Everyone was unnaturally silent as they all slowly preceded after Miss Crawly, some looking at the elaborate grounds and nice hedges that were perfectly trimmed. It was hard at least not to appreciate the kind of work that it took to get them in that condition. The house was getting closer and the nervousness was only increasing. Ash was jolted back to reality when they went around the large main mansion and instead, headed back to the rear where a large pool and adjoining house was located.
Ash's brows furrowed at the small pool house when they all suddenly stopped in front of it. Before them, a slightly translucent glass door greeted them and before Ash really understood all that was happening - Miss Crawly knocked on it.
"Mr. Moon?" Miss Crawly was the first to speak up. Her gentle knocks upon the partially transparent door not doing enough to warrant the occupant on the other side to answer.
Getting frankly sick of his lack of an answer, Ash shouted, "C'mon, Moon! You can't hide in your buddy's pool house forever!" Ash ignored the look Johnny flashed her. She didn't care if she was being to harsh, perhaps it was the only thing that would work at this point.
"Yeah! We just want to make sure you're alright! That's all!" Meena chimed in as if trying to cover the bases that they were caring for his welfare.
Ash wasn't so concerned but at least she didn't say otherwise.
It was a good ten seconds before the group heard the barely audible footsteps approach; a shadow about Ash's height appeared right behind the sliding door and within a second, it was open and Buster Moon was suddenly standing before them.
…and it was not the Buster Moon any of them expected...
No suit and red bow-tie adorning his small, animated frame. No head held high admist his short height or an unfaltering smile etched across his expressive face, even his ears that were proudly displayed were lowered as he stared up at them with a look of utter defeat on his tired face. Over-sized green tee-shirt swallowing him whole as he stared with slight disdain at the group for being interrupted with whatever he was doing.
Ash looked beyond him for a moment and seen Eddie fast asleep on the couch twenty feet behind the koala. The room was dark other than the colors from a television flashing and dancing across the adjacent wall.
…damn, it was a depressing sight…
The group must have felt much of the same because for all of their plans, all of their speeches they had been planning to say to the koala now all died on their lips at seeing the horrible condition of Buster Moon.
"...Hey, Mr. Moon…" Rosita was the first to speak since Buster appeared and the group was silently thankful for her ability to mutter out kind words when they all felt so tongue-tied.
"You okay?" Johnny's voice was the next to ring out compassionately through the warm afternoon air. The genuine tone he spoke with far more tender than anything Ash could have mustered right now.
Ash stared at Buster for a long time (for she was the only one in the same height range after all) seeing if there would be any hope lingering on his face or any happiness whatsoever at seeing them but his face remained blank and Ash was filled with a sudden sense of dread of what was to come.
"Look, guys…I'm sorry about what happened. The prize money, the -" Buster started, his voice a mere whisper to his normal theatrical announcements.
"It's okay -" Rosita interrupted.
"No," Buster butted back in, "None of this is okay." voice sharp and salty but he was still refusing to meet their eyes for longer than a split second.
"At least we're all in one piece." Ash felt herself speak; the words a lot kinder and encouraging than she thought herself capable at this point, but desperate times called for desperate measures and she had to do something to ease the gnawing ache in her gut.
"Yeah, and you know what - I bet we can find some other place to audition! The show must go on…right?" Rosita had so much hope lacing her voice it made you want to believe and cling desperately to every word she said.
"Yeah!" Everyone nodded in agreement, doing everything to encourage the depressed koala.
"The show…" Buster muttered under his breath, eyes straying to his feet before he finally met their eyes and the dullness in those blue eyes was alarming, "…guys, I'm done."
"...You serious?" Johnny asked incredulously, his face and shoulders deflating slightly.
"What do you mean, 'you're done'!? C'mon!"Ash spoke over the gorilla and they gave each other a quick look before both their attention turned back to the hunched over koala.
"Didn't you see this?" Buster asked, pulling up a newspaper from the floor; dated a few weeks ago, "Huh? Look. It says I'm a danger to society." he muttered, slapping the paper with the back of his hand.
"NAH!" Gunter tried to intervene.
"- a deluded, washed up Charlatan who's never had a hit in his career…" Buster interrupted, an anger and bitterness leaching into that once bright, hopeful voice.
"Aw, come on you don't believe all that!" Rosita spoke up kindly, her voice so motherly that it was hard not to believe it.
"Yeah…I do." Buster answered, eyes fleeting to the paper in his hand and staring it as if it's fading black ink was verbally mocking him. His eyes met theirs for only a split second before the koala suddenly and swiftly turned away from them; small hand grabbing the door and attempting to slam it closed.
"Listen." Johnny spoke gravely, hand reaching out to grab the door and effectively stopping him from closing the glass door in their faces.
Ash was dumbfounded at the direction this tail-spinning conversation was going but was more surprising was how the normally calm Johnny was the one to stop Buster. An unfamiliar stern look appearing on Johnny's face; his brows furrowed and mouth in a firm line. A seriousness lacing his voice she swore the gorilla wasn't capable of yet nothing compared to her shock when the following words started trailing from Johnny's mouth.
"You're not the only one who lost something…we all did!" Johnny muttered out and the others nodded in agreement but it appeared as if Johnny wasn't done. His voice rising as he choked out, "I-I mean, I've lost any chance of ever speaking to my dad again over this show." Johnny finished, hand leaving the door to rest on his chest as if emphasizing the struggles and pain held deep inside.
Ash was partially being blocked by the door but when she heard Johnny speak and his words slowly registered into her clouded subconscious - it froze any words that wanted to escape. She did not expect Johnny to say anything for he gave no indication of the horrors of his own life; his own private hell. A life she believed had been sunshine and constant rainbows - for why the hell else could he possibly be so happy all the time!? Yet the agony lacing those words was nothing short of genuine and heart-breaking…her tongue was frozen to the bottom of her mouth.
It was as if the world stopped for a second but apparently, it didn't for Buster.
"I'm sorry." was all Buster said before he successfully pulled the glass closed with a muted thud.
The door was basically slammed in their face.
Dread that had been building for days was suddenly realized as Ash was forced to stare at the sealed door. Silhouette of Buster long gone from her vision and a burn began in her heaving chest; pain of rejection - one of which she was too familiar with steadily building deep inside her sternum. Rising from anger, betrayal, frustration, the once bright future she had planned were now drowning in hellish flames. Her own words she spoke earlier - about Buster not listening to their pleas and about this being a gigantic waste of time - damn, she hated when she was right.
The planning, the speeches, the options, and opportunities they had prepared to convince Buster Moon about ended up meaning jack squat the second that door closed. Buster outright refused to listen to reason and backhandedly them to leave; slamming the transparent sliding door in their face. Basically telling them it was all a waste of time seemed to be the ultimate breaking point for all involved.
Another side of her downright refused to accept that this was it - that whatever the hell this was truly was over. Refused to believe that her dreams about a career in music were crushed and scattered into the wind because of Buster being a stubborn ass. Ash was sorely tempted to go forcefully shove the door open and start physically and verbally wailing on the koala; mostly to ease her own anger at him getting them almost killed in the theater collapse or just for being so damn frustrating in turning them down without them getting much of a word in edgewise but something stopped her in her tracks.
Feet frozen, she looked up at Johnny, one of only four still standing there and a flash of utter despair flooding his expression told her more than she cared to.
She'd never seen him look like that.
Ash held her breath - anger seeping in as she wanted desperately to pull that glass door open and speak her mind to Buster but seeing Johnny (who had been by her side through it all) suddenly walked away. Before she could speak in any hopes to halt him in his tracks, Johnny had turned and left. The rest of the group, sans Meena, silently scattered as well.
Tongue still frozen in her mouth, Ash followed Johnny much like a moth to the flame; leaving Meena to stand alone by that door.
At first, Ash swore the only reason she was walking him was because he was her ride.
That was all.
She refused to acknowledge the jittery condition of her heart or how her palms felt clammy whenever he was around. Hated how unconditionally kind he was especially recalling how rather rude she'd treated him on a fair number of occasions thus far. It wasn't so much as blatantly mean, rather just inconsiderate or indifferent to his questions and presence in the wake of her own depression.
As he approached his black truck, Johnny suddenly stopped.
Feet that had been dragging slightly were now completely still and it was only a positive twist of fate that she did not run straight into his ass. They were near the curb at this point and Ash still wanted to go and give Moon a piece of her mind (or fist) but something urgently refuted her desire to go back.
Within a second, Johnny had stepped off the curb and plopped unceremoniously upon the sidewalk (it looked almost as if it hurt but Johnny didn't seem bothered by it whatsoever).
Ash fell silent for a moment, still lost in some kind of bizarre limbo she was completely unfamiliar with. Ash felt a lot taller from this position (nearly up to his collarbones) and it was rather uncomfortable but she refused to sit next to him either.
"Sorry." Johnny suddenly spoke, normally chipper voice felt choked and small - Ash didn't like it one bit. "I-I don't think I'm up to driving just yet." he continued, position slouched and eyes steadfast on the asphalt between his parted feet.
Ash swallowed back a retort, her heart fluttering further about her chest. There he went apologizing about something so mundane and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
"It's fine. It's not as if we have anywhere to be now." Ash's tongue suddenly began working; ignoring the jittering in her body by kicking lightly at the few rocks on the sidewalk.
Looking upon her surroundings and trying to calm her frantic heartbeat and pain of rejection so fresh in her chest, Ash watched Miss Crawly slowly get into her car. The elderly lizard's head lowered and back hunched even more than usual before the car veered down the road like a bat outta hell. Ignoring how an ancient lizard was able to get her license was beyond her. Further down the block where Rosita was getting into her car with Gunter, the two pigs disturbingly quiet as they climbed in.
Ash felt tempted to call out to them, to keep them in conversation for the sheer opportunity to feel the least bit better about this entire situation even if she doubted it would help. The words died on her tongue as the car ignited with a soft purr and was gone.
The porcupine swallowed back the voice that wanted to escape and looked back at Johnny, the barest hints of her voice coming back when she felt the ground began to shake underneath her tiny feet. Flinching at what she thought was an earthquake at first was answered when Meena suddenly barreled back to her grandfather's van, the young teen obviously distraught and holding back tears. The elephant letting out a sad whine as she threw the van open and got inside; her hands and ears covering her face before Ash could even get a good look at her.
Within seconds, they too were gone and her and Johnny were all that were left.
A silence that she was far too accustomed to bothered her immensely. Taking in Johnny's facade, a desperation to stay in one piece, and it didn't belong. Something continually daunted her though, and that was his words he spoke. So much confusion as to what he meant by them were the most prevalent thing in her mind - more than her anger, frustration, and dashed hopes were his broken words. Could scarcely fathom them leaking from his mouth - from someone who was so positive even in the worst of times. At first, she refused to say a word, trying to keep Johnny at an arm's length and her heart a barrier of ice. Tried her damnedest to stay selfish to her own problems but one glance at his face, the deep furrow of his brow and the sadness that didn't belong...
...it became too much...
Before Ash could even second-guess herself or stop the words from escaping her mouth, she blurted out, "...W-What do you mean that you lost any chance to speak to your dad again?"