Chapter 9 "Wonderful Tonight" July 2, 1984 (One week before)
"We go to a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me."
Eric Clapton, "Wonderful Tonight."
Lucy
On the evening of July second, after her shift, I assisted Janine in preparing for her date with her new semi-serious boyfriend, Victor. Tonight they were going to one of the premiere Operas because she had never been, and he secured tickets. Janine had bought a magnificent sleeveless red satiny sheathlike evening gown a couple of months before that she fell in love with, and it fit her cute little figure perfectly. I had been there when she had tried it on and modeled it for me, and I happened to agree with her.
That evening, I spent some time curling her straight locks to produce some volume in her hair, inquiring about her seriousness with Victor, whom I had not met yet. I knew that he was the brother of one of her sisters, Doris, close friends and that she had been waiting to set her little sister up with him after Egon broke it off with Janine again in May.
We were sitting in Peter's bathroom because it was the largest with a bathtub and plenty of space. I was singing "Wonderful Tonight" in the background as Janine prepared for her date, dressed only in her strapless bra, panties, garter belt, and stockings so the dress would not be creased.
"I feel wonderful because I see the love shining in your eyes And the wonder of it all.
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you," I sang.
"We have been on four or five dates, and he wants to be exclusive already," she replied, with a slightly apprehensive scowl.
"Did you tell him that you were getting over someone still," I inquired, taking a piece of her hair and carefully rolling it upon her head.
"Yes, of course. Victor wants me to meet some of his close friends tonight," Janine returned, giving me a frown.
"Are you..you know... still...getting over him," I inquired, wide-eyed, and continued to roll her hair up, vigilantly.
"'I'm trying so much, Luce," Janine responded honestly.
"How's the chemistry between the two of you," I questioned.
Janine's facial expression gave me the answer- it was subpar at best, probably compared to the powerful passion she shared with Egon.
"And he wants us to sleep together," she added, biting her lip, "I think he thinks tonight he will impress me into his bed. I mean, we have fooled around a little, but it just doesn't feel right."
Janine gave me an overwrought glance.
"Well, you shouldn't do anything you don't want to," I declared as she put on some facial lotion.
"And I won't. I mean, I am hardly a virgin, but nothing feels right except with him. But Egon can't seem to realize that we are...meant to...be...together," Janine cried, exasperated, a tear rolling down her face. Taking a few breaths, she regained her composure, but her hands shook a little when she attempted to put her contact in her right eye. Stopping, she put the light corrective lense back in its case for a while.
"Maybe you shouldn't date...maybe you commenced too early," I guiltily suggested, " I'm sorry, I brought this subject up, honestly."
"No, I am glad you did, Lucy. If I don't date, am I supposed to wait around for Egon? So he can dump me again?" Janine complained, smarting from Egon's recent dismissal of her in May at random, and I stopped rolling her hair for a second and hugged her from the side.
"Janine, it will be ok," I informed her softly.
"The only way I'm going to get over him is by leaving here; I have decided," she said, after our hug, firmly, " In December, I will graduate, and I can start my new career.
"I couldn't imagine working with an ex that I was in love with," I countered earnestly.
"Egon did love me, and I could tell that he was telling the truth by his emotions and reaction. I try not to think about it anymore because if he asked for forgiveness for his foolishness, my heart would instantly accept him back. I'm that much in love with him," Janine disseminated in vain, looking helpless, " but my brain tells me that he would have to prove it to me in a sweeping way that would silence all the irresolutions that I have."
We spoke for a few minutes about it, and I attempted to offer comfort where I could. I advised her that I think she could cancel this date. Meanwhile, we heard Ray, Peter, and a friend of theirs from Columbia, Aaron, yelling at the TV about the Yankees game because they were losing to the Red Sox. Again.
"I have one more semester of school," Janine stated happily.
"If I could find another job, I would, but at the same time, I'm so devastated about leaving here. I love everyone here and the job- it's the only workplace I've been employed where it's been like a family," she added, wistfully.
"I won't say anything," I promised, "or did you talk to Peter about this already?"
"Sort of; I've indirectly spoken to Ray about it but in very vague terms. I could never leave them high and dry without a replacement," Janine elucidated and began to cry again. The pressure of working with a former lover, her passion for him, and the research paper she was responsible for writing this summer overwhelmed her.
As Janine sobbed, I gave her another hug and sighed. I let her weep for a few minutes, and then she attempted to regain her composure neutrally as we prepared for her date. Next, I took the rollers out of her hair and worked on giving it volume. After she put her contacts into her eyeballs, I could tell she was attempting to get her mind in the right frame before Victor arrived. One last time I inquired if she wanted me to call Victor and cancel the date citing illness or something.
"I have a catalog of excuses in my head," I revealed, joking.
Shaking her head, Janine stood up from where she was sitting and retrieved a toothbrush and toothpaste from her make-up bag from an overnight bag she had brought. She smirked at my attempt at humor and began to brush her teeth. Afterward, I helped her apply her make-up and into her snug-fitting dress.
Thirty minutes later, Janine was dressed and ready but still unsettled. I had a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Ray
Lucy came out of Peter's bedroom during our Yankee- Red Sox watch party and sat on the sofa next to me at the end of the game's last inning. Peter was in the middle of a conversation with a friend of ours who taught at Columbia with us.
"Ray, have you met this Victor," Lucy inquired suspiciously, and I drank my beer.
"Is he ok?"
Nodding, I pointed to the kitchen and motioned for my brunette sister to join me there to speak more openly without the others hearing. Luckily, they were more involved with their discussion as I checked. We grabbed some more beers for everyone, and my sister described, "I don't think she's over Egon enough to be dating others."
"Yeah, but will she ever be ready," I inquired cynically, opening a beer then going into the landing to give both Peter and Aaron one. I returned to the kitchen, where Lucy was leaning on the fridge as she drank her beer, and we watched the game from the kitchen, drinking.
"Good point," she answered, raising her eyebrow.
"Sounds like Victor is kinda trying to push her a little, and she's not comfortable because of those very feelings," I offered.
"Yes, I have received the same impression from conversations that I had with Janine today," Lucy confessed, scowling.
"Promise me that you won't push her and Egon together. It's really up to him to implore and beg for forgiveness from her, it's on him," Lucy begged, and I nodded.
"Little sister, I promise Venkman and I are on the same page. If we had our way, Egon wouldn't have screwed up so badly," I explained. We watched the TV as a Red Sox player hit a home run.
"Oh shit," Lucy exclaimed, slapping her leg in agitation.
"Egon's envious as hell of Victor, though, " I retorted after my sister's expletive, " He looks like he will blow a gasket every time he is around here."
She nodded and watched the last inning with us. Afterward, Janine appeared from Peter's room dressed to the 9's, which was an English slang term for perfection, by the way, while biting her bottom lip.
"How do I look," Janine questioned apprehensively.
Janine's beauty amazed all the Ghostbusters present, including myself and Aaron when she entered the room. Immediately, the men stopped talking as they watched her floating in on a cloud like the Good Witch in "The Wizard of Oz." Red satin gloves covered her slim arms to her elbows that matched her sleeveless dress that revealed her curvy body. Around her neck, Janine wore a string of pearls she had informed me that were her Grandmother's and matching earrings. Finally, along her right wrist, she wore her charm bracelet, one of her favorite pieces of jewelry lately. Even though Janine was like a sister to me, I felt mesmerized.
Spengler had a laser-like focus on his experiments and research lately. With Janine dating again, he purposely went out of his way to avoid her. Although Peter and I disagreed with this strategy, we kept our mouths shut because Egon seemed hell-bent on being unhappy and miserable despite loving her.
Distractedly, Egon strode into the landing unexpectedly, did a double-take, then halted in his tracks. Our friend's face displayed absolute unconditional love for Janine as we complimented her.
"Fabulous," Peter replied admiringly.
"Phenomenal," I described.
"Breathtaking," Aaron, a friend from our Columbia days stated, with a smile, " and I barely know you."
Chagrined, Janine blushed heavily as a result.
"Come on, Ray, Lucy, and Aaron, there is something that I want to show you downstairs in my office," Peter urged as he saw Egon's smittenness as he stood mouth agape in front of the sofa.
Then we left the landing to give them privacy.
Lucy
While the others descended the stairs, I halted in the middle of the stairs to view the scene, curious. Speechless, Egon stayed in the same place, frozen in awe of her resplendency. Janine saw him, and stood anxiously, glancing down at her gloved hands fidgeting. He strolled towards her and ceased when he stood in front of her. Gently, Egon clasped her petite hand and rubbed the top of it with his thumb.
Next, the awe-struck man peered into his love's eyes, describing in great detail how superb she looked, then sincerely apologized for wounding her from his heart in the past year. Gasping, Janine is taken aback, as evident by her expression as he spoke.
"I'm so sorry for not protecting you in April. I have never wanted to hurt you, and the fact that I did again just broke me," he admitted, his deep voice wavered as he spoke in nervousness, "I know it's too late now for me and that you have given me multiple chances over the past year."
Janine lowered her head as Dr. Spengler stated that he desires to see her blissfully joyful with someone who truly deserved her. He then lists all of the excellent traits that make her an ideal partner- like funny, intelligent, caring, kind, and giving. Since I knew Janine, I could tell she was holding her tears in as she bit her bottom lip.
"I made my bed, and now I will lie in it. The short time we had together is worth all the suffering of watching you date someone now. I am content with loving you from afar since I am out of chances," Egon softly explained, squeezing her hand gently. Janine realized that he spoke from the heart, and it touched her. Unknowingly, she held her breath out of the shock of it, and I saw her exhale anxiously.
Dr. Spengler can't vocalize the depth of his love entirely because he starts to choke up. Taking a deep breath, Egon continues to tell her of the power of his love.
"Make sure this guy deserves you because if he doesn't, don't waste your time on him. I know I didn't deserve you," he advised, heart-rendering," I want you to have all of the happiness possible in your life, Janine."
When Egon finished speaking, he let go of her hand. Hesitantly, he used the same hand to caress her face with the back of his hand. Engrossed by Janine's beauty, Egon began at her cheek and ended at her chin, and she happily closed her eyes as he touched her. Dr. Spengler's eyes were full of tears, yet he remained enchanted by her as the two read each other's expressions. For a long moment, they do so, and there is love all over their faces.
Egon requested if he may kiss her cheek. Nodding, Janine approved, and he leaned in to kiss her right cheek, then wished her the best. With a couple of tears running down his face, Egon retreated to the roof quickly. Janine couldn't have seen his tears from her vantage point.
The radio played one of my favorite songs, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton on the radio, and I felt a wave of compassion wash over my body for Spengler. It was such a sentimental scene, and the music felt so perfect. It described Egon's ardent love for Janine even if she didn't realize it.
"I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you."
Since the incident in Spring and Egon's decision to break up with her, Janine had tried to bury them. Regardless, she couldn't, no matter her actions or thoughts. She had attempted to conceal them as Egon confessed his love, but they resurfaced with a vengeance- tears flowed down her eyes that he didn't see when he left.
Without hesitation, I noticed her run to the bathroom, and she closed the door behind her. I ran from the stairs to knock on the bathroom door and inquired if Janine wanted me to help her. Quickly, she let me in and closed the door, standing against it sobbing uncontrollably. Janine allowed me to hug her to console her. Next, I put the lid on the toilet to sit down and offered Janine the seat. Instead, she shook her head vehemently as she contemplated her choices: to go on this date with Victor or tell him that she was indeed in love with Egon. It was all unspoken, but I knew her well enough to know her thoughts.
Janine requested to be alone to contemplate her options for a few minutes alone, so I retrieved her make-up bag from Peter's bathroom. When I returned five minutes later, her voice was calm, but she was shaking.
"J, are you alright," I questioned, out of concern, putting the makeup bag down on the counter, "would you like me to call Victor to cancel?"
"No, please don't call Victor," Janine responded anxiously.
Her lower lip quivered, and she noisily sniffled when I asked her if she wanted me to correct her makeup. I asked her to sit down so I could do so as her eye make-up is smudged by her burst of tears earlier and running down her face.
Cheerfully, I begin to coat her tear-stained face with a little loose powder using a make-up brush and start speaking about the Yankee- Red Socks game, primarily to myself.
"Bang! Bang!"
Both of us jumped out of fright, and I heard an unknown male voice from the other side of the door. Well, it was strange to me anyway.
"Janine?" Victor's voice called from the other side of the door as he knocked gently on it.
Underneath her breath, my friend curses to herself because she neglected to lock the door. She is displeased that her date is here. She lowers her head down but doesn't respond, unable to speak.
"We need a few more minutes," I answered uneasily.
"Do you want me to leave," I murmured as Victor pounded on the door more forcefully this time, causing his date to jump slightly from her seat.
"Yes, please," Janine slowly rises from the toilet and sighs, but it is easy to see she is torn on her choices. As a result, she slumped down on the bathroom rug, crying.
"Janine!" his voice became indigent and more urgent as he struck his fist on the door vehemently, screaming her name. Regrettably, Victor's screaming causes her to sob even more.
"He doesn't like to wait on anybody," Janine reported in a whisper and ignored his outraged voice calling for her, " Go ahead, Lucy. I am fine."
Feeling uncomfortable about leaving my friend, I honored her request. However, Victor did not expect me when I opened the door, as noted by the appalled look on his face and his mouth hanging open.
"Who the hell are you, and where is Janine," he demanded, sonorously.
"Hi, I am Lucy. I was helping Janine with her make-up," I coolly stated, closing the door behind me so he couldn't see her on the floor weeping.
I strolled to the stairwell slowly because a strange feeling appeared in my stomach, indicating that something isn't right about Victor. So, I walked very slowly and purposely eavesdropped as any close friend would do.
Victor had gone into the bathroom to discover Janine crestfallen, sitting on the floor in her stunning dress, weeping.
"Janine, what happened," he questioned, bewildered at the sight of seeing his date so devastatingly distraught. When the auburn beauty views him, she cries a new fresh set of tears because she knows what she must do. Janine knows that it will hurt Victor and doesn't want to do it because she is not a cruel or spiteful person.
"I am extremely remorseful, but I can't go," she replied, expunging her tears off of her face with her fingers.
"Why ever not," Victor asked, his voice softening, and I could tell that he was genuinely baffled by this turn of events. He offered her his hand to help her stand, and Janine accepted it gratefully. Carefully, Victor guided her as she shakily strode towards the kitchen to sit in a chair. Janine can't respond because she is still weeping uncontrollably, and she covers her face with her glove-covered hands.
"What is it, Janine," he inquires again, and his frustration heightens as evident by the red in his face, "can I get you something? Are you not well?"
Janine faced him with a solemn expression and explained, seriously, "I cannot go to the Opera. You are a wonderful man, but I am in love with someone else. I am so guilt-ridden for doing this to you, but I can't date you anymore."
Victor's mouth again drops open, and for one long minute, he is shocked into silence until his expression turns sinister and he demands, garishly,
"Which fucking Ghostbuster is it?"
"That is my cue," I thought, and I ascended the stairs rapidly to witness the next part out of deep concern for my friend. Next, I begin to tiptoe back into the kitchen from the stairwell.
Shaking her head, Janine closes her eyes and takes a deep breath but doesn't answer. I can see that she is trying to keep her composure, but she weeps again.
"Damn it, Janine, I thought you were over... I care... about you, you know," he yelled, running his hands through his hair, unsure of the action to take next. His expression is one of grief, suffering, and extreme resentment towards her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, morosely with her eyes closed, "I am."
Victor stared at her in disbelief, and Janine lowered her head downwards, not looking at him but appearing emotionally drained. There is silence as I watch the two in a standoff, neither moving nor speaking.
Forlornly, I see Egon entered the landing tentatively out of the corner of my eye because he probably thought the couple had left. It is very clear from Spengler's body language that he felt plagued because his head was down. He had hoped spilling his guts to Janine would affect her decision to go out with Victor, but he hadn't realized that it had. Furthermore, Egon had expected that the two had left for the evening already.
Suddenly, Victor is wildly screaming in an offensive manner that made me dislike this man even more.
"I don't have to take this, Victor," Janine yelled, her nasal intonation very audible as she stood from her chair and moved to walk away from him.
"Which fucking Ghostbuster is it? I'll kill him," he yelled violently, grabbing right her arm tightly so she can't escape him. Janine's face is crimson, and her expression has changed from extreme grief to extreme annoyance.
"It doesn't matter. Let me go. It is over."
"The hell it doesn't, Janine," he hissed, grabbing her arm tighter, much to Janine's horror. Her skin is turning red.
"You are hurting me. Let go of me," Janine screamed, fighting to break free from his grip.
Outraged by the drama, I didn't see Egon's incensed expression as he marched quickly to where the two stood until he was right in the middle of it.
"Let go of her," Spengler commanded as Janine twisted and turned to get away from Victor's grasp.
" This doesn't involve you, Spengler," Victor spat out in disgust, not breaking his gaze from Janine.
It took a minute, but then he realized that it did indeed concern Egon.
" Jesus, it's you, isn't it? Janine's in love with you?" Victor shouted questioningly, his hand smacking his forehead in vexation.
"Let her go," Dr. Spengler growled in response, his fists clenching open and closed at his side.
Finally, Victor lets go of Janine, but he backhands her face with his left hand. Flinching, an astonished Janine falls back to the floor with a small cry and an "Oomph." The sound of his hand slapping my friend's face sounded like a whip almost, and I felt rage wash over me. I ran over to her to check on my friend as Egon clenched one of his fists and then threw it into Victor's jaw. Gobsmacked, he stumbled backward and then on his butt on the floor.
Immediately, I viewed Janine's face, seeing a small horizontal cut underneath her right eye on her cheek, bleeding a little. I guess he had a ring on his finger, and that broke her skin. When Egon saw Janine's blood and her tears, he turned a purplish- red, and I swear I saw smoke rising out of his ears like in the old cartoons, but the only difference was that I wasn't laughing.
"Are you OK, Janine" he inquired, breathing heavily. Again, the smoke blew out of his ears.
Meanwhile, although still disconcerted, Victor crept behind Egon as I called for Ray and Peter to come up here, not knowing that they had just ascended the stairs. The expression on Victor's face was worrisome.
"Janine," Victor called her name calmly, walking towards her, but I helped Janine up and moved her away from them as quickly as I could.
"Don't you fucking touch her," Egon yelled, turning around and standing in front of him. The two were nose to nose, almost except that the theoretical physicist was five inches taller than Victor, but they stood there eyeballing each other like two boxers in a ring fight. To my dismay, I would never have guessed that I would have seen Dr. Egon Spengler punch someone.
"I don't know why but I never guessed it was you," Victor growled after a long silence.
"Leave," Egon demanded in a forceful tone of voice, but Victor threw a punch hitting the physicist in the eye. Dr. Spengler's glasses fell off of his face, and I ran to retrieve them. Amazingly Victor didn't break them.
In complete shock, Egon fell back, off-balance, covering his eye with his hand, making a booming groaning sound. Victor's punch made the Ghostbuster angrier, and I had never seen a more menacing expression on Egon's face ever. I doubt I ever will.
"Get the hell out of here, Victor," Ray demanded, coming behind the theoretical physicist.
"Come on, Egon, this guy isn't worth it," Venkman remarked, attempting to calm the physicist down, standing between the two. Unfazed, Egon kept his gaze on Victor, willing him to do something. Peter fled the scene for a while.
"I don't know why but I never thought it was you that she was in love with," Victor sneered again. Unanticipatedly, Egon punched him with a solid hit to his mouth, and afterward, he was trembling in frustration and anger. Meanwhile, I was trying to restrain Janine from getting in the middle of the fight.
Victor retreated a bit, with blood coming out of his mouth but ran towards Spengler then punched him in the mouth and then the nose. Like a knockout one-two punch, Egon fell on the ground, unused to being hit and dazed by the situation. I saw some red blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, and I felt my stomach turn. I didn't like seeing it.
"No, Victor, stop," Janine yelled, standing up trying to get around me to see if Egon was ok since he was on the floor.
I have to hand it to Spengler; he stood up again and attempted to go after him one more time. No one could call him a "pussy". By that time, both Ray and Peter were trying to restrain Victor. Like an enraged wrestler, Egon pushed his friends away and grabbed his enemy's neck; then, he strangled him for a few seconds. The look on Spengler's face was one that I had never seen before on the usually serene scientist, and I felt frightened about what might occur next.
Like a cowboy wielding a gun in an old western, Peter speedily gave Egon a tranquilizer shot in the neck. His friend's hands immediately let Victor go, and Venkman helped his tall friend to the ground. Poor Spengler looked like he didn't know what had hit him, and my heart went out to him as he whimpered in pain from the floor. I knew that he loved Janine and that love was profound.
"I was proud of Peter," I thought.
"You...asshole," Victor sputtered out, trying to regain his composure and breath. He stepped back from Egon and Peter as Janine ran to where Egon fell and cried with a ferocity I didn't know possible, calling out,
"Egon, Egon."
When she saw his wounds, her face fell as someone had accidentally killed her favorite pet. Janine didn't want to cause Egon any more pain than he wanted to do for her. She was devastated. Finally, Peter restrained Victor's right arm with Ray holding the other but allowed him to say first,
"Jesus... Janine, I ... really...l-lo...c-cared about you and...wanted to make you happy, but now I realize I didn't even stand a chance...No one does...except...him...does he even realize it," Victor inquired of Janine, sadly as she looked up from Egon. I could tell that she couldn't hear him, and her only concern was the physicist.
"Get the fuck out of here," Peter hissed at Victor from behind, " don't ever come back. Ever."
Next, they guided him out of the firehouse, and I heard a loud sound before the front door slammed, probably Victor "accidentally" hitting the door.
"Oh Egon, I'm sorry," Janine sobbed, sitting on her knees as she shuddered in concern about him. Her tears were coming down so quickly they were falling off her face and onto him, and she put her hands on the sides of his face, lovingly.
I attempted to remove her from Egon, but she wouldn't.
"No, Lucy, I am staying here with him," she argued, appearing enraged in a way I hadn't seen her.
"Lucy, will you take her into my room to calm down? Janine, I gave him a tranquilizer to calm down. He will be OK in a couple of hours, I promise," Venkman said, nodding at me to take her when he and Ray returned.
After Peter and Janine argued for a couple of minutes, he picked her up and put her over his shoulder as she screamed and pounded on his back. Venkman locked her into his bedroom as Ray, and I moved the unconscious physicist to the sofa.
"What a mess," I muttered after we gently moved Egon and Peter returned.
"Lucy, will you go in there with Janine? You can go through the shared bathroom but then lock the door so she won't have a way out. I may need to give her a tranquilizer, but I need to calm my nerves before I do anything," Pete requested, with his brown eyes pleading with me.
So I did.
Pete
Ray went to the kitchen and unearthed our whiskey bottle and shot glasses, and I slumped into a chair, emotionally exhausted. Lucy had gone in with Janine. I hope that she could console our plucky secretary, but she was pretty hysterical. My adrenaline was pumping through my veins like mad, and my heart rate had tripled its pace.
"Jesus, what a mess," I reported as Ray poured a shot for the both of us.
"Yeah, what do you think will happen now?"
"Who knows? Janine's heart hasn't healed from him breaking it the last time," I warily commented.
"How is it that two people so perfect for each other have so much drama," Ray questioned, and we downed our shot.
"I don't know," I responded, and Lucy came out of my bedroom a few minutes later. Once again, we decided to have a shot, and his sister joined us at the table.
"I didn't expect this to happen. Janine said she wasn't sure about Victor, but I didn't think that he would hit her," she declared after drinking her whiskey shot, "What an asshole!"
"I thought she liked him," Peter questioned the table, holding his shot glass.
Winking, Lucy gave me a very sly expression because her brother wasn't watching her.
"Luce, don't go crazy with the booze," Ray warned, taking her shot glass away when his attention returned to her.
"Ray, come on," she exasperatedly groaned as she rolled her eyes and grabbed it back when he wasn't paying attention. We all drank another shot or two, then were silent for a while, and Ray went into his shared bedroom with Egon to check on him. Unfortunately, this left Lucy and me alone, which wasn't a good idea. As soon as he left, she rose from her chair, then lowered her body on top of my lap and planted a hungry kiss on me. Being the man I was, I wasn't going to insult a lady who was kissing me by rejecting her, and it was clear to me that the fight aroused her. I kissed the hell out of her.
"What are you doing?" I questioned incredulously. Lucy put her arms around my neck and whispered some filthy actions in my ear that she wanted to do.
"Holy crap," I replied, my eyes bulging out of my head, feeling myself become aroused.
A mischievous smile crossed Lucy's face as she removed herself from my body, licking her lips tantalizingly. For fifteen minutes, we made out like lovers who hadn't seen each other for a couple of months. Immediately, it ended when my bedroom door opened and Janine popped out. Our secretary was still an emotional train wreck, although she was dressed for an evening out. Groggily, Janine walked into the kitchen.
For a short time, Janine sat with us and drank whiskey. I attempted to counsel her through the situation, but she wasn't ready to deal with it yet. Pushing a person in the middle of a psychological conflict would not be helpful, and I acknowledged that, so I halted my line of questioning.
Eventually, Janine went into Speng's room to examine him and nurse him back to health, causing Lucy and Ray to come back into the landing.
"What should we do?" Ray inquired, feeling nervous.
"Play Donkey Kong on the Atari," I announced definitively, " Romeo and Juliet have to figure it out by themselves."
Janine
When Egon woke up, he began to ask questions about the incident. The room had grown dark due to the late hour, and I had turned on the overhead light in the room to observe Egon. It pierced my heart to see his black eye and the blood on his mouth and nose, and I felt in horrible pain. I felt anxious about the "talk" we were going to have- Egon would ask me to forgive him, and I didn't have an answer for him. Love wasn't the problem but the possibility of enduring another break-up. Silently, I tended to his wounds carefully.
"Did Victor slap you before," Dr. Spengler asked, shocked at his actions.
"No, he didn't," I answered, placing the ice pack on his left eye with a warning," this will feel very cold, but you have to keep it on there for a while."
"Janine, why did he hit you?"
"I guess you are my knight in shining armor coming to my rescue," I sweetly comment, evading his query. His valiant behavior caused my heart to swell up with pride and love for him, and I grinned down at him.
Unexpectedly, Egon removed the ice pack from his face so he could stare into my eyes as he asked again. He wasn't going to drop the topic.
As a result, I fiddled with my hands in my lap nervously. I didn't want to tell him although I suspected that he knew already, so I let time passed before meeting his eyes and admitting,
"I told him that I couldn't go out with him anymore because I was in love with you. "
He looked pleased by my admission.
"I love you, Janine; I never stopped loving you," he confessed, with an adorable lopsided grin.
"That may be true, but you are out of chances, Egon," I explained firmly, but on the inside, I felt myself melt from his declaration. There was a momentary pause before I persisted in saying,
"I told you that two months ago when you insisted on breaking up with me once again. I can't handle another heartache from you."
"I know you did, Janine. But didn't you say that you loved me?"
"Yes, but we are through, Egon," I said, coldly, turning away from him; I couldn't get caught up in his eyes or the fact that he had been hurt and bleeding because of me. As a result, I stood up and ran into the restroom before I started sobbing.
"Janine," he called disappointedly, but I was already out of the room. I felt horrible for leaving him alone, but I needed to regroup. Meanwhile, Peter, Lucy, and Ray played Donkey Kong on the Atari as I locked myself in the former's room for a while.
" I feel so confused," I moaned as I threw myself on Dr. V's bed. For a time, I laid down and shut my eyes. Sleep eluded me, so I did some relaxation techniques to cease my crying. When I came back and sat on the chair near his bed, Dr. Spengler's expression lit up like a Christmas tree. Rapidly, he began talking about how he missed me with sincerity in his tone,
"I realized that I might have made the wrong decision, and it has made me depressed, unfocused, and moody," my ex-boyfriend responded forthrightly. Egon's eyes met mine.
"I don't know what to say; I haven't noticed any change in you," I replied firmly, crossing my arms over my chest.
"I have tried to avoid you as much as possible, and I didn't want my actions to cause you further suffering like I had last year," Dr. Spengler mentioned.
"You made that choice; I didn't want that to be your choice," I pointed out, my voice choking up with emotion.
"Yes, I did make it, " Egon responded, honestly. Tears were filling up in his eyes, and he was tremendously vulnerable right now. I turned away from him for a moment. I couldn't stand seeing that man hurt, sad, angry, depressed, or any other negative emotion without feeling anything but love for him.
" Egon, you are struggling with things that I can't decide for you, and I don't want to be caught in the middle of them," I sadly sighed, feeling tears leave the corners of my left eye. Quickly, I wiped it away with my hand.
He didn't look happy at my remark but attempted to remain unphased by my statement. Since I knew him so well, Dr. Spengler couldn't conceal it well enough, and I realized I couldn't handle seeing him further upset.
"You took heroic action by defending me from Victor, and I love you all the more for it. I appreciate that you put yourself in harm's way. However, I cannot reunite with you when I am constantly afraid that you will hurt me or change your mind about our relationship," I stated, rising from the seat about, ready to cry.
"You can't stop me from trying, Janine, unless your heart is set on moving on, then I will," Dr. Spengler remarked nervously, "Is that the case?"
Without speaking, I stood up then gently leaned over to kiss his forehead. I couldn't talk without the waterworks flowing, so I removed myself from the situation. Frankly, I knew that I didn't want Egon to halt his attempts, but I wasn't sure if I wanted him to know that yet.
"Ray, would you take me home, please," I inquired as I entered the landing, with tears running down my face. It was eleven, and I didn't want to sit on the subway. My mental toughness was not at its' best.
"Sure, let me finish my turn, and then we can go," he answered, and I went to retrieve my bag of toiletries and work clothes in Peter's room.
Ray
I drove Janine home in Ecto One after the whole debacle and Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" playing, and I sang with the radio, "It's time to go home now, and I've got an aching head, so I give her the car keys, she helps me to bed, and then I tell her..."
Sobbing quietly, she sat in the passenger seat, staring outside of the window as I sang. It was evident she felt overburdened by the night's events. Opening her car door, I offered to see her to her apartment after eleven-thirty in the evening.
"Thank you, Ray. You are lovely, big brother."
I walked to the right side, carrying her bag of clothes that she wore earlier for work and miscellaneous other toiletries she needed to get to prepare for her date.
"Ray, I am calling out tomorrow and possibly Monday since Saturday is the fourth of July. Additionally, we are closed on Sunday, but I want to tell you today. I- I-I can't go back there right now, but I am not quitting. There are "sick" days I can take if you can persuade Peter to sign off on them for me because I am not going to be well," she stoically remarked when we reached her apartment door. Janine opened the door, and I entered tentatively just to drop off her clothing bag.
"That shouldn't be a problem, J; Venkman will approve it," I answered, smiling and waving at Wendy, who sat on the sofa with her boyfriend dumbstruck at Janine and my appearance.
"Don't. Ask Wendy. I can't, I can't, " Janine wept, running into her bedroom and slamming the door.
"What the hell happened," her roommate questioned, so I gave her the short version of it.
"She's shaken up badly. I don't know what happened when she took care of Spengler after he woke up, but something else upset her," I added, putting her bag in the lazy boy's chair.
"Oh My God," Wendy shrieked, " thank you for taking her home, Ray. You have met my fiancee, Roger, right?"
Nodding, I said hello to him and then explained to Wendy that Janine needed time alone. Eyeing her roommate's door, she agreed, and I told her that she would be taking a couple of days off.
"Poor girl," Roger groaned, "she's been going through hell with Egon this year."
"I concur with you. However, it was nice seeing you," I said, turning around and leaving the apartment.
Peter
When Ray took Janine home, Lucy and I started screwing almost immediately in the landing. It was better than make-up sex, I guess, because it was unexpected as she had ended her casual relationship with me in mid-June.
"What is bringing all of this on," I inquired of Lucy as I began undressing her on the sofa.
"Shut up, Pete and fuck me," she hissed, kissing me with a renewed intensity, and I didn't ask any more questions. I only focused on the task on hand.
"Is this a one-time thing," I later asked, buttoning my shirt as Lucy pulled her panties back on. She was a good-looking woman. Like Ray, Lucy always had a little extra around the middle. The weight did give her some magnificent cantaloupe-like breasts, though. I know that she lost forty-five pounds and barely ate to have his approval the year and a half that they were together during Lucy's relationship with her ex-fiancee. I thought she looked anorexic and suggested to Ray that he speak to her having an eating disorder. He requested that I do some therapy with her, but she didn't feel comfortable about it, so I recommended a female psychiatrist for her to go. Finally, Lucy gained about twenty-five pounds since then and looked healthy, albeit a little thick. Ray informed me that it was hereditary that their paternal side tended to be a little overweight. I just thought Lucy was beautiful the way she was, even though I knew she wasn't "the one" for me, and I did care about her.
Lucy gave me a murderous stare as I zipped my pants up, and Egon came hobbling out of his room to see us getting redressed in the landing. She didn't want to answer my question and quickly put her shirt on as she was in her white bra without one.
"You have got to be kidding me," Egon groaned as he wobbled into the kitchen in search of food when he saw us. He looked like Frankenstein with a black eye, a swollen lip, and a nose.
I disregarded his comment, and Lucy shrugged. We didn't glance at each other because I knew it was a one-time deal. Lucy didn't want anything serious because of her jerk ex-fiancee. However, I was finding myself yearning slightly for something more than just a good lay. Maybe.
"You hungry, Spengs? I think dinner is a good idea. What do you want, Lucy?"
"Mexican, maybe," she replied, giving Iggy a wink and placing a finger on her lips to make the "Shh" motion.
"Ray is going to kill you. You know that," Spengs grimaced as he touched his bruised eye, " and I am not going to defend you, Venkman. He told you..."
"Luckily, Spengs, I don't need your help. I can take Ray, if I need to, in a fight," I replied casually.
"You are NOT beating my big brother up, Venkman," Lucy declared, "You can take the ass whooping!"
"But I am the one who is hurt, not you," I exclaimed loudly in vexation. Rolling her eyes, Lucy turned her attention to Egon.
"Go lay back down and rest, and it's not every day that you get in a fight, Spengler," she gently scolded, walking him over to his room," What kind of snack do you want? I will get it."
I picked up the phone and placed the order at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Since we eat out often, I already knew what Egon and Ray wanted.
When Lucy returned from helping our theoretical physicist back to bed, I asked her about her order. She replied and then began playing Donkey Kong. After I ordered, I checked on my injured friend, and I brought the pretzels, twinkies, and the coke that he wanted.
"You aren't very good at that game, Stantz, and you have been practicing tonight," I teased.
Lucy held her middle finger up in the air, causing me to chuckle, and I strolled to Egon's room to knock on the door.
"Hey Spengler, I brought the snacks you ordered," I joked, then opened the door to view him lying down with his eyes fastened. Egon had the ice compress over his bruised eye, and I put his junk food on his nightstand.
"Hello Venkman," he replied monotonically, "Thank you."
"How are you holding up, Iggy," I wondered, pulling up a chair to his bed.
"I have been better, to be honest," he revealed, opening his eyes for a second to observe me, and we remained quiet for a while.
"I thought you were going to kill Victor," I mentioned.
"So did I. I-I-I lost it when I saw him...hit her," he conceded, "my blood still boils over it, but I'm trying to relax. I am meditating."
"To be fair, you have been very jittery about Janine dating again since you broke up with her," I summarized.
"Yes, this is true. I have not handled Janine reentering the dating scene well," Egon sighed then spoke in a deep anguished tone, "I love her so much, Pete, and I have blundered my relationship with her so many times."
"True, but you both are deeply in love with each other. Don't you believe you are meant to be together ?"
"I do, but maybe I was right last year when I told you I wasn't cut out for a relationship," he said, with a pained expression.
"You don't truly believe that do you, Iggy," I exclaimed, wide-eyed, "if you did, you wouldn't have defended her honor."
"My head is aching, I am bleeding in two different places, and my body is sore. However, my heart is full of love for Janine. However, I am not sure what I believe right now," he stated, depressed, " I know that she isn't here with me, and God, I wish she was!"
"You have given her things to think about, Spengs. Janine will need to process everything- just the shock of having a man slap her is traumatizing. On top of that, she saw you defend her then become injured. When you were out, Janine was so distressed about you; she was frantic about your well-being. I almost had to give her a tranquilizer, but she took a nap for a short while," I divulged to my dark-haired friend. Egon sat up, shocked at this information.
"I didn't want to cause her to anguish. I- I- wish I could have assisted her," Iggy responded, wistfully, "See, Peter, I have caused Janine all of this emotional trauma. What good am I to her?"
Egon's brown eyes held so much pain that it made me feel sorrowful as he opened his coke can and took a sip.
"You have encouraged her to complete her degree during periods of her insecurity, you love her unconditionally, and you just defended her from a complete jerk. Those are just a few things. Aren't those enough," I questioned, raising my eyebrows at him.
"Janine's not here with me, is she," he snapped in anger as his brows furrowed. Egon apologized with an embarrassed smile, and I dismissed it with a wave.
"Spengs, you will have to be patient, just like she was with you last year when you were unsure about pursuing a relationship with her," I countered, trying to assuage his frustration. I knew it wasn't personal because he was overloaded with a plethora of emotions today. He was also out of control, and he hated that.
Egon exhaled and mumbled, "Yes."
"Plus, Janine is in the middle of doing research that never seems to be good enough for her professor," I commented, standing up from my chair, "get some rest but don't doubt Janine's love for you. You and she are one of those storybook love stories; you, you just haven't reached your happily ever after yet. Instead, you are in the climax, the tough part."
"How poetic, Venkman," Egon grumbled, putting the ice pack back on his bruised eye.
"Just think about it," I responded, awkward silence. I guess we were all processing everything that happened still.
This incident with Victor was a big turning point for Egon because he seems to realize that he's messed up to the point where Janine wasn't willing to give him any more chances. Without saying so much, I knew that he had resigned himself to loving her from afar.
When Ray returned twenty minutes later, we were eating our food. Appearing unsettled, Stantz informed me, almost immediately, "Janine's taking tomorrow off because she doesn't feel well enough. Possibly on Monday, too. She is afraid you won't sign off on it."
"Of course, I will. I couldn't imagine her coming back tomorrow after all that occurred. In the morning, I will call Janine and let her know she can take as many days as she needs," I promised, feeling frustrated at her minor concern. I understood that she was going through Hell right now.
"Excuse me," Egon interrupted suddenly, rising from the table, " I don't feel well, and I think I will return to my room."
Lucy, Ray, and I exchanged a concerned look as he left unexpectedly.
"Go check on him," Ray's sister urged, putting her hand on my arm.
Reluctantly, I did after a couple of minutes. Egon probably couldn't communicate anymore if he wanted to tonight- he was as emotionally drained as Janine was, I'm sure.
Knocking on the closed-door softly, I inquired about his health.
"Please leave me," he whispered in a barely audible tone but one full of feeling.
Withdrawing, I heard crying coming from the room. I made a mental note to call his therapist to see if I could get an appointment tomorrow as Egon would need to process everything. Then I remembered that Janine would need one too.
"What will become of this," Lucy wondered as I sat down at the table, "will this bring them together or keep them apart?
"Only time will tell," I replied as I watched her play Donkey Kong with Ray.