Baby turned around to see her past standing before her. She was so shocked to see Johnny. Her heart couldn't help but jump at the sight of him. He could still make her weak in the knees.
"Johnny?" Baby said astonished.
"How are you?" He asked her smiling so sweetly.
"I am doing pretty good. I'm surprised to see you here." Baby said not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah, some of the students I taught are in the musical tonight. So I had to come see them out here on Broadway." Johnny said as he noticed Baby looked uncomfortable. "You okay?"
"Yeah I am just surprised to see you, that's all." Baby said starting to fidget. She would give anything for Hilary to walk up at that very moment.
"You look good." Johnny said stepping back to see the fitted black dress reveal Baby's gorgeous curves. "I am glad to see you out and about."
"Yeah I guess I have stayed pretty close to home these past couple of weeks." Baby said not knowing what else to say.
"Seriously, Baby how are you." He asked whole-heartedly.
Baby looked down at the floor and then back up to Johnny. "Please don't."
"What? What did I say?" Johnny said wondering what he did wrong.
Baby's heart was beating so hard in her chest. He still had some kind of affect on her. She just couldn't shake it no matter how hard she tried. She knew now he would always have a hold on her no matter what.
"I have been worried about you. I started to call you a thousand times." He admitted to her.
He wanted to just pull her into his arms and hold her so tightly and never let her go. Only thing holding him back was the fact that he knew she didn't want that.
"It-" Baby paused as she felt tears coming on but she managed to stop them, "It's been hard but I am making it the best I can. It still hurts like hell; just like it was yesterday."
"I know me too." That was the only thing Johnny could say at that moment even though he wanted to say more, much more.
"Johnny?" Baby and Johnny's attention was diverted by a woman approaching them. "I was getting worried about you."
Baby watched this pretty brunette as she approached Johnny and put an arm around his back. She was so beautiful.
"Sorry, I was on my way back. I just got caught up talking." He told Becky.
"Oh, hi I am Becky." Becky said extending her greeting.
Becky? It was her. This was the woman Johnny was with in Philadelphia. He is back with her. So easy he seemed to have moved right on.
"Well, it is nice to meet you Becky. Ya'll enjoy the show." Baby told them as she walked off and headed back to her seat.
Johnny realized at that moment the impact of seeing Becky with him might have had on Baby. He could tell in her tone as she walked away from them. He knew she didn't like it. "Becky we better get back to our seats."
"Who was that? She didn't even tell me her name." Becky said looking down the isle as they headed to the balcony steps. 'Pretty girl."
"Yes, she is a beautiful woman. She is just an old friend of mine." Johnny said lying through his teeth. Baby was so much more than just an old friend to him.
"What is her name?" Becky asked prying a little.
Johnny didn't want to lie to her really. He might as well tell her who it was. It wouldn't be like it mattered. He was with her and knew Baby didn't want to be with him. "Becky, honestly it was Baby."
"Oh." Becky managed to sigh out. "Well, intermission is almost over we better hurry."
Johnny was really surprised Becky didn't say anything about it being Baby. He figured she would say something. It's like she just blew it off and forgot about it. That was so unlike Becky.
"I looked up and you were gone." Hilary said as she took her seat next to Baby. "I ran into one of my ex's. Talk about a blast from the past."
"I know what you mean." Baby said as nervous energy consumed her. "I ran into Johnny."
"What!" Hilary said with her jaw dropping. "And?"
"Nothing really. He was with his girlfriend." Baby said as she didn't want to look around thinking she might see him.
"You okay?' She asked Baby as she noticed the expression on Baby's face.
"I still love him, Hilary." Baby needed to admit that.
"Oh, Baby." Hilary reached for her hand. "Why did you make him leave then?"
"I have to let him go." Baby felt a tear stream down her face. "Intermission is over."
And with that Hilary knew that the topic needed to be dropped.
Becky couldn't help but notice Johnny still looking down into the audience below. As she skimmed the rows of seats she saw Baby sitting on the end of one of the rows. She knew then it was her Johnny had been looking at all along. No matter how long she watched Johnny, he never seemed to pay any attention to the musical. His eyes were glued to her. She still had a huge hold on Johnny. She had to.
Becky sat back in her chair and tried to soak it all in. He was still in love with Baby. She could tell by his actions and how he looked down at her. Now she wondered why he wasn't with her.
Johnny's whole demeanor had changed. Even after the play was over he was ready to leave. He didn't even want to walk back there and congratulate his former students. He wanted to head straight for the car.
"You really should speak to them." Becky said as they were walking in the parking lot.
"I just am tired and I am ready to go." Johnny said as they approached his car.
"But, Johnny that would be rude of you." Becky tried to tell him.
"Look, Becky lets just go. We got a little drive ahead of us." Johnny said trying to blow it off.
Becky knew Johnny was in a hurry to leave because of Baby. Normally Johnny would be on stage talking to everyone he knew. This was so unlike him. "You're running."
"Running?" Johnny questioned Becky.
"From Baby." Becky said not looking up at him. She just opened the door to the car and stepped in.
Johnny stood still at that remark. Becky was right he was running.
Johnny never let anyone or anything stand in his way for something he wanted. He had always been a fighter and now here he was tucking his tail between his legs and running. His pride was getting in his way. He was hard headed and he knew that. He knew now he needed to fight for Baby but would it do any good or only make things worse. What about Becky? He didn't want to hurt her again.
About that time Johnny looked up to see Baby and Hilary walking to their car. Baby didn't notice him as she was caught up in conversation. Little did Johnny know that most of the same thoughts were running through Baby's mind.
"Johnny, three o'clock." Hilary said trying to get Baby to look to her right. "He is looking right at you."
Baby turned to see Johnny standing by his car looking right at her. "Hilary, give me just a second."
Before Hilary could respond Baby was walking toward Johnny. Baby didn't know what she was about to do but she just had to talk to him one more time.
Johnny seen her walking towards him. He stuck his head in the car to Becky. "I will be right back."
It seemed like a lifetime before either of them made it to the other one. It was like no one else was around.
"I just wanted you to know that I think you were an amazing father." Even though Johnny was only with Josie a weekend, Baby knew this was true deep down.
"Thank you, I just wish things could have been different." Johnny said looking straight at Baby.
"I know me too." Baby tuned to look at Becky sitting in the car." I hope I am not getting you in trouble."
"Nah, everything is fine." Johnny said hoping the conversation would never end.
"I just couldn't let you leave without telling you that." Baby told him smiling.
"Why are we so hard headed?" Johnny asked Baby.
"We are just human." She said breathing in deeply. "I better get back to Hilary."
"Wait, before you go," Johnny pulled Baby to him for an amazing embrace. "I want to tell you something before you go…………..I will always love you."
"Same here." Baby said holding her tears back. "Take care."
Johnny felt Baby breaking the embrace. He hated to let the love of his life go when he knew he needed to fight. "You too."
Baby squeezed Johnny's hand and then turned to walk back to Hilary. Johnny just stood there watching his world walk away. He hated himself for not stopping her but he just couldn't.
