I do not own Dirty Dancing.
Chapter Forty Nine
POV Johnny
Goodbye
"Look, If you just give me five minutes to pack, then I can go along with you,"
"No, I don't want you to lose the gig here,"
In a frustrated voice, Penny continued to try to coerce me into letting her come along. I wasn't going to let her. She hadn't done anything wrong. Penny shouldn't have to leave this job just because I did. "Johnny, you're the one who says this place is like a dinosaur," She groaned. "Look, Tito gave me a new record. We can learn a new Tango routine," The Rockette hopefully tried to entice me.
"Penny," I laugh. It is bittersweet. I had been here with Penny for a long time. If I ever got another job dancing, it would be with a new partner. "You are the best. You are,"
I move to hug my friend, but she pushed me away. "Don't make me cry, asshole," She warned, eyes filling with tears in a lost cause. Penny and I were like family. It was us against the world. Always had been. And now we were being separated. I ignored her words, and hug my friend tightly, tight as I can.
"I will see you in a few weeks," I promise. The staff was always granted one week of leave. Penny and I always took ours around the first week of October, going to visit family and such.
I close the trunk, and walk around to the passenger side of the car, where Baby stood waiting for me. I toss my jacket and keys through the open window, and leaned against the side of the car. "Well."
"I can't imagine being here without you, even one day," She tells me. I couldn't even imagine being without her: period. This was what I had been afraid of, when we got together. Of having real feelings, of needing her. Then all of a sudden, something happened, and we had to leave each other. And it had been exactly what happened. It was far too late to tell her I loved her now. It would hurt too much.
In an attempt to lighten the conversation, I try for a halfhearted joke. "Well, I just think you'll have more time for Horseshoes and Croquet," I remember now, of all times, that when Baby first came here, she was the Magician's victim. "Maybe they'll saw you in to seven pieces now,"
"I guess we surprised everybody," Baby laughed. It is a faux, bittersweet laugh, and I know she is only doing it because if she didn't, she would cry.
"I guess we did," I answer. Baby gave a short laugh at my response. I really don't know what to say to her. I never thought any of this would happen, falling in love with her, and then being forced to leave her. It feels like what has been said is not enough, like I should say more. She deserves so much more than what I have said. So much more than what I could ever give her. But I also can't tell her the truth; that I loved her more than anyone I'd ever known.
Baby put her hands to my waist. She leant over, tipping her head into my chest. My chin pressed into her curls, touching her hair for what may very well be the last time. I run my hand up and down her shoulder. "I'll never be sorry," I tell her.
Baby straightened, brown eyes meeting blue. "Neither will I," She says.
Neither will I.
My hands slip over the skin of her neck. I want to beg her to come with me, but I know that she can't. I might never seen Baby again. I touch my lips to hers. I'm my head, I tell her that I love her. I pray with every thought that she knew, that she could tell how much I loved her.
The kiss broke. "I'll see you," I tell her. I walk around to the driver's side of the car, and climb in, steeling myself for what I must do. I took a breath, and start the engine. As I drove out, time seemed to move slower, and I have to stop myself from looking back at her.
I was dead inside.
Every part of me was screaming in agony, dying for one more look, one more touch, one last word. Burning to hold her one last time. It was torment, to drive away from her, when every nerve in me was telling me to turn around and go back to her. To never let her go. But I could not.
And it was killing me.
Hi, guys. Not the happiest, I know. These few chapters leading up to the big dance at the end will all be pretty short, fair warning.