I do not own Dirty Dancing.
Chapter Fifty One
POV Johnny
The Road
I couldn't get her out of my head. Two hours ago, I had left Kellerman's. Left Baby, the woman I loved. And I still couldn't stop thinking about her. I saw her everywhere, in everything. Even now, I could remember how on the way back from the Sheldrake, I had snuck peeks at he while she changed. I remembered her catching me. I remembered how we'd kept on trying to steal glances at each other. I remembered that when I helped her out, I'd held her hand. I'd held it needlessly, but she hadn't let go. It was like she wanted me to hold her hand. That had been the first moment I realized for certain that she liked me too. I wanted to kiss her in that moment, and if Billy hadn't interrupted, I probably would've.
That had been back when kissing her had only been a dream. Before I realized just how deep my feelings ran. I'd never been able to tell her I loved her.
I couldn't stop hearing her voice. Fight harder. I remembered our argument in the woods.
"I don't think they saw us," Baby says quietly, and I stand up. She follows, suit. Baby was telling me to fight harder, make them listen. And she wouldn't even tell her Father about us. Baby wouldn't fight for what we had, make her Father listen, see the truth.
I wanted Doctor Houseman to know about us. I wanted him to know I was in love with Baby. I wanted for her to not have to sneak into my cabin, or lie about where she was going in order to see me. "Fight harder, huh?" I ask her bitterly. "I don't see you fighting so hard, Baby. I don't see you running up to Daddy, telling him I'm your guy,"
"Look, I will. I... with my Father, it's complicated. I will tell him, I-" Rage fills me, and I cut her off. That was a lousy excuse. Everyone uses 'It's complicated,'.
"I don't believe you, Baby," I look away, the pain I feel finally coming through. "I don't think that you ever had any intention of telling him. Ever."
My whole life, people had told me I wasn't good enough. Even if they didn't say the words directly. Max had done it. My Father had, Neil had, Baby's Father had, and so had countless other employers.
But she was the only one who thought I was. She was the only one who had ever told me to fight back. The only woman I had ever loved, and the only one I ever would. Baby was it for me.
Fight harder.
Baby had fought for me. She protected me, when no one else would, even though I was trying to protect her by keeping our relationship secret. I had wanted her to fight for us, and tell her Father. And she had. But now, I was walking away, without a fight. The exact opposite of what she'd told me to do. I was letting our relationship crumble. Something I had promised her wouldn't happen. But now, I was breaking it. I hadn't fought for Baby.
Well, dammit, I was going to fight for her now!
I turn down the nearest exit, knowing what I had to do.