Chapter 14 "Wonderful Tonight" July 2, 1984 (a night before)

(Song suggestion- "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton)

Janine

Dear Diary,

The Facts:

Sleep: none

Tears- seemingly infinite number. Every time I think I am done crying, I begin weeping uncontrollably.

Total Time Sitting in a Bath: 1 hour and twelve minutes.

Booze: none

Song Listening to Currently- "Straight From the Heart" by Bryan Adams

Trips to the Opera: none

Visits by Wendy to intervene: 2

Current Feelings: empty, highly fragile, and so in love with Egon that I can hardly breathe

I have never had a day like today, and I hope I'll never have another one quite the same. The fact that I am awake at 4:32 a.m. sitting in a bathtub with lukewarm water should be a clue to the type of day I had. Unfortunately, Wendy and her fiancee are noisily banging it out in her room all evening to top everything off.

Egon said he would win me back unless I wanted him to stop trying. At that point, I knew I had to leave, so I got up and requested for Ray to drive me home. I was going to start crying again.

How do I feel? I feel ravaged that Egon was wounded because of me yet honored that he defended me from that slime, Victor.

What am I supposed to do with him now? Take him back? Is Egon going to change, or will he change his mind about me? Can I handle another situation where I am dumped?

Lucy

On the evening of July second, 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 in town because she had never been, and he secured tickets for them. Janine had bought a red sleeveless satin evening gown three months ago, and it fit her cute little figure wonderfully.

That evening, I spent some time curling Janine's straight locks to produce some volume in her hair, quizzing her about her new beau whom I had not met yet. Doris set up younger sister with a close friends' brother, Victor, after Egon broke it off with her again in May.

We were sitting in Peter's bathroom because it was the largest, and there was a bathtub and plenty of space. I sang Eric Clapton's song, "Wonderful Tonight," in the background. Meanwhile, Janine prepared for her date, dressed only in her strapless bra, panties, garter belt,and stockings so the lovely dress would not be creased.

"Victor wants to be exclusive already," Janine shyly admitted, with an apprehensive scowl on her face.

"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 with the curling iron.

"Yes, from the beginning. Victor wants me to meet some of his close friends tonight," Janine returned, her face twisting to a frown.

"Are you..you know... still...getting over Egon," I inquired, wide-eyed, and continued to roll her hair up vigilantly.

"'I'm trying so much, Luce," Janine responded honestly, looking at the mirror into my eyes.

"How's the chemistry between the two of you," I questioned, and her face fell at once.

"We have a little, but it's not anything like with…Egon," Janine's voice trailed off forlornly. Still, now. I and then she bit her lip before continuing, "And Victor wants us to sleep together. 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."

She gave me a melancholy 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 not 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 in exasperation, tears rolling down her face.

Taking a few deep breaths, she regained her composure. Her hands shook a little when attempting to put her contact lens in her right eye so Janine put the corrective lens 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."

"No, I am glad you did, Lucy. Am I supposed to wait around for Egon if I don't date? Why, so he can dump me again?" Janine complained, smarting from her former love's recent dismissal of her in May. Halting, I ceased rolling her hair for a second to give her a side hug.

"Janine, it will be ok," I informed my friend softly.

"Thank you, Luce. You are a true friend. The only way I'm going to get over Egon is by leaving this company."

"Are you sure?"

Nodding, Janine firmly announced, " In December, I will graduate with my degree, and I can start my new career.

"I couldn't imagine working with an ex that I was in love with," I countered earnestly. In fact, I had quit when I found my ex fiancee was sleeping with someone whom we both worked.

" I try not to think about it anymore," Janine sternly revealed, but I could tell that wasn't exactly true.

As we conversed, I attempted to offer comfort where I could. I also suggested that Janine cancel this date, but she dismissed it. 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. My brother was always screaming about the Yankees and their losses.

" What do you think of your hair?"

My friend examined it in the mirror with a dazzling grin, then complimented me, " Lucy, it looks glamorous. Thank you."

Next, my friend discussed the possibility of leaving the company before she graduated. Janine was reluctant, however, because of the camaraderie between her and her bosses.

"Have you spoken to Peter," I wondered?

"No, I indirectly spoke to Ray about it but in very vague terms. I could never leave them high and dry without a replacement. Please don't say anything, Luce," Janine elucidated. She began to weep again. The pressure of working with a former lover, her passion and adulation for him, and the research paper she was responsible for writing this summer all produced extraordinary stress upon her.

"Don't worry, J, I won't say a word," I promised.

As Janine sobbed involuntarily, I hugged her. One last time I inquired if she wanted me to call Victor and cancel the date citing illness or something. Janine wiped her tears with the back of her head, but remained quiet.

"I have a catalog of excuses in my head," I revealed, joking.

"No, thanks, Lucy. I must do this on my own," she bravely stated.

Next, Janine rose from her seat and retrieved a toothbrush and toothpaste from an overnight bag she had brought. She began to brush her teeth. Afterward, I helped Janine apply her make-up and into her snug-fitting dress.

Thirty minutes later, my friend was dressed spectacularly but still unsettled. I had a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Ray

When Lucy came out of Peter's bedroom during our Yankee- Red Sox watch party, she sat on the sofa next to me at the end of the game's last inning, seeming distressed. Peter was in the middle of a conversation with a friend of ours who taught at Columbia.

"Ray, have you met this Victor," Lucy inquired suspiciously while I drank my second beer.

"Is he ok?"

Nodding, I pointed to the kitchen and motioned for my brunette younger sister to join me there to speak more openly without the others hearing. Luckily, they were more involved with their discussion about the Yankees. We grabbed some more beers for everyone, and my sister described after I distributed them, "I don't think she's over Egon enough to be dating others."

"Yeah, but will J 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, Ray," she answered, raising her eyebrow.

" Victor is kinda pushing her a little, and J's wearisome because of her emotions for Spengler," I offered after a long sip of beer.

"Yes, I have received the same impression from conversations that I had with Janine today," my sister disclosed, a scowl on her pretty face.

"Lucy, you have to let them figure out everything. Don't get involved," I pleaded emphatically.

"I won't. All I have done is listen," Lucy explained, and I smiled at her.

"Little sister, if Venkman and I 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 sh-," Lucy yelled, 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."

Nodding, my sister watched the last inning with us. Janine appeared from Peter's room dressed to the 9's, an English slang term for perfection, biting her bottom lip.

"How do I look," she questioned apprehensively.

When she entered the room, Janine's beauty bamboozled all the Ghostbusters present, including myself and Aaron. Straight away, 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, matching her sleeveless dress that revealed her curvy body. Janine's lovely dress emphasized her breasts, and I found myself staring at them.

"Stop it, Ray, this is J, a good friend of yours, don't look at her like that," I thought and moved my gaze upwards to her eyes.

Around her neck, Janine wore a string of pearls she had earlier informed me that was her Grandmother's, along with matching earrings. Lastly, along her right wrist, she wore her charm bracelet, one of her favorite pieces of jewelry. I felt mesmerized by her presence.

Our brainiac Dr. Egon 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 Pete and I disagreed with this strategy, we kept our mouths shut because Egon seemed hell-bent on being miserable despite loving her.

Unexpectedly, our physicist strode into the landing. He did a double-take when he saw his former flame, then halted in his tracks. Our friend's face conveyed unconditional love for Janine as we complimented her.

"Fabulous," Peter replied admiringly.

"Phenomenal," I described.

"Breathtaking," Aaron, our brown-hair friend with dimples on his face, stated, with a smile, " and I barely know you."

Chagrined, Janine blushed heavily as of our compliments.

"Ray, Lucy, and Aaron, there is something that I want to show you downstairs in my office, come on, please," Peter urged as he saw Egon's smittenness.

Then we exited the landing to give them privacy.

Lucy

While the others descended the stairs, I halted in the middle to view the scene, curious. Speechless, Egon had stayed in the same place, frozen in awe of Janine's resplendency. She stood anxiously, glancing down at her gloved hands fidgeting. Dr. Spengler strolled towards her and halted when he stood in front of her about eight inches away. Trembling, Egon clasped her petite hand and rubbed the top of it with his thumb.

The awe-struck man peered into his love's eyes, describing in great detail how superb she looked. Egon sincerely apologized for wounding her more than once from the past year. Gasping, Janine was taken aback, as evident by her expression as Egon spoke.

"Janine, 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 wavering as he spoke in nervousness.

As Dr. Spengler elucidated that he desired to see her blissful with someone who truly deserved her, she lowered her head to conceal her emotions. Since I knew Janine, I could tell she held 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," Egon tenderly explained, squeezing her hand gently. Janine's mouth hung agape. She knew that he spoke from deep in his heart, and it touched her.

"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, slowly letting go of her hand.

"I want you to have all of the happiness possible in your life, Janine."

Engrossed by Janine's beauty, Egon caressed her cheek with his thumb. She joyfully shut her eyes as he touched her. She opened her eyes, and the two read each other's expressions. As they did, their love was evident all over their faces.

Janine's ex requested if he could kiss her cheek. She nodded in approval, and he leaned down to do so. Dr. Spengler afterward left the room in the direction of the roof.

The radio played one of my favorite songs, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. I felt a wave of compassion wash over my body for Spengler. It was a sentimental scene, and the music felt so idyllic. The song described Egon's ardent love for Janine even if she didn't realize it.

My friend's tears resurfaced with a vengeance after the theoretical physicist left the landing.

Without hesitation, I noticed the redheaded beauty run to the bathroom, and she shut the door behind her. I ran from the stairs to knock on the bathroom door and inquired if Janine needed anything. She let me in and closed the door, standing against it and sobbing.

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 Janine well enough to know her thoughts.

Next, the Brooklynite requested to be alone to contemplate her options for a few minutes, so I slowly retrieved her make-up bag from Peter's bathroom. Her voice was calm, and she was crying on the toilet's lid.

"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," Janine sniffled, but her lower lip quivered. She requested that I could correct the smudging of her eye makeup, and I agreed..

Cheerfully, I withdrew some loose powder and a make-up brush from Janine's make up bag to coat her tear-stained face. I spoke about the Yankee- Red Socks game as I worked on her make up, primarily to myself until there was a noisy sound on the Firehouse's front door that caused the building to shake.

Both of us jumped out of fright, and soon I heard an unknown male voice from the other side of the door.

"Janine?" Victor's voice called from the other side of the door as he knocked gently on it.

My friend cursed herself underneath her breath because she neglected to lock the door, indicating her displeasure that her date was here. Janine lowered her head down but didn't respond, unable to speak.

"We need a few more minutes," I replied uneasily, "Do you want me to leave?"

Victor pounded on the door more forcefully this time, causing his date to jump slightly from her seat.

"Yes, please," Janine timidly said while leisurely rising from the toilet. Tears flowed down her face still.

"Janine!" Victor's voice became indignant and more urgent as he struck his fist on the door violently, screaming her name. I couldn't understand the reason he was so angry..

"Victor doesn't like to wait on anybody," Janine reported in a whisper and disregarded his outraged voice calling for her, " Go ahead, Lucy. I am fine."

Feeling uncomfortable about leaving my friend, I still honored her request. Something felt wrong about Victor, and I decided to stick around behind the scenes for a while. He 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 hair and make-up, excuse me" I coolly stated.

I sauntered to the staircase and purposely eavesdropped as any close friend would do. I kept my eyes on the scene unfolding in the bathroom, and Victor innocently inquired,

"Janine, what happened?"

"I-I- I can't go," she sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand but the tears kept on coming.

"Why ever not," Victor asked, his voice softening, and he was genuinely baffled by this turn of events. He offered her his hand to help her stand, and Janine accepted it gratefully. Next, Victor guided her as she unsteadily strode towards the kitchen to sit in a chair. Janine couldn't respond because she was still crying uncontrollably.

"What is it, Janine," he inquired again in a higher-pitched voice indicating his irritation after a couple of moments.

My petite redhead friend faced him with a solemn expression and explained, seriously, "I cannot go to the Opera tonight or date you anymore. I don't want to hurt you but I am in love with someone else.

Victor's mouth dropped open, and for one extended minute, he was shocked into silence until his expression turned sinister, and he demanded garishly,

"Which damn Ghostbuster is it?"

"That is my cue," I thought, and I sped up my speed and strolled towards the kitchen from the top of the staircase to witness the next part. I was still a safe distance away from being noticed by them.

Shaking her head, Janine closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled deeply for a few moments.

"Damn it, Janine, I thought you were over... I care... about you, you know," Victor howled red-faced and unsure of the action to take next. His expression contained grief, anguish, and extreme resentment towards her.

"Please accept my apology," my friend softly whispered from the chair, "I am sorry."

Victor glared at her in disbelief, and Janine lowered her head downwards. There was a lull as I observed the two stared at each other, neither moving nor speaking.

"Uh oh," I whispered as Egon despondently appeared with his head down. I guessed that he had hoped spilling his guts to Janine would affect her decision to go out with Victor, and he felt like he failed.

"Janine, you are real fu**ing b—-," the dumpee wildly screamed at once.

"I don't have to take this, Victor. Please leave," she angrily shouted, her nasally Brooklyn accent very audible as she rose from her chair to move away from him. Janine's face switched to a crimson color rapidly.

"Which fucking Ghostbuster is it? I'll kill him," Victor yelled vehemently, seizing her arm tightly so she couldn't escape him. Janine's blue eyes narrowed into tiny slits as her expression changed to a furious one as explained with finality in her voice,

"It doesn't matter. Let me go. It is over."

"The hell it doesn't, Janine," Victor hissed, clutching her arm tighter, much to my friend's horror.

"You are hurting me. Let go of me," Janine screeched, fighting to break free from his grip by wiggling her body, but Victor was stronger. He now had both of his arms around her, and there wasn't anything that she could do.

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 forcefully 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 he realized that it did indeed involve the brilliant wavy haired scientist..

"Jesus, it's you, isn't it? Janine's in love with you?" Victor shouted questioningly after a moment, his hand smacking his forehead in vexation.

"Let her go," Dr. Spengler growled in response, his fists clenching open and close at his side.

At last, Victor loosened his grip on Janine, who stumbled. He backhanded her face with his left hand, and she fell back to the floor with a small cry and an "Oomph." The sound of his hand slapping my friend's face was like a whip almost, and I felt rage wash over me.

Running over to check on Janine, I didn't see Egon clenched one of his fists and threw it into Victor's jaw. The latter gobsmacked stumbled backward and almost fell on his butt on the floor.

Instantly, I viewed Janine's face, seeing a small horizontal cut underneath her right eye on her cheek, bleeding a little. Victor had a ring on his finger, which broke the skin on her cheek. When Egon saw Janine's blood and tears, he turned a purplish- red color, and I swear I saw smoke rising out of his ears like in the old cartoons. The only difference was that I wasn't laughing.

"Are you OK, Janine?" he worriedly inquired, breathing heavily.

Victor crept behind Egon as I called for Ray and Peter to come up here, not knowing they had just ascended the stairs. The expression on his face was worrisome and menacing, and I knew Janine's scientist ex boyfriend was in trouble.

"Janine," Victor called her name calmly, walking towards her, but I hastily moved her away from them as I could.

"Don't you touch her," Egon yelled, spinning around and standing in front of him. The two were nose to nose, almost except that the theoretical physicist was three inches taller than Victor. For a moment, 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 hissed after a long silence.

"Holy shit," Peter exclaimed when he reached the kitchen and felt the tension between Janine's two suitors.

"Victor, leave now," Egon demanded with a commanding tone of voice, but her date 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, they were not broken.

Egon fell back, off-balance, covering his eye with his hand and making a thundering groaning sound. Victor's punch made the Ghostbuster irked, and I had never seen a more daunting expression on Egon's face. I doubt I ever will.

"Get the hell out of here, Victor, NOW" Ray demanded, coming behind the theoretical physicist.

"Come on, Egon, this guy isn't worth it," Venkman commented, attempting to calm the physicist down. Unfazed, the oldest Ghostbuster kept his gaze on Victor, willing him to do something, and then Peter fled the scene for a while.

Unanticipatedly, Egon punched Janine's date again with a solid hit to his mouth, and afterward, he trembled in frustration and anger. I restrained Janine from getting in the middle of the fight.

"Stop, please," she emotionally pleaded.

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. Egon fell on the ground like a knockout one-two punch, unused to being hit and dazed by the situation. Next, I saw some red blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, and I felt my stomach turn.

"No, Victor, stop," Janine yelled, standing up trying to get around me to see if Egon was ok since he was on the floor.

"Oh my God," I exclaimed as Spengler rose again and attempted to go after him one more time. No one could call him a "pussy", and both Ray and Aaron were trying to restrain Victor. Like an enraged wrestler, Egon pushed his friends away and grabbed his enemy's neck to strangle.

Peter appeared, like a cowboy wielding a gun in an old western, and 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 softly.

"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 Janine as the latter scrambled speedily to her former lover on the floor.

"Egon, Egon," she cried in a devastated manner.

When Janine viewed his wounds, her face fell as if someone had accidentally killed her favorite pet. She didn't want to cause Egon any more pain than he wanted to induce for her. Meanwhile,Aaron and Ray restrained Victor's arms, but they allowed him to say first before kicking him out of the Firehouse,

"Jesus... Janine, I ... really...l-lo...c-cared about you and...wanted to make you happy. Still, now I realize I didn't even stand a chance...No one does...except...him...does he even realize it?

Janine couldn't hear her date's last inquiry because her only focus was the sleeping 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. I heard an unruly noise indicating the door closing on Victor's butt. Ray and I were moving Egon to his bed when Janine ran up to us.

"Oh Egon, I'm sorry," Janine sobbed, but Venkman halted her actions by picking her up. He put her in his room to calm down.

"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," Pete requested, with his brown eyes pleading with me.

So I did. At some point, Aaron fled the scene, too. Not that I blamed him.