#johnny sing

Don’t Speak part 3:

Rosita, Ash and Nooshy all realize that something is up with Johnny

-

“Have any of you noticed that something is up with Johnny ?” Nooshy asked, sipping some water as she, Ash and Rosita watched Johnny practice with Meena onstage.

“Depends on what you mean ?” Ash asked, turning to look at Nooshy.

“Ever since Riley came on board the other day, he’s been kinda…sad.” Nooshy said.

“I see it too.” Rosita said. “When Riley comes and clears the stage, I see him just…staring at him and his eyes look so sad but he still tries to smile.”

“Well, should we say something ?” Ash asked. “To Johnny ? Or to Riley ? Because I thought they were friends but I never see Riley speak to or even look at Johnny.”

“I sense some unresolved tension between them.” Nooshy said. “But I think someone should talk to Johnny first.” She said, turning to look at Rosita. “Someone with a warm nature, a kind heart and motherly vibes.”

“Oh I don’t know…” Rosita said, rubbing her arm. “What if it’s personal ?” Rosita

“Come on Rosita, if anyone can get Johnny to open up, it’s you !” Ash encouraged. “Just catch him after practice and talk to him !”

Rosita had to think about it. Would Johnny even be willing to talk to her ? It was worth a shot. She sighed.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

-

“Hey, Johnny, wait up !” Rosita said, catching up to Johnny just as he was about to leave. Johnny turned away from the door to face Rosita.

“Oh, hey Rosita.” Johnny said, giving her a smile. “Is there something you need ?”

“Is it alright if I steal a moment of your time ?” Rosita asked. Johnny nodded.

“Of course.” He said. “Are you okay ? Do you need anything ?”

“Actually, I want to talk about you.” Rosita said. Johnny immediately got a look of worry on his face.

“Oh no, it’s nothing bad, it’s just…I’ve just noticed that you’re acting different and you look kind of sad and I was wondering if you needed someone to talk to.” Rosita said, giving Johnny a reassuring look.

Johnny avoided her eyes, before he exhaled deeply.

“Fine but…. only because I know you won’t judge and please promise me that you won’t tell anyone.” Johnny said, giving Rosita a hopeful look. Rosita nodded, immediately throwing away all plans to tell Ash and Nooshy. Johnny took a seat on the floor, back against the door, Rosita sitting next to him, ready to lend an ear.

“Well… I brought Riley here as a favor for my dad but it’s… it’s actually been a while since I talked to him, the last time we talked, we had a fight.” Johnny said. “Thing is, we were actually really close growing up, our mums knew each other when we were in the womb, before then even, and we were born around the same time in the same hospital, our birthdays are only a week apart, so we were thick as thieves even as infants…” He tried to relax and continue on. “We grew up together, we shared our birthday parties with each other, we looked out for each other, he was there when my mum died and I was there when his parents went through a divorce and his mom left the country.”

“Oh wow…” Rosita said in astonishment. “You two were really close so… why did you have a fight ?”

Johnny looked Rosita in the eyes.

“If I tell you, you must keep it to yourself, this cant get out for anything.” Johnny said, a serious yet worried look on his face. “I haven’t told anyone this before, ever, I need to know if I can trust you with this, Rosita.”

“You can trust me, Johnny.” Rosita said, with a nod. “Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”

Johnny sighed and closed his eyes.

“Alright… it happened our senior year of high school.” Johnny started. “It was the start of the grade and Riley an’ me were skipping gym class and we hung out in the empty choir room ‘cus he knew I loved to sing and he always encouraged me to sing and because of that…. I had a massive crush on Riley.” He said. “I didn’t think he’d feel the same but for some reason on that day, I was encouraged to try but I couldn’t say my feelings so…I sang them.”

“What did you sing ?” Rosita asked, curiously.

“One of his favorite songs.” Johnny said with a small smile. “Well I know that getting you alone isn’t easy to do.” He sang softly. “With the exception of you, I dislike everyone in the room and I don’t wanna lie, but I don’t want to tell you the truth, Get the sense that you’re on the move and you’ll probably be leaving soon, so I’m telling you.” Johnny paused, to quickly regain himself, feeling a sense of overwhelming emotion but he couldn’t stop the dam from bursting. He felt tears fall from his eyes as he continued to sing.

“Stop the world 'cause I wanna get off with you…. Stop the world 'cause I wanna get off with you…”

“Oh Johnny…” Rosita said in a comforting tone as she rubbed his arm. “Then what happened ?”

“He felt the same and we kissed in the choir room and we were happy till the end of the year….” Johnny said, sniffling. “Then he wanted to come out as gay for graduation and wanted me to do it too but then…I got scared. I broke up with him the week before graduation and it was a really messy argument, almost got physical…after that, we stopped talking to each other, and never spoke or saw each other after that…and now he hates me…because I’m the coward who broke his heart…”

Johnny then broke down into tears, shoulders shaking as he started to sob softly, burying his face in his hands. The emotional dam he built to seal in his feelings he had towards Riley had finally broken after all of these years.

“I-It’s not like I don’t love him, After all these years, I still love him, but he hates me ! All 'cos I was afraid !”

Rosita didn’t know what to say. She stood up and hugged Johnny, Johnny leaning into her as he continued to weep.

All she could do was hug him and wait for him to let it all out.