Since we got here late Ronica isn't gonna have a chance to meet Juliana Rockwell before we go live on the air. That's cool with me since I don't really wanna be here. Ronica is smiling and happy so that's cool. I hear some lame ass comedian getting the crowd hype which makes no sense when they know that I'm here. Johnny Panic being anywhere near where you are is a reason to celebrate.
“Are you gloating?” Ronica asks me.
“No?”
“Yes, you are” she says. “You're
doing that thing you do when you are very pleased with yourself.”
“What thing?” I ask her.
“Your face does this” she tells me
and it looks like she's having a damned fit.
“You look like you're having a damned
fit” I tell her. “I can't even begin to make my face do that.”
“Don't worry. Its cute” she assures
me. I look into a mirror and try again. She laughs at me.
“Shit on a chocolate cake...” I
moan. “It looks like my face is trying to give birth to another
face!”
“Then stop.”
“I can't now!” I try to explain to
her. Its like masturbating and punching zebras. You can't do it just
once. Stupid zebras. Ooh, look at me. I'm striped!
“Are you thinking about zebras
again?” Ronica asks me.
“Stupid stripes...”
“Come with me, you two!” some stage
person shouts to us. He leads us to a curtain and gives me the once
over twice.
“Take it all in, pal” I tell him.
He smiles. I wink. Ronica shakes her head. She hates that I play up
the gay stuff. She's says I'm being misleading. I've told her that
she doesn't know everything about my past. She reminds me that she
does. I make a mental note to hotbox her under the sheets later
tonight. I hear an announcer scream that Juliana is ready. Bad
dubstep starts playing. She changed her theme song last year to
appeal to a younger audience. If mom's made dubstep this is what it
would sound like. I start humming the theme to Golden Girls.
“Thanks” Ronica says.
“You're welcome. Wait. Thanks for
what?”
“Getting that damned theme song stuck
in my head” she sighs. “Your heart is true...”
“...you're a friend and a
confidante.” I finish. Ronica kisses me on the cheek.
“Get a room” the stage guy says.
“Only if you're paying” I tell him
and he gasps and, I shit you not, clutches his chest.
3...2...1...!
“Today we have a very special guest!”
Juliana says. The crowd starts chanting my name. “The world's only
superhero, Johnny Panic!” More cheers. “We will discuss
everything from his love life...” Ooh. “...to his deepest secrets.”
Gasps. “We'll be back in a moment!” More cheering. Juliana comes
through a curtain and greets us. She is way shorter than I expected
but has a massive head. She does the fake cheek kiss thing with
Ronica who's pretty much floating off the ground. Then she goes to
shake my hand. I consider launching her into the atmosphere but I
made a resolution and I'm trying my best to stick with it.
“Thank you so much for actually
coming” Juliana tells me.
“What's that supposed--”
“I don't want you to worry about
anything” she says. “I'm not gonna attack you or your lovely
lady. You look incredible, Rhonda!”
“Uh...” Ronica says.
“And you smell great! What is that
perfume?” she asks her.
“I don't remember” she replies.
Then she looks at me trying to use mental powers she won't admit to
having to keep me from talking.
“I'll see you two in just a moment!”
Juliana says and walks away.
“I know what perfume you're wearing”
I tell Ronica. “Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeex...”
“Thank you for keeping that to
yourself” she tells me. “I'm nervous.”
“Don't be” I say and put my arm
around her waste, making sure I don't wrinkle her dress. “You're
way more interesting than anyone that's ever been on this show.”
She looks me in the eyes and smiles and I fucking soak my panties. I
love this woman. The show comes back from the break and the crowd is
cheering.
“I want to welcome everyone back to
the show” Juliana says. “My next guest is one of the most
controversial celebrities to ever live!” Ooh. “Please welcome the
one, the only, Johnny Panic!” Cheers. The stage dude starts to push
me forward while halting Ronica.
“The fuck are you doing?” I ask
him. “She's coming with me.”
“Uh, no she isn't” he tells me.
“Uh, yes she is.”
“Its fine, Johnny” Ronica tells me.
“Johnny Panic!” I hear Juliana say
again to keep the crowd going.
“No, it ain't!” I say. “Ronica,
come on.”
“Johnny, don't hijack the show. Its
fine. Just go.” Ronica kisses me on the lips and smiles. “You
don't need me with you.”
“But I do” I tell her. She shoves
me through the curtain and the crowd goes wild. My back is to them. I
have to gather myself, take a deep breath, and smile for the cameras.
Three women faint in the audience. I wave to everyone and walk right
past Juliana who is waiting with her arms open for a hug. I walk up
the aisle and high-five the people. This old lady grabs my ass and
everyone laughs. I shake my finger at her, smile, and hug her. The
crowd goes crazy. I pry her loose and hug Juliana and then sit down.
“So, Johnny Panic” Juliana says
after the crowd finally settles. “How are you doing?”
“I'm Johnny Panic” I tell her. “I'm
always doing great.” Cheers.
“Recently you were in the news
causing quite a bit of controversy” she says. Ooh. “You stopped a
bank robbery but not before a hostage was killed.”
“Uh-huh.”
“So...?”
“So what?”
“Someone died.” She places her card
of questions on her lap, waiting for me to respond. “Why didn't you
save that person?” she asks. They put a graphic on the screen on
the guy that died. “His name was--”
“Graham Collins” I finish for her.
“He was 38. Has two kids. His wife died of cancer a couple of years
back.”
“Yes” Juliana says. “Two. Kids.”
Aww from the crowd. “Left without a father. Why couldn't you save
him?”
“I wasn't there yet” I tell her. I
know what this cow is trying to do. “Do you know where I was when I
was told about this hostage situation?”
“The hottest new club?” she asks.
Laughter from the crowd.
“No” I correct her. “The moon.
The flag up there was bleached white so I was asked to put a new one
made with better material so that it'll be fine for the next 200
years. I've met Graham's kids and told them how sorry I was that I
couldn't save their dad.” I fish out my phone and show the camera a
picture of me with them and they are smiling. “I started a fund for
them and paid to have their grandma move to L.A to take care of them.
His son wants to be a chef. His daughter wants to be a pilot. And why
would I have been at the hottest new club?” I know I'm losing my
temper.
“Because you're Johnny Panic!” she
says. Cheers.
“It was 11 in the morning” I tell
her.
“We'll be right back with more from
Johnny Panic!” she says. Cheers. “This is going great!”
“No it isn't” I say. “You're
being a total bitch.” She tries to raise her eyebrows but she's had
so much work done all's that happens is her eyelids go higher. “I
knew you'd try this shit. And why can't my lady be out here with me?”
“She isn't relevant” she says while
looking me right in the eye. This is one of those times I wish I had
laser vision. I would scorch this bitch into dust. Cheers. We're back
on the air. I'm still staring at Juliana. “Welcome back, everyone!”
Cheers. “So, Johnny? You run in some pretty big circles.” I just
stare at her. “Johnny?”
“Was that your question?” I ask
her. Ooh. My phone goes off. I look down. Its a text from Ronica.
“Be nice :)” it says.
“Yes, I know a lot of famous people”
I say.
“But none of them are more famous
than you, right?” Cheers. “You've also had some famous affairs.”
Ooh. My phone goes off. “You want to get that?” she asks me.
Laughter. I look down and smile.
“There's a high speed chase the cops
want my help with” I say. Gasps. I read the message. “SUV. Baby
in the backseat. Speeds up to 110mph.” More gasps.
“Oh, no” Juliana says and puts her
hand to her cheek making sure not to actually touch her face. The put
up a live feed on the screen behind us. The car sideswipes a truck.
Gasps.
“I'm gonna go take care of this” I
say. Cheers. “Meanwhile you can talk to the love of my life,
Ronica!” Cheers.
“What?” Juliana says.
“Audience, Juliana didn't want me to
bring my lady out here.” Boos. “But I'm gonna go save that baby,
whip a thieves ass, and I'll be right back!” Cheers. I head
backstage and find Ronica. I kiss her. “I'll be back soon, okay?”
“Yeah” she says. “Be careful.”
“Go talk to Juliana” I tell her.
She squints at me. “It'll be fine. You're interesting as fuck and I love you.”
“Fuck it” she says. “Okay.” She
heads towards the curtains and steps through. The crowd cheers. She peeps back through the curtain and blows a kiss at me. I catch it then leave rushing outside past people cheering and fly off. I'm not worried about
Ronica. I'm worried about what she's gonna do to Juliana.
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