"Remember when Julie found Billy and Gina in a stall in the girl's bathroom?" Brooke asked JC.
"And they were throwing up together?"
"Yes!" She nodded and they both laughed again.
JC couldn't believe what a great time they were having. They seemed to have talked about almost everything and now were at Café La Ruche where they had gone on their Prom in senior year.
"So what do you think they're doing now?" JC asked.
"Julie works for the FBI, Gina's a photojournalist. She goes everywhere; I actually saw her a couple times when she came to Europe."
"What about Billy?"
"You're not going to believe this," she told him, leaning in. "But he became a porn star!"
In total surprise, JC spit his water out of his mouth and it ended up on Brooke's face.
"You're kidding!" he exclaimed, handing Brooke his napkin.
"No," she said, shaking her head.
"What's Gina think of that? Does she know?"
"She's the one that told me. She thinks it's great. She slept with a porno star."
"God I can't believe it."
The two of them finished off their meal, telling stories and reminiscing. Afterwards, they bundled up and headed out into the night.
"Do you like it?" Brooke asked JC, reaching over to hold his gloved hand.
"Like what?" he asked.
"Being famous. Being a popstar, a heartthrob, adored by thousands, maybe millions."
"Sure."
"Do you like it all the time?"
"Sure." He paused. "Well, not all the time." Brooke looked at him, the question on her face. "50% of the time."
"Do you mean to tell me you're doing something you only like 50% of the time? That's half the time that you hate your job, JC. How can you live like that?"
He didn't answer but it was obvious that Brooke wasn't going to let him off that easy. "I don't think about it," he finally answered. "I just put it out of my mind and concentrate on being happy."
"You shouldn't have to concentrate on being happy. It should come naturally. It did to you six years ago."
"Six years ago, I had my privacy! Six years ago, I could go to a movie by myself. Six years ago, I could go to a movie with a girl and not have to worried about her being harassed or being sent hate mail! Six years ago, I didn't have to get through the day on five hours of sleep on a bus and ninety minute concert, plus prep time! Six years ago, I didn't have to stay at hotels under a fake name! Six years ago, I saw my family every day, not a few times a year! Six years ago, I could give people my phone number without worrying about being stalked! Six years ago, I had you! Of course I was happy!"
Brooke had stopped walking and let JC rant. He needed it. She could tell that the minute she saw him. She could see something was bothering him. He stopped and took a breath.
"You okay?" she asked, stepping in closer to him. She wrapped her arms around JC.
"Yeah," he said slowly and kissed her. "I just needed that." Brooke nodded and they kissed again. Then they walked on.
Chapter 9
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