Who: Jack and Johnny What: Bonding with your illegitimate child is fun for the holidays When: Black Friday Rating: H for highlarious.
Johnny had been trying to figure out what to do with this illegitimate child knowledge since he found out about it. It was eating him up inside and there was no rest from it. He didn’t know how to approach the situation at all, but there was no part of him that didn’t want to approach it.
He couldn’t very well just knock on the kid’s door and tell him, ‘hey I’m Johnny and I think I’m your father,’ but he didn’t have any other answers either. There was a part of him that was beyond upset that he’d missed out on knowing him, that he’d missed out on knowing he even existed. He thought back to that time in his life, and sure it wasn’t ideal but if he’d known he could have done something. His parents and him would have worked it out.
The memory was burned in his mind, the kid’s mother had turned into an awful sort of person, and that hurt him as much as anything else. He wanted to know more about him. He wanted to know if he was well taken care of, and well looked after, healthy and all those things that were absolutely driving him crazy that he didn’t know. He wanted to know...Well he wanted to know everything really.
Decision made, and pie in hand, he found himself heading toward Jack’s apartment. He knocked a couple of times and was tempted to just leave the pie and run. He was terrified of saying the wrong thing, or doing the wrong thing, or a combination of the two. When the door opened he grinned, “Hey there neighbor,” God he was a tool, “My friend from home made this pie, and I thought I’d bring it by, everyone could use a little taste of home during the holidays I think.” Yeah. Definitely a huge tool. He was pretty sure he was already handling this badly.
Oh, today was not his day. Sure, Jack went to a fancy Thanksgiving dinner, but a long time ago he’d decided a dinner with family (small, quiet, and tame) was something he liked better than wearing a penguin suit and being captured by the paparazzi. But it was nice to be around people his own age, even if it seemed to be steeped in awkward drama. Of course, when he got home there may or may not have been a few people over. There may or may not have been some drinking. And he may or may not be hung over and doing a horrible job at cleaning up his apartment.
What he should be doing was writing his news articles for class, but instead he found himself actively avoiding them because writing was the plague of his existence. Why the hell had he listened to his advisor when they said taking Newswriting 101 as an elective was a good idea? “Oh, it’ll help you in your English class,” he said. Help his ass! It was the only class he seemed to be failing, and Jack hated failure.
Dropping the trash bag, Jack took a deep breath. Why couldn’t this apartment clean itself? Rolling up the sleeves of his red thermal shirt, Jack looked up at the sound of the door knock. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Glancing down he thought that perhaps he should’ve changed into some blue jeans instead of lounging around his blue plaid pajama pants. Shoes and socks would probably be a good idea, too.
Too late to do anything, though, so Jack went to the door expecting to see someone from the night before, or even some girl scouts selling cookies, and instead he finds... That dude he helped with his groceries? What was his name again? “Oh hey,” he said cleared his throat, “Johnny, right?” Jack blinked. Wait, did he say pie? “Ooh, I love pie.” He offered him a small smile. “Thanks. How’s the shoulder?” It had been the shoulder, hadn’t it? He couldn’t quite remember.
Glancing behind him, he took bit the bullet. The man did bring him some pie. Plus, if he was a creeper, Jack could totally take him. “Do you want to come in?”
Johnny was nervous, but he found that it was a bit easier once Jack didn’t seem too alarmed. “Right, Johnny Copeland,” he said reintroducing himself, and wasn’t quite sure what to say after that. But Jack filled in for him, “Oh it’s on the mend,” he answered with a smile.
“I thought you might, not many people can call Edwardsville home and not like pie,” he said. He was surprised when Jack actually invited him in. That had to be a good sign didn’t it? “I’d love to, thanks.”
“Well, that’s good.” Johnny seemed like a harmless enough guy, and he seemed to miss having people from his hometown. Even if - technically - Jack had only lived there for less than a year. Clearing his throat, he glanced behind him. “Yeah. Excuse the mess. It’s kind of.” He took a deep breath. “A disaster.” He chuckled. “Things got a little...questionable last night.” What? He was 18. He could totally have a party. If only his loser friends hadn’t abandoned him, though.
“Want a piece?” he asked as he walked the path toward the kitchen table. The apartment wasn’t as bad as Jack thought. Sure, there were some stray plastic cups that littered the floor, along with chips, and trash, but it wasn’t something that would require extra strength soap. So, that was an upside, right?
Johnny looked around, he’d been in college, he’d lived in dorms, he knew what the apartments of young men looked like, and he barely even noticed the mess. It just looked like he’d had some fun. He used to have fun. Okay, he didn’t used to have fun, but he knew tons of people who had fun. “Don’t worry about it, I lived in a dorm with 7 other guys, it was much worse than I imagine this will ever be.”
He did look around and wonder if there was anything Jack needed, towels, dishes, soap...Anything really. He didn’t want to ask and be weird neighbor, there would be time for that later. “That would be great actually, I won’t say no to pie either,” he said grinning a bit.
“Oh, the wonders of college, right?” Jack chuckled as he grabbed some plates and a knife to carve out some pieces of pie. He’d forgotten how kind people could be. After living in Los Angeles and Boston, it had hardened him some. Maybe that was why he felt so frustrated in Edwardsville -- as if somehow he never truly fit in. A big city fish in a small town pond. Then again, he’d never felt like he belonged anywhere. So, what was new about that?
“Do you miss it?” he asked quietly as he placed a slice on a plate for Johnny. “Home I mean?” Glancing at the older man, he handed him the plate and motioned toward the fridge. “There’s milk if you want some.” He turned his attention back to his own slice. He hadn’t known many other people from back home, so it was a little nice to have someone he could talk to about Over There.
It wasn’t exactly Johnny’s experience in college but he nodded anyway, he’d seen enough even if he hadn’t quite actually experienced any of it. “Definitely,” he said feeling even more like a tool. This...Had been a mistake. Maybe he could get Mason to tell the kid (and then later he’d pass him a note after study hall) all about this mess.
“I do,” he answered easily. “I miss it a lot, things were always a little less complicated there,” he said taking a bite of his pie as he leaned against the counter. “So, when did you live there? I’m sure I know your family,” he asked curiously.
“Well,” he said after taking a deep breath and forking his pie. “I didn’t grow up there.” He tilted his head slightly. “My mom got pregnant her junior year, I think, and my grandparents moved to Boston. Mom was supposed to start some fancy school in the fall.” He took a deep breath. “I didn’t move there until last year or so.”
He took a bite of pie as he tried to figure out what to say next. “My mom’s name was Madison Hart,” he said, “and I think my grandparents owns the farm a few miles down from yours. Copeland, right?” He cleared his throat. “My mom died when I was five, though. We stayed in Boston until I was sixteen, and then they moved back to Edwardsville.” Note the “they,” of course.
Johnny wanted to eat his pie, in fact he just kind of stood there eating his pie and trying not to choke on it as it became more and more clear that he was definitely standing in a room with his son. It was a terrible situation, he had no idea what to say, there were no words. It was a shame, Johnny was a big fan of words.
When he actually mentioned her name though, and confirmed (though it wasn’t like confirmation was all that necessary at this point) his suspicions he did choke a bit on that last bite of pie. He managed to stop coughing after a moment and set his plate down and cleared his throat. “I knew her,” he said before he could really stop himself. “I’m sorry to hear that she died.” He was uncomfortable and unfortunately it was painfully obvious.
Jack hadn’t been paying Johnny much attention to be honest. So, his uncomfortable look didn’t quite go noticed. “Yeah,” Jack said slowly as he frowned and stabbed the pie bitterly, “A lot of guys knew her,” he muttered just as bitterly. He cleared his throat, pushing the butchered piece of pie away from him as he looked up and shrugged.
“Water under the bridge,” he said. Then his brow furrowed. “Over the bridge.” He shrugged. “You know what I mean.” Glancing at his glass, he spun it slowly avoiding eye contact. “I mean. Growing up was...” He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. Something he did to keep his hands occupied and seem like he was being thoughtful and not nervous because he clearly had awesome hair and it needed attention. “Rough. But being a kid sucks most of the time when your mom leaves you for school and you don’t know who your dad is.” And then you find out your mom’s a ho when you’re 18, but that was neither nor there. He smiled softly. “My grandparents were good to me, though. So, I can’t complain too much. They never made me feel like I wasn’t wanted.”
He crossed his arms across his chest and nibbled on his thumbnail. “Even if it felt like that was the case most of the time.” Shaking his head and laughing, he straightened up. “Wow, it must be the hang over. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m even saying anything.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s just nice having someone from home to talk to.”
Johnny wasn’t quite sure how to respond to the statement that Madison knew a lot of people. “I didn’t...I didn’t mean it like that.” he said a bit pathetically.
“Under,” he said automatically, “Water under the bridge, like the water keeps on flowing so it’s no big deal because it’s gone pretty quickly. So water under the bridge. Water over the bridge isn’t as desirable an outcome. Sounds like a crappy tidal wave.”
Johnny fought the urge to tell him to stop messing up his hair, because that is something his parents told him all the time when he was feeling nervous and they’d always tousle it back once he was done destroying it. But he held his tongue and listened as Jack spoke, he felt his stomach tighten into knots, that was seriously no way for a kid to grow up. Johnny knew that if he’d had so much as a chance to make this better he would have. He didn’t want to dwell on how different this kid’s life could have been if he’d known. He was angry, but he didn’t let it show too much, he’d drink beer and bitch with Mason about it later.
“You shouldn’t drink,” he said automatically but then cleared his throat, “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I understand that, I’ve been here a while, and my best friend from home just showed up, it’s been good.”
Wow. Critical much? His eyes narrowed slightly at the explanation and almost grinned at how quickly it turned into a ramble. It was almost endearing. He had let the ‘I didn’t mean like that’ go because it wasn’t something he wanted to get into it, and he honestly hadn’t meant for it to imply that Johnny had known her...like that... He was just angry at how much they didn’t know about who his mother really was or known what she was truly capable. After all, if she was capable of it, what was he capable of?
“Yeah, okay, dad, I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied with an eye roll and choosing to let everything be light because he’d certainly taken this to a sorrowful place, and it had clearly brought the room down. “It’s all good, man. Sorry for unloading on you. I mean it’s not like my life sucked. I never went without anything. My grandparents loved me. I became a tv star.” He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “People have had worse. And truthfully? I wouldn’t even know what I would’ve done if my father had shown up after my mom died. No use crying over spilt milk, right?”
He smiled at the thought of his best friend. “I just ran into mine the other day.” Granted, it was the first time they’d met in person. “We lost touch for a while but it’s nice to have that connection again.” Clearly, Johnny understood.
Johnny was glad he wasn’t eating anymore pie because he said “dad” even if it was tongue in cheek, and he didn’t need to start choking again already. Instead he laughed a bit, “No worries, I’m told I’m easy to talk to anyway,” he said shrugging a bit. He furrowed his brow a bit and looked at him curiously, “A TV star? Well that’s … interesting. Did you like that?” it seemed like a stupid question, because really...If he liked it why leave Musings at all?
“You’re right, people have had worse,but maybe your father isn’t so bad,” he said off hand. “It might have been weird, but it’s still family...Or something.” He didn’t know much about what he was talking about really. He had been lucky, he had a good life, he’d been adopted by awesome people and getting to know his birth parents had been an idea he tossed around but nothing he ever really saw through to the finish. “I can’t really speak to that, I’m adopted, and I wouldn’t change my family for anything. So I guess family is what you make of it.” he was rambling again. “Ignore me, must be the sugar high.”
“Yes, actually,” he replied. “It just sort of took it’s toll on me. My grandparents had moved away, and I was in L.A. on my own with my manager.” He smiled softly. “So, I took a break.” He cleared his throat. “Then I came here. I kinda miss it, though.” He smirked a little. “I kind of like the attention, but don’t tell anyone.”
Jack laughed and shook his head. “No worries,” he replied. “I ramble, too.” Jack slipped out of his chair and grabbed a soda from the fridge. “Maybe. Or maybe he was a dousche bag.” He shrugged. “Or he just doesn’t know that I exist, and I don’t want to ruin his life like that. ‘Surprise! You have a college stud for a son. Have a cigar!’” He shrugged. “Whatever, I’m here. It’s not like there’s any chance now, right?”
“A fresh start is always a good choice, I think that’s all most of us were looking for,” he said shrugging a bit. He did chuckle when he said he missed the attention and he nodded, “I spend most of my time trying not to get anyone’s attention and fail miserably most of the time.”
Must run in the family. Johnny wanted to smack his head against the wall every time one of those thoughts rushed into his mind. The kid had a point. Johnny knew he wasn’t a douche-bag, he was a decent guy with a desire to the right thing. The problem was, in this situation he had no idea what the right thing to do was. What if Jack didn’t like him? Or didn’t want to know? What if he wasn’t the ideal father the kid had in his mind? How did you even start being a father to nearly grown person? “I don’t think it would ruin his life,” he said a bit quieter. “And you never know, I didn’t think I’d find anyone from home, and look...Two people have shown up in just a few months.”
“Yeah a complete stranger and your best friend,” he replied with a laugh and shook his head. “It would help if I had a name to go on, too.” Jack shrugged it off. “Whatever. I’m 18. I’m kind of well past the parenting age.” He wouldn’t lie, though. Having someone to give him advice would nice, but he had done pretty well on his own so far, so he wasn’t about to hold is breath.
“You must be wicked excited that your best friend is around,” he said, changing the subject. “What’s he like?” He quirked a brow. “A saintly farm boy like yourself?” He was mostly teasing.
Johnny was tempted to just spill the beans right then. Mostly because he didn’t like to leave the kid wondering, when he had the information to give him. It seemed cruel, and Johnny wasn’t a cruel person. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to do it, but nothing came out. Shit. Why did this have to be so complicated? He was pretty sure it would only get more and more complicated as time went on.
“I am, I was really happy to see him show up here,” he said grinning. “Mason’s fantastic. He always made sure I didn’t get my ass kicked growing up,” he said shaking his head a bit. “What I lacked in gumption he made up for, he’s been my best friend for a long time. He’s great actually, I’m lucky to have had him at home, even luckier now that he’s here.”
“So, he’s like your secret boyfriend then?” He quirked a brow. Which was totally cool, really. He lived in Los Angeles. You don’t become an actor without diving head first into the world of gay. They were an awesome fanbase to have, too. He was only clarifying, of course. “Not that I’m trying to make assumptions or anything. No one ever talks about their best friend like that.” Unless they were Johnny Copeland, obviously.
“How long had it been since you guys last saw each other?” With a build up like that they sounded inseparable.
Johnny looked surprised at the question, “No,” he said shaking his head. “He’s not my secret boyfriend, we’re just friends,” sort of. He was surprised that no one talked about their best friend like that, he hoped that Mason thought he was great too. Johnny wasn’t known for being too quick on the uptake.
“Years, too long actually, but it’s good he’s here now.”
“Years?” Jack replied with raised brows. “Like are we talking one or two or the kind where most people forget about their friends, grow apart, and never really count as best friends again kind of years?” Tilting his head, he stared at Johnny curiously. Yeah, there was no way that the were “just friends” but he wasn’t about to point that out to Mr. Misses the Obvious. “Why so long? I mean. I figure if think of him so highly, why let years pass before talking to him again?”
Jack paused. “Y’know, the whole move here not withstanding.” Jack was curious now. Johnny seemed to be the kind of guy who would do just about anything for the people he cared about. Hell, he’d just met Jack and brought him some freaking pie. So, why the years gap with his “best friend”?
“The kind where most people forget about their friends,” he admitted easily. “But I don’t forget my friends, and I especially don’t forget friends that were as good as Mason. Reconnecting has been awesome.”
Johnny shrugged his shoulders. “I left for college, we didn’t see each other a lot after that and then I came here and didn’t think I’d ever see him again. It wasn’t ideal, and I wish it had been different, but things are smoothing out I think.”
“Well, he must be something special,” he replied with raised brows. “Or you must be the biggest boy scout on the planet.” He shook his head. “I don’t remember half the kids I went to high school with.” Granted, that was mostly because he left school when he was sixteen and was “home schooled” on the set. But whatever, the point was, Jack was kind of jealous that Johnny had that kind of intense enduring friendship.
Not that Luke wasn’t someone he thought wasn’t awesome enough, but Luke and he had been pen pals. Sure, they’d told each other everything but when they stopped communicating, Jack just assumed it was because life had gotten hectic and Luke had out grown having a pen pal. It had hurt, a bit, but that was life. These two grew up together. Went to school together. Stopped talking for years and they still managed to pick up where they left off.
He eyed Johnny carefully. It sounded like that start of a cheesy chick flick, but he wasn’t about to say that. Instead, he just chuckled. “You’re a strange one, Mr. Copeland.”
“He is,” he said smiling a bit. “And I am,” he admitted with a chuckle. It was true, he couldn’t help it, there was no use denying it, and really...Why should he worry? It wasn’t a BAD thing to be a decent person.
He smiled a bit and shrugged, “That may be, and you can call me Johnny,” he said not really liking the formality at all. “I should probably let you get back to what you were doing.”
“Okay,” Jack replied with a nod. “Johnny.” He offered him a smile as he stood up and gathered Johnny’s plate and his and set it into the sink, ready to walk him by. “It’s no big deal. I was actively avoiding writing my Newswriting assignment while I cleaned, anyway.” Johnny Jr. it seemed was a procrastinator when it came to real life. Perhaps that was something he shared with his biological father? “Thanks for stopping by, though.”
Johnny’s ears perked up at the mention of a newswriting assignment and he smiled a bit, “Well if, when you’re done procrastinating, you need some help with it let me know. I’m a reporter, I can give you a hand,” he answered easily. And yes, Johnny understood all about procrastination.
“That would be wicked,” he replied as they arrived at his door and he swung it open for Johnny. “I’ll more than likely definitely take you up on that.” Glancing back in the direction of his kitchen, he took a deep breath. “Thanks again for the pie. It was great.”
Johnny nodded, “Anytime, seriously if you need anything just give me a call,” he repeated, this time adding the “anything” because he meant it.
He walked out into the hallway and sighed. It had gone well, he didn’t know what to do further than this, but it had gone well. He didn’t seem to hate him, he didn’t embarrass himself, and...He was feeling good just simply because he’d survived this initial meeting.