Chapter 45

As Mike took me back to my room, waiting inside was Dot and my ma.
"Hey Jon, good workout?"
I was soaked to the bone in sweat as I answered, "nah it was easy today" I scowled at them both for their stupid question.
Dot picked up on it, my ma blanked me.
"Ok Jon we were only asking, let me say sarcasm has never been your strong point. Just stick to what ya good at ok?"
Dot said it serious, with danger and an opening for me to start a fight, I decided to stay quiet, tonight was a celebration and I was sure the hell not gonna start anything least of all now.

Dot waited for a come back, but when I said nothing, she her voice softened

"I brought your suit for tonight, and some casuals, I didn't know what you wanna wear."
" Richie ain't said, can you call him and ask?"
Dot nodded and headed out to use a payphone just as Richie walked in.
Both ma, me and Dot laughed, causing Rich to turn and see who we were laughing at, "what's so funny? What I miss?"
Still laughing I  dismissed it, "it's nothing honest, private joke right ladies?" both nodded as the giggling died down. 
To move on from the laughter as Rich was looking confused and I could feel an atmosphere building, I asked "so, is it tux tonight or casual?"
"both, tux and casual."
"both? Rich, I can't change twice? It's one or the other?"
"tux then it's an award ceremony after all."
"so you think we can win?
Sure I was excited but nervous too, but I believed we had done enough to win voicing it to Richie I said it with conviction. "hell yeah, why not, we have worked hard, and we god damn deserve it, we have worked our asses off for the last two years."
Rich stood by my mom, as he answered, "Yeah, true, bro, and, harder than the other critic favourites too, if we don't, we can give um the sob story eh?" Rich was smiling but as he said it the smile faded fast... "I'm such a dumbass, that was real stupid of me, sorry, forget it Jon."

looking over at Rich, it suddenly dawned on me, were we getting this award because of what had happened to me or cause of our music.

Rich saw my expression, "Oh no, don't go down that road Jon, I said it in jest, forget it... ok?"

I nodded my head, and tried to shake it off, but in the pit of my stomach the niggle of doubt had set in. Trying to sound more cheerful than I felt I asked

 "so ya gonna help me dress?"
"sure" lifting my suit from the closet we went into my bathroom.

"You gonna want a shower right?"

"Well yeah, I aint gonna put my best tux on covered in sweat am I?"

"You want me to go fetch Mike?"

"no, you can help me Rich,"

"You sure?"

"rich, I'm showering, ok?, I can wash myself, you just need to help me stand and watch I don't slip ok?"

nodding his head he answered "Oh, ok"

stripping out of my wet training clothes, Richie let out a gasp. I looked around and at the door unsure what it was he was gasping at. Not seeing anything I asked... "What?"

"You?"

"What about me?"

"Your arms?, your chest?"

"What?"

"you been pumping iron?"

"well yeah, in a way I guess, why is something wrong?"

he stammered his reply, "n-n-n no, I'm just shocked you have built yourself up so well"

I was feeling a little self conscious having my body scrutinised." so, ya gonna stand there ogling what you wished ya had or ya gonna help me?"

moving over to my side he helped me to remove the rest of my clothes. then pushing me to the shower he helped me stand, finding my body weight and holding onto the hand rail I ran the shower and washed the sweat from my body. All washed Richie helped towel me dry, then helped me dress in my tux. just as we were leaving the bathroom he turned me to see my reflection in the mirror, staring back at me, was a thinner, but healthier looking me, I smiled at the reflection as Rich opened the door to my room and we entered.