Chapter 60

“I’m not sure I’m ready for this?” Fran whispered nervously and tugged on her dress to make sure it was sitting right.

“I know what you mean.” Kim answered in a low voice and watched Jon and Richie talking with David and Tico a couple meters away.

They were at the Band’s Premiere of “When we were beautiful” and they would walk down the red carpet with them. For Fran it was the first time in the public eye while Kim was scared about the things the reporters maybe found out since her first appearance with Jon at the charity gala in Central Park. Besides the lack of sleep was getting to her.

“Ladies, you look great!” David told them when they joined them.

“Thanks.” Kim mumbled while Fran only blushed. Both took extra care of their outfits and make-up today, but to Jon and Richie’s surprise they didn’t went shopping together or spend the day in Kim’s apartment to get ready for the night, but only met a couples minutes ago here at the venue.

“Honey, is everything ok between you and Fran?” Jon whispered into her ear.

“Sure, baby. Everything is fine.” She told him with a forced smile. He nodded, but didn’t believe her. This wasn’t the place to discuss it though.

During the last couple days you could see and feel that things weren’t fine between the two friends. Jon already noticed it in the hospital and even Dorothea asked him, if something was wrong, because she didn’t get the feeling that Kim and Fran were really getting along when she finally arrived from D.C.

Coolness was ruling between them that hadn’t been there before. It worried not only him, but his best friend. They both knew that the girls would need each other’s support in the next couple months, especially with the Tour starting and the press following each of their moves because of the new relationships. They needed each other…desperately!

“You look gorgeous, darling.” Rich kissed Fran softly on the cheek and let his eyes travel over the deep red dress that was covering her body like a glove.

“Thanks.” She smiled shyly at him. He gave her his credit card and told her to go and buy whatever dress she wanted. She reminded him of the conversation about bank accounts and money they had a little while ago.

They decided that for now everything would stay the way it was. Secretly he hoped she would agree to get the access when they would live together in California, but for now he had to stop himself from spoiling her and Jason.

Of course, she told him so immediately when he held up his credit card, but he turned on his irresistible smile and said it was only one dress and she wouldn’t have bought when she wouldn’t be together with him. So it was his responsibility. She couldn’t argue with that.

So, for the first time in her life she went shopping in the expensive boutiques and shops in New York and felt totally lost. She knew she could have called Kim and asked her for help, she grew up in those stores after all, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Since their last little argument they’d barely talked. She couldn’t bring herself to make the first step though. She simply had the feeling Kim was no longer able to understand her and her fears anymore.

“Ok, everybody ready?” Jon asked and got nods from his band mates.

“Good. Let’s do it.” He grabbed Kim’s hand and squeezed it softly when he walked onto the red carpet with her.

“Remember Franny, you ain’t alone. I’m with you. Just smile and don’t listen to the shit they might shout at you.” Rich told her before leading her into the sea of flash lights, which started as soon as Jon and Kim entered the red carpet.

Fran swallowed and forced a smile on her face. Shortly she glanced at Kim and could see that her best friend was way more relaxed than she was right now. She was posing self-confident next to Jon and let him guide into the right position for the different photographers easily.

God, I’ll embarrass him in front of everyone.

She started to tremble and just wanted to runaway from here.

“Franny…” she looked up when Rich said her name and saw him smiling at her. Slowly he leaned down to her and placed a kissed on her half open mouth. The clicking of the cameras got faster. She closed her eyes and focused on him.

“I love you.” He said in a low voice, so only she could hear it in her left ear.

“Forget those idiots, focus on me. Remember last night.” He added with a smirk. She blushed, but couldn’t hide the wide smile that was spreading across her face.

Richie chuckled and pulled her close to him and turned his attention back to the photographers.

**************************************

“Kim? What are you doing here?” Fran looked at her surprised.

The Band would play at the New Meadowlands Stadium in a couple of hours and announce the opening of the Stadium in May. She thought they would meet there, but now Kim was in Philly at Richie’s condo.

“Well, I think we need to talk, don’t you?” Kim said softly.

“Yeah, you are probably right. Come on in.” Fran sighed.

“Nice place.” Kim said while checking out the living room. “But you need to put your touch in here, girl.”

Fran laughed. “Yeah, I know. I have the feeling he plays it rather save with the colors. How is Jon’s place?”

“The same.” Kim said grinning.

“Will you re-decorate it?” Fran wondered. Kim shrugged with her shoulders.

“Don’t know, we haven’t talked about it yet. We were a little busy dealing with Romeo lately.”

She was very happy that the boy could be released from the hospital after three days and that he was doing fine with the medication she gave him. As soon as Dorothea realized how well even her youngest son was reacting towards Kimberly she suggested being their regular pediatrician.

Kim hesitated a little when she got the offer, wondering how things should go if Jon and her ever split up. He pouted at her comment.

“Are you planning to leave me?” he asked grinning.

“No, geeh Jon, don’t say things like that.” She told him shocked.

“Well, I can tell you one thing Kimberly, you being the kids’ doctor wouldn’t change. It could be really funny…we both could team up against him.” Dot eased her worry.

“I thought we are already doing it?” Kim wondered grinning. Jon groaned when the two women laughed about his shocked face, but inside he was doing a little happy dance that they were getting along so well.

She remembered that evening smiling lightly, while looking around.

“Jason still at school?” Kim asked Fran.

“Yes, and Richie’s Mom will pick him up afterwards. They are spending the day together.” Kim looked at her surprised.

“Really? Well, it’s great that they get along so well.” She paused and pulled something from the bag she was carrying.

“Then it’s no problem that we have this.” She held up a bottle of expensive champagne and a cake box from Starbucks. Fran groaned.

“Oh no, you didn’t!”

After their first big fight as teenagers, Kim ‘borrowed’ a bottle of champagne from her parents and bought a double chocolate cake from Starbucks, just to show up at her doorstep and apologize. Somehow a tradition started that day and every time they’d had a fight over the years, they would end up with champagne and chocolate cake and try to fix things.

“Sure, I did…we always did that when we needed to talk.” She pointed out.

“Or when we just wanted to have some fun.” Fran added with a smirk. They both laughed out loud.

“I get the plates.” Fran said and left for the kitchen.

“I open the bottle.” Kim agreed and popped the cork like a pro.