By Sunday, Johnny was feeling better physically but his mind and heart were not. The fact someone did something so dirty, so despicable, so evil just plain hurts. It hurts and it sucks. Ava told him "Honey, this is a life-changing event. It's traumatic. Yes, you were hurt but don't let it haunt you. Don't give her power where she has none." She stroked his hair. "Don't let her dirty feet walk around in your mind. You're not going to be the same person because of this, but don't let it make you into someone you're not. You're in charge of your own healing. You have the power there."
True, that kind of power can't be taken away. He has the power for his own healing. He realizes some people (like Kreese and Misty) are just shitty humans. Earlier they called her grandparents and let them know they weren't going to be at dinner that night. So instead they invited their friends over. She and Johnny want to share with them what happened.
Before their friends arrived, later in the day, they were laying on the sofa together. Since he was laying in her arms, her hands were in his hair. She loves playing with his hair. It's so soft. Together they were watching Romancing The Stone, for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The only thing wrong is he's too quiet. "You're so quiet I can hear you thinking. What's on your mind?" she asked.
"Everything. I still feel powerless. I mean, I'm freaking Johnny Lawrence. King Karate. How did I let this happen? How did I let someone get the upper hand on me? I'm like a crippled cobra, you know?" His head is beginning to pound again.
Not being able to help it a giggle escaped her mouth. A crippled cobra. Only he would say that. Picturing a crippled cobra made her laugh full on. He turned himself around and met her eye to eye. "What's so funny?" he wants to know. He could use a good laugh.
Still laughing, she said "A crippled cobra. That's hysterical." Her laughter made him chuckle. But then she had a thought. "Johnny! I just thought of something." She sat up straight and it pushed him off the sofa. As he was getting back up and lying down again, Ava explained her thoughts. "If a cobra is crippled then that's the most dangerous cobra out there. It doesn't just lie down and not fight back. It's going to fight back, even injured. It takes hours for a snake to die and it can still bite you while in that process. A crippled cobra isn't powerless. You may be a crippled cobra, but you've still got a powerful bite."
He thought about what she said. Yes, he is the crippled cobra. "You're right. I'm not so powerless."
Looking into his eyes, she pushed his hair off his forehead. She moved to sit on top of him and leaned down. Her lips placed a sweet kiss on his head and on his heart. Then she told him, "Close your eyes and breathe deep. I want you to breathe so deep it hurts." He opened his mouth to complain. She turned his word on him. "Quiet!"
His eyes snapped open. "You can't use that on me. That's my word."
Unphased, she said it again "Quiet! Now close your eyes and breathe deep."
He narrowed his eyes at her and closed them. "Yes, M'am," he grumbled before he took a deep breath.
Ghosting her fingers over his eyes and forehead, she instructed him to "Exhale your fear." He did. "Keep breathing. Inhale again. Now exhale your doubt. Release your anxiety, your worries." She smiled down at him. He looks peaceful with his eyes closed. "In other words, this is how you would say it," she chuckled at herself. "Inhale all the good shit and exhaleâ"
Smiling, his voice interrupted her and finished her sentence. "All the bullshit." They both laughed, together.
She moved to get off of him, but he wouldn't let her. "Babe, I really don't know what I would do without you. You've been my rock through this. I owe you a big back massage, shoulder rub, and a really BIGâ-"
A kiss cut his words off. Her hair, he could smell her hair as it curtained their faces. The fruity scent of sparkling berries, juicy tangerine, and something bubbly, something so her. Her lips are soft and warm, and her arms are safe. She helps to soothe his mind and put him together again, piece by piece. And like puzzle pieces, the two of them fit together.
They both needed air. He pulled back first. His hands caressed her jaw. His smile is as bright as the sun, it showed his dimples a little. "Babe I love you." They locked hands.
She knows. "I love you too." He pulled her down, and she lay in front of him this time. He held her and they fell asleep. When they woke up their movie had been long over, and it was only an hour until their friends arrived.
Noticing the clock, she jumped up and began straightening things. Johnny continued to lay there. He has no intentions of getting up, despite Ava's many protests. She had put on a pot roast to cook, earlier in the day. Now she's running about making mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls (which she prepared the day before), and a dessert.
The only movement he made was a yell asking her to "Bring me a sample of the roast." As an afterthought, he said "Please". With a stern expression, one that meant get up and help, she gave him a taste. He moaned in pleasure. "Can we just hide the roast for ourselves and order pizza for them?"
Shaking her head, she huffed a breath. "No. Now get up and change and put a shirt on. Then you can help me finish tidying up." She motioned with her hands.
Clean up, barf. He explained, "But I'm still weak and my headaches." Her face did not look amused. "Fine." Getting up he went to change and picked up the living room (which meant straightening the magazines on the coffee table), then laid back down watching TV.
At six, Tommy and Dawn arrived first followed by Jimmy. Walking inside, Tommy shouted out "Hey Man!" All three walked into the living room together. Not bothering to sit up, Johnny held up a hand and waved. Tommy saw him and asked "What's wrong with you? Are you sick? If you're sick, then I'll sit way over there." He pointed to a chair in the corner by the window. "I don't need cold germs." Dawn and Jimmy gave him looks.
Before Johnny could respond, Dutch, Bobby, and Rachel arrived. They made their way into the living room too. Taking one look at Johnny, laid out, Dutch told him "Well I can breathe out of one nostril today. So, I've got that goin' for me which is nice. Are you sick to Man?" Everyone started laughing because they love the "So I've got that goin' for me which is nice" quote, from Carl Spackler in Caddy Shack.
Ava came out from the kitchen and greeted their friends. Then she answered Dutch. "No. Johnny's not sick, he's something else. Which we'll all talk about after dinner."
Assuming the worst Tommy bellowed "Oh God! You're dying! You're too young and pretty to die!" He pulled at his hair. Everyone stared at him, even Johnny who is now sitting up.
Yelling out "Quiet!" Johnny motioned for him to "Calm down. I'm not dying. But something did happen to me. Like Ava said we'll talk about it after dinner." He got up and led everyone to the kitchen, where they served their plates.
They all ate in the sunroom. It's less formal than the dining room. After eating bites of his roll, Jimmy remarked "It's so weird. I get better food here than at my own home. My mom can't cook. She tries, but woof." He grabbed two more rolls. "These are great by the way."
Johnny agrees. His wife does cook good food. The rest of the meal they spent in conversation about Spring Break, and prom. When talking about Spring Break, everyone shared their plans. Jimmy and Tommy are going crabbing for two days off the coast of Oregon. Rachel is going with Bobby and his family to the mountains, in Colorado. While Dawn is staying put, just resting.
Which leaves Dutch. His family is going to the Grand Canyon. "Like I told my parents. If you wanted to see a mighty crack, then all I have to do is bend over." Many an eye roll happened.
As for Johnny and Ava, he announced "We're using the tickets and money her grandparents gave us for Christmas. They're travel vouchers good for anywhere in the world. A late honeymoon."
Words of "Wow" and whistles rang out. Rachel asked them "Where are you going?" Eyebrows raised and heads turned to them.
Ava answered this time. "We decided on Majorca. It's one of Spain's beautiful Balearic Islands. We can't wait. It's the perfect combination of beach, gorgeous water, and history. We're counting down the weeks until we leave. Only two more to go." She held up two fingers.
Dawn died and joked to them "Oh my gosh. Take me with you! You can stow me away in your luggage. You only have to feed and water me twice a day." One of her life goals is to travel the world.
Everyone finished eating their meal and had dessert. For dessert, Ava made a layered brownie and Oreo cake. Dawn died for traveling, but Dutch died for this dessert. He moaned. "I have abs. I have abs-olutely no self-control when it comes to this dessert. This is so good!" Tommy's sweet tooth agrees.
After the dessert, they all went back into the living room. Dutch carried another plate of the brownie treat with him. Once everyone was seated, Ava and Johnny knew it was time to share his problem with everyone. The thing is how do you start a conversation like this?
Sitting by Johnny, and holding his hand, Ava began talking. "I have some questions for you Jimmy and Dutch." They looked at her then. "At Timbo's party, did either of you notice anything suspicious after Johnny went to the bathroom?"
Both guys looked at each other and shook their heads. Dutch answered. "Not that I remember, but then I was already into a nice beer buzz." He took a bite of the brownie dessert.
On the other hand, Jimmy stated, "Unlike our friend here, I was not buzzed. Nowhere near it." He saw Dutch mocking him with his mouth. Jimmy elbowed him in the ribs and continued. "I know Johnny went to the bathroom, and I guess I do remember a little something."
The newlyweds stared at him with hopeful eyes. "There was this moment when a group of girls came fully into the room. They had been watching all of us playing beer pong. I know this because I had been checking one of them out."
Dutch leaned over and whispered in his ear "Which one".
Looking at him, Jimmy said "The one with the short blonde hair, blue eyes."
"Nice" his friend murmured smiling in remembrance.
Getting annoyed Johnny told them "Focus! Now back to me."
Having regained his momentum, Jimmy did refocus and he spoke again. "When Johnny went out to the bathroom, one girl with a hat on went over to the sofa (where he had placed his can down). But then Dutch shouted and scared me half to death, so I didn't pay any more attention. Why do you ask about this?"
Ava looked at her husband with raised eyebrows. He ran a hand over his face and started to reveal what happened to him. Maybe it will help Jimmy remember more. "Because I was drugged at the party." Both females gasped and their hands raised to their mouths. The guys seemed shocked with eyes as large as melons, and mouths hanging open.
"Yeah, it really happened. When I came back from the bathroom and took a sip of my beer, that's when I started feeling nauseous and really strange. I wanted to barf my guts out, so I went to find a place to lie down. When I woke up I had no clue where I was, nor could I remember anything. To make it all worse, Ava's demented cousin was lying beside me naked." Johnny felt sick all over again just talking about it.
Everyone was stunned silent. Except for Dutch. "Oh wow! So she's not just missing a screw, she's missing the whole toolbox." Tommy high-fived him.
Bobby cannot believe his ears. "Wait. Let me get this straight. You were drugged, went to lie down, then woke up with a naked girl beside you?" Johnny nodded his head yes. "I hate to ask, but I have to. Did the two of you, you know? I'm sorry Ava."
Hugging her husband, Ava responded. "It's OK Bobby. Answering for Johnny, yes all of that happened. But no, he did not have sex with her. When he got home, which I have no idea how he was able to drive all this way without passing out, he started barfing his guts out. He was truly violently ill. I took him to the ER, where they had him drug tested as well as tested for body fluids." Johnny leaned his head back and put his hands over his eyes.
Ava patted his leg and continued sharing the information. "The test results found out he had been slipped GHB, the date rape drug. Even though he was drugged, he did not have sex with her. No body fluids were on him. But the doctor told us that Johnny is lucky to be alive, as the drug mixed with alcohol is a deadly combination."
That stunned the group even more. What does one say to something like that? Jimmy started with "That's worse than kissing Dutch's pet goat."
Hearing his name, Dutch chimed in "Hey, it's my mom's goat. But yeah, Man. That's worse than driving the golf cart into the club pool."
"Or streaking naked down the street with old Mrs. Needermeyer seeing you," Bobby casually offered.
And Tommy finished for them. "Yeah, that's way worse than the time Dutch got drunk and tattooed Tom Cruise on hisâ" Dutch, who is sitting beside him, instantly put his arms around his friend's shoulders and a hand over his mouth.
"Let's not talk about that Buddy," Dutch exclaimed. "Now back to you Man. Wow! That's disturbing. I wish I hadn't been so drunk, as to not notice you. I'm sorry Johnny. What a terrible friend I am. But you're alive, so you got that goin' for you which is nice." Even in a tense moment, they all chuckled in reference to Carl Spackler.
Johnny took his hands away from his face. "Naw Man. It's not on you. I shouldn't have left my beer unattended and I shouldn't have even been there in the first place. I should have sucked it up and had it out with Ava, about cleaning. Which everything is good with us, so no worries there. It's just I feel like an idiot. And I also feel extremely grateful to be alive and have a great wife, who has done nothing but take care of me." He placed a kiss on the side of her head.
Having been silent and thinking, Jimmy spoke up. "I've been thinking and thinking. What did Misty wear? Do either of you remember, Johnny, Dutch?"
The wheels in Johnny and Dutch's heads started turning. Johnny vaguely recalls "Jeans with a white and grey cropped sweater. I think."
Jimmy nodded. "Yeah, yeah! The suspicious girl with the hat wore jeans and a grey and white sweater. That had to have been her Man."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Johnny put his hands over his face again. Rubbing his back, Ava shared what her crazy cousin did to Johnny, on two separate occasions. Dawn blurted out "What a psycho."
While Rachel wants to know "What are you going to do about her?"
Since Johnny doesn't know, Ava told them "There's a few things in the works actually. First and foremost, we're counting on you guys." She looked at the Cobras. "We're counting on you to be there for him and help protect him. I know Johnny can take care of himself, but he needs backup. Most of his classes you guys have together, so just be there for support and keep her away from him." They all nodded yes.
Her eyes landed on Bobby. "And I'm counting on you to keep my husband from doing something foolish. Something he'll regret later. We don't need him beating her up and having her call the police on him. You know?" She saw her husband wear a pained expression at her words.
Agreeing, Bobby said "Yeah, I've got him. Don't worry."
Then Ava looked at Dutch. "And I'm counting on you to throw diversions her way, this week. I don't care who you have to bribe, or whatever, just find ways to divert her attention away from Johnny."
Rubbing his hands together, Dutch explained "I've got this. I can solve any problem by creating three new ones as distractions. I'm your guy."
With a  chuckle, Ava thanked them both. "But the thing is we just have to make it until next weekend. You see I have a plan for her and part of the plan Johnny doesn't know about." His blue eyes cut her. "You can't know John. If you knew it would ruin it. You have to know nothing about it, thereby rendering you innocent." She turned back to their friends. "You see I have this person I'm working with and they think it best he not know. But next weekend something will happen. We just have to be patient this week, while information is collected. Which is why I need you guys diverting and keeping this one from trouble." She patted Johnny's leg.
They all knew what they have to do. Even Tommy is ready to step up and forgo his beautiful face and hair for the cause. But Rachel isn't satisfied. "I don't get it though. Why is she going through all of this trouble? What's her game?"
Bobby shuddered. "Cause she's crazy Rach. That's what crazy people do."
Though she agrees, Ava interjected a thought. "She is crazy. To be honest I think Johnny was the backup plan at the party. She had no way of knowing he'd be there, but when she saw him she changed course and went for him. Someone else was her target with the drug. The question is who?"
Now both Dutch and Jimmy shuddered. It very well could have been them. Jimmy responded "Well what type of guys would she go for? What type of guy would she want to drug, besides Johnny?" He turned to Tommy. "Tommy you know everything about everyone. Now's the moment you've been waiting for. Time to put your gossip to good use."
"Ha, ha, ha," he said. Then he pulled at his hair. "This is a hard one. Misty has been through several guys since January. I'm sorry Ava but she's a crazy piece of work."
Both Johnny and Ava said at the same time "She's a burnt trollop." They started laughing.
Tommy carried on, after giving them strange looks. "Her last known guy was David, on the football team. Was he there? It could have been him."
Dutch and Jimmy didn't remember David being at the party. Regardless of not knowing who the drug was really intended for, they made plans to keep Johnny from danger. They also made plans to do the same for Ava, who admitted "I don't think she'd be so brazen as to harm me." The guys huffed and puffed about that. They totally disagree with her, especially Johnny.
After all, the plans were made, and more cake is eaten, Johnny got up and said "Now I've got you guys watching my back. So, I've got that goin' for me which is nice." He smiled a cheesy smile. Tomorrow starts a long week and he's ready to get it over with.