Lean On Me, Part 3
By: Katie
Lean On Me
Part 3
By Katie
Katie finds solisce in Lenny's arms after her nasty break-up with
Juan Epstein.
Recap: Katie catches Juan kissing another woman, who happens to be
Vinnie's girlfriend on the main drag in Bensonhurst and goes ape and starts beating him up.
Lenny, along with Squiggy and Carmine, run to stop it before the cops
show up. Three days later, Katie is feeling the effects and decides to split despite a pep talk
from Len, whom she's been attracted to since the first time he told her what his last name meant.
Her friends find her notes and Lenny is on his way to Connecticut to find her.
Stamford, Katie's bedroom
She's got out her binoculars and she's watching the trains go by. She sees one stop and
she looks through them to see who steps out. She notices one familiar form in a red satin jacket.
Katie: No, it can't be, I'm just obsessed or something. Mom, c'mere!
Mrs B: What? I'm watching a movie!
Katie: Geez..Okay well I'm going to the beach bye.
Mrs B: Okay.
Katie runs down the stairs, out the back door and through the backyard to the street in back.
She figured she would miss Len for sure. He wouldn't know this town like she does, like the back of her hand
The girl's got dumb luck. He saw her and called out her name. She ran down the street and managed to jump on the
bus. She got a transfer slip and got off at the next stop. She didn't notice that he was following her the whole time.
The guy was determined to catch up with her and make her listen to him.
Lenny: :thinking to himself: Why is she running, I don't get it. Is she having an episode?
does she think i'm Juan trying to get her back or hurt her? I ain't even Puerto Rican, Squig might be
though, like half or something, I think he got an A in Spanish once. Lenny, you moron, you got more
important things to think about right now. Right, Damn, I hope she doesn't do something crazy. She knows
I wouldn't hurt her. I'd like to kill that Sheephead for hurting her, but, I know She'd
like the satisfaction of doing that herself.
Driver on PA system: Cummings Beach, next stop.
Lenny pulls the chord and get's off when the bus pulls into the parking lot. He runs onto the beach looking
for her. Looking to the left he sees nothing, looking to the right he sees a figure on the pier. He starts running toward it.
Katie sees him and decides to hear him out. If she really liked him, she would at least show him that courtesy.
Lenny: :out of breath: Finally...oh god, my lungs are in my throat.
Katie: Oh hey Len, What brings you here?
Lenny: Oh you can't be serious! What're you running for. I was trying to catch up to you.
Katie: I just wanted to get to the beach. Now I can leave. Bye.
Lenny: ::fed up:: Okay, that's it! ::picks her up and puts her over his shoulder.
Katie: Lenny Kosnowski! What do you think you're doing! Put me down!
Lenny: No, you're gonna listen to what I have to say! Whether you like it or not!
He carries her off the pier and over to a secluded spot on the beach. He puts her down and starts talking.
Lenny: Okay look, I know you're hurting really bad, but you need to hear me out, okay?
Katie: Fine.
Lenny: Good.
Lenny paces as he tries to come up with the right words.
Lenny: Look, I ain't good with words, But, I really do know how you're feeling. I know you find that hard
to believe, but, it's true. My marriage ended last year because, Laverne is still hung up on some guy who lived
in our building in Burbank. I loved her and I know she still loves me, but not enough to stay married to me.
Katie: Well Len, she's really missing out on a great guy, What's this guy got that you don't?
He's probably some muscle bound moron,but I don't see how it's like what i'm going through.
Lenny: Oh I know, it's not the exact same situation, but didn't you love Juan and he left you
for Kitty?
Katie: Yeah and I thought he loved me too, I guess i'm just stupid.
Lenny: NO! you're not. Don't ever say that.
Katie: Well god, Len, whatta you call it, gullible?
I don't know how to deal with this. I hoped I'd never have to.
Lenny: I know, I know, but running away? What's that gonna solve?
You got friends back in the city and I'm one of them. We're like a little family.
We all love you and we'd miss you if you were gone. Especially me.
He pulls her close to him and holds her tightly. Her sobbing releases all the hurt she's been feeling deep down.
She clings to him, afraid to let go. He caresses her hair and rocks her gently as he tried to soothe the hurt she's feeling.
feeling.
Lenny: It's okay, Just let it all out.
Katie: I really hate him Len, how could he hurt me.
Lenny: Cause he's jerk that's why. I know it hurts like hell now, but it'll get better.
It is for me. Remember what I was like last year?
Katie: ::wipes her eyes:: Yeah, you were really depressed, We were worried about you.
Lenny: Yeah and who was it that stayed with me and made me feel better?
Katie: Me? well and Kitty tried to proposition you.
Lenny: Yeah, I remember that..What a bimbo. Look, anyway, My point is that even
though things seem dark now, brighter days are ahead.
Katie: You sound like Shirley.
Lenny: Yeah I know, It happens, It's true though.
He held her for a long time, until it started raining and they needed to find shelter.
They went back to her house and watched Soul Train. Bill Withers came on singing "Lean On Me"
Lenny got up and took her hand for a slow dance.
Katie: I love this song.
Lenny: Me too.
Katie: I love you Lenny
She looked into those gorgeous ocean blue eyes, he was completely caught off guard, but he reciprocated.
She kissed him so deeply, he could feel his body shake all over. It lasted forever, or at least felt like it. In reality,
it was only 15 minutes. He held her close as they danced, oblivious to the approach of threatening weather outside.
Whether it the emergency tone on the TV or the rumble of thunder that brought them back from "The Land of the Lovers"
They grabbed candles and other supplies they needed and waited out the storm in the finished basement. Afterwards, they walked
down to Hope Street and got on a train heading back to the city. After sharing another heavenly passionate kiss at Katie's apartment door,
Lenny went home. Katie walked in the door and was immediately hugged by Melissa, Ashley and Crystal.
Melissa: Glad you're home.
Ashley: Yeah, Are you okay?
Katie: I'm better now, Thanks to Lenny.
Crystal: OH my God! Details Woman Details!
Katie: Ugh..get your mind outta the gutter. It didn't go that far.
All three: Awww...
Katie walks into the bedroom and turns her head towards them.
Katie: Yet!
She runs into the room and slams the door laughing. Crystal, Ashley and Mel run to the door
and demand she open the door. Katie opens it and they bombard her with pillows. They horse around
until it gets too hot. Meanwhile the boys are trying to watch TV.
Squiggy: There they go again..
Lenny: Shut up Squig, The woman I love is making some of that noise.
Squiggy: So...Did you have a good time.
Lenny: I wasn't going there to have a good time..but..yeah, I did.
Squiggy: Well spill your guts, what happened.
Lenny: All i'm telling is that she made my teeth rattle.
Squiggy: Aww..Len, You got fresh and she socked ya in the jaw.
Lenny: Not quite termite.
Squiggy: Fine don't tell me..I only asked..Ohh, I get it..sure.
So..um...is she okay now?
Lenny: Yeah, she'll be okay, She'll probably beat up Juan and Kitty evertyime she sees them
though.
Squiggy: I don't wanna miss that.
They go back to watching Heckle and Jeckle.
Crystal: Wanna get ice cream?
Ashley: For dinner?
Katie: Yeah why not? It's too hot for regular food.
Melissa: We'll get the guys and make them pay.
Ashley: Yeah, besides, Vinnie told me Juan and Kitty were gonna be going out. You and Lenny
can parade infront of them and show off how much better off you are, you know, since you dumped his sorry ass.
Katie: I don't really wanna see those two. It's too hot to beat them up. We should all just go down to the corner, get the ice cream and
eat it on the roof.
Crystal: Either that or go to Coney Island.
They all look at each other and, in unison, agree on Coney Island. They round up their other friends and head for the beach.
Lenny and Katie headed for The Tunnel Of Love as soon as they got off the train. Squiggy got punched in the stomach by Crystal
because he made a comment too disgusting to print. It was a wonderful night until they ran into Juan and Kitty. After a few choice
words and several contusions later, they left for Puerto Rico for the rest of the summer. Lenny and Katie announced that they were
officially an item, to which everyone replied with a resounding "Well duh." Vinnie and Freddie joined them up on the roof to plan their
trip to Wisconsin over Shotz beer and banana splits.
Katie sat back and took everything and everyone in. It had been a hellish week and she didn't think it would have a good ending.
How dare she even toy with the notion of jumping off the pier over Juan Epstein, of all people. She had Lenny now, he really knew how
to treat a woman. She understood what Laverne saw in him. Katie felt bad for them when they got divorced, but not enough. She always
had a crush on him. He was married and she wasn't brought up as a homewrecker. So, she didn't pursue it.
She was there for him when his marriage ended. He was her rock when she caught Juan with Kitty earlier in the week.
It was one of their favorite songs. It summed up their friendship and it was the first song they danced to as a couple.
The End.
Part Two
Part One