Come On, Get Happy! [The Partridge Family]

Chapter One Harmony's POV I was so happy that today I was going over to spend some quality time with my childhood best friend Laurie Partridge. I had known Laurie my whole entire life just about. Since we moved in their neck of the woods when I was about twelve years old. We lived in a small apartment building there in the same town. Before Laurie grew to be a famous pop star. Laurie always tried to help me out with money. For homecoming to prom. I never allowed hand outs. If she helped me then I would work for it. Do chores for Mrs. Partridge. That was how I was. My mother always was a drunk bum looking for the next hand out. I never would ever be like her. I went off to college after high school. But soon found I could not keep up with the student loans. I had to drop out and get a job for now. I planned on going back one day when I could afford to. My main goal was keeping a good job. Keeping the rent on my apartment here. The reason I had not saw Laurie in awhile was her family had been on tour during the summer. We talked on the phone all the time when she could call. She was home sick when she was on the road. Then I was busy trying to get a job. I did not tell her the trouble I was having or she was sure to intervene for me. I would not take hand outs. Never. My pride would not allow that. Now I was settled. I had the day off. Laurie was back home. I was heading over to visit her. And her family. There was another Partridge I was hoping to run into. That one was Keith. I had always been in love with Keith. But he saw me as his dorky sister's dorky friend. He once called me a dork behind my back to Danny his other brother. He never knew I had overheard them talking. But to this day it stung my heart. I admired him so much. He was nice to my face. But I knew what he thought of me. And my image. After high school I changed. I grew up. I changed my cloths. Dressed how I wanted to. No more thrifted items that were given to my mom. I saved for or made my own clothing. I tossed out my glasses and got contacts as well. I felt so much better about me. I was no longer a chubby little girl that I was in high school. I was fit trim and I felt good about myself. Now I could face Keith. Get over him once and for all. Maybe he would beg me for a date. And I could turn him down in front of all them. It made me giggle at the thought. It just hurt me deeply because I thought of him as a friend at least. That he cared a little bit about me. But when he said what he had that stuck in my heart. It really did as much damage to me as the awful mind games that my mother once did to me. It made me see people in a different lighting. It made me not want to trust others. But I knew I could trust Laurie. She was almost like a real sister to me. I always longed for a sister. My mother never remarried or had other kids. I never knew my father. He left us when I was two years old. So I have no idea if he had more kids of his own or not. Maybe one day my siblings would look for me if I had any. It would be nice to know who my dad was. All I had was his old journal witch I could not bring myself to read. And I had a photo of him and myself. My mom was going to throw it out when we had to move one day. I recused it from the trash. I was curious to know about him. I wondered if he was anything like my mom. I had to have hope that he was nothing at all like her. The oven dinged letting me know my brownies were done. They were Laurie's favorite that I used to bake all the time when she would spend the night with me. I wanted to bring something for dinner. My orange long haired tabby cat Butterscotch rubs at my heels and mews softly with a joyful look on her face. ♡♪♬♪♡ "I get to see old friends to day, Butters. I am so happy" I admit to my cat. I set the brownies on the counter top in the kitchen to cool off. Then I take a shower to freshen up. Do my hair and nails. I am all dressed. I glance in the mirror. "Keith eat your heart out" I giggle to my reflection in the mirror. I wink at myself. I grab my purse. And then get the brownies. I grab the keys to my old beat up pick-up truck I drove. I head out to go into town. I run into my land lord Mrs. Hatchet. "Are those for me?" she wonders as she looked excited to see me. She loved my baking to. "Sorry not this time. Going to see an old friend. But I will make you some if you would like" I offer to her. "Oh yes please do, they were a big hit at my bridge party the other week" she brags on me. "if you are still single my nephew is your age, he will be in town next week" she informs me. "Good to know. Thank you but I have to get going" I tell her as I rush out of there. She forgets I met Bradly. He was a loser. With two kids and a new divorce coming his way. That would make two of them. I set my brownies in the truck once I unlocked it. Then I hopped in. I speed on over to my friend's home. Driving past my mom's place. I was not sure if she was in the same building. She moved around a lot. More like got kicked out a lot. I had not bothered with her because she was always begging me for money. To help her. Like I owed her everything. She blamed me for her issues because I chose to move out. I pull up to Laurie's place soon. The butterflies of excitement shoot in the pit of my stomach. So many memories of this place come rushing back to me. I look up where I know Keith's window is to his room. How many times I came over there to run into him. Same as I kind of was today. I take a deep breath. I could do this. Nothing to it. I get the brownies then go to the porch. I ring the doorbell. ♡♪♬♪♡ "Danny, could you get the door?" I hear Mrs. Partridge yelling. "I am almost done setting the table with Laurie" "Sure mom" I hear Danny saying. I hear him open the door. He grew up. He was so much taller. But still the same goofy kid with curly messy red hair and freckles plastered all over his face. He has a big grin on his face. "Can I help you?" he wonders. Did he not know it was me? "Danny quit goofing with me" I laugh. "Harmony?" he laughs. "is that really you?" "It is" I tell him. "Hi kiddo" He hugs me. "Wow you look fantastic!" he brags on me. "come on in" I head inside. "Harmony?" says Mrs. Partridge. "wow you look so stunning" she brags once she sees me. She hugs me then takes the brownies for me. "Thank you all" I giggle. "HARMONY!" squeals a happy Laurie. She rushes to greet me. She hugs me. "I sure have missed you" she tells me. "I have missed you to" I admit. "I am glad you are home and we can catch up" "And we are in luck to" she tells me as we all sit down on the couches. "Why is that?" I wonder. "Keith is out a date. So, he won't be bugging us at all" Laurie informs me. "Unless he blows his date. As he tends to do" jokes Danny with a serious look on his face. "Well then tonight is looking up" I lie with a laugh. I never once told Laurie about my deep feelings for Keith. No one knew but me. And I hoped to keep it that way. I had told Laurie the awful things he had said before about me. That I had overheard. My heart sank. I did want to teach Keith a lesson. I was hoping he would see the new Harmony. But that would have to wait I guess. ♡♪♬♪♡ "What have you been up to these days?" wonders Mrs. Partridge. "I have my own place in town. And I work over at Woolsworth now. In sales. I am a manager there" I brag. "I got my own truck now to and a cat" "What about college? I thought you were trying to become a nurse?" wonders her mom. "Mom!!" hisses a warning from Laurie. "I had to put that on hold until I save more money for college" I admit. "Better then dropping out like that loser Keith did" mutters Danny. "Danny watch your mouth! ." warns his mother. "Well, it is true" Danny mutters. "He dropped out? I am sorry to hear that" I sigh. "That dummy took classical music because of that Rachel girl. And of course he failed his first year. Then Rachel dumped him" sighs Laurie. "if he would not listen to stupid girls and focus on himself he might do okay" says Laurie. "Sounds like the same old Keith" I chuckle. "Pretty much" agrees Laurie. "say do you need a roomie?" "Are you leaving us?" mutters her mom. "I planned to move out. I get sick of hearing Keith mope about. And play music at all hours of the night" groans Laurie. "Sure, I could use a roommate" I offer. I did have a spare room in my place. "Great!" says Laurie. "we will talk more about that later" "Dinner girls?" asks her mom. "Let's yes. I am starving" I tell her mom. We soon were all sitting in the dining room. Having a good time. Worries of impressing Keith leave my mind. I have a good time visiting with friends. "That is IT! I give up the girls. I am going solo! You hear me? Solo! Girls in this town are over rated. So, I am not in college. So, I am not a college man right now. Is that all women care about these days?" I hear the door slam as Keith storms in. All of us grow quiet. "I am swearing off women until I get my life on track!" he declares with anger in his voice. "it is never enough for women no matter what you do" "Keith son, we have company over remember?" his mother speaks up. He comes wandering in. "Oh yeah Laurie's one little friend. Hidi?" he asks. "No, Harmony..." I speak up. As he comes in the room our eyes meet. Locking on one another. My heart stops in my throat. He was an older Keith. He aged well in looks. Still had the long hair. A little shadow of a beard on his chin. He was wearing a brown blazer suit with a tie. He had dark circles under his pretty eyes. He smiles at me. "Sorry, Harmony? Are you sure this is the same girl?" he wonders. "The Harmony you used to hang out with was that shy, clumsy, chubby girl?" he asks Laurie. "One in the same" I admit. I stand up to shake his hand. He spills my glass of milk on me nervously. All over my flowered print jumper I had on. "s**t, sorry" he mutters. He leads me into the kitchen to help me dry it off fast. He hands me a dish towel to dry off. "I am really sorry" he softly says. "No worries" I say with a smile. "how are you these days?" "Shitty you really do not want to know" he mutters. "Sure, I do, if I had not I would not have asked" I tell him as I dry off. "I dropped out of college. I am sure Danny told you. A girl got me into a mess. My life is a mess" he complains. "You have a tv show. Your music has done well though. That is something to be proud of" I remind him. "I guess. It is what they want not the kind of music I want to make. I want a new image. But I can't shed the one I am stuck with" he tells me. "I have new songs but they do not like it they won't give it a chance" "I am sorry to hear that. But keep trying. Maybe once they hear one thing they do like they will give something else a shot" I reply. "You are really nice to talk to. Have you always been this easy going?" he wonders. Our eyes meet again. I smile shyly. "Mom has club soda if you need to for the stain" offers Laurie as she comes in the room. "Okay" I answer. "I got it out. Good as new" "Well look at you!" says Laurie. "come eat dinner before Keith spills it all over us" mutters Laurie. "Ha ha" grumbles Keith as he rolls his eyes at Laurie. "You joining us?" asks Laurie. "No thanks I am not really hungry" he sighs. "Go on, go sulk. You will miss out on a good time as you always do" grumbles Laurie. "Thanks for listing to me" Keith says to me. "Pleasure to see you again" he says before leaving the room. "Same here" I answer. He storms up to his room. My heart went out to him. Though I was seeking revenge. Guilt settles in my heart. I was never able to do things like that. Guess it was not in my nature. I was not my mother. I join the others and have a nice dinner. And try to get Keith off my mind. ♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡