DISCLAIMER: Any characters from the TV show "Fame" belong to MGM Studios.
Bruno's voice trailed off after he got past the first line of the letter. After all these months, it still hurt to read the words of the woman he loved - a woman with so much to live for.
Wordlessly, he handed it to Danny, who began to read out loud.......
Dear Bruno,
I know, I only wrote a couple days ago - you're probably getting sick of me already. But I have some stuff I wanted to tell you.
The best thing about the past couple of weeks for me have been getting to work with Frannie Fortune. (That must surprise you huh?) I know, I said some pretty terrible things about her, but I was wrong. A tough old broad she may be, but she's got a good heart at the back of it all. And an amazing voice! Ian's harping on about a new improved Frannie Fortune, I've told you how he feels about her, but this song is fabulous. It's going to be a big hit - I played it for the first time last night, and it got a great response.
I learned a lot from Frannie...most importantly, that I don't know nearly as much as I thought I did! But she also taught me something else - how important it is to follow your dreams, and to take risks if you need to. Jillian and Reggie thought that was pretty funny - that I could never be spontaneous like that. In a way they're right...but they're going to be pretty shocked at what I've decided to do. I've been thinking about it for a while, but I've finally decided to take the plunge.
Have I driven you crazy yet?
OK, here goes. I want to come out there and be with you. Not for a visit. For good.
There's a performing arts high school in L.A. It's not our school, not even close. But I only have a few months to go...and I miss you. It's been so lonely here with half of myself thousands of miles away. I enquired loosely about transferring - they say they'd love to have me.
So my only question is, would you?
Think about it, and let me know. I have to go now - there's a party on tonight at the school and Danny and Mikey Garth (do you know him?) are picking me up soon. I wasn't going to go, but Danny bullied me into it. He's good at that! I'll mail this on the way.
All my love,
Nicole
Danny folded the letter in silence as the last line sank in. A quick look at the postmark confirmed his suspicion. "This was written the night...."
"Yeah."
"How...I mean...no-one knew about you guys - how did you find out? I mean, who told you?"
Bruno pulled another letter out of the pile and handed it to Danny. "You did."
Danny took the letter and recognised his own writing. He remembered now - his own words came back to him even as he opened it up and read it.
Hey Martelli
How's it going?
I wish I could tell you all the fun news and gossip from the School, but there's pretty much only one topic around here. There was an accident after a party a couple nights ago - I was in it. Me, Mikey Garth and Nicole Chapman. I know I've told you all about her ! Mikey and I had both been drinking...and it was snowing...the car went off the road and hit a tree. I'm a little banged up, so's Mikey, but Nicole......Nicole didn't make it.
We're all trying to come to terms with it. It's hard - Jesse (her ex) is taking it real bad. He never stopped loving her y'know - he always thought that they were going to get back together eventually. We all did.
It's hard to know what to write - you never knew her. I wish you had Martelli - you would've loved her.
Danny didn't read any further. He knew without even looking at Bruno what those simple sentences would have done to his friend.
It was Bruno who spoke first.
"You were right Danny," he said. "I would've loved her."