Stage Fright

Chapter 47 ~ Curtain Call

Heather

I'm so happy this is the last show. It's Saturday night and I honestly feel like I could pass out if I did one more show, I'm exhausted, tired, I feel gross all the time and I really need to focus on the pile of homework in front of me. 

But I miss Josh, we were originally going to do it together and he was going to stay over last night, but his sister had driven down for the weekend to see the last show tonight. There was the final cast party at Owen's tonight so I knew it would be important for him to spend some time with her. I hadn't seen her in years, but I remembered looked a lot like Josh. Hopefully I'd get to see her and properly introduce myself.

I'm deep in a pile of homework when I can hear my ringtone through my headphones and the box that pops up says "Josh would like to FaceTime", I immediately hit the answer button and give up my homework to talk with him.

"There she is, hey Heather." He says and I can see his sister standing behind him, looking over his shoulder. I smile instantly seeing him again on the other end, I couldn't wait to see him tonight.

"Hey!" I say back with a friendly wave. 

"I want you to meet my sister, this is Anna." He says and she smiles with a friendly wave.

"Oh my god, you were right she is gorgeous." Anna mumbles, getting closer to the camera. I can see now that they have different eye colours, hers are brown instead. But they share hair colour, facial features, just like Josh she's very pretty and she seems incredibly friendly. "Tell her why you called." Anna prods, nudging his shoulder and he chuckles.

"I got an email from the M.I.T board of admissions today." He mumbles and my eyes widen.

"Really?" I ask with a smile. "What did it say?"

"They're sending out their early admission notices at noon today, it'll tell me if I'm in or not." He says and I look at the time in the corner of my screen, 11:57. "I have Anna and my dad here and.....I wanted to call you too for when I open it." He admits and I smile.

"Aw, well I'm glad I can be apart of something so important." I insist and he smiles. "I'd wish you luck, but I know you don't need it." I say and he laughs a bit.

It was true, I read Josh's incredible essay that he had submitted. I knew he had perfect grades, he tutored math and science and he had shown me all the physics awards and competitions he'd won throughout his teens. Josh was equal parts beauty and brains, I knew they'd have to accept him, he was so naturally bright it was almost alarming, he loved making things work and trying new concepts. People like Josh were exactly what schools like M.I.T wanted, someone who was eager to create new things and make the world a better place.

11:59

"God I'm nervous." He mumbles and I smile.

"I wish I was there to hold your hand." I tell him and he laughs a bit. "There's no reason to be nervous, you're incredible."

"Thanks Heather." He says and I smile. 

I hadn't heard back yet about my ivy schools, but I hadn't applied early. It was exciting that the news was coming a month in advance for him.

Suddenly we hear an email notification and I smile, watching him take a deep breath and press his lips together.

"Whatever it says, I'm proud of you." I tell him and he smiles with a nod and clicks onto the email.

For a second he sits and furrows his eyebrows, it didn't just look like he was reading, he wasn't excited or upset just.....confused.

"Well? What does it say?" I ask with a smile and he clears his throat.