𝐆𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 || #𝟏

Chapter 23

"It was outside the door on that chair," he points. "We're all looking for you, why were you in there?"

"Lilliana locked me inside," I explain, "I'm so glad you saved me. I thought I'd be stuck in there forever."

He shrugs, then holds out his hand. "Cmon, let's go. We've got a show to put on."

-- ---- --

I'm showered in applause as I run up to the front of the stage and take my bow. A crowd of unfamiliar faces all clap, they whistle and they smile.

"You were really awesome tonight," Shawn whispers to me. "Don't tell my girlfriend I said this, but you were probably even better than her."

"Thanks," I blush. Heat draws up to my face, but I quickly shake it away.

The curtain falls down, and Mrs G immediately runs over to me, and shakes my hand numerous times.

"That was phenomenal!" She congratulated, "even better than in rehearsal. Though you were already perfect. Tonight you were more than perfect."

"Thanks so much Mrs G," I grin. "You're too nice sometimes."

"If anything, I'm understating it all. Now go home, get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow at school."

We said our goodbyes, and as I trailed off the stage, Lilliana walked up to me.

"What was that..?" I asked.

Lilliana shrugged. "How'd you even get out?"

"You're seriously asking me that, when you're the one who locked me in your dressing room and tried to stop me from getting on stage-"

"Chill, it was a joke."

"A joke that almost ruined the show."

"Don't be so sensitive," Lilliana dismisses. "I would've let you out anyways, and it's not like you would've been screwed if I didn't. Alexis would've been there to go on, and considering that you kind of stole opening night..."

"I didn't do anything," I snapped, "she did it to herself. Lilliana, have you ever thought about what type of friend she is? She's rude, mean, manipulative. She may seem like the greatest friend in the world now, but just give her some time and she'll drop you faster than you can say-"

"Man," Alexis interrupted, suddenly making her way into our conversation. "I thought that since we had all grown up, you'd act more mature. Guess I was wrong."

"You were planning on sabotaging me!" I exasperatedly said. My arms were on my hips, as I tried to muster up the best glare that I could.

"It's just show business. You can't trust anyone," she absentmindedly remarked. "However, your little conversation with my friend to try to get her to turn on me is low. Even for you."

My anger, suddenly multiplied by a million times as Alexis weasled her way into our conversation, died down. Instead, it was replaced by a dam of tears, threatening to spill over and flood everything.

Alexis must've seemed to notice how I was fighting back the tears in my eyes, as she scoffed and smirked at me. "We're in high school Jasmine, we aren't kids anymore. You can't cry over this, or had you never actually grown up?"

"Leave. Me. Alone," I gasp, trying to sound strong. My voice cracks a little, and a small cry makes it into my speech. I cover my face with my hands, and start to move away from them.

I can hear the whispers of Lilliana and Alexis as they make fun of me, just as I'm turning the corner and bumping into Alice and Jolene.

"Hey," Jolene softly asks, "are you okay? What's wrong?"

"You did great tonight! Why are you crying?" Alice says, bringing her arms around me and engulfing me in a hug.

"During intermission," I sobbed, "Lilliana locked me in a room. They were planning on sabotaging me. I wouldn't have made it onto that stage if it wasn't for Luke letting me out."

"I'm so sorry," Jolene soothed as Alice finally let me go.

"Let's not let them ruin your night, alright? Do you want to go out to get some dinner? We can take the train down into the city and have some food, I'll pay. It's not that late, we'll be back before 10, if you have a curfew."

"That'd actually be really great," I sniffed, my corner of my lips lifting in a weak smile.

"I'll text our group chat and see if anyone else wants to come along. I'll invite everyone in our friend group, do you want to get anyone else to come with us?"

"Not that I can think of," I say.

"What about Shawn? He seems like a pretty nice guy, he gave me his number at rehearsal, we're actually really good friends."

"Seriously? Are you sure Alexis is okay with that?" Jolene mused.

Alice grinned. "She said something along the lines of, 'oh I don't have to worry about her. She's too ugly for my boyfriend anyways.'"

"Seriously!?" Jolene and I shriek.

"Hey, she can't really say that I'm the ugly one when her personality is the most hideous, unsightly, displeasing thing in the universe."

"True," Jolene and I both agreed.

"Sorry girls," my mother says, weaving her way in. "I need to talk to Jasmine alone for a minute, then she's all yours."

Alice and Jolene wave their goodbyes, and make their way out of the school building.

"Jasmine," my mother starts. "I need to tell you some news, and I'm not sure how you'll take it but... I'm getting a divorce."

I know that it sounded bad but... A part of me felt relieved that she was doing this. No more fights, and no more tears. I felt relieved, happy for her, even.

"And if you want," she continues, "you can stay with me. Claudia already has agreed to split custody, and you can if you want as well..."

"I'd love to stay with you mum, full time."

"I found the greatest new house for us to live in, it's even closer to your school and it's in a friendly neighbourhood. I'm sure you'll love it."

She hugs me briefly, before letting me go.

"Don't stay out past ten-thirty," my mother finally says.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"Mother's instinct," she smiled, prancing off.