7th Floor West | JF

Chapter 27

{**I changed the main character's name from Aubrey to Megan. I just think that it sounds better, I guess!}

I walked into the office and set my things down in the Writer's Room, and I made my way over towards the computer to finish my sketch idea. I couldn't stop thinking about Jimmy or the different things that he had told me last night. He was such an amazing brother... I didn't deserve him at all. I forced myself to focus and finish the sketch, and I saw my phone light up. I had a text from Seth.

Hey Meg, I was just wondering if you'd wanna go grab lunch today. I need your feedback on a skit, and I'd love to catch up with you.

I smiled. I hadn't seen Seth in so long, and I really wanted to catch up with him. I had been so busy with writing and moving into my apartment that I hadn't had much time to socialize. I replied to Seth and told him that it was a great idea and that I wanted to go to lunch with him during break. I locked my phone and printed the sketch out, and I put it in the box that was for Miles and Deej. I grabbed my coffee and walked into the studio, and I sat down in one of the first rows of seats. It was empty, which I liked. Sometimes I would just come here to relax and think things over. As I sat there and stared up at the stage, I heard one of the studio doors open. I heard a familiar voice say, "Hey Megan. You alright?" It was Higgins.

"Yeah, I'm fine Higs. What about you?" He sat next to me and said, "Good... But you don't seem fine. Talk to me. What's up?" I took a deep breath and sighed. "I just feel terrible... Because I'm always feeling down and out, and I feel bad because Jimmy always wants to do something for me and cheer me up, when he should be doing something for himself. I feel bad that he wastes a lot of his time on me."

Higgins looked me straight in the eye and said, "Trust me, Meg. He isn't wasting his time on you. He loves spending time with you. He cherishes his time with you. He's a selfless person, that's just part of who he is." I felt my phone vibrate, and it was Seth. "Thanks Higs. I gotta go." I hugged Higgins and made my way out of the studio and towards the elevators.

•

I finished my lunch out with Seth, and I made it back to the studio. Suddenly, a wave of depression and hopelessness crashed over me. I couldn't deal with this at work. I grabbed Patrick and told him to tell Miles that I wasn't feeling well and that I was going home. I left my sketch ideas out for the creative meeting, and I grabbed my purse and got back to my condo.

My emotions overcame me as I made my way into the bathroom. I grabbed my old friend and viciously began to cut. My mind was empty, and it was the only time that I was actually at peace. I finished and cleaned everything up, and I saw two missed calls on my phone.

Jimmy and Higgins.

I wasn't going to call them back, because I would crack and then a whole fiasco would go on where everyone would put all eyes on me and drop everything for me- and that couldn't happen. The show had to go on, both figuratively and literally. I sat down on my bed and slowly began to lay down and make myself comfortable, and I soon fell asleep.

I was woken up by a knocking on my door, and I groggily got up and made my way towards the door. I looked at the clock- it was after midnight. I began to perk up as I realized that only a small handful of people would come to my house at this time- Jimmy, Higgins, Seth, snd John were the only ones who would come. Or it could be a burglar...

I let that thought escape my head, and I looked through the peephole.

"Let me in or I'll break this door down." A demanding voice said, and a wave of terror shot over me.

It wasn't one of those names that I had listed earlier...