Curtain Call (Jake Sims)

Chapter 11

"Shannon!" My mom yelled for me from her bedroom. I sighed and went to go see what she wanted. I had just gotten out of the shower, so I was still in just my towel. When I opened her door she was sitting on the edge of her bed with a worried look on her face. "What's up?" I asked. "Honey, come sit down." She patted the spot next to her and I cautiously sat down. "Mom, what's wrong?" She was really beginning to worry me. "Nothing's wrong. In fact, everything is finally coming together." She smiled, but it wasn't a full smile. "Ok..." I looked at her and waited for her to fill me in. "Frank asked us to move in with him. And I said yes." She finally said. I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I momentarily forgot how to breath and I couldn't move. "Shannon, I know you don't like him, but I do. I really like him. Please, just try to be happy for me." She begged. Instead of answering her, I stood up and went back to my room. I slammed my door shut and locked it so she couldn't come in. I immediately pulled out my phone and called Beth. "Hey chica." She answered. "Me and my mom are moving in with Frank." I said. "I'm sorry, what?" She asked. I knew she heard me, but I repeated myself anyway so it could sink in. "Frank asked my mom to move in and she said yes." I could feel tears prickling the side of my eyes, threatening to escape. I took a deep breath and tried to reign them in. "Shannon, you can't live with that creep." Beth said. "I don't have a choice. I can't afford my own place. I'm an unemployed, full-time student. There's no way." I shook my head. "You can live with me." She offered. I knew she was being serious, but there was no way I would fit. Beth has a full house with both her parents, and all three of her siblings. "Thanks, but we both know that won't work." I said. "This is crazy. You need to tell your mom what he did. I'm sure if she knew, she would dump him." Beth said. "I can't tell her. She's happy. Besides, it only happened once and I pushed him away." I replied. You see, when I told you Frank flirted with me, I left out the fact that he actually kissed me. The only person who knows about that is Beth, and I don't plan on anyone else ever finding out. "Well when are you guys moving? And where does he even live?" She asked. "That's a good question. I don't actually know. I kind of freaked out and left before she could tell me anything else." I admitted. "Well, if it's really happening, I need details like when and where so I can check on you. You should probably tell Erick too since you guys are pretty much an item now." She added. "What? Who said we were an item?" I asked. "Well I just assumed..." She said. "Well you assumed wrong. I mean, Erick's great, but I don't think I'm interested in him as more than a friend." I admitted. "What? Since when?" She asked, clearly confused by my words. "Since we kissed and I didn't feel anything." I said. "Or how about since you met Mr. Jake Sims." She corrected. "Whoa, Jake has nothing to do with this." I replied a little too quickly. "Yeah right. Before you met Jake, you were practically obsessed with Erick." I could hear the smirk on her face. "Whatever. Look, I'm sitting here in a towel. I'm gonna go get dressed. I'll talk to you tomorrow." I said. "Way to avoid the topic." She replied dryly. "Talk to you tomorrow." She added, and then we hung up. After I got dressed in my pajamas, I checked my phone and seen I had a text.

Erick: Hey beautiful, wanna hang out after class tomorrow? Xx

I remembered what I told Beth about me only liking Erick as a friend, so I decided that tomorrow would be as good a time as any to tell him how I feel.

Me: Sounds good. It'll have to be after my theatre class though :)

I purposely put a smiley face instead of 'X's'.

Erick: That's fine. When does it get over? Xx

I feel really bad for doing this. I like him, I really do. He's a great guy and any girl would be luck to have him, I just...I'm not interested anymore.

Me: 2pm

Erick: Great. I'll pick you up at your place around 3?

Me: Ok. See you tomorrow :)

Erick: Can't wait :) xx

I'm a horrible person.

***

When I woke up the next morning, I packed my bag with everything I would need for spanish and theatre, then got dressed. I grabbed something small for breakfast, and then began my drive to school. When I got to spanish, I sat down and waited for Erick to show up. Eventually he sat down, and surprised me and everyone else when he kissed me on the cheek. "Morning beautiful." He greeted. "Morning." I smiled and tried to ignore all the stares from everyone in the room, including our professor. "Hey, about today, do you mind if a few of my friends tag along. I forgot I promised I would play soccer with them." He said. "That's fine. We can reschedule if you want?" I asked, mainly because I didn't feel like friendzoning him in front of a bunch of his guy friends. "No, I wanna hang out. I'll just play a quick game and then we can go play at the park with all the little kids." He smiled. He's so amazing. "Sure. That sounds fun." I smiled.

***

This time when I got to theatre class, I walked confidently down to the teachers desk, signed my name, and went to our assigned practice room. I was shocked when I opened the door and seen both Jake and Jennifer there. Jennifer was legitimately taking selfies in the corner, and Jake was reading the script. When I walked in, Jennifer looked at me and roller her eyes. "Bout damn time. We've been waiting for like three minutes." She said. I gave her a blank look and tried not to laugh in her face. When I looked at Jake, I noticed he was already looking at me. I gave him a small smile and then went to my usual seat. "Right. So how far have you guys read?" Jennifer asked. "We're about a quarter way through." I answered. "Have you worked on memorization yet?" She asked. "Yeah, but it's gonna take time." I said. "Don't make excuses. I want the first scene memorized by Monday." She ordered. "Fine." I rolled my eyes. "Great. Now you two...do whatever it is you do." She pointed between me and Jake and we both looked at each other. I really didn't feel comfortable practicing in front of Jennifer, and apparently Jake didn't either because he suddenly asked her to leave. "I beg your pardon?" She glared at him. "You heard me. Either you leave, or we will." He said. "In case you've forgotten, I'm the director. That means I'm in charge." She said. "You keep telling yourself that." Jake said and stood up. He tossed his script into his bag and looked at me. "You coming?" He asked. I looked from him to Jennifer and quickly nodded my head. I grabbed my bag in one hand, script in the other and followed Jake out of the room. "Where are we going?" I asked after we were far enough so Jennifer couldn't hear us. "Your house." He replied shortly. "Oh." I wasn't expecting that. "But I have plans with Erick later so you'll have to be gone by three since you don't want him to know that we actually do know each other. Which reminds me, why is he supposed to think that?" I asked. "Do you ever stop talking?" He asked sharply. "Jesus. Who pissed in your cheerios?" I grumbled, but didn't push the topic. When we got in the parking lot, I got in my car, and Jake followed me to my house on his motorcycle. When we pulled into my driveway, my stomach dropped. My mom and Frank were here. I quickly got out of my car and walked over to Jake. "Look, I know you just drove all this way, but I need you to leave. Now's not a good time for company." I begged. "Is everything ok?" He asked me. "It's fine, just please go." I said agan. "Shannon?" I turned and see my mom in the doorway. "Honey who's this?" She asked. "Nobody. Just a classmate. He was just leaving though." I said. "Did you guys need to work on homework?" She asked. "Yes." "No." Me and Jake answered at the same time. "Shannon stop being so weird. You're more than welcome to come in and do your homework. We'll just be packing up." My mom smiled at Jake, but when she looked at me she gave me a look that said 'behave yourself,' then turned and disappeared inside. "Come on." I sighed and guided Jake upstairs to my bedroom.

***

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