Brave

Well, Now You Know

|Emily's P O V|
I walk to Studio B to grab the regionals costumes for our dress rehersal tomorrow. Regionals is in 5 days. I am so excited, I have a feeling we might win this year, our routine is very strong, our costumes are stunning, and our team has great chemistry on stage. Riley and James made up, and I think it's only Eldon Michelle and I who have problems working together. Regardless, I think we can beat Elite no problem. I open the Studio B door to see Eldon and Michelle on the yellow sofa, the same yellow sofa where Eldon and I shared our first kiss together... Oh no, are they gonna kiss? I closed the door slightly, but left it open enough that I could see into Studio B. I could hear their conversation clearly.
"She'll be fine for Regionals, just break up with her now."
"I can't break up with Emily yet, I have to wait until after Regionals, she needs to be at her strongest for the team."
Eldon is planning on breaking up with me? For Michelle? Why? Is Michelle really that much better than me?
"Fine, break up with her after Regionals. Then we can date until we find other people."
Is this how dating works in Wisconsin? Why would Michelle and Eldon date only until they find other people? Are they just doing this to hurt me? I felt my eyes starting to water, no Emily, don't cry, they aren't worth it, anyone who tries to hurt you isn't worth it...
I closed the door slowly, so they didn't know I over heard them. Damn, I still need to get the costumes.
"Studio B? Okay." I yelled down the hallway hoping Michelle and Eldon would hear me coming. I opened the door and walked into Studio B to find Eldon and Michelle pretending to be practicing their duet.
"It looks good, keep rehearsing. I just need to get the costumes."
I've seen Michelle and Eldon's duet before, it's amazing. But that doesn't change the fact that right now I'm really upset with both of them. I walk into the costume closet and quickly grab the costumes. I want to get out of here as fast as possible.

|Eldon's P O V|
"That was close..."
"We need to be more careful Eldon, Emily almost caught us."
I really feel bad about planning to dump Emily... but I can't keep lying about liking her.
"... and Emily is still really suspicious of us."
"Why?"
"She thinks I like you."
Why would she think that Michelle likes me? Michelle and I are just friends. Plus, she likes girls, and I like guys, it's impossible for us to like each other. Well I guess Emily doesn't know we're both gay, but still...
"Wait, why?"
"She said something about me looking at you and me acting weird around her..."
"Why were you acting weird around her?"
"Well..."
I can tell Michelle is hiding something, maybe something about Emily... I don't know.
"Michelle, you can be honest with me, I'm not gonna judge you or tell anyone."
Michelle sighed, "I have a crush on Emily, okay?"
Michelle has a crush on Emily? Then why is she trying to hurt her? I am so confused...
"Wait, if you like her then why are you, like, going behind her back and stuff?"
Michelle shook her head
"I don't know. I just wanted her to be single and I need a cover and just I don't know okay?"
I saw Michelle starting to tear up, and this made me really upset. She's starting to become a good friend of mine, and obviously, I don't like it when my friends are sad.
"Do you wanna just call this thing off?"
"No Eldon, we have to do this."
"But it makes no sense..."
"You need a cover and I need a cover, look I'm not ready for anyone to find out I'm a lesbian, and I'm sure you aren't ready for anyone to know you're gay. We just need to play this out."
I still don't understand why we need to date for people to think we're straight. Most of A-Troupe is single and nobody is assuming anything, but for some weird reason Michelle wants to do this, so... I guess I will...
"Okay, it still makes no sense though, but I'll do it I guess."

|Michelle's P O V|
I know my plan is stupid, but there's no point in quitting now. Plus I know Emily heard our conversation, I heard the door shut. This has just turned into one big mess. Emily will never like me now. I have to fix this, she probably hates me.
"Eldon, I need to go now, bye."
"Bye?"
I bolt out the door to find Emily. She isn't anywhere.
I searched around for 10 minutes, I saw Eldon leave and I saw a few others leave. Emily is usually still here, where on earth is she?
"Okay Miss Kate."
I hide behind a plant, I know, bad hiding spot, but it was literally the only place I could hide in this hallway. Emily turned right into Studio B carrying costumes, that's it, the costume closet.
I ran into Studio B without hesitation, I ran into the costume closet and closed the door. When Emily heard the door shut she turned around.
"MICHELLE YOU LOCKED US IN!"
Emily screamed, I've never seen her so mad, she started to burst into tears and yell at the same time. It scared me, but somehow she still looks perfect...
"MICHELLE WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? FIRST YOU TAKE MY CAPTAINCY, THEN YOU TAKE MY BOYFRIEND, NOW YOU LOCK ME IN A CLOSET? WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH ME?"
Emily started to bang on the door, "MISS KATE, SOMEONE, HELP ME!"
She slammed her back against the wall and slowly sunk to the ground, she dug her face into her knees, sobbing loudly.
I think I broke her...
"Emily calm down, I need to talk to you."
Emily looked up at me and shook her head, "We have nothing to talk about Michelle."
"Yes we do, but first please calm down."
"I'm sorry for being metally worn down after all the bullshit you put me through." Emily stood up, wiped her blue eyes,and sat down on a dusty old treasure chest.
"Emily, don't sit on that you'll break it."
Did I really just say that, really Michelle? Really?
"Oh so now you're calling me fat? Thanks Michelle."
"No no no, I just meant the chest looks really old. You aren't fat Emily."
I went over to Emily and slowly sat on the chest beside her, trying to distribute my weight evenly.
"Look Emily, I don't like Eldon. I 100% swear I do not like Eldon."
"Then why did you ask him to break up with me so you could date him?"

I knew that question was coming...

"Look, I know it looks bad, but we're not doing this to screw with you. There's another reason, trust me."
"...And what would that reason be?"
Should I just tell her? I can't tell her the Eldon part though... Maybe I should just make something up for now.
"Look I can't tell you that, but I promise we aren't trying to hurt you."
Emily tilted her head down, "I don't like Eldon to be honest, so you can have him I guess, but I just think it's disrespectful of you to take him while we're dating."
Wait Emily doesn't like Eldon, YES YES YES YES, I'm so happy right now... Wait, Michelle, this doesn't mean she's gay, just stop assuming and act normal.
"You don't like Eldon?"
"No, I don't really like anyone right now. My full focus is on Regionals."
Well now I know for sure she doesn't like me in that way...
"But Michelle, since you don't like Eldon... who do you like?"
Emily raised her eyebrow, how am I supposed to answer this? I can't tell her I like her... I guess I'll just say nobody, yeah, that works.
"Uhm, nobody."
Emily smiled, "Michelle you are a terrible liar, who do you like?"
Shitshitshitshitshit what the hell do I say?
"Uhm, I can't tell you.."
Emily laughed, "Why? You can trust me. Is it West? Daniel? Someone from your school?"
"No..."
Why did I say no, I'm so stupid. I could have said someone from school and gotten away with it... I'm really digging my own grave aren't I...
"So who is it then?"
"Umm..."
"Michelle, answer, who is it?"
"Uh..."
I hear the costume closet door open, Miss Kate jumped back when she saw us.
"Ladies, you scared me,
what are you doing in here?"
"I accidentally let the door close, thanks for opening it Miss Kate, I wouldn't want to get home too late." I walked past Miss Kate and out of Studio B. I quickly grabbed my stuff and ran to the bus stop. That was too close.