Happiness [Book 2]

Chapter 20 - ...as Fanny Brice

That afternoon, after school, I was sitting on the front steps of my house, tossing my phone back and forth, waiting for Ryder to call me.

As I sat there, I was thinking about my diva-off with Kitty. She was good... too good. She was exactly what I would imagine a high school Fanny would look like. She was pretty, talented and skinny - pretty much all of the things I was not. 

I thought of myself so highly and now I was going to fail and fall. Fall off my podium, to the ground, and crash and burn. It' wasn't likely, but it could happen... it always does. 

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my hand and I picked it up and pressed it to my ear. Instead of being greeted with 'hello', I got a loud "Did you get it?"

"I don't know." I shrugged, not bothering to say hello.

"What do you mean?" Ryder asked suspiciously.

"We.... Mercedes and stuff couldn't decide who they wanted to play Fanny so they made Kitty and I do this sing off thing and she was better than me." I sighed, putting my head on my right hand and bending over.

"Marley, you're better than her. You're a way better singer than her. You'll get it, it's undis.... undisputable." Ryder stuttered. "You're amazing." 

I put my head in my lap and smiled at his comment, my face going an unsightly colour of red. I knew Ryder couldn't see, but someone could pass me and ask themselves, Why is that brunette's face bright red? and my face would probably turn a weirder colour than before. "Thanks, Ryder, but... she was too good." 

"And?" Ryder asked.

"And... she was good, Ryder. Good." I heard Ryder sigh on the other end, before he started to give me a pep talk.

"Marls, listen to me; I know you better than anyone... maybe your Mom knows you better, but I know you. You are the most amazing singer, and you are going to make it in the music industry... you will complete your dream, but first; you're getting that lead, and the awesomer you think of yourself, the more likely it is you'll get it." Ryder took a deep breath as I sat still in my spot, biting my lip really hard. "You. Are. Incredible." He told me, and for the next couple of minutes in silence, they echoed around my head. 

"Marls, you there?" Ryder asked. I kind of heard him, but I was kind of distracted. "Earth to miss Marley Rose!" Ryder shouted, finally knocking me out of my trance.

"Yes! I am back." I laughed. "I zoned out." 

"Completely." Ryder added with a laugh. "I was calling you for ages!" He shouted, laughing at me.

"Not ages..." I trailed off, starting a playful arguement.

"Yeah, about... 2-3 minutes." 

"Please. That's barely any time." I laughed, waving my hand around. I always did this - it gave me a feeling that he was still here, although I knew he wasn't. 

"Babe," Ryder said in a whiny voice. "You keep on zoning out... and you were thinking aloud just then." He sighed, and I could just picture him rubbing his head, a small smile spread across his face. "Don't. I told you. You can't miss me." 

"Don't you miss me?" I asked.

"I do! Like crazy. I feel like I'm going insane without you, but I don't want you to be miserable. I couldn't live with you being depressed." Ryder said, his voice sounded so smooth and sweet... like chocolate. Like his eyes - his chocolate brown eyes. 

"Agree?" 

"Yep. Will try not to miss you." I forced a grin onto my face, even though he couldn't see.