Curtain Call (Jake Sims)

Chapter 38

*LONGEST CHAPTER EVER!*

When I got to class the next day, Mrs. Thatcher instructed everyone to go to the auditorium as we walked in. Jake barely even looked at me, but he still decided to sit next to me. "Are you seriously still pissed off?" I whispered. I had to whisper because the first group was getting ready to start their play. "Shh." He shushed me and stared at the stage like he was hypnotized. "You're so childish." I sighed and sat back in my seat frustratedly. I could see him trying not to smile though, and I knew then that we were ok. I grabbed his hand, and he gave mine a reassuring squeeze. "I love you, and I'm sorry." I whispered as I layed my head on his shoulder. "I love you too." He whispered back and I couldn't help but smile. We watched play after play until Mrs. Thatcher finally called, "Just Friends, directed by Jennifer Jerow, and performed by Jake Sims, and Shannon Murphy." She announced and we all stood up and made our way to the stage. Once we were backstage, Jake gave me a good luck kiss and then Jennifer called action.

***

I was laying on my bed bawling my eyes out to Mark. "He cheated on me. Derek cheated on me!" I gasped through my tears. "What? How do you know?" Mark looked at me with shock and concern. "I went through his phone. That's rude, I know, but I read his messages between him and..." another sob racked through my body. "Sarah." I finally choked out. "That's it." Mark said, standing up from my bed. "He's dead." He said angrily. "Mark no." I quickly stood up and grabbed his arms. "Lilly, he didn't just cheat on you. He cheated on you with your sister!" He yelled frustratedly. "I know. But just...just leave it, please. Can we just have one of our movie nights? Those always cheer me up." I pleaded, and he looked at me for a few seconds. I could tell he was debating wether or not to agree. "Of course. We can do whatever you want." He finally answered, and we both walked back to my bed. Once we were positioned under the blankets, I rested my head against Marks shoulder and tried to forget about everything.

*

"Whoo!" I yelled as I swayed my body to the music and took another drink of whatever was in my cup. I was getting weird looks from everyone at the party, but I was too drunk to care. This is my first time ever being drunk and I honestly don't know why I waited so long. It's amazing. I feel so light and free. Right now Derek is just a distant memory of a guy who broke my heart, and I couldn't be happier. I seen an empty table in the corner of the house and for some reason, I really felt the need to get up and dance on it. After I successfully climbed on the table, I carefully stood up and began dancing. There was a crowd of people standing around watching me now. Some were cheering me on, others were looking at me like they were embarrassed for me. I'll show them! Without really realizing what I was doing, I ripped my shirt off and swung it over my head."Whoo!" I yelled again, and this time I noticed a couple of guys take their phones out and start taking pictures and recording me. I smiled at them and slowly began to unbutton my pants. They all cheered for me to keep going. "Lilly!" Someone yelled my name but I was too dizzy to focus on anything. Suddenly someone grabbed me by the waist and hauled me over their shoulder. It had to be a guy, theres no way a girl could carry me like this. "What the hell were you thinking?!" The guy yelled, and I recognized the voice as Marks. "Mark, is that you?" I giggled. I don't know why I thought that was funny. "What the hell? Are you drunk?" I could hear the accusation in his voice. "Yes. I mean no." I said sluggishly. I heard Mark sigh in disappointment. I was going to apologize, but the position I was currently in -me upside down over his shoulder- was making me queasy. "Mark I think I'm gonna--" my words were cut off by me throwing up all over his back. He stopped walking and gently set me down. But only for a second. He picked me up a second later, but this time instead of throwing me over his shoulder, he picked me up bridal style and smoothly set me down in the backseat of his car. Before he got in the drivers seat, he ripped his shirt off and threw it on the floor in front of me. "Are you mad?" I asked, after a few minutes of silent driving. "Of course I'm not mad. I just wish I had stayed with you so things didn't get so out of hand." He said quietly. I was still drunk so his words took a lot longer to register in my brain than they would have if I was sober. "It's not your fault." I mumbled. "I didn't say it was my fault." He replied sharply. Even though I was drunk, I could still tell he was disappointed, so I didn't say anything else. When we pulled up outside my house, he opened my door and carried me up to my front door. "You're pretty." I giggled. Great, the giggles are back. "I know." Mark replied, and I could see the faint outline of a smile on his face. "Lilly, you need to be quiet. If your dad catches you, you're dead." Mark warned. "You're right. He'll kill me. Like really kill me. Not pretend kill me. He'd use his gun and shoot me in the foot." I stopped and started to laugh. "I said foot!" I yelled and began laughing even harder. "I was gonna say head, but I said foot!" I said through my laughter. "Jesus." Mark shook his head and opened the front door to my house. "Mark be quiet. My dads home. If he finds out I was drunk he'll make me lick an ashtray." I mumbled. "That makes absolutely no sense." Mark whispered as he carried me up the stairs and to my bedroom. Once we were safely in my room, Mark set me down on my bed and covered me up. He went to my bathroom, and when he came out again he had a glass of water in one hand, and two small white pills in the other. "Drink this now, and take these in the morning." He whispered as he set the cup and pills on my bedside table. "Thanks best friend." I smiled. "You're welcome. Now get some sleep. I'll be over tomorrow to check on you." He replied and then shut my light off and disappeared down the hallway and outside.