Hex

Chapter 20

     We were all sitting watching a movie in the living room when Valeria burst through the door. "Guesswhatguesswhatguesswhat!" She screamed, waving her hands around wildly.

     "Whatwhatwhat?" I asked, copying her tone and bouncing up and down beside Bishop, shaking his arm with me.

     "Clara's in rehab!" She shrieked, jumping up and down. When no one reacted, she did another jump and repeated herself in a whisper-scream.

     "Who's Clara?" Zane asked.

     "And why are we so happy that she's in rehab?"

     "Clara! Well, her name is not actually Clara, it's Suzanne, but she's our Clara!" She widened her eyes at us, waiting for us to put the pieces together.

     "Can I step in now?" Finn asked, looking at her amusedly.

     "Dios mío, please do!" She said, collapsing onto the couch next to him like that was exhausting.

     "Valeria is an understudy for Clara in the Nutcracker."

     The pieces clicked together for me. My mouth dropped open, and I shook Bishop's arm even harder, digging my fingernails in. "And Clara is in rehab?"

     "And Clara is in rehab!" Valeria echoed, getting excited with me all over again.

     "So, you're going to visit her in rehab?" Zane asked, scrunching up his face in confusion. "That doesn't sound fun."

     Bishop rolled his eyes and smacked him upside the head. "No, now, she's Clara. Congratulations, Valeria!"

     We all chimed in to congratulate her too. I lept across the couch to tackle her in a hug, and Finn pressed his lips to her cheek.

     "Thanks, guys!" She said, a huge smile gracing her face. "This is my first lead role on Broadway! Anddddd, I got all of you tickets for tomorrow night!"

     "Do we have to?" Zane asked, his head falling back against the couch to stare at the ceiling.

     "Zane!" I yelled, smacking his chest. "Valeria has been to all of our gigs, and she got us free tickets. We're all going, no excuses."

     Zane opened his mouth to protest again, but Finn barked, "We're going," and stared him down. Zane's eyes widened, and he shut his mouth again, instead rapidly nodding.

     "So, are you excited?" I asked, turning back to Valeria. She was always so supportive of me, and I was ready to be there for her, even through my lack of ballet knowledge.

     "Excited. And nervous. And exhausted. And sore. Since the show opens this tomorrow, and I just found out today that I'm the lead, I had to bust my ass. But I'll do anything for this role." She kicked her feet onto Finn's lap, shooting him an appreciative smile. He rolled his eyes but began rubbing them obediently.

     "Well, I'm sure you're gonna kill it!" I said.

     "Let's all just thank god that Suzanne can not stay away from blow!" She said darkly.

     We finished the movie before we all headed to bed. It was just Bishop and I left in the hallway, and I pecked his lips before starting to head back to my room. Before I got very far, he grabbed my hand and stopped me. "What?" I asked, turning to look at him in confusion.

     He pulled my hand and dragged me close to him. I stumbled, my chest falling against his torso. "I don't want to say goodnight," he whispered against my ear, and I felt his hot breath on my skin. Goosebumps prickled all over me.