Happiness [Book 2]

Chapter 58 - The Last Night

For the past week, I have become Angie's guardian; always looking over her and making sure she was okay. I think she found it annoying, but I was only trying to help. 

Jake had come over a couple of times a week to try and spend time with Angie, and that seemed to make her so much happier than before. 

Angie was still struggling to recollect herself after everything that has happened. She still seemed shaken up and worried about it and was constantly apologising for all the things she did wrong, like she was scared. I felt bad for her, but she told me she was fine. 

And that lead to where we were now; Regionals. 

All of us had been pumped for this moment since we won Sectionals. And we were going to perform in less than an hour. 

Kitty and Sugar had proudly made the dresses, which were actually nice. They were light blue with ruffled, feather-like parts from the hips down. The boys wore a white dress shirt with black pants and shoes and a tie the same shade as our dress... and the outfit looked so much like Ryder's last year at the Sadie Hawkins dance. 

We'd been practicing our new performance numbers for a couple of weeks and we were expert at it. Angie was a bit iffy with The Last Night and she kept on crying a little bit as she sung. 

Kitty was super proud about having a solo at this competition. So much so, she kept on bragging to me mainly about how amazing she would sound. And she did sound good during practice, that much is true. 

Regionals were at McKinley this year, so there was no long bus ride over... and I liked the bus rides, honestly. But we had way more time to get ready this way. 

I was fixing my hair in front of the mirror Finn had put in the choir room with Kitty, trying to straighten it. All of the girls hair was going to be straight today- it was Finn's plan. Kitty had to keep on helping me, because I sucked with a straightener. I can't do my own hair. 

Before long, I heard quiet sobbing coming from the chairs. I put my hair straightener down and poked my head around to find Angie sitting in a seat at the front, crying into her hands. 

I walked over to her, concerned as ever, and sat down. "Are you okay?" I asked, putting my hand on her arm. She shook her head and continued to cry, shaking the slightest bit. "What's wrong?" She ignored my comment and began to cry even harder. 

Jake came into the room seconds later, running over to Angie and pulling her in a hug. "Angie," He whispered, kissing her head lightly. "It's okay," He said, before looking at me. "What's wrong?" He mouthed, rubbing her back lightly. I shrugged at him and tried to console her. "Don't worry." Jake whispered. I nodded and stood back up. 

I walked over to Kitty, who was combing through her hair. "You know," She sighed, peering over at Angie. "I feel really bad for her." Kitty whispered. "Her life sounds like it's been bad." 

"It has." I sighed, putting my hands on the table. "She's worried all the time, and nothing but Jake makes her feel relaxed."

"Not now." Kitty said, exchanging a glance with me. I frowned and looked back to Angie, finding her shaking heavily now and sobbing loudly. 

"She's not going to be able to go on," Kitty told me, shaking her head. "Why not?" I asked wide-eyed. "We've got 5 minutes until we're called to be at the stage." Kitty said. "She's scarred and something's obviously set her off, so she's not going to be able to get over her panic in 5 minutes." I took another glance at her, finding her face dug into Jake's top and her sobbing uncontrolable. 

I walked over to Jake and told him quietly that Angie wouldn't be able to go on, and that he'd have to stay backstage with her. He agreed and went back to trying to comfort Angie before I set out to find Travis.