Our Beginning | Mickey Altieri

Chapter Fifty-One

Rehearsal begins and Sidney plays a character with an almost convincing Russian accent. I, on the other hand, play the second protagonist of the play. Hallie is sitting down, watching rehearsal. Once Sid was done with her act in character, the room went uncouth. I can suddenly feel embarrassment she has inside. Every one of us on stage just looked at each other until Lois spoke up to Sid.

"That's not the line. You jumped."

"Shit. Did I?"

"About a page."

Everyone broke parts and Sid left the stage all frustrated. She still played that part well. Besides everyone makes mistakes. Yet if I were her, I would've died on the spot for mistaking. Hallie got up from her and walked over to Sidney, saying, "That was good!"

"Yeah, right."

  Director came and told Sid we can continue our rehearsal tomorrow. And to work on her accent too.
"Don't try and overwork yourself, Sid. It was an accident," I said.

Before she could speak, Randy approached to us.  He leaned to the door, catching his breath a few times."Randy, you're out of breath," Sid told him.
"I know—just need to..." He couldn't finish his sentence. He continues to catch more air. "Geez, Randy, you seem very exhausted. Like badly," Hallie speaks. "Yeah what she said," I implied.

"My class was far!" He wheezed out, rubbing his neck. "What else did I have to do?"

"Alright, Ray. Save your voice for later." I walked over and gently patted his shoulder. "Let's just go to the cafeteria."

—

The Student Union Cafeteria was suddenly loaded with a lot of people. Luckily, I spotted Derek, Joel, and Mickey not from afar. Reg drove back to his college for classes. Since everyone is loud, I called for Mickey's name without anyone stopping and staring. "Hey, Mickey!"

His head whipped behind. Once he saw me, he grinned from ear to ear. I walked over and pressed my lips against his cheek. "I've been waiting for you, baby," He said. "You and your cheesy words, Mick," I replied, and sitting down beside him. Sid sat beside Derek. Hallie and Randy sat together.

"Randy, where were you?" Derek asked him. "I just wanted to say a quick hi—" he paused to clear his throat. "And ask the three if they wanted to come here, but I guess Y/n just read my mind."

"I just wanted to come here," I said. "And also ask Derek when his documentary is due. So—" I turned my body to his direction and wait just a reporter waits for an answer.
"Oh! Yeah. It's due on Tuesday."

"Shit. Mine too. But what's your subject?"

Pause. He just paused. "C'mon, Derek. Spill," Mickey encourages him to speak up. Joel began chanting, then Mick, until he yelled it out.

"I WAS A SORORITY SLUT !"

I burst out laughing. So did Hallie.

"You should've done it on Sidney. That would have been a cool." Derek looked at Joel, then to Sid. A look of slight disapproval. "She wouldn't let me."

"Well, not with Primetime Live and 20/20 coming at her. I'd save my shit too."

"Glad we can agree on one thing, Mickey."

"It's just really scary, you know?" I suddenly asked. Everyone froze and looked at me. "Everything was fine, and then history transferred its way here. And before you misunderstood, Sid—" She closed her mouth shut. "Does anyone notice how the killer is killing people whose names are from the book? By Gale?"

Somehow, everyone began thinking about that. "Therapy didn't do so much for me," Sid said.
"I could use some therapy." I look at Mick and just nodded. "I would agree, yet I don't trust therapists."

"Why?"

"Not used to spilling out my little secret to a stranger who could most likely tell my own mother."

"Did that really happen?"

"Junior year. I was grounded for a month or two."
"Ouch," Sid answered, and got off her seat.

"Sid, where are you going?"

"A drink. Randy, Hallie. Come with?"

"Yeah, sure." Hallie got off her seat, so did Randy. Once they left, Derek spoke. "Since how did you end up in therapy?"

"High school made me lose it all, Derek. It was literal hell. Anyways—let's talk about why this is happening." I leaned forward, a little closer to Derek. "I don't watch the news, but I still know what's happening. There's obviously a killer out here who is repeating the original. Making their own sequel."

"And what you're saying—is that the killer goes for the names that last year's victims were murdered."

"And a possibility will go to the boyfriend."

"You better watch out, Derek." I pushed Mick's head away.

[Derek] "You shouldn't be the one talking, Mick."

"But am I Sidney's boyfriend? One word: no."

"Shut up," I said. "Derek seems harmless."

[Derek] "Aren't most serial killers seemingly harmless?"

[Joel]"And white."

Mick groans, irritated.

[Joel] "C'mon, Mick. It's documented. And most serial killers are attractive—slightly off white males in their twenties."
I chuckle, saying, "That's you, Mick."
"At least I'm considered attractive to your view." He pressed his lips against the side of my head. "I even got a surprise for you."

"What?"

Surprisingly, he leaps on the cafeteria table and begins to sing at the top of his lungs. "Oh, god."

" If I should stay. I would only be in your way/So I'll go/And yet, I know, I'll think of you each step of the way..."

Derek and Joel eye their view to me. I know what they see is me being in a flustered state. Sid, Randy, and Hallie cane back. A drink in one hand.

"What is he doing?" Hallie asks me.

"A surprise."

"And IIIIIIIIIYEIIIII will always love you OOOOOOWUOOOOOOOO will always love you." He sang loud that everyone took notice. People began cheering and sing along.

[Joel] "Is he doing Whitney?"

[Derek] "I think he's doing Dolly."

"And I hope life treats you kind and I hope you have all you dreamed of offffff. I wish you JOYYY."

[Derek] "Definitely Whitney."
I feel flustered, and touched. On his final note, he jumps off the table, pressing his lips against mine. The crowd lost it. People began cheering more. Derek cheered and Sid walked to his direction. He gave her a kiss on her cheek. As he pulled back, a spark burst below. Looking down, it's a necklace. My smile grows more and I tackle him for a hug. He didn't had to, but you always gotta appreciate what someone does.

"You didn't have to, Mick," I mumbled, kissing his nose.
"You're right. I wanted to." He smiles more, kissing me again after wrapping his arms around my waist.