Invisible String - Jake Kiszka

If I Can Learn To Do It

(Gigi's Pov)

"I can't believe this." I slammed my locker a little too hard, earning a few turned heads and weird looks. Ronnie looked at me with sympathy.

"Don't look at me like that." I told her as I leaned up against the wall and crossed my arms. She threw her hands up and laughed. "Well, how do you want me to look at you?"

I groaned and put my face in my hands, too frustrated to think straight. "I don't know..." I mumbled through my hands. "I'm just pissed off. I mean, what the hell are we going to do?"

I put my hands in the front pockets of my black jeans. "It's not like he had an understudy! There's not enough fucking people for that."

"I'm sure Ms. Mintz will think of something, Gigi. Stop stressing about it." She tried to console me, but inside I was all panic. This was the best role I've ever had, and now there's a pretty good shot the whole show is all jacked up.

"You're probably right..." I lied. I didn't think she was right. Mintz was probably freaking out just as much as I am. I just didn't want to hear Ronnie tell me I was being dramatic again.

Ms. Mintz was the drama teacher, and she was always in charge of the spring theater productions. She was the one that cast Josh and I together, in elementary and middle school. I loved her very dearly, as she always encouraged us in our musical and acting endeavors. She was much like my mother, and I'd always been drawn to her for that reason.

At the beginning of the school year she had sat me down and told me when Josh and I had reached third and fourth grade, she'd began selecting plays with roles that would suit us well.

She knew how upset I'd been over our separation, as she'd watched us bawl our eyes out on the stairs after the last show the year before. Apparently she felt so bad, she chose a musical just for me. Hence why I was now playing Anastasia; a role I'd talked about for years.

The bell rang in the hallways and kids began scurrying into varied classrooms. Ronnie leaned forward and pulled me into a hug. "Don't freak." She said over my shoulder before pulling away and holding me by my arms. "She'll figure something out." I nodded.

"I'll see you tonight, okay?" She walked backwards down the hallway. "You should just stay the night."

"I probably will since Josh is taking me home."

"Okay, I'll wait up for you guys then."

"Sounds good. See ya!" I waved and walked into the classroom nearly across from my locker.

I looked down at my shoes as I walked down the isle between the tables. My seat was on the isle third table from the back, and I sat with the other three in my group.

Biology used to be my favorite class because it was the only one Josh and I had together. The teachers used to separate us, thinking it would be more peaceful, only to discover it was the complete opposite when we would yell at each other from across the room.

But now I was stuck with a prissy mean blonde girl, a random kid who was hopelessly in love with her, and my friend James. I used to hate him, mostly because he wasn't Josh, but after I gave him a chance I found he was actually really fun to be around.

We never talked much outside of biology, but we had hung out at my house a few times for homework which always turned into snacks and a movie.

He had short brown hair and dark eyes and was quite tall. He was built like an athlete, and was on the soccer team. He'd played with Jake for a few years but I don't think they were ever friends. He wasn't cute at first glance, but he wasn't ugly either. The longer I looked at him the more he grew on me, to the point where I had a teeny tiny crush on him.