He's Not Harry Potter

Late For Rehearsal

CHAPTER NINE Late For Rehearsal

Brian walked through the store with pure concentration on his face. It had been two months since him and Lauren became a couple, and it was possibly the best two months of his life. Brian took her out to fancy dinners, they went to see movies, and they even went on the huge Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. Most of the last two weeks was spent in Lauren’s apartment though, laughing, talking, kissing, and having food fights. They had a lot of food fights.

He didn’t want to be that boyfriend who got his girlfriend gifts all the time, but he needed to show her that he loved her, which he did. The way that her eyes twinkled and her hair shined…he was sure that he loved her and one day he wanted to marry her. Not just yet of course, but as he looked down at the shimmering displays of jewelry he knew that she would be his wife one day. He would get her a promise ring-cheesy? Maybe just a little. But quite frankly, Brian didn’t care what people thought about him. He wanted Lauren to be his forever.

A jewelry clerk walked up to him from the other side of the counter when Brian realized that he had been standing still or a while, looking at a beautiful ring that wasn’t too extravagant. Brian wasn’t Mr. Moneybags after all. “Can I help you, sir?” The clerk asked as Brian felt a grin spread across his face as he made up his mind.

“Yes. I’ll take that one.” He said pointing to the perfect ring. It was simple and elegant, and just barely in his rice range. A small diamond shone on a silver band and it just screamed Lauren. Lauren was always very modest too; she wouldn’t want a big ring anyways.

The clerk got it and grinned at Brian, leading him to the cash register. “Is this for the special girl?” They asked, emphasizing the ‘the’ as any hopeless romantic would.

“Yes…I mean, I hope.” Brian stuttered, suddenly nervous. What if Lauren didn’t feel the same way? He looked down and slowly pulled out his wallet. “Do you take credit?” He said, his mind off elsewhere as he asked.

“Yes we do.” The clerk said with a winning smile, as they watched Brian put in his credit information and sign the little screen. “And don’t worry. I’m sure this girl loves you.” They said, handing over the ring in a small velvet box.

Brian just stared at it for a second before taking it and nodding at the clerk. “I love her.” He said, not really knowing why he said it. It was almost as if he felt that he needed to convince the clerk that he loves Lauren. But he didn’t have to do that…

He shook his head and tucked it in his jacket pocket, walking away. He loved Lauren from the bottom of his heart. Brian looked at his watch before jumping a little, he was late for rehearsal.

A few years ago, the man who ran the Up Comedy Club contacted Team Starkid to ask if they wanted to do anything in affiliation with them. Everyone was interested in doing it; but with ideas of another parody musical floating around the Langs said no, they didn’t want to bite off more than the team could chew. Yet it was left as an open offer, and by the time AVPSY started to tie up the odd ends and things started to slow down, they took them up on the offer. They would be doing an Improv Sketch show with them and today was their first rehearsal. Brian wasn’t completely sure how they were going to rehearse for an Improv show-but he sure wasn’t going to miss it.

He started walking quickly; the studio wasn’t too far from where he was. As Brian walked down the street the ring felt like a lead weight, burning a hole in his pocket. It wasn’t like he was proposing to her, but that didn’t take away any of his nerves. Brian’s mind wandered and quickly found its way to the worst case scenario. What if she says no? What if she really didn’t love him like he loved her? To Brian it really wasn’t a rare possibility of that happening. She had just gotten out of her relationship with Darren and they hardly left her apartment when they were together. Brian thought it was cute actually, that Lauren wanted to keep him to herself. They spent hours curled up on her couch, cuddling, and watching movies and just having fun. Brian even watched a series of Nicholas Sparks movies with her, that’s how much he loved her.

As he turned the corner to see the studio he couldn’t help but grin; it was like old times. They used that place for every show they’ve done since Starship. He chuckled to himself as he remembered the cast of Starship fencing blindfolded with pool noodles when they were tired of running scenes, and making the perfect Boy Band with some of the boys during Apocalyptour practice. They had all been through so much in that place, and now new stories awaited them.

He crossed the busy street and opened the door, seeing almost everyone standing facing the door. Everyone stood there still for a second before Jaime shouted “STORM THE LATECOMER!” In his best battle cry voice and suddenly everyone was on top of Brian. Everyone shouted at the top of their voices including Brian, except Brian’s was more of a yelp of surprise than anything. He held his hands above his head for protection, but that didn’t make much of a difference and Brian fell to the ground. An array of giggles came from on top of Brian after a second before they started getting themselves together; standing up and brushing themselves off. “To be fair-you brought this upon yourself.” Jaime said, holding out her hand to help Brian up from his current status of being splayed out on the wood floor.

“I was busy, I had stuff to-“ Brian cut off quickly. He had just noticed that both his pockets were empty. The ring must have fallen out of his pocket when they had tackled him. His face immediately lost all its color and he stopped talking. His eyes went straight to the floor, searching inconspicuously. Brian didn’t want the team to find it first; heck-they hadn’t even announced themselves as a couple yet.

But none of them had noticed and they just laughed. “What’s more important than us?” Joe Walker teased, slapping him on the back happily.

Brian said something in reply, he didn’t really know what though; all that mattered was him finding the ring.

But of course he didn’t find it first.

“Looky here!” Denise said energetically, plucking up the velvet box with one hand. “Nick, you finally proposing to your girl?” She said with a grin. It was true that Nick and his girlfriend had been getting serious, but Nick just shook his head, and Brian’s stomach dropped into his butt.

Everyone looked confused-who’s was it then? Brian quickly snatched it out of Denise’s hand, looking around frantically for Lauren. His face was bright red and he stuffed it into his pocket. This was not how this was supposed to go. “She’s not here yet.” He heard someone whisper behind him and he turned to see Meredith. A look of relief spread across his face and he looked around at everyone, whose jaws were on the ground.

“I’m not proposing. It’s just a gift.” He said curtly before Denise and Jaime hugged him tightly.

“She must be the luckiest girl in the world!” They squealed, and he found it hard to breath.

“Guys, it’s nothing permanent…it’s just a ring.” He said, his blush coming back but he still hugged them back gingerly.

“Dude, it’s never just a ring.” Joe said, with a shocked look on his face. He knew best out of everyone who it was for.

Meredith stood there still before cracking a small smile towards Brian. “I hope you guys are happy.” She said in a quiet voice, still not moving.

But the love fest was suddenly broken as they heard sirens outside. Brian, among others, shook their heads sadly. The cross walk outside of the studio was one of the most dangerous in Chicago. People were always getting hit. “Dang, someone should really tighten the safety out there.” Daniel Strauss said with a certain sadness in his voice; for being so snarky all the time, he really was a nice guy.

Denise and Jaime stopped hugging him to let him turn to look outside through the gaping door.

A small brunette woman was being lifted on a gurney into an ambulance and Brian stopped breathing. There was no mistaking her tiny figure. Brian’s head started spinning and he suddenly was on his knees. He didn’t know what was going on, he didn’t know who was there around him, he didn’t even care. All he cared about was her broken body.

"Lauren...That was Lauren. Lauren got hit."