Take Two

Chapter Fifteen

Micah

The morning dragged on way too slow.

Ever since Renaldo called me this morning to tell me about his interview later, I had been on edge. In just a few hours, everyone was going to know that he was gay. This was going to change everything.

It was already noon. I didn't know what time Renaldo's interview was, but it had to have either happened or it was just about to. I doubted it had happened yet, since I haven't heard from him. But something could have gone wrong. Maybe he wasn't able to get to a phone.

I didn't want to leave my apartment for when he did call. I wasn't entirely sure he would, but I hoped so. If we were going to do this whole relationship thing, he'd better call me. Although I could have gone without the six o'clock wake up call this morning, but at least he called to tell me what was going on.

A loud, rapid banging on my door made me jump. There was only one person who knocked like that and I rolled my eyes. Now was definitely not the time for company. Not when I was having a mini freak out about how Renaldo was doing at the moment.

"Micah, I know you're in there!" Anna shouted, continuing to knock. "Open the door! You're not going to believe what just happened!"

With a sigh, I pushed myself off the couch and went to open the door. "What?" I snapped a little harsher than I intended.

Thankfully, she didn't notice, rushing into my apartment and straight for the TV. "Where's the channel, where's the channel?" she muttered to herself as she flicked through them at high speed.

"If it's some rerun of your favorite show again, I'm going to kill you."

She ignored me, focused completely on the channel numbers increasing steadily in the corner of the TV. Did she really have to choose today to freak out about something?

The second she found the one she was looking for, my heart stopped. There, on the screen, was Renaldo, looking as perfect as ever, if not slightly nervous. Why didn't I realize this was what Anna was screaming about?

"He just announced he's gay!" she screamed. "Holy cow, Micah! This is huge!"

On screen, Renaldo was talking, but I couldn't hear any words over my heartbeat. He really did it. A tiny part of me thought it wasn't actually going to happen.

"Are you okay?"

I shook my head slightly, unable to do anything else. Not when my ears started working again and I could finally hear the TV.

"So, Renaldo," the host was saying, "I think the biggest question your fans probably have right now would be if there's a special man in your life. You announced this so suddenly, did you do it for him?"

Renaldo took a deep breath. "There is a man, yes. However, I am not here today because of him. In fact, I am choosing to keep his identity private, for his sake."

"Who do you think it is?" Anna asked, talking over whatever the host said next.

"Why would I know?"

"You just worked on his movie! Did you see anything? Any guys hanging around him?"

"No," I lied. "I barely even saw him."

I turned back to the TV when the show cut to a commercial. Was that it? I hadn't wanted to watch in the first place, but seeing a tiny clip of it made me want to watch more. I wanted to know the host's reaction and what else Renaldo had said.

"Micah."

Anna sounded so serious all of a sudden that it scared me. I focused my attention fully on her, having no clue what was going on anymore.

"It's not you, is it?"

"What?"

"Renaldo's man. You were working on the same movie and you just started seeing some mystery man. Tell me the truth, Micah. Is it you?"

I took a shaky breath. I loved Anna, but sometimes I wanted to rip her head off. How could she have possibly figured that out so quick? It wasn't fair!

The phone rang and I rushed away from Anna to grab it. Realistically, I should have known it was Renaldo calling, but I needed the distraction so much I wasn't thinking straight.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Micah, it is me, Renaldo. I just finished my interview. Is now a good time to talk?"

"Um..." I glanced over my shoulder at Anna, who was staring at me intently. There was no way she wasn't listening. "Not exactly. But are you okay? I didn't see much of it."

Anna grinned and I had to turn around again. So much for trying to lie my way out of this.

"It was difficult, but I think it went fairly well. My agent is worried he will have trouble booking auditions for me now, but at least I controlled the way the news came out. And, Micah, I did not say your name. I was asked if I was involved with someone and I could not lie. I made sure to say you needed to stay private."

"I know," I said with a smile. "I saw that part. Thank you." I glanced back at Anna. "I have to go, though. Can I call you later?"

"Yes, of course."

We said our goodbyes and I hesitated slightly before hanging up the phone. Here comes the questions.

"Fine, Anna," I said, walking back over to her. "You were right."

She squealed, literally bouncing on her feet. "What that him? Oh my gosh, Micah! I'm so excited!"

"You can't tell anybody, though," I said sternly. She pouted and I knew I needed to rephrase: "Okay, you tell Lex. But no one else! And she can't say anything either!"

She squealed again, this time jumping up to throw her arms around my neck in a hug I was not prepared for. I stumbled a bit before regaining my balance, then I pulled her off me.

"I need to know everything!" she exclaimed. "How'd it start? Is he really as nice as people say he is? I mean, he's got to be if you're actually dating him. Have you had sex yet? Wait, he doesn't actually live in LA, right? This is the long distance guy you've been into?"

I groaned, sitting down on the couch. This was going to be a long afternoon.

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