Behind The Scenes

7. Pool Party

Back at drama club, Jack approached me with a familiar question.

"Hey Ruby, you want to run lines again?" he said, smiling at me.

"Of course!" I replied.

As we delved into our lines, our chemistry continued to spark, creating an undeniable connection between us. The authenticity of our performance was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel drawn to Jack. However, our intimate rehearsal was soon interrupted by Elsie, who, cloaked in insincere friendliness, approached us.

"What do you say about coming to my party on Thursday?" Elsie asked.
"Oh yeah! Sure, Elsie," I said back to her, my excitement for the party evident in my response.

Jack gave her a warm grin and looked at her. "That's really cool of you, Elsie. Thanks for inviting her."

Elsie, seemingly pleased with Jack's response, continued, "It's a pool party, by the way."

The mention of the pool party carried a mix of emotions for me, but I decided to attend, despite the underlying tension in the air. 

Since I was so ecstatic about the upcoming pool party, I went shopping for a bathing suit that night. While browsing the store's swimwear section, I coincidentally found myself within earshot of Elsie and a couple of her friends. Unable to resist, I eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Elsie, why would you invite that loser girl Ruby? She's so ugly." A girl named Laura asked. She was tall and in theatre, she was always Elsie's best friend. In "Robert and Julia" she played Elsie's mother. 

"I don't like redheads," Jing remarked, she was in orchestra, known as the school's best cello player, and she was very pretty. 

Elsie responded confidently, "Come on, you really think I would invite her to be friendly? It's obvious Jack likes her, so I just want to get closer to him by inviting her."

"But she's a nerd! We don't need someone to sit in the corner the whole time; she doesn't deserve to go to your party," Jing added.

Laura concurred, "She adds nothing to this party."

Elsie defended her decision, stating, "Stick it out, the closer I get to her, the closer I get to Jack."

Listening to their conversation, I couldn't help but feel used by Elsie as a means to an end—just a pawn in her strategy to get closer to Jack. Nonetheless, I persisted, selecting a cute swimsuit for the pool party, determined to attend, just to prove a point. 

Arriving at the pool party that Thursday, I quickly realized it wasn't my scene. The backyard was swarming with people already in the pool, their laughter and splashes echoing in my ears. Feeling overwhelmed, I decided to escape the chaos and headed upstairs, where I soon found Jack. We decided to step into a quieter room, just the two of us.

"So, how are you liking the party?" Jack inquired, his eyes warm and understanding.

"It's overwhelming," I admitted, "Why did I even come?"

He chuckled, "I'm asking myself the same question. I honestly would've left if you weren't here."

I smiled, touched by his comment. "Oh, that's sweet."

We continued talking, with Jack genuinely interested in my life. When I shared the news of my dog's recent passing, he offered his condolences, understanding the pain of losing a beloved pet.

"Yeah, he was the last memory I had of my dad," I explained.

Jack's expression softened further. "Oh, Ruby, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," I reassured him. "He only died when I was 4, so I barely knew him. It's really tough on my mom, though."

"Yeah, I'm sure she didn't take it too well," he said with empathy.

I nodded, "But she said she'd try to find a job."

Jack offered a glimmer of hope, "That's something to look forward to."

Then, something unspoken hung in the air. Jack and I moved closer, our faces mere inches apart. We both knew where this might lead. As our lips almost met, we suddenly pulled back, a mixture of emotions coursing through us.

"I...uh...I'm sorry-" 

I quickly left, the awkwardness of the situation stinging in my bones. Walking back home, I couldn't help but wonder if the brief intimate moment was just a result of the emotions of the night or if Jack might actually have feelings for me. The uncertainty was both thrilling and perplexing.