How We Wrote Us

three

As I entered the library, I was pleasantly surprised to find it empty. The only other person in the room was the old librarian who sat at her desk reading some romantic novel with a cowboy on the cover. Luckily, I knew she wouldn't be distracted as she read her steamy western, so I sat down at the first table I saw and began to read the script. I was finally alone in a quiet room where I could actually hear myself think. Although my headache was practically gone, the crowded and noisy cafeteria was too much. Plus, it didn't help that I had another sassy enemy to worry about all because of a few stupid jokes.

However, my quiet alone time barely lasted a few minutes. Just as I reached the second page of dialogue, Jacob Warner plopped down his backpack directly in front of me.

"I see you're finally following orders," Jacob whispered as he sat across from me and pulled out his copy of the play. "Not so bad, is it?"

"Are you like my shadow or something? Just because I did well in my audition doesn't mean I want you up my ass," I muttered until I realized what I said. Suddenly, my cheeks burned and I turned my attention back to the script. The idea of Jacob actually up my ass wasn't an entirely horrible idea, and I became increasingly embarrassed when I realized that thought didn't repulse me. I couldn't stand the guy sitting across from me, yet I was weirdly attracted to him. I hated how my brain worked because I should've been vomiting from the thought of such an irate and annoying guy touching me. Instead, I felt the exact opposite.

"You really do hate me, huh? Candace warned me about that before I followed you in here. She thinks you want to murder me in my sleep," he teased. However, this information was useful. I finally could put a name to the red hair—Candace.

"I don't hate you. I just don't like to be humiliated on the first day of school," I admitted. 

"I'm sorry, okay? Can we start over?" He asked as he extended his hand across the table. "I'm Jacob Warner, I can be an ass sometimes, but I'm trying to be better."

I laughed a little. "You don't have to make a spectacle about it. If we don't get along, we don't get along."

"You have to see my sexy ass for a whole year. We have to work together on two plays before we're rid of each other. I think it's best if we start over. So, shake my fucking hand," he demanded as he reached across and clasped my hand in his. 

I've mentioned a few times that I wasn't aware of my sexuality just yet. That was true. I knew that Jacob was a guy's guy. He was beautiful in the way his eyes smiled whenever his mouth turned up. He was lovely to look at with his shiny brown hair, deep blue eyes, and dimples. He was a guy's guy as I mentioned, but I wasn't aware of how much I wanted him to be my guy at the time. I really did hate him—a little—and I didn't expect to have any other feelings toward him in the future. He was insufferable but attractive. He was annoying, rude, egotistical, and every other negative adjective you could give a guy. He was male through and through, and that was why I hated how I felt when I looked at him. I could hate him all I wanted, but I couldn't deny I was attracted to him. I didn't know what I labeled myself as sexually, and I also didn't care. I just knew that when he clasped my hand in his—his large hand swallowing up mine entirely—I forgot how to breathe as a sudden chill ran up my arm and down my spine. 

"Lee Aubrey," I breathed softly before he released my hand bringing me back to reality. Once again, I embarrassed myself in the presence of Jacob Warner.

"Nice to meet you," he nodded as he seemed to take no notice of my embarrassment or red cheeks. "You got it, by the way," he whispered after we received a glare from the librarian.

"Got what?" I asked. 

"The part. I'm not supposed to tell you since we have one more person auditioning for the role tomorrow, but I couldn't wait. I also thought if you knew, you could start working on your lines earlier. It might be helpful even though the whole class saw how well you could do impromptu," he whistled before receiving another glare from the old librarian. "I was really impressed with your audition. That's why I wanted to start over. I was an asshole yesterday because I believed you signed up for drama just for an A. I didn't think about giving you a chance and seeing what you could really do."

"I did sign up for an easy A," I admitted sheepishly as I put the script back into my bag since the bell was about to ring in a few minutes. "But I only thought it was going to be an easy one since I can sing."

"You definitely can sing, but nothing worth it is easy. If my play is going to be as wonderful as I hope, it's going to be hard as shit to perfect. I'm going to be hard on all of you because I expect you guys to give me the best performance my play deserves. I'm not singling you out again like I did this morning. That was a dick move, but I hated how unserious you were taking the class. It pissed me off," he sighed as he returned his script to his bag just as the bell rang. "Don't sell yourself short. You're a hell of a singer, and you're going to rock the fucking play. Just please don't make me regret giving you the lead role. Next time I ask you to do something, promise me you'll follow orders and not just refuse because you hate me?" 

"I promise," I responded immediately as I watched him exit the library and disappear into the crowd of students. For some reason, I could feel my heart extract inside my chest from aching. There was a sudden need to make him proud, but it also made me feel stupid. I was a junior with no friends, and he was a popular senior who wasn't afraid of anything. His confidence intimidated me, and that's why I found it so attractive. I couldn't shake off the feeling of his hand engulfing mine, and I didn't know what was happening to me. 

My life was changing as it was even before I signed up for drama. My parents decided it was time to finally file for the divorce we've all been anticipating for years. I hated my dad anyway since he was a drunk who enjoyed belittling my mum whenever he had a few shots in him. I was glad to hear she was leaving him but keeping me and the house. I don't know what I would've done if the judge rolled in his favor, and I had to live with my dad. He was a piece of scum, and I was excited about the new life with just my mother. However, that new life would also come with heartbreak.

Even though my father was a dickhead, my mother truly loved him. She used to tell me that when they were younger, he was the kindest person in the world. I've never seen my dad be kind, so it was hard to imagine. However, my mother never lied. When she reminisced on the past, I could see the joy in her eyes before it faded as she returned to the present. He ruined her in so many ways, and I would never forgive him for it.

Their divorce was heavy on my heart and mind, and that was one of the reasons I was so on edge with Jacob. I hated men who belittled me, and I saw a bit of my father in him when he embarrassed me on the first day of school. Regardless, I also needed to learn that not everyone who was rude was my dad. I had to separate people from him even though it was one of the hardest things to do. That was also one of the reasons I hated the idea of being attracted to Jacob. I didn't want to become my mother someday, but Jacob Warner wasn't Joseph Aubrey. I deserved to give Jacob a chance just as I wanted him to give me one. A clean slate for the both of us, but it had to start with me. I wouldn't let my personal life overcome my professional one. As professional as drama club can be because I wanted the play to succeed. I was the leading role, and I was going to do my damndest to be the best gender-bent Dorothy the theater world had ever seen.

***
It's finally Monday, so I officially posted on the actual updating schedule yayyyy XD

Anyway, happy new year! Hope you enjoy <33