Signed, Yours Truly

Chapter 6 - Lessons

Rock music blared from the stereos and with blue and white lights lighting up the room. Strings of yellow lights hung between walls adding that touch of soft light accenting the rest of the decor. Claire grinned as wide as she could as she stepped inside with Emily clinging to her side, people were already dancing to the high-energy song blasting through the room.

"Wait a minute.." Claire looked around and up. "The rooftop!? Yes!"

"Hey! You made it!" Ryan called from the corner where the DJ was, and wouldn't ya know it, Caleb was the DJ. He had been the hyped-up techie of the show, always checking everyone's mics and making the sure the music was perfectly on cue. He was in his zone.

"Why shouldn't she?" Emily smiled. "She's what brought all this together!"

A cheer went up around the room for their director. Claire felt a blush creep up her face along with a grin.

"C'mon!" Caleb yelped. "Join the fun!"

The party was in full swing again when Claire rambled over to the drinks for a soda, a shot of champagne would have kept her up all night.

"Hey, Claire!" Lexi waved her over to her group of girls. Addison was there with Ryan right behind her.

"Looks like a love story, probably is a love story. Be careful you two." Claire pushed the thought away as she hugged Lexi.

"Great job you guys, it looked amazing tonight."

"And we're gonna do it all again this weekend!" Lexi raised her cup.

"To Superstar!!"

"Holy crap, what time is it?" Claire exclaimed, realizing time had flown past, the show had ended at 8:45 and she'd been there for at least an hour.

"Uh.." Ryan looked at his phone. "10:29. Why?"

"I-I just had to meet someone later."

"Is your fiancé playing games?" Lexi smirked.

"He's..."

"Spit it out, Claire. They'll support you."

"He's called the engagement off."

"What!?" A chorus of shock echoed through the group, some people surrounding them heard, poking into the conversation.

"He just ended it half an hour ago!" Claire shrugged, still confused at the motive. "I have no idea why!"

"That idiotic bastard!" Lexi growled. "He needs a good kick in the pants!"

"Just say the word and I'll punch his lights out." Ryan offered, making Claire smile.

"Thanks, man, really though, I think I'm fine. Though you all have free reign to mess with him now!"

"Who-hoo!" Zane, our producer, cheered.

"I'm gonna kill him." Lexi shook her head, no doubt joking but still. Claire felt a warmth at all her un-official family wanting to protect and help her.

She stayed in the thick of it for another half an hour before grabbing a bag of pretzels and finding herself looking over New York City. She sat on the edge of the concrete railing, easily three feet thick, nibbling on her pretzels she felt a sense of énouement, watching the cars below her and thinking about each of the people's lives. They were each as complex as hers was.

"Wondering where you disappeared to." Ryan appeared again, a soda in his hand. "I just wanted to thank you."

"For what?" She smiled politely, turning his direction.