A few days had passed and I hadn't talked to anyone. Well, no one had talked to me. I want to explain to everyone what happened. I can't hide things from them anymore.
Greg wanted me to visit him in the hospital today. He had been awake for a few days now. He wouldn't tell me what happened. He wouldn't tell anyone. Maybe he will tell today and that's why he wants me to visit.
I walked into the hospital doors and checked in at the counter. Every time I walk in here all I can think about is that first day I came back. They all hate me.. The people who once cared about me the most.. Hate me. I tried to clear my mind as I walked to Greg's room. I'm just not going to think about them at all. When I walked into Greg's room I saw one person I definitely didn't want to see.
"Hi, James" I said just above a whisper. He looked at me then back at Greg.
"Alice." James responded. Before I could say anything he spoke again. " Why are you here again? Do you not remember the last time we spoke?" He asked.
"I remember you being a dick about what happened, yeah." I replied. I was getting so tired of everything and everyone constantly trying make me feel bad.
"I was being a di-" Before James could finish, Greg stopped him.
"James, stop being mean to Alice." He demanded.
"Of course you would blame me." James complained. I ignored the comment and walked over to Greg's bed.
"Why did you call us here?" I asked. He looked at us with tears in his eyes.
"I'm dying, kids," He said. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He can't die, we still need him. "I have stage four terminal cancer. I won't get better." He explained. I looked over at James and he looked back at me. I held his hand and looked back at Greg.
"Is that why you called us here? To tell us you're dying?" I asked trying not to cry.
"No, I called you here to give you the rights to Inspiration Theatre. When I die, I don't want it to die with me. I want you two to take over the legacy." He said. We stood there in silence for a few minutes unable to speak. "Will you do that for me?" He begged.
"..Yes." We replied. How could this be happening? It's too soon to say goodbye.
"How long do you have..?" I asked. I was scared of the answer.
"Five months." He said. My heart dropped. I sat down in a chair against the wall. This can't be happening. It's a dream, it's all a dream. I pinched my arm over and over again to try to wake myself up. I have to wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I was still in the hospital. I'm not dreaming.
"Alice, it's okay, we can do this. Let's do it for Greg." James whispered. I nodded and walked over to Greg.
"We will put on another show before you go, okay? Then we will continue what you started." I said. He smiled and looked at me and James.
"I love you kids. I really do. I know I was hard on you two at times but that's just because when I look at you guys, I see greatness. You two are the dynamic duo." He said. James placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked over at him and smiled. He really is my best friend and I can't get through this without him. Just then a nurse came in and told us that we had to go because Greg needed to rest.
We knew what we had to do but we didn't know how to do it. We needed to get everyone together at least for this show. It would be hard obviously because everyone hates me at the moment. We can do it though, I know we can.
"How are we going to get everyone together, James?" I questioned.
"I got that part, they will listen to me," He replied. "Do you want to get some coffee? You have some explaining to do." He said with a smile.
"That would be nice." I said.
As we drank coffee, I explained to him that I needed to go out and see the world. I thought I knew what was best for myself. He listened to what I had to say and forgave me for leaving. I promised him I would stay, forever. After we finished our coffee, we both went home because we have a lot of work to do.
That night, James called me and told me to meet everyone at the theater tomorrow at two. I wasn't prepared to stand in front of a group of people who hate me and tell them what to do. I decided to go to bed early for I had a long day ahead of me.
The next day, I drove to the theater early to make sure I was ready. No one was there so I just walked in. I set my stuff by the door and walked on stage. Only a couple lights were shinning on the stage. I took a deep breath as I remembered the memories I had on this stage. It was my home, I felt safe here. I looked up at the lights that were shinning down on me and sang a song from my very first show.
Goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight, my love,
Sleep tight, my someone,
Sleep tight, my love,
Our star is shining it's brightest light
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear,
If dreams there be
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might
Now goodnight, my someone, goodni-
"That's my line." I heard someone say. I looked out into the audience and saw Elizabeth standing at the door. She smiled and walked over to me. She hugged me and asked me how I was.
"I'm fine but, aren't you mad at me?" I asked.
"Oh no, I'm not going to get angry with you for living your life, Alice." She laughed. I nodded and sighed.
"I wish everyone thought that way." I said.
"We're theater kids, we overreact about everything. They will all calm down soon enough." She replied. She was right, everything will be okay. James walked in a couple seconds later with a bunch of stuff in his hands.
"What's all this?" I asked as I helped him set everything down.
"Show ideas!" He replied.
"These are ideas? James, we are never going to make a decision with all of these!" I complained.
"Don't be such a goose, we'll be fine." He said. We spread everything out onto the stage and by the time we were done, everyone started to walk in.
"This better be good, James because I'm missing- why is she here?" Natalie groaned.
"Great to see you too, Natalie." I replied.
"Natalie, please sit down." James begged. She sighed and sat down. When everyone arrived, I could feel my heart beating a million beats per second.
" Thank you for coming in today," I said. I can feel the hatred in their eyes. "We don't come baring good news... Greg is in the hospital as most of you know. He's dying. He has stage four terminal cancer and he wont get better." I finished.
"Greg wanted me and Alice to take over Inspiration Theatre to continue the legacy he will someday leave behind." James explained. Everyone was shocked and couldn't speak.
"So, before he's gone, we want to put on one more show for him." I said. Everyone nodded and wiped the tears off their faces.
"What show could possibly be good enough to be his last show?" Natalie asked.
"We don't know, that's what we are here to do. We are going to decide on a show, together." James said. We all sat on the stage and looked through the lists James had made. Everything was going well. We heard tires screech outside. We all looked at each other confused.
"I'll see who it is." Emma said, standing up. We went back to looking at the lists when we heard a scream and a gun shot. My heart dropped as I heard another gunshot go off. I looked at James.
"Emma.." Natalie whispered.
