melting [pearlet]

t w e n t y t w o

                                                                         PEARL

   "PEARL are you almost ready?" Adore asks as he fixes his hair in the mirror.

   "Yeah one sec." I say pulling up my jeans.

   When I finish zipping up my pants Adore is almost halfway out my bedroom door. I catch up to him with one shoe on, hopping to the doorway trying to put my other one on. "Wait up!"

   Adore walks to the drivers side of my car, "So what's this play about anyways?"

   "Monsters. And move to the other side I'm driving."

   As soon as I said that Adore looks at me skeptically, he thinks I'm the worst driver. "Are you sure?" Adore stresses.

   I motion Adore to the passanger side, "Yep, now get out."

   Adore throws his arms down as he pouts for a few seconds before shuffling to the other side of the car.

   The car ride is silent until Adore starts acting like my driving instructor, "What the hell are you doing? Get out of the car, I'll drive."

   I put my arm out infront of Adore, constraining him.

   "Trust me, I'm a great driver Adore!" I reassure him.

   "You've hit the curb five times! We've only been in the car for, " Adore rolls up his sleeve and checks his watch, "Eight minutes!"

   I turn my head to look Adore straight in the eyes, "Honestly, I don't appreciate this type of negativity."

   "Eyes on the road!"

   "What?"

   "Eyes on the road!"

   "I dont understand what you're saying."

   "Look!" Adore points ahead.

   I turn my eyes away from him to see a giant pothole, as I try swerving I hit it straight on, flattening our tire. Adore doesn't say a word, he keeps his head in his hands before looking up pointing at the fuel gauge that reads empty. The car starts slowing down into a complete stop.

   Adore starts for the door, "Let's turn back, there's no point."

   "No!" I place my hand on the door, "We are going to see this play. I dont care if it kills us. Plus if we run, it'll take only fifteen minutes to get there if we leave now."

   "No, you're crazy. And I dont do running."

   "You're not gonna give up on me."

   "Like how Violet did?"

   My mouth hangs wide open, I slowly take my hand off the door. I can't even believe what just slipped through his teeth.

   "Why would you want to go to this stupid play anyways?" As I'm about to speak he cuts me off, "And dont say for Trixie because you and me both know you wouldn't go if Violet wasn't in it. Now start running. We can get your car tomorrow."

   Without saying anything, we park the car on the side of the road and start jogging.

______________________________________________________

   As we arrive to the school, a man at the door stops us, "Tickets?"

   WE FORGOT TICKETS. AND MONEY.

   Adore and I both look at eachother before Adore nods, which means he'll cover us. He places his finger on the mans chest, carressing his shoulders, "What will it take to get inside?" Adore stands on his tippy toes to whisper in the large man's ear, "Big boy."

   "Just go!" He shoos us away.

   I can't believe that worked. As we step into the dim lit auditorium we see the play had already started. Across the room we see our friends saved us front row seats. We get seated next to Max and Fame.

   "Wow, you guys look awful, what happened?" Max snickers.

   "Long story." Adore and I say insync with each other.

   The play had gone on for ten minutes or so. The doctor dude is singing about why he likes brains to his students. And thats when I realize, thats no doctor dude, it's Violet. I pick up a playbill in a panick, flipping through the pages.

   Violet Chachki as Frederick Frankenstein...

   I shift my eyes back and forth from the stage where Violet's on and the playbill.

   I'm not a Frankenstein,

   I don't indulge in hijinks

   Or tomfoolery!

   I'm not a Frankenstein,

   I don't believe in mummies,

   Ghosts, or Ghoulery!

   I deal in fact not fiction,

   I am a scientist,

   I live for truth and reason,

   That's the reason I exist

   His white labcoat twirls around as he dances with the class ensamble. When he looks into the crowd he spots me, expressionless. Then brings his attention to the next audience member.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

   After the curtain closes and everyone takes a bow people start leaving or they're congratulating the cast. I search the crowd for a few minutes, looking.

   "Who are you looking for?" Fame asks.

   "Uhhh, no one."

   I push Fame out of the way when I see him. I dont take my eyes off of him until I reach Violet. He was talking to Trixie who played as Igor. His black hood and cape makes him look ridiculous. Especially with the hump on his back, but he always looks ridiculous.

   Violet's eyes widen and he starts blushing when he sees me approaching them.

   "Hey guys. Awesome show."

   Violet shakes his head before grabbing my hand, leading me outside, "What are you doing here?"

   "I came to support you."

   At first it was only drizzling outside, but then it started to downpour.

   "I thought we were over?"

   "Well...."

   He crosses his arms, shaking his head.

   "What?"

   Violet rolls his eyes, "You're ridiculous."

   "I'm ridiculous?"

   "Yes, you try acting like a fucking victim to this whole thing. You just expected me to let you live at my house for the rest of your life?"

   "Not the rest of my life, just until things at my house simmer."

   "Wake up Pearl, wake up! Nothing is gonna just 'simmer.' Your parents aren't just going to magically stop being assholes! You deal with it and move on. I can't give you everything you expect from me."

   "I can't just 'deal with it.' Thanks for everything you've ever given me Violet. You've made me feel loved when no one would. My life is better with you in it, but sometimes we have to move on and just deal with it."

   I walk back inside, leaving Violet alone in the rain. Adore comes rushing up to me, "What happened? Are you okay?"

   "I'm fine."