Miss Jefferson

Chapter 19

Lin had left.
Pippa had left.
Ari had left.
Leslie had left.

But it sort of wasn't real to me until Daveed left.

•••••

July 15

The lights cut out after final bows, and we exited the stage, most of us in tears.

We remained at the theatre for about an hour or two for a goodbye party.

They had brought a cake that said 'Thank you Daveed' on it.

It turned out to be a really good cake, so we decided to drown our sorrows in it.

"Do you have to leave?" I asked him, still sobbing like everyone else.

"Yes, I have to leave." He laughed, pulling me into a strong embrace.

"I'll miss understudying for you." I said.

"And I'll miss teasing you about your hair. But hey," he tapped my nose, "I'll still see you around."

I laughed, drying my eyes. "You'd better."

"Jada!" Anthony called. "Your ride is leaving!"

"Shoot. I gotta go." I said to Daveed. "Thank you for...everything. In my best, in my worst,"

He cracked a grin, hugging me once more. "I'm always here for you. Goodnight."

"Night."

I grabbed my backpack and ran out the back door, where Oak's car sat waiting.

"Sorry." I mumbled, opening the passenger side door.

"You look like a wreck." He smiled sympathetically.

"I am a wreck." I groaned. "I mean, Lin, Leslie, Pippa, and Ari were hard enough, but Daveed," I shook my head. "I don't know."

He nodded, pulling out of the parking lot. "You were a lot closer to him."

"Yeah. I just hate how much everything is changing. Why does everyone want to leave?"

"Not everyone wants to leave. It's just, new opportunities that pop up."

I dried my face on my sleeve, sniffing. "I'm fine with new opportunities, but I wish things could stay the same."

He laughed. "That's not what 'new opportunities' means."

I rolled my eyes as we pulled up in front of my apartment building. "Whatever. I am now going to go watch Newsies and cry some more. Thanks for driving me home."

"Sure." He smiled.

I leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Please don't stay up too late."

"Not making promises." I opened the car door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, before turning and waving goodbye.

He waved back, giving me a small wink that made my face flush red with embarrassment.

He laughed, taking notice.

I ducked my head and quickly headed to the metal stairs.

I climbed up to my floor, and walked down to my apartment.

After taking a hot shower, I made myself a cup of tea, and sat down on the couch.
I turned Netflix on, and selected Newsies.

"Watch me stand!" Andrew Keenan-Bolger sang. "Watch me run!"

"And cue the waterworks." I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. "Still the first song."