If You're Hurt They Bleed

New Normal

As soon as I got home, I started to research. After everything Grayson had told me, I wasn't about to ignore it. I had started reading an article on Health.com when Worst Pies in London (Molly's ringtone) started blasting through my music. Deciding to pick up, and desperately hoping I wouldn't regret it, I grabbed my phone off my bed and answered. 

"Look, Maya, I'm so sorry about all of this. I just was so stressed about everything, and I hadn't been completely honest with you and I was just getting so angry about my whole situation and-"

"What situation?" I stopped her spew, extremely confused. 

"I haven't told you yet. I just... I didn't want to affect our friendship, but since I seem to have done a fantastic job of that already..." She paused, taking a breath. "I'm moving."

I literally fell out of my chair. "You're what?" 

"Moving?" I could hear the worry in her voice. "To Connecticut. My mom didn't want to stay close to my dad after the custody battle, especially after Logan wanted to stay with him." Her voice broke. I knew she didn't want to be separated from her brother. It was bad enough she didn't live in the same house as him, and now they'd be separated by a state line?

"I'm sorry too," I told her, genuinely sad. "When are you leaving?" I have to admit, I asked because of the show. 

"Five days. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner. My mom's already found an apartment, and-"

Two days before opening night. Wow. "Have you told Robinski?" I asked. 

"Yeah. He hasn't found a replacement yet. I told him it should be you, but he doesn't want to have to replace Becky too. He said at this point they might as well cancel the shows." Molly was crying now. 

"Right." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. We'd all worked so hard on this show, and now it might be for nothing. "When'd you tell him?" 

"Last week." She stated. 

"Of course." I sighed. "It's probably for the best, right? I mean, you wouldn't be able to handle watching anyone else get that role." 

"That's not why-" She pleaded. 

"Yup. Whatever. Bye, Molly." I hung up, feeling worse than before, and definitely regretting picking up the phone. 

I guess I wouldn't even get to perform as Becky. Since clearly, Molly was more important than the rest of us. 

I can't believe she got Jenna. And now she can't go on, so she's making sure no one else can either. 

I knew I wouldn't have been the understudy. That's not what bothered me. An ensemble member would have done an amazing job with the part. Besides, I should be happy with the part I have. It was just the fact that she knew for a month and didn't tell me, or our director, she wouldn't be able to be in the show. At least, not as the main character. 

My anger faded when I heard the door slam downstairs. I checked the clock. 3:30 am. 

I grabbed my old softball bat and walked down the stairs. Instead of a burglar, though, I saw my parents, my mom had my dad's arm across her shoulder and was trying to get him up the stairs. 

"What's going on?" I raised an eyebrow, cautiously setting the bat down. 

"You're dad was released. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." I didn't need to tell her I was awake the whole time. 

"It's fine. Is he okay?" I turned my attention to Dad, who looked half asleep. 

"He's fine. Just hopped up on pain meds. He'll be on bed rest for a week, and then everything will be back to normal." There was a huge grin on my mom's face I hadn't seen since they'd shown me wedding pictures. 

"Do you need any help?" I asked, still keeping my eyes on the normal she'd promised was ahead. 

"I'm alright. Just go back to bed." 

I nodded, heading back upstairs. I should probably get some sleep. 

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Two Weeks Later: 

I never went onstage as Becky. Or anyone in the show. It was canceled. 

In happier news, my dad was back to normal, or as normal as he could be after everything, and was cast as the Voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. I tried out and ended up getting Crystal, and Grayson got Seymour. It was great to see him onstage with someone he didn't have to hide any hate for. 

Molly and I haven't talked since she moved. That's not for lack of trying on her part, though. She'd called and texted a dozen times, to no avail. I was done trying to be her friend. She couldn't think of anyone but herself, and I didn't need that. 

"Hey." Grayson popped his head through my doorway, smiling. "Your dad let me in. Are you okay?" His concern was understandable, considering that other than school and rehearsal I locked myself in my room. I still found it slightly annoying, though, since I didn't want to talk, and my father knew that. 

"I'm fine. Come on in." I gave him a small smile, and he plopped himself in my desk chair. "Is there anything going on?" He shrugged, opening my computer. 

"Nope. I just wanted to see you. Your room is extremely different than I expected." He laughed. 

"Oh, shut up." I threw a pillow at him. "Also, how did you know my computer password?" 

"It wasn't hard. I mean, it's the same password you have for everything else. Stagefrightsucks78." He tossed the pillow back, raising an eyebrow at me. 

"I guess I have to change that, then." I rolled my eyes. 

"Leave the door open!" Dad yelled, propping it open with a shoe. 

"Dad!" I shook my head. 

"I'm just making sure." He joked. 

"He's so embarrassing," I whispered to Grayson. 

"Really? I hadn't noticed." He chuckled. 

"I heard that!" Apparently, Dad wasn't actually out of earreach. 

"Thanks! Mr. Porter!" Grayson yelled back. 

This was the new normal, I guess. 

I think I like it.