Love Is a Bunch of Stupid Decisions

Chapter 8

"We've got the cast of Mean Girls on Broadway here with us to perform a song from their show, 'Apex Predator', live when we come back!"

As much as I tried to hold it in, I let out a yawn. It was currently 7:22 AM, and the entire cast of Mean Girls, plus me and a few others, were backstage for a morning performance on a Baltimore morning news show. I had gotten here around 5:00 this morning, after not being able to sleep until 2:00 AM due to other work stuff. All of the complimentary free coffee that they gave us this morning couldn't quite seem to wake me up.

Despite the early hour, the cast was buzzing with energy. This was one of our first press events on tour, and for some cast members, this was their first ever TV performance, so they were all kinds of excited. We all sat backstage in a dressing room/waiting area, and not much later, somebody comes to escort the cast onto the stage for their performance.

"Can I get a good luck kiss?" Ben asks quietly before he leaves, probably not wanting Sky to overhear him and start mocking us like he always did.

"Like you need any good luck," I laugh. He pouts, so I stand up and kiss him quickly, enjoying the warmth and energy that he brought me. "Go break a leg."

I sat and watched their performance from the TV in the dressing room, wondering in awe how they had so much energy right now. I suppose their job actually let them get a normal amount of sleep most nights. Not to say that it was an easy job to be on Broadway, especially to be on tour, but I guess it was just starting to occur to me how different and difficult my job was going to be. It was definitely hard to be the only one in my friend group whose work hours weren't confined to rehearsals and performances.

They're back before I even know it, interrupting my little 'woe is me' session, and we're all able to head out.

There's a few hours before call time for show, which would be the perfect opportunity for me to finally get some rest-- if I didn't have more work to do, and if I hadn't also planned a cute double brunch date for Sky, Ava, Ben, and I. Yes, Sky had ended up asking her out after the Halloween party, and she had said yes. They weren't 'official', yet, but they'd gone out a time or two since we'd gotten to Cleveland, and they were always by each other's sides.

We stop back by the hotel before we head to brunch, and I let myself lay down for a quick second, just to rest my eyes (I knew this was bullshit, I could have fallen asleep in 5 seconds if I let myself).

"Hey Char? You don't have to go to brunch if you're too tired. We can reschedule." Ben says, sitting down by me in bed. His hand gently rubbed my back, making me realize how sore and tense my entire body was.

I instantly shake my head, feeling guilty at the thought of bailing on him again. "No, I'm fine. I can try and get some sleep later during show."

"'Try and get some sleep'?" He repeats.

"Well, there's a few things I'll have to take care of for work, first. Then I think I'll actually be able to sleep tonight." I say, chuckling. Isn't there a saying like, 'If you don't laugh, you'll cry'? Because that was me right now.

"Char, you need to get some rest. I know you have work, and I love that you want to hang out with me and everyone, but I hate seeing you so exhausted all the time. If you come to brunch, can you promise me that you'll get some sleep after?"

Ignoring the tiredness that filled my body, I sit up and look in his eyes. They were filled with concern. Somehow this boy had more concern for me than I managed to have for myself. Swallowing, I nodded. "I promise. I will take a nap right when we get back before I do any work." I say, even though I knew I had a work deadline in a few hours that I absolutely could not miss.

Seeing Ben's warm smile made those worries melt away. "Good. I don't want you to be miserable for this entire tour just because you only sleep for 3 hours each night," He says with a slight chuckle, his arms wrapping me up in a hug. "I'll text Sky that we'll be down to the lobby in 5, ok?"

I nod, getting out of bed to start changing into different clothes for brunch.

Not long after that, the four of us are seated at a cute brunch spot just a few minutes from our hotel. It's nice to finally be able to relax, even if it's only for an hour or so, while I consume monstrous amounts of french toast and coffee with Ben, Sky, and Ava. Speaking of Ava, I also finally get to learn a little bit more about her. Turns out she was from California, where she was an only child of parents who both worked in the TV industry. But she always knew that she wanted to be on Broadway, so she moved to New York to train specifically for that when she was 12, and has been there ever since.

"So you've essentially been living on your own, without your parents, in New York City, since you were 12?" I ask.

She nodded. "I've really only seen them once or twice a year since then. I guess that's just the price you have to pay to be on Broadway," She says, chuckling as if it was no big deal. I had never been super close with my parents, but the thought of being alone in New York City at the age of 12 was terrifying to me. "Plus, it makes moments like this even sweeter. This cast is like the family that I never had," She smiles. We all talk for a while more, mostly about what tour stops were excited for. Ava is excited for Sacramento since she hasn't been back in California in years. Ben is excited for Baltimore, since we'll be close enough to visit with his family, and we'll be there for Thanksgiving. Of course, I'm excited about our two Michigan stops, since it's always exciting to bring new friends back and show them some of my favorite places. Talking about it all almost makes me forget how tired I am, but I'm more than relieved to crash in bed once brunch is done.

"Have a good show," I mumble tiredly to Ben, who's about to leave to go to the theater. "Break things. Like, legs, and stuff. Don't break props. Those are expensive."

Ben laughs at my tired rant, leaning down by our bed to kiss me goodbye. "I'll try my best, as long as you try to actually get some rest. Promise?"

I hold up my pinky, locking it with his. "Promise." He kisses me once more before he leaves, longer this time, making me wish that he could stay here with me instead.

I end up sleeping for longer than planned, waking up at 10:00 that night. My sleep schedule was officially a hot mess at this point, but that was the least of my concerns since I had missed several work deadlines and already knew that I'd be working until the sun came up the next morning.

Ben got back from the theater around 10:30 to find me hunched over at the desk, typing up an email to Amanda. We've traded places since last time I saw him-- now he was the exhausted one, and I had more energy than I've had in days. He comes over and sets his head on top of mine, rubbing my shoulders. "How's my girl doing?"

"She's well rested for once," I laugh. "And she missed you. How was the show?"

"It was amazing," He says, already beaming. "When I started twerking in Do This Thing, people started cheering. Not just laughing. They were clapping and everything."

"I've never been prouder of you than I am right now," I say, laughing. A few minutes later, Ben is already in bed. I sigh deeply, closing my laptop.

"Are you really done for the night?" Ben asks, in disbelief.

"I shouldn't be... but I am," I smile, crawling in bed next to him. I'd have to pay the price in the morning, but right now I just wanted to be with Ben.

"I'm glad," Ben whispers, kissing my neck slowly as we get comfortable. I fall asleep quickly, comfortably wrapped in Ben's arms as my body continues to catch up on much-needed sleep. 

A/N: I don't really have anything important to say. I just like talking to you guys. Hi