R E J E C T S

CH.21: TALENT SHOW

"How many people are out there?" I asked Rob.

"Uh, maybe half of the whole student body only because the other half are too cool to show up for such an event." He grimaced.

"Are you here to wish me luck then?" I put my own make-up on.

"That and I'm actually here to confess something..." He fidgeted with his shirt.

"What did you do?" I could tell whenever he's nervous about something.

"Luke and I might have pranked you yesterday by convincing Louis to change the play the last minute..." He admitted.

"YOU WHAT?!"

"But only because we thought you set us up with the fancy dinner and all and when Luke found out that you didn't, it was too late to make Louis change his mind." He looked down.

"Prank, you say? Then how come he didn't revert the play back to 'Wizard of Oz' and we're still doing 'Titanic'?" I questioned him.

"Then he must really like the movie..." He said in deep thought.

"Hey, Cher. I was wondering if you could do my make up? I don't really know how to..." Liam showed up.

"Sure, honey or should I say 'mom'." He plays Ruth DeWitt, Rose's mom.

Louis improvised his character as a deaf-mute so that Liam won't have any lines to worry about.

"Has anyone seen Zayn?" Louis asked.

"Uh, he just texted that he can't make it for some unknown reason." Liam said.

"..." Louis was speechless.

"Now would be a good time to panic." I suggested.

"No need. I know exactly what to do!" He thought of something.

"Can I be Jack?" Niall asked as he smiled my way.

"No. I think I need to be Jack." He says it like the role is his calling.

"Why?"

"Because I just realized how boring my character is... and besides, I look good in suspenders, no offense Niall." He explained himself.

"None taken. I look good in a dashing suit anyway." Niall shrugs.

******

"I don't want to marry, Cal, mother!" I had to bite my tongue in order for me not to laugh at Liam wearing a dress.

Plus I may have unintentionally patted his face with too much powder so now he looks like a gay mime.

"He's filthy rich and you don't have a choice!!!" I read what he wrote down on his sketch pad.

"Then why don't YOU marry him instead?!" I retorted back.

"I'm too old and wrinkled." I read what my deaf-mute 'mother' has to say.

******

"Rose! Rose! Ro---"

"I'm right here, Jack." I tapped him from behind.

"The ship is sinking, my love..." Louis hugged me tightly.

"I can see that."

"I'm scared, Rose. I don't want to lose you now." He got teary-eyed.

I guess Tomlinson can really 'act' after all.

"You won't, Jack. I promise." I touched the side of his face.

"Rose! You're cheating on me? With this guy?!" Niall pulled me to his side.

"I love him, Cal and I'm sure you will too..." I looked him in the eye.

"Are you suggesting a threesome right now?" He arched a brow.

"Hell yeah!" Ash cheered from the audience.

"No. I was wondering if you can let me go so that I can be with him." I said seriously.

"Nonsense! Can't you see that I love you too?" He tried to kiss me but I backed away.

"She's mine!" Louis pulled me to his side but then Niall grabbed a hold of my other arm.

"Let go of her!" Louis yelled.

"No! You let go!" Niall yelled back.

"Are you done playing tug of war yet? The ship's still sinking you know..." I commented.

"She's right. We don't have much time. How about we settle this through a dance off?" Louis suggested and the crowd went wild.

A dance off will take more time though.

"Okay, I accept your challenge. Music please!" Niall demanded then the song 'Thrift Shop' comes on.

The blonde jock started crumping which shocked everyone including me... didn't know the boy could dance.

"Your turn!" Niall pointed at Louis who did the robot moves next.

"BOO!" The audience booed him.

The next thing you know, he's down on the floor, spinning.

"WOOOOOH!!!" And the crowd loves him.

"Beat that, white boy!" Louis tried to say something 'cool'.

They're both white though.

"We should probably settle this for real, Dawson. Like real men would." Niall suggested instead.

"Then let's duel! I'll do whatever it takes just to get this girl right here." Then Louis winks my way which made my cheeks burn unconsciously.

I mean, who knew he had any charms with his glasses off?

The two began fist-fighting but no one really got hit. Their punches looked too fake as well and it bored the hell out of the audience.

"Ow! Did you just bitch-slapped me?!" Niall was now holding unto his cheek after a 'slap' was heard.

Louis actually slapped his best friend for real just to make an audience impact! He's like a professional actor and no one really gives him credit for it...

"Fine, I give up! And I'm getting out of here!" Niall exited the scene.

"I guess this is it, huh?" Louis held me back into his arms.

"We should just die together." I said.

"No, Rose. I want you to live and be miserable without me for the rest of your life until you die..." He placed a finger on top of my mouth to shut me up.

"No, Jack! I jump, you jump, remember? We're in this together!" I sobbed.

"One last kiss then on our last night on earth..." He leaned in so close and we waited for Liam to close the curtains at the sidelines. Anytime now.

"It's stuck! It won't close!" Liam mouthed to us. Oh my God.

I heard Louis sigh as if he was about to make a very grave decision for us all.

"KISS! KISS! KISS!" The audience started cheering.

Then without further ado, Louis smashed his lips into mine without even consulting me first!

And I just stood there, frozen in place with my eyes wide open.