Ethan Adams

Chapter 20

I'm nervous when the reviews for the Crow come in, but then Ethan assures me that I did a terrible job. In it's own dumb way, it settles my nerves and makes me think less about it. Plus it makes it all the more worthwhile when I actually see that our school magazine and the local newspaper have both given us four outta five stars for our performance.

On the night of the last show, we celebrate by buying some pizza from Little Caesars. I'm still mostly dressed up in the dark makeup but I'm getting used to the stares I get from people.

"You're literally moulting onto my pizza." Ethan says when I come back from the bathroom.

"Shut up, you love it." I shimmy so a feather falls into his lap. He grins at me.

Despite our almost (it really wasn't going to happen, why I got hopeful will always be a mystery) kiss two days ago, we've gone back to how we were before. Ethan's annoying as heck but I've come to appreciate it. Honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way because that's when he gets more irritating.

"Hey, so can we talk about New York?" Anthony asks.

On the other side of me, Janet swallows her bite of pizza. She clears her throat before speaking. "But Ella isn't here." She says.

"Ella's never here." I say bluntly. "We can fill her in whenever she's not at Jessica's beck and call."

"Hiss, hiss." Ethan murmurs. I reach out to pinch him but he grabs my arm and puts it back in my lap, smiling. "But wifey over here is correct. She can catch up when she's around."

The guys start talking amongst themselves while I steal a slice of Ethan's pizza. I know he sees me taking it but he just lets me anyway. Then I notice that Janet is watching me with a careful eye.

"What?" I ask, my pizza in mid-air.

"You're mad at Ella." She deduces.

"Could you blame me?" I don't even feel guilty. At lunch, she told me that she had better things to do than see me on stage and wouldn't even come to support for the last show. I know she was free tonight because she's been texting me and Janet about her and Jessica's crazy adventures. Would it kill her to be there for me... just for once?

"Come on, Alisa, she can't be at every performance." Janet says. I have to stop myself from snapping at her because I know she's just trying to defend our friend.

"Whatever. I'm over it now anyway." I say bluntly and pick up another slice of Ethan's pizza. This time he raises his eyebrows at me but I just ignore him.

"You're not over it."

"I am." I shrug her off.

Just then, my phone rings, and who else would it be but Ella herself? I contemplate not picking up for a hot second before I decide to stop being petty and get over myself. It also serves to prove a point to Janet, showing her that I'm over the situation enough to act civil. Even if I'm not.

"What's up?"

"Hey are y'all still at Little Caesars? Me and Jess are in the neighbourhood and wanna come see everyone!" She says, giggling.

"Yeah, we just got here." I tell her. "We're at the one near –"

"Janet told me earlier! We'll be there in five minutes!" She bursts into laughter so loud I have to move my phone away from my ear. "Jess stop! You're so bad! Alisa, I'll see you in a second."

I hang up without saying goodbye and go for my third slice of Ethan's pizza. This time he stops me.

"You have a whole pizza in front of you. What are you doing?" He asks.