How I Did It

Chapter 4

"Pshh. Like I care." I huffed. So what if he's single now? We're not in Junior High anymore, it's not like 'Cute guy!' then pounce on him. I was better than that. I could just spend the rest of high school lurking in the shadows until Community College. I honestly could not wait until graduation. While I loved so many of my classmates like one huge dysfunctional family, I was read to split. Even Maggie. Not that I wouldn't miss her, but it feels like she was always there. She made me come out of my box and took me on mini adventures with her. She made me a different, better person, but I was curious to see who I would be without her.

"Of course you care! I can hear it." She said creepily. That's Mag for you. "You guys were supposed to get married and have beautiful Italian children!"

"I'm not Italian Maggie."

"But Tristan is. And Tristan is gorgeous."

I chuckled. "Thanks for pointing that out Mags, but I'm over him. That would be pathetic if I was stuck on the same guy for four years." I lied. Wait, but I have been stuck on him for four years...Oh God I am pathetic.

Maggie paused on the other line and for some reason I was latching on to her next response like a vise. I hoped she wouldn't agree with me or call me out on my bluff. I was way past the faking it stage, but liked to pretend I could get over Tristan if I wanted to in a heartbeat. If Maggie called me out my flimsy little wall would crash down.

I waited, and waited, and waited...

"I've been in love with Leonardo DiCaprio since fifth grade and I'm anything but pathetic."

~oOo~

The last week before school went by in a flash. Before I knew it it was Friday again. and I was working at The Floor. It felt like my entire life was surrounded by singing and while my family and friends found it annoying it was impossible to stop. I sang in the grocery store, in the shower, and in the school hallways. Everyone was so used to it that either didn't notice or glared when a song was stuck in my head and I wouldn't stop singing it. I wondered if once Maggie was gone I would sing even more. Probably not since Maggie was 'addicted to my voice' as she puts it and can't get enough.

My boss at The Floor was starting to complain that my songs weren't seductive enough to dance to. To him anything other than Goyte equaled sitting and sitting equaled to no sweating and no sweating equaled no drinks, and lastly no drinks equaled no money.

I dressed in casual clothes today, not in the mood to dance with any customers. My outfit was about as non flashy as possible consisting of an overly large sweater and the color baise.

Jackelyn had given me my space and didn't come to The Floor with me after she turned twenty-one. It was a relief to know that I would never have any trouble with others seeing me at The Floor.

I hoped into my little Jeep and sped off at 75 mph. A lopsided smiled played across my face and the wind blew my hair in my mouth and flying in different directions like Medusa's snakes. Driving was my second favorite activity. If I couldn't become a singer I could be a NASCAR driver.

I pulled up on the street a mile away from The Floor it was always super crowded and not nearly as small and local as it had been my freshman year. I got later times in Junior year that last until The Floor is closed whch is two in the morning. There were still newbies that didn't get the idea that I was the top gun around here and tried to humiliate me, but in return got jumped by my loyal fan group.

This exact thing happened tonight when some idiot tried to make fun of my outfit. "This is a night club, not a coffee house, Lesb-" Before he could finish his sentence a large man punched him in the jaw. The first couple times this happened I was disgusted and shocked, but over time got used to the attention. In response to the idiot I flipped the bird over my shoulder, not even bothering to look back at him.

I climbed my way up to backstage and Sasha smeared her cherry red lipstick on my lips like always and cooing me on just how amazing of a job I'm going to do.

I sat my ass in the same stool I had used since freshman year and thought about how everything, but The Floor has changed since then. The Floor was like my haven and the outside world was hell.

I sang "Somebody That I Used To Know" requested by the boss. I had other ones in mind, but this song still had a strong connection with me for obvious reasons. Like normal the audience was tranced for the first few verses, but then got used to it and danced together in perfect harmony. Or as perfect as a group of drunkards could be.

"But You didn't have to cut me off!

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing,

I don't even need you love,

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough.

No you didn't have to stoop so low!..."

My voice trailed off on its own accord. A boy, no, man was standing below the stage right in front of my face. His mouth slightly ajar and his fists gripped the edge of the stage so tightly his knuckles turned white. It was Tristan.

For the first time my voice was completely incapable of speak. We both just stared at each other opening and closing our mouths like fish, unable to form words. Finally when I found the ability to speak, I decided not to.

"Have your friends collect your records and then change your number.

I guess that I don't need that though,

Know your just somebody that I used to know."

"Janet..." He whispered when the song was over, but my face was as cold and hard a stone. He knew I had sang that for him. He knew just how lonely I had been for the past four years and never helped me once. My family didn't know about the parties, the drinking, the making out and dancing. The only person who knew and cared even the slightest bit was Maggie, but being so intensely close as friends, instead of bringing me back up, I had accidentally pulled her down with me.

I dropped the mic with an earpeircing crack! and ran backstage.