leaked (l.h.)

28

"Do you see it?" I ask Luke as I stand a few feet away from the cast list. I rock on my feet anxiously while I watch his blue eyes move about the list in front of him. He's mostly dry, the only evidence that he was ever soaked are the curls forming on his forehead that only seem to appear after his hair has dried. "Did I get it?"

He turns to me smiling widely, deep dimples on either side of his mouth. His eyebrows knit together as they raise. I can tell that he's relieved to see that I've forgave him, and despite how upsetting it is that I got my hopes up, I'm glad that we are friends again.

"Wait," I shake my head. "If I didn't get her, don't tell me. If I did, tell me." I ramble, crossing my arms as I turn and walk away from him. "Don't tell me if I didn't make it. Just shut up and take me to class if it's bad news."

"Hey?" I hear Michael say as he comes up from behind Luke, and as he greets us he has a sort of questioning tone in his voice. As if he's wondering what the hell happened sometime between yesterday and today. "What's going on?"

"I'm trying to see if I got the part I wanted," I walk in circles, staring at the ground as I feel my heart race in my chest. "I couldn't look, because I feel like I might pass out if I do. So I made Luke look for me, and he isn't going to tell me if my name isn't on that list. But if it is, then he'll tell me."

Michael nods slowly as he walks up behind Luke, and as they both study the cast list I feel like I might pass out.

"Holy shit," Calum comes up next, his eyes wide as he looks at me, then Luke. "What happened?"

"Shh," Michael looks at Calum. "Later."

"It is," Luke teases, his smile only growing as he turns to face me. "I think you should come see for yourself."

"Luke," I look at him, watching how he takes me by my sleeve to bring me closer. "I didn't want to see."

"I think you should," he chuckles, pulling me closer to him. I look up at him as he takes me by my shoulders, warm blue eyes calming the pounding in my chest. "I think this is something you'll want to see up close."

I nod slowly as I feel him turn me to the cast list, and when I realize that my name is at the top I feel my heart stop.

Oh my god.

"Oh my god," I gasp out loud, my eyes widening as I cover my mouth with my hand. "I got the lead?"

"You got the lead!" Luke exclaims. "And you were worried that you wouldn't!"

"Oh my god!" I yell again, closing my eyes tightly as I feel the slow burn of tears forming. But this time, they're good. They're good tears.

This is the first taste of normalcy that I had never thought I'd reach. Tyler and Arzaylea came and went, but now that I'm free from them I'm finally back to where I was before. I'm finally starting to figure out who I was before I met them. In love with the stage, but more in love with life than anything else. I was so happy. I wish I knew why I let them take that from me.

I feel two, three sets of arms around me as I am engulfed in warmth. I hear their genuine congratulations and words of encouragement all around me. I smell their different colognes, but it's a good mixture. I never would have thought I'd find a group where I actually felt I belonged, especially not with four or so boys who I probably would never have noticed before.

"I remember you talking about how much you wanted this over the summer," Luke smiles as they release me from their embrace, although I wish I could get another taste of it. "You worked so hard for it. I'm so happy for you, Grace!"

"I was so scared," I frown, wiping the tears off of my cheeks as I sniffle gently. "I was so scared that I wouldn't get it!"

"We should celebrate!" Michael smiles, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Tonight! We can celebrate Grace getting the role and us getting signed!"