Cherry Bomb (A Michael Fassbender Fanfic)

9: The Midnight Fiasco

This is unbearable. Thank God Emerson emerges from the men's room and breaks the tension.

"Aye! Hallway party! Hey Frankie!" Emerson joins the three of us and gives me a tiny bump on my shoulder with his fist. This is what happens when you grow up as 'one of the guys.'

"Hey Emerson," I frown when Michael releases my hand.

"Em! You remember Jane?" Michael can't stop smiling.

Emerson greats Jane with a little hug and a kiss on the cheek. "How are you, love?" Oh sure. Kiss her.

"This is such a crazy reunion," Jane laughs. "I was worried no one would remember me!"

"Who could forget Jane Donovan?" Emerson exclaims.

In my head, I raise my hand.

Michael crosses his arms and it feels out place. Like he's trying to erase the fact that he was just seen holding my hand.

"So," Emerson is beginning to realize it's getting a bit awkward now. "Is there a reason we're all by the jacks?"

"We were looking for you, but now that I'm here, I might as well take a pee break." Jane moves aside so I can step into the restroom.

Emerson begins asking Jane about Australian life and Michael is kind enough to let me know they'll be at the bar. I close the door and listen for their departing footfalls, Jane's heels loudly clacking away.

I sigh, leaning back against the door. My jaw is stiff from clenching my teeth, something I tend to do when faced with conflict. I stretch out my jaw and shake my arms, walking to the sink. I don't really need to pee, I just needed to break character and freak out to myself for a minute in privacy. I grip the edge of the sink and stare at my reflection.

"You knew this was coming," I say to myself. I take in another deep breath and let it out slowly. I can handle this. Michael likes me for me. So I'll just continue to be Frankie. If it's Jane he wants, then...

My jaw stiffens again.

I smack my cheeks a bit to give them more color and then head back to the ballroom faking confidence. Fake it til you make it.

Michael, Jane, and Emerson have just received their drinks and Emerson asks what I'd like. I ask for a whiskey sour. Emerson gives me some major side-eye but I hardly notice. Michael is hunched over the bar on his elbows, giving Jane his undivided attention. His brows are furrowed and he's nodding at everything she's saying. Jane is just so damn interesting, it seems.

"Hey, uh, Frankie, do you feel like shaking it on the dance floor?" Emerson asks after a huge swig of his beer.

Michael's concentration does not falter. "What was that?" I ask Emerson louder than necessary, keeping an eye on Michael to gauge if he catches what we are saying. "Did you just ask me to dance??"

Emerson blinks and frowns. "Why are you yelling?"

"Loud music!" I yell.

Michael laughs at something Jane says and I feel my heart sink even lower into my stomach. In two giant gulps, I down my drink, leaving Emerson wide-eyed and smirking. I grab his hand and drag him behind me to the dance floor. The alcohol is beginning to make my head swim. I definitely need to slow it down a bit. There isn't anything much worse than a hangover.

"Yo! Carl, my man!" I shout as we pull up next to him and Raegan shaking to the beat of Happy by Pharrell Williams. Ginny and the Tonics are all over the charts with their skills.

Rae's back is to us but she turns when Carl laughs and waves my way. Emerson tugs on my hand, trying to yank me away from them. If looks could kill, Emerson would be on a slab right now. Lasers are practically shooting from her eyes, into poor Emerson's heart.