Stage Fright

Chapter 14 ~ Cast Bonding

Heather

I can't believe she shoved me onto the floor like that. I know it's in the movie but she pushed me like she wanted to push me off of the stage. Falling hard on my butt certainly wasn't alright with me, I could only put up with so much from this show. Spandex pants, wigs, dancing and now Mandy's physical violence. 

Josh was right there though, helping me up and scowling at Mandy. You'd think that eventually she'd understand that that was the reason Josh didn't like her. But I was hopeful Miss Young would whip her into shape, you could hear a pin drop when I fell, it was like nobody even knew what to say.

"Cheer up." Josh says, nudging my side. "Miss Young's going to deal with it."

"I know.....I just.....I don't want her to have it out for me, you know?" I ask and he smiles, doing that adorable thing he does where he quirks up the right side of his lips more than the left. What am I saying, Josh? Adorable?

But god was he a sweetheart, he was the kindest person I knew. It made all the problems I had with my boyfriend feel non-existent. 

I hadn't spoken much to Zeke today, I let him believe everything was fine and that I wasn't upset. But I knew his schedule and mine would only pick up, which would mean less time with him.

Julia told me all about Hayden today at lunch. Apparently things had gone a lot better than she thought they would, that he'd taken my suggestion of making out with her in one of the rooms. She said that he was a good kisser, that they were going to go out sometime this week.

I was happy for her, maybe a little jealous but mostly happy. I wished things were that easy with Zeke, but they really never were. There was no honeymoon phase for the two of us, we'd been rocky since the beginning, but now my eyes were wide open. I wasn't sure what to do anymore, I know Zeke should be out of chances, but I also know that he's special to me. Maybe I'd try and put some distance between us, see if that did us any good.

"I get it, I'll look out for you in rehearsals." Josh says, snapping me from my thoughts and I smile.

I walk him, Katie and Colin up to my car and sigh, ready for the confusion and teasing that would soon ensue. I wasn't sure if Josh had ever even seen my car before.

"This is what you drive?" Colin asks and I nod. "It's sweet, Heather. I'm jealous." He insists hopping into the back seat. Josh slides into the passenger seat and I press the button to turn on my car.

"Thanks." I smile and everyone else seems to be in dead silence. It was a pretty car, no question. Dark blue outside, light tan seats, sun and moon roof, full screen dash and a back up camera. That was by-far my favourite part.

"I wish this was my car." Josh says and I laugh. "Back up cameras seem like they'd be super helpful."

"I will say, I really like it." I smile and reach around for the aux chord. "Aux, anyone?" I ask and Katie leans forward.

"Me, me, me." She says excitedly. "I've got the perfect playlist." She seems almost shocked that her music library has come up on the screen in the centre. She raises her eyebrows and I smile.

"I know, very, very fancy." I laugh and everyone else does too. I reverse out of the lot and start to drive. I knew what people expected when they looked at me and my car, but I actually prided myself on being a pretty safe driver.

"It's a warm night, can we open the sun roof?" Colin asks and I smile, flipping the switch and the night air comes rushing into the car. I turn up the music and follow Owen's Honda to a diner about fifteen minutes away. 

I will say, I thoroughly enjoyed Katie's music, it was mostly throwbacks I'd forgotten about. It had been a long time since I'd just had a night like this, where I wasn't worried about what people thought about me. There was no pressure here like there was with my other friends