Stage Fright

Chapter 21 ~ Off-Book

Heather

I can't remember the last day I had that was this good. Everything about today was really amazing, Josh had been there every step of the way. He was really sensitive with me and that made me smile. It was a welcome feeling when my life had been so out of control for so long. When all of the other guys I knew were complete jerks.

"Do you know where we're going?" Josh asks and I snap out of my thoughts.

"Oh-um....no." I admit and he laughs.

"Turn up here at these lights." He chuckles and I smile, putting my turn signal on.

"This is the first Saturday night in months that I haven't been at a party." I mumble and he raises his eyebrows.

"I'm offended that you think this won't be a party." He teases, putting his hand over his heart and I laugh. "We're pretty fun."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." I tell him and he smiles. "But I'm more than excited for a smaller night in."

"It'll be pretty relaxed, it'll just be the leads." He says and I furrow my eyebrows.

How could we bond properly and even start to build a good relationship between the cast when one person was always being left out? 

"But not Mandy?" I ask and he nods.

"Not Mandy." He confirms and I sigh.

"But how does that work?" I ask and he laughs. "How can we rehearse and get closer without one of the most important people?"

"You can't be serious." He says and I nod.

"I know you think I'm crazy, I don't like her and I'm angry that she's so nasty to everyone else." I tell him and he nods. "But I hate the idea of leaving people out. I wonder if people were nicer to her if she wouldn't be so angry all the time."

"Well, you're a better person than me." He tells me. "That's not really how she's wired, trust me." 

"You do know her better than I do, and I know she's a serious shit-disturber so I'm not suggesting we should invite her to hang out but-"

"I get where you're coming from." He tells me. "I think it's good of you to worry about her."

"Maybe with time she'll come around?" I suggest and he shrugs.

"Miracles are possible." He says and I smile. "Turn here." He adds, pointing to a street and I nod, driving along. "It's number one-ten, it's a blue house." I drive until I see a street that fits that description. I pull up to what looks like a simple split-level house with a garage attached. 

"Cute." I say and he laughs. "Don't laugh at me!" I tell him, shoving his arm and he laughs harder.

"Sorry, you just make me smile." He says and I feel my cheeks heat up as he opens his door, script in hand and I follow him up the driveway.

"Ooh, you can show off that new earring to everyone too!" I remind him. He just shakes his head and rings the doorbell. 

"Hey guys!" Owen says, appearing in the doorway. "Come on in, Heather, welcome to my home." He says and I laugh, stepping in after Josh.

Owen always cracked me up, him and Colin in particular had that goofy thing going for them. Owen was about as tall as Josh, but had light brown hair and he was a little lankier. 

"Thank you." I say and he nods.

"We're all in the garage, we were just waiting on you two." Owen says and I follow him through the kitchen.