Stage Fright

Chapter 26 ~ Up

Heather

This week was night and day compared to the shit-show of last week. For starters, Zeke had been suspended from school for a month, he wouldn't be around to torment Josh and I anymore. He'd had one too many suspensions this time, and he had to appear in front of the administration at the end of the month to decide if he would be allowed to remain at school.

Aside from that, people had seemed to forget about the rumours about Josh and I. After homecoming and Josh getting punched in the face, the second rumour that I broke up with him because he was aggressive was becoming the more popular of the two.

I had my spot back at my lunch table, with my friends in the hallway. My life was piecing itself back together and I was happy again. Truly happy this time.

But something was missing, I didn't have Josh. We couldn't be together until the end of the show, Miss Young had reminded us of that rule when we got a little too friendly at musical practice on Monday. I didn't want to ruin anything by being with him, I knew we both felt this way about each other. All we had to do was sit through the countdown.

I'd hung out with my friends again this week, there was a party on Saturday at Trevor Pullman's house. But tonight was Friday, I thought it might be nice to have a quiet night in for a change. Josh and I texted, called, FaceTimed, snapchatted, we had busy weeks but I wanted to chat with him.

His nose was getting better, he kept telling me to stop fussing over him but I just laughed a bit. We spent the better part of the weekend together, but I spent the second night at his house so he could check-in with his dad. We hadn't kissed since Friday night, it just felt cruel when there was no where to take those feelings.

I don't know if Josh could handle it, the way his cheeks got red after everything on Friday let me know he didn't want to rush along. This was the first guy that had been interested in me for something other than sex. I felt flattered, he knew there was more to me. 

Our practice was just wrapping up, they were rehearsing 'Beauty School Drop-Out' so most of us were just sitting in the auditorium waiting for it to end. 

"Hey Heather." Owen says, sliding into the chair next to mine. "Do you have plans tonight?" He asks and I furrow my eyebrows, he just chuckles and shakes his head. "Not like that, I wanted to know if you wanted to come hang with us tonight?" He asks and I laugh.

"Isn't that kind of like your guy's night?" I ask and he shrugs.

"Well usually, but Katie, Autumn and Marlene are coming." He tells me. "You don't have to get high or anything, but we'll eat and hang-out?"

"Sounds like fun, I don't have plans tonight." And he nods. 

"Cool, you don't have to worry about getting home, my parents are out of town tonight and there's loads of beds and couches." He says. 

"Okay, I'll have to let Eleanor know but I'll come." I tell him and he furrows his eyebrows.

"Who's Eleanor, is that like your step-mom?" He asks and I laugh, shrugging my shoulders.

"Not exactly." I mumble. "When I was younger she was like my nanny, she keeps our house and when my dad's away she's my legal guardian." 

"How rich are you Sanders?" He asks and I laugh.

"We're comfortable." I tell him and he rolls his eyes.

"That's what every rich person says." He tells me and I roll my eyes. "We're leaving right from here to get snacks, give one of us a call and I'll let you know if we're home yet."

"Cool." I shrug and he extends his fist. I laugh and give him a fist bump and he focuses his attention back to the song on the stage.

We wrap up and Miss Young gives us our notes from today. I write them on the loose page I keep in the back of my script and then shove it into my bag. Standing up and Josh catches up with me.