Summer daydream

Chapter 20

Wednesday lunch rooms are a mess.

I squished my way through to the lunch table where I usually sat, and plopped down next to Romie.

"Hi!" She said, and hugged me. "I haven't talked to you in like, forever!" I laughed.

"I know right! What have you been up to?"

"You know, the same old, same old. Go to class, talk to friends, listen to music, eat, sleep..." She shrugged. I grinned at her comment. It was so like her.

"You? What's going on with you?"

"Well, I tried avoiding everyone by studying my brain off, because, well, you know, my break up with Brody..." Romie nodded sympathetically.

"You've been handling it pretty well, though," I shrugged, and she continued, "and also with Jake? What's up with that?" She wiggled her eyebrows, and I rolled my eyes.

"You know, he's a nice...friend..." Romie raised her eyebrows. I shot her a look, and she smiled innocently.

"But anyway, we should hang out some time!" Romie said, and I was only happy to change the subject.

******

That day after school, and we were running through the entire play. The actual play was two days away, and everyone was buzzing around polishing up lines and lyrics and setting up props. I could feel the anxiety and excitement in the air. Personally, I was really nervous about Friday. It was the first time I was ever in a play, and I have this huge solo part! But I was also really excited, because I love singing and acting, and being a part of this play is a really fun thing to do.

I was back stage, staying out of everybody's way. Especially the back stage crew. They're running around, setting up props, carrying them around, and the last thing you want to do is be in their way. I was standing besides the rest of the pink ladies. A girl called Andy was Frenchy, Lina was Marty, and Scarlette was Jan. We were waiting to go on stage for the scene where the girls have a sleep over.

Just then, Claire came running to us.

"Hey guys!" She chirped, and Andy shushed her.

"We have mics on! Mrs. Smith'll kill us if she hears us talking!" Andy whispered, and Claire retreated back in fear. Honestly, I think Andy is the complete opposite of Frenchy. Frenchy is all dumb-blonde and cute, but Andy is all strict and cool. I mean, I guess they're both nice, but I don't understand how she got that role. But anyway, Claire was late. Like always.

The scene change was going on, and the back stage crews rushed to set the stage up in the little time they had. Then a music cued us on stage, and we were lounging on the stage, smoking fake cigarettes. We went on doing the scene, until the song Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee's melody started flowing. I always love this scene, because I can make fun of Claire.

The scene ended, but Mrs. Smith cut us off from where she sat in front of the stage.

"Good job, ladies. Well, I think that's enough for today!" This was our second time running the play today, and I was exhausted. So I stepped off the stage pretty relieved. I was walking out of the auditorium, when I caught a glimpse of Brody talking to Claire. It was pretty obvious that Claire was flirting with him, but the effect didn't seem to work on him. In fact, I was pretty sure he was dating Waverly already. I was still a bit sad, but I was also seeing Jake. As I walked out towards my car, a tall boy was leaning on it. A very familiar tall boy.

"Hi Jake." I said, making him jump. I laughed at his reaction.

"Hi Jenny." He smiled.

"You can call me Jen." I told him, feeling that when he said Jenny it was strange, somehow.

"Why all of a sudden?" He seemed confused.

"It's a special nickname." I smiled.

"Am I special?" He asked, and I nodded, my face probably getting red. He grinned, and gave me a bear hug. I shrieked a little, being very surprised. His hug was warm and comforting. He hugged me so tight, my ribs hurt a bit even after he let go, but it was totally worth it.

"So why are you here so late after school?" I asked him. I had rehearsals, but Jake wasn't in the musical, so I didn't understand why he was still here.

"Basketball practice." He said, and I nodded.

"I also wanted to invite you to something, so I stayed a bit after practice." He added, and I smiled.

"Oh?" I said, my curiosity peaking.

"Um, my friend Charlie is throwing a Christmas party on the 22nd, I was wondering if you'd like to come?" He asked, and my face lit up. I wasn't one of those party gals, but when I'm invited to a party, I'm up for it. I usually wasn't invited to the popualr peoples' party, but this year, I guess it was different.

"I'd love to go!" I said, excited. The 18th, the day of the musical, was the last day of school, and I thought it was a smart idea to not put the party on Christmas day. My family have a traditional Christams planned every year, where I stay up till midnight and rip open my presents the moment it becomes Christmas day. If it was the 22nd, I didn't have any plans, and I was excited to go, so I jumped around, feeling giddy.

Jake chuckled. "Ok. I'll pick you up at your house, I'm sure you don't know where his house is." I nodded, and I said a final good bye to Jake before getting in my car and driving away.

I didn't bother to turn the heater on inside my car, because I was feeling really warm. I got to my house, and a stupid grin was on my face, and I couldn't take it off. I tried rubbing it off, but it didn't work. So until I fell asleep, it didn't come off.

Before I fell asleep, I looked at the crutches that I didn't use anymore. I still can't believe my luck. Imagine if I had to use them during the musical!

I smiled again, and my head sunk lower in my pillow.



********



Thursday came and went, like lightning flashing before my eyes. I blinked, and it was night, and I was getting ready to go to bed. My mom told me to sleep early, since tomorrow was the last day of school and the day of the musical. Finally, tomorrow was the day. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, feeling nervous. My hands started shaking, and I had to close them into fists in order to keep them from shaking.

Then, my phone started buzzing, meaning that someone was calling. I didn't bother to check who it was, and I answered.

"Hi....Jenny." A familiar voice came from the other end. It sent a pang of hurt when he called me Jenny.

"Brody?" I asked, even though I knew it was him.

"Yeah. I just wanted to wish you luck with the musical tomorrow. I figured you'd be really nervous right now." His deep voice rang through me, and I don't know why, but I felt tears rim my eyes.

"Yeah. I am a bit nervous." My voice was shaky, and I chose to blame it on my nerves.

"Well, you're really talented, and you're gonna do great. You wont have to worry about anything."

"Thanks." I replied, can't helping the tears coming down my face.

"Yeah, so uhm, break a leg!" He said, and my mouth opened into an 'O' shape.


"Excuse me?" I said. I can't belive he told me to break a leg!

"Oh, break a leg means good luck. It's like, stage phrases." I could hear the amusement in his voice. I huffed.

"Okay, well, you break a leg, too." I couldn't help but feel weirded out by this phrase. I heard him chuckle from the other end.

"It comes from people who are superstitious. If you say good luck, it's gonna give you bad luck, so they say break a leg, which means I hope you don't break a leg...." He said, and I couldn't help but have a laugh escape my lips.

"That's so weird!" I exclaimed, and I heard him laugh, too.

"I really missed your laugh, Jen. I really miss you." He said, all joking gone. I also noted how he called me Jen again, not Jenny. My breath caught in my throat, and I sighed.

"I miss you too." My voice was ten octaves higher than usual. I mentally slapped myself.

"So...see you tomorrow, then." I said, and he grunted.

"yeah. Bye." The phone line went dead, and I practically threw my phone on my bed. Tears started pouring down my face again. Education, Jake, and Romie had been a good distraction, but when I finally talked to Brody, it all hurt a whole bunch. Seems like I wasn't doing such a good job on moving on.

And that night I couldn't sleep for a very long time, and it wasn't just because of the musical.



Another update in a day? Woo hooo!

Haha, I put a Brody and Jenny scene, just for you guys. Now you know that she still hasn't completely moved on from Brody. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, please drop a vote and comment!!

Thanks, and see you in the next chapter!

-A.J.