"Elizabeth, I think he's cheating," Emily tells me.
"What?" I ask, dropping my phone and giving all my attention to my friends.
"Right here, there's a series of texts hinting at it," Emily explains.
"Read them," I say.
Unknown: Hey baby💘
Sean: Hey😘
Unknown: What you doing tonight?
Sean: Going on a date with some loser, I thought she was cool, but she's some weirdo.
Unknown: Blow her off and come hang with me
Sean: I can't blow her off, gotta do it later. After the date of course.
"That's all of them," Emily says.
"Friday? That was Friday?" I ask.
Maddie leans over and looks at the phone, "Yeah, that was Friday."
"Tell me more," I tell them.
"Elizabeth I don't think you wanna know," Emily warns me.
"Just tell me," I say.
"Elizabeth, I wouldn't-" Emily starts before I cut her off.
"Just give me the phone," I say as I snatch the phone from them. I scroll through the texts seeing things that make my heart burn. I throw his phone across the room and break down into sobs. Emily and Maddie come to give me a hug and I push them away. "Just leave my alone," I shout as they back away.
They exit the room, and I crawl under the covers of my bed. The show was gonna start in an hour, so people were gonna be here any minute. I didn't wanna deal with anyone, so I decide to leave and not leave a note. I just wanted to be alone, if they want to find me, they will. I didn't where I wanted to go, just somewhere. I start wandering, I don't really know where things are, I've never been good with navigation. I see the Imperial Theatre, then I have no clue where I am after that. I see a Starbucks, and luckily I grabbed my purse. I order a caramel macchiato and sit down in the back. I pull out my phone to listen to music. I see a couple texts from the cast.
Lin: Where are you? Just let me know.
Pippa: Can't wait to hear all about your date last night :)
Lin: Are you okay? Starting to worry.
Leslie: Where are you sweetheart? Lin is very worried. Just let us know :)
I was only gone thirty minutes, did they miss me that much? I put my phone on airplane mode, and plug in my headphones to listen to Jessie Mueller's She Used to Be Mine from Waitress. The song is so sad, I find Jessie's voice so sooth and relaxing. I put the song on repeat and just listen to her voice.
Before I realize, I start crying again. I start thinking about that asshole Sean and how he used me, and tricked me. I decide to walk back to the theater but then realize I have no clue where it is. I decide to start wandering and just hoping I get to where I am going. I start walking and making turns that I pray are right, and crossing the street when I see cross walks. I didn't know what the address was for the theater, so it was no bother asking. I decide to turn airplane off, and call Pippa and just hope she isn't onstage.
"Hello?" I hear through the phone.
"Pippa?"
"This is Alysha, Pippa is onstage for Schuyler Sisters."
"Thank God Alysha. I had a date last night, and the guy cheated on me last night, and I had a breakdown this morning when I found out and I left and now I am lost. Please help."
"Sweetie, slow down. Where are you?"
"Um," I say as I look at the street signs. "(Insert street names here)"
"I'll be right there boo," she says before hanging up. Right when you think you're fine on your own, you get reminded you have others for a reason, and it's not so bad.
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i wrote a chapter to a cute janthony au that is going up as soon as this is published. the tittle is magnets!! go check it out :)