Money Can't Buy Everything

Chapter 10 Next Day

--Missy's POV---

BEEP!

BEEP!

BEEP!

I groan out in annoyance as I sat up in my bed, grabbing for my phone instantly. I'm not as out of it as I imagined I would be.. I'm surprised I even got to bed to be honest.. I worked all night and all day and I'm completely exhausted.. but somehow, even when I got home, letting my body collapse into my bed, completely melting into my mattress.. I still couldn't get to sleep.

I lay there just thinking about Derek and everything that he has done or even tried to do for me in the last day.. from thanking me while appreciating my opinion.. to supporting my passion for the play.. to trying to give me a ride or even defending me to my Ex.. it's the little things in life that mean the most to me.. I'm simple like that.

Those actions, which doesn't seem like much to some, to me means the world.. because not many people are willing to try to even spend that time with me, let alone for me.. so for him to do this is something completely unknown and alien like for myself but I'll enjoy it while it lasts because I don't think that he's going to last too much longer.. the men that try to come in my life, normally don't keep working or trying at all once they notice that I keep myself closed off for too long.. they eventually just give up and leave and go on to the next.. so I'm sure he'll be doing the same things sometimes soon, so I'll just enjoy this while I can.

How can I honestly just sit there and think about it all night, I really don't know.. when I wasn't thinking about his actions, all I could picture was beautiful blue eyes that just stared at me as if I was the most beautiful and interesting person in the world.. and we all know I'm not..

From his Atlantic blue eyes, to his caramel-colored hair, that kept drifting into his face, making me just want to push out of his face.. To not only help him, but to feel if it's as soft as it looks.

I do absolutely love how much taller he is than myself.. He's a beanstalk that I'd like to climb.. but I don't need to lead him on. I can't have a relationship with him because of my brother.. it hasn't worked out and it probably never will, so I'll just keep myself closed off so none of us can get hurt and like I said, he'll eventually move on.. Which honestly makes me sad because I have never had a connection with anyone, let alone the small connection that is just begging to grow within us.

The connections we share, even small ones, have shown us that we've already developed with each other, a deeper connection that's not just physical attraction but mental attraction as well.. So there's just the optimistic part of me hoping that he will stick around forever and I won't have to worry about losing someone amazing like him.. but the realistic and possibly pessimistic part of me.. you know, the part that has wrapped a shell around my poor little heart, that it's taken years to piece back together.. telling me that it's never really going to work because he will just find something better or new.

Yeah, maybe it's just me being pessimistic, but either way, it protects me and, in a way, him.. which is all that I want, because I don't like hurting anybody, especially him.. He seems so sweet and genuine that it would break my heart if I knew I even remotely hurt him.. so I'll just stick to myself and wait for time to pass on by, getting bored then moving on.

I get ready pretty easily after a quick shower and just throwing on whatever I need just to be able to make it over to the theater.. Mostly because I have my own costume I have to get into anyway, when I get there.. so it's not like I'm going to wear this for long.

I zoom on my motorcycle across town, weaving in and out of cars, because I'm running a little late, but that's a tradition at this point.

I push open the theater doors, letting myself in, as I see the room already collected with everyone waiting for the director. All eyes are on me at this point, as I walk across the room to join them.. but the only one that seems genuinely happy to see me is Sarah.. she has an ear-to-ear grin, that shows happiness, even up into her eyes.. I watched her scoot down the bench and patting the seat right beside her for me to join her, so I did.

"By the smile on your face, I'm assuming you had a wonderful night last night.. Celebrating the great performance, of course." I stated this to Sarah, pointing out the obvious to her as I noticed a blush cover her entire face.. showing me that my answer is correct before she even had a chance to answer.. I watched her head nod at me, exposing her grin that she couldn't even seem to contain at that moment.

"Yeah, we spent the whole night together.. it was really romantic, then topped off with a whole lot of fun.. completely invigorating to the point that I'm exhausted now because I didn't get much sleep at all.. But I still can't wait to see Josh today anyways." She says to me, catching my curiosity. "He's coming today?" I ask her bluntly as she giggles, then hushes me.

"You didn't know Derek and Josh are coming back to watch this again today? I guess it's their second day off and they want to spend it with us just because they enjoy the play so much." She says playfully, then punctuating her comment with a wink at me. This is before we heard a groaning from Drake who was sitting right behind me and I had no idea.

"Again? What is his problem? Can't he just leave you alone? If he is an issue for you at all Missy, just let me know and I'll make sure to kick him out, then keep them away." Drake states in protectiveness for me, but I just shake my head then responding, "He's not a problem at all.. I think he's really sweet and has been polite to me the entire time.. and hasn't even tried to ask for anything from me or even tried to push one thing.. I swear I'm not offended by him one bit.. and he is more than welcome to come and watch the show if that's why he wants to spend his afternoon doing.. who am I to tell him what he can or cannot do."

"He's not a good guy.. I saw him making out with another girl last night, outside of the theater, after we left to head in." Drake states to me as I roll my eyes.

"You left with me.. so how did you even see that if you were inside? Oh and next time that you decide to lie about somebody, how about you make sure that it's not the same lie that you've used for every single one of my ex's in the past." I declare to him, facing forward as the director enters the room so he can start this session off by giving some great pointers and compliments before we start getting ready for the play today.

After a much longer than expected motivational speech from my director, we are finally able to start preparing for the play this afternoon.. we are dressed in our costumes and just waiting for our makeup to get done.. I am the last to be taken care of, as she puts the glitter on my eyes and in a little bit of my hair while putting it up for me, so it doesn't get caught.. I soon heard from behind me. "So.... Missy? I inherited my grandmother's cabin in the woods and I was wondering if you'd maybe like to spend a weekend there with me?" Drake asks me as I let out another deep breath. How many times do I have to turn a guy down until they get the picture?

"Drake, you know I work every day of the week and I have my brother to help out as well.. So I wouldn't have any time for that.. Thank you though." I said, trying to cut this conversation off before it had really even started.. but of course he didn't take that for an answer.

"Come on Missy, you'll be fine. Your brother will be taking care of in the hospital and you could always take a weekend off." he almost demands of me as I spat back at him. " I'm not interested, Drake, how many times do I have to tell you that before you get the picture.. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just not interested."

He storms away not saying anything back to me before Sarah elbows me, stating. "I know someone you are interested in." I smirk but shake my head. " I'm sure he'll get bored and leave soon like the others, so I won't get used to him being around.. but I hope you and Josh workout"

"Me too actually.. I was just having a little fun with him but I'm really starting to find him interesting as well.. so we'll see how this pans out.. but either way he's a good lay." She states making me laugh outloud before she adds. " I really don't think you know what you're getting into when it comes to Derek.. You think he's leaving sometime soon, but by the determination in his eyes and how much he's already tried to get your attention.. I really don't think he's leaving anytime soon, so I think it's time to open up your heart and mind to giving somebody a legitimate chance.. If not, then you need to shut it down right now, before you hurt him.. because he is obviously interested and I can tell you are too.. but you need to take that barrier down around your heart at some point.. whether it's for him or for someone else, you need to do it. you can't keep yourself closed off forever just some advice from friend to friend."

I'm now thinking about everything that she has said because she's probably right, as much as I'd hate to admit that she's right out loud, but at least I know she is.

I can't keep myself closed off to protect my heart because, one way or another, somebody's gonna be able to wiggle their way in and it's not just going to be my brother in there anymore.. Anytime I've let anyone else in, I've gotten hurt from cheating, beating, anything you can think of has happened.. so it's easy enough for me to just cut ties and be alone.. But the loneliness is really starting to get to me, to the point that if I ever want a happy future, I'm going to have to take that risk and hopefully it'll work out in my favor.. If not, then I really don't know how much more heartbreak I can take.

I don't know.. it's a hard decision to make and it's something I can't make right this second. We'll see if he even sticks around.. if he decides to stick around long enough for me to make a decision.. then I probably will try to give him a chance, but that's IF he sticks around.. so we'll have to wait and see. Now on to the place to see if you really have decided to show up for a second time and if this will evolve into anything else, only time will tell and I have so much time it has not even funny let's hope somebody can fill it.