Money Can't Buy Everything

Chapter 23 What Just Happened?

---Missy's POV---

I walk down the sidewalk next to Sarah, as she babbles on about how amazing Josh is and how lucky we are to have met them and I couldn't agree more. I'm just not big on gossip, I like to keep my personal life well, personal. We get closer to the theater at a very comfortable pace until I'm caught completely offguard. Stopping me in my tracks at the drop of a dime. It's Drake, looking livid, something I have never seen in his eyes before. I have seen him mad and experiencing any other emotion you can think of around me since we have known each other for years.. but this is something that's new and very foreign. He looks me up and then down, before taking his phone out of his pocket to make a call as he walks away from the theater and us.

I glance over at Sarah and she looks like she is thinking the same thing as me. "That was strange, huh? Kinda creepy too." she asks me as I nod my head at her, still looking towards the area where he left. I don't know what it is about that moment, but that was an intense stare. I could feel the effects throughout my body from that one bit of eye contact and I'm still feeling it, making me more nervous then I ever thought I would be. "I have never seen him look at me like that before.. Maybe I shouldn't go in." I say nervously, starting to slow down my pace as Sarah shakes her head at me. "No, please Missy, please come with me. I can't do this without you.. you're the only reason I even started this theater passion."

I look at her and groan out as I reluctantly nod, while she pulls my arm that she has quickly wrapped hers around. She opens the door for us as I followed her into the building. I'm now not as excited about being inside, but we still enter all the same. We enter the side doors like usual, as all eyes are on us, or I should say me. They stare me down as Craig is the first to walk up to me. "Hey Missy, I'm sorry about the other day. I shouldn't have done that, like that." he says to me as I feel my eyebrows furrow before I spat back at him. "You shouldn't have done it at all."

He looks at me for a moment, thinking about what I just said as he responds, "Sure.. I'm sorry." I stare at him for a long second before stating, "Really? Because you don't sound sorry.. not even remotely.. so if this 'apology' is just to make you feel better about yourself, then ok.. I forgive you.. now please leave me alone." He gets a stoic look on his face as we hear the theater doors open again, gaining our attention and it's Drake. He looks at us for a moment before he walks right up to us and asks, "Missy, can I please talk to you for a moment.. alone." Sarah is the one to step forward in my defense replying. "No you shouldn't be alone with her ever again." He looks livid at her response that I just want to break the tension before it even starts.

"It's fine Sarah, thank you." I say this, catching everyone offguard, even myself. "OK, come on quickly." I say to him as he nods and leading me away to the backstage area where there won't be prying ears. Once he stops, he starts pacing around but not saying anything. "What did you need to say Drake?" I ask him, trying to give him a chance, even though every time I do that, he replies with something about himself. "I.. just have to apologize.. That wasn't me.. and Craig just thought it would be funny, but it obviously wasn't.. but I don't want to lose you.. you don't know what you mean to me." He says to me as I shake my head.

"For your information, that wasn't an apology.. but.. I don't want to lose you either.. you have been a friend to me for so many years that it would hurt to not have you around either.. I mean come on, you have been my partner for 5 years.. no 6 now.. I just want to be able to trust you to not take advantage of the situation like that again.. that wasn't ok and for the first time in 6 years, I was scared to be around you.. That hurt more than you would know." I say to him as he actually shows pain in his eyes as if what I said actually stuck. "You mean that? You don't want to lose me?" he asks as I nod before he adds. "I'm sorry for ever breaking your trust in me, that's not what I ever wanted, but I want to make it up to you anyway I can.. please." He asks me as I stare at him for a moment before saying, "We will see what happens and just take every step as it comes along.. just please don't push things with me either way and just respect my feelings." I say to him as he nods vigorously to me before he spreads his arms wide, in hopes to receive a hug. I smile and step closer before he quickly wraps his arms around me, hugging me tight.

"So I saw Doctor Douche was bothering you once again.." he says to me as I back away from him, rolling my eyes. "Drake don't talk about him like that please.. and he is not bothering me." I respond as we hear the door opening with the director entering. We can hear his daily greeting ringing through the place because he really knows how to project his voice. I walk away from Drake and I could feel that he is following me back to the main area where everyone is collected. Time to get this day started and at least this time around it was better than I had ever planned.. Hopefully, things can just get better from here on out.

I sit down next to Sarah as she looks at me, then Drake and, of course, back to me as I whispered. "He gave me a heartfelt apology. So I accepted it because he said nothing else bad is going to happen like before.. and I believe him." She looks at him suspiciously before he smiles and she nods at him. "If I see or hear otherwise, there is going to be problems." She replies as I smile because it nice to see her protectiveness for me.

The director starts his normal routine of discussion about the play and how to make things better while staying motivated, as he paces back and forth. I'm brought out of his speech by my phone ringing, gaining not just my attention but everyone's around me. I look around apologetically as I look at my screen and it's not a number that I know.. so I push the sides of my phone, sending the call to voicemail as the director starts up again. But before I can really start, my phone begins to ring again. I look seeing it's the same number so I send it to voicemail again. The director glares at me as he lets out a deep breath and opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted by my phone ringing again.. same number.

"I'm really sorry, but obviously whoever this is, isn't going to stop until I pick up." I reply as I hold up my phone for them to see, as I stand up and leaving the area to pick up the call. I plug up one ear with a finger before answering the call in the same area I was at talking with Drake just a moment ago. "Hello? Who is this?"I inquire as I hear in response. "Hello? Is this Missy Richards?"

"Yes, now who may I ask is calling?" I inquired once more before he replies. "Hello Miss Richards. My name is Officer John Verizon. I'm calling you to make sure you were alive and well." I'm completely confused about this call so I quickly retorted. "Why wouldn't I be alive?"

"Well, I'm sorry to be the barer of bad news, but your apartment went up in flames.. we just had to make sure you were alright.. But we are here now and we would appreciate it if you could meet us here at your place, so we can get more information as we are trying to figure out how all this started.. Please and thank you." He informs me as I nod to myself, processing all of this before saying. "Of course I'll be there soon." I reply, hanging up the call as I burst out from the back stage, getting everyone's attention without even meaning to.. but I'm sure by the look apparent upon my face, they can probably tell something is wrong. I quickly grab my bag that's next to Sarah as her and Drake's faces are wondering what's going on.

"I'm so sorry but I have to go, that call was from the police, my place is on fire.. f*#k I don't have a vehicle." I say to no one in particular as Drake quickly stands up saying, "let me make things up to you and help you out. I'll give you a ride." He says to me and I have no time to negotiate or figure something else out, so I just nod at him as he quickly grabs his bag while we leave the theater in a haste.. He has given me rides home before and even studied our moves there, so I know he knows where I live since that's the only place I have lived as an adult. So now the next step of this emotionally confusing day, is to figure out what the hell is going on.