Hello, chapter four - make sure you're sitting comfortably, folks, because this one's gonna be a long one! Yeah, it's chapters like this where I regret my decision to go 'Four episodes should equal one chapter, that'll work!' But hey, hopefully I've managed to come up with a good chapter four for you all and I really hope you like it as I've been looking at it for too long to be able to know for sure any more but, I was kinda happy with how it turned out! Just for the record, part of the reason I started this fic was after I read this Sarah Dessen quote '2 A.M. You know. The person you can call at two a.m. and, no matter what, you can count on them. Even if they're asleep or it's cold or you need to be bailed out of jail…they'll come for you. It's like the highest level of friendship.' - and I thought 'I bet that's Bobby and Jessica' and I think perhaps this chapter is the one where that quote's influence came through the most, but I'll let you be the judges :)

rose-sunrise: Thank you for caring and taking the time out to care and write reviews. When I was sitting staring at this fic at midnight one night trying to work out what on earth I was doing with it and why, that's the time when I most appreciated you! hehe As for Derek and the lobster, you shall have to wait and see what becomes of that story, but I hope you enjoy reading the other stories Bobby has to tell you in the meantime ;)

NessySchu: So glad you enjoyed the last chapter - Kyle almost wasn't going to put in an appearance in this one but he snuck in there thanks to you so I hope you like his scene and I hope you enjoy reading this chapter :)

Ok, so, after that long-winded build-up to an already long chapter - please do read, please please do enjoy and if you want to leave a review, that's nice too, but without futher ado, here are 'The Ones We Left In Other People's Stories'

'We're all in the business of stories, you know? It's just that we don't all realise it. I'm making a cameo in your story right now. Your favourite song – that's a story. The way you wear your hair, the things you put on your dresser. Your whole life. And in my story, I'm front and centre. In your story I'm just a chorus boy. As long as I'm comfortable with the story I'm writing for myself, then I'm comfortable being in the world. The problem starts when you begin doubting your own story. And trust me, when you do that? You need some pretty fucking good co-stars to pull you out of it.' Bobby dipped his head to meet her eyes. 'Sometimes the chorus boy saves the day, right?' He smiled uncharacteristically shyly. 'Look, it's your story, so you get to choose; do you get back up and turn the page, or do you close the book right here and never know for sure how the story's meant to go from here?'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Whatcha thinking?' Jessica whispered into the semi-darkness of Bobby's bedroom. She wasn't sure how long they'd been there, lying top-to-tail on Bobby's bed, staring at the ceiling and enjoying the comfortable silence as it settled in around them. Sometimes they could go hours in each other's company without even talking; Bobby with his phone in hand and her watching something mindless on TV, the two of them both looking through scripts or memorizing songs. There was just something nice about existing together, side by side. Between Jessica returning to Heaven on Earth and Bobby starting to pick up shifts at the bar, it was something they hadn't had much time for recently, making time for each other at all was hard enough.

As the silence stretched on, Jessica almost wondered if Bobby had fallen asleep; there was always something strangely magical about Bobby sleeping. To see someone who was a source of such constant snap and spark and movement suddenly still, curled up and peaceful – it was strangely mesmerizing, not least because it was so rare that Bobby allowed himself to be seen that way. Bobby looked like a kitten when he slept, something she teased him about frequently; 'Aw, you're so cute' being met with a 'Shut up, Jess, I've an image to protect'. Jessica glanced over at him then, debating crawling up to his end of the bed to check if he really was sleeping, but at that moment he let out a heavy sigh, turning his head slightly on the pillow, just enough for Jessica to catch the reflection of the city lights in his eyes.
'The number of hours I've spent in this bed can't be healthy,' he murmured after a beat and Jessica's lips curved up briefly into a sad smile.
'You always get back up though,' she reminded him gently.
'Eventually,' Bobby said. Jessica propped herself up on her elbow and watched him then. The lights of New York cast strange shadows across the room, but she could still clearly make out the way Bobby's eyes were glinting in the semi-darkness. Distant, faraway. Going to a place that Bobby didn't usually like to dwell. 'I saw him, you know. Last week. Coming out the stage door, signing autographs, getting on with his life.'
'What were you even doing there?' Jessica asked softly.
'What do you think?'
'Oh Bobby.'

Slowly, Jessica crawled up the bed and lay her head next to Bobby's on the pillow. He turned his head to meet her gaze as she curled close to his side. 'You shouldn't care what he's doing anymore, Bobby,' she whispered, wrapping an arm around his waist and studying his face.
'But I do,' he whispered back. She gave him a squeeze. 'You think it'll ever stop being there? I mean, do you think I'll just wake up and be like; there's a part of my memory missing I think, but I'm cool with that, ok let's go.' Jessica gave him a lopsided smile.
'Probably not,' she admitted and Bobby flashed her a similarly lopsided smile back.
'Yeah. Didn't think so.' He turned his eyes back up to the ceiling and blew out a breath. 'I can go weeks without it even crossing my mind, you know? But then I'll take a step back and look at my life and...I question it. What if he was right, what if-'
'Don't even.' Jessica pushed herself up to look Bobby in the eye. 'People are drawn to you, not repelled. People are always drawn to you, Bobby. And that's something special. Not many people have that. When we were working together, you were the only chorus boy who ever got asked for pictures at the stage door.'
'By like...two people, in the whole time we were there!'
'Two more than any of the other boys.'
'One less than you,' Bobby shot back with a small grin and Jessica couldn't help but laugh, flopping back down onto the pillow.
'The woman who thought I was Donna doesn't count, Bobby.'
'Oh I know,' Bobby agreed quickly. 'I mean, that woman was an idiot; you're way more beautiful than Donna,' he added with a sly smile, kissing Jessica's forehead then resting his head against hers. If Jessica could've pulled him any closer she would've.

The two of them let the silence fall back around them, their minds wandering, retracing old memories in the shifting light. Jessica closed her eyes a moment, suddenly feeling a weight of tiredness mingling in with the contentedness she felt. The sound of Bobby's heartbeat was just loud enough for her to hear and she wondered if there was anything in the world more reassuring than the sound of a best friend's heartbeat. Even, steady. Close. She almost thought of asking Bobby if he felt the same way, because if she could give him even a fraction of the reassurance his mere presence always gave her, then she knew he would be ok. But then she glanced over and studied his face and she knew without asking. Bobby didn't often let his guard slip, but when he did it was almost always in the dark, whispering secrets to her across the pillow. 'Talk to me about something mundane, Jess. I need to switch my brain off for a while and say unforgivable things about people we know.' Jessica smiles slightly at Bobby's request. His way of distracting himself or just his way of healing? She couldn't be sure. What she did know was that Bobby loved words; he loved the way that emphasis changed meaning, the way one sentence could spark a story, the way one word, well-chosen, could mean the world to the person you said it to.
'Ok. So, what, you want me to talk to you about Ivy? You really want to open that can of worms tonight?'
'No. I can't say unforgiveable things about Ivy right now. After getting bumped for a star? That really would be unforgiveable,' Bobby sighed, his brown eyes unusually soft and sympathetic. Jessica smiled and turned her gaze back up to the ceiling. 'Talk to me about Dennis. I haven't seen him in a while. Plus, I know he always forgives me anyway.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Hi, Tom. This is Sam. You know, Ivy's friend? You called me earlier and left a message? Yeah. Well, uh...if you want the honest answer to your question; she's not doing so good. But you know, I don't think she really blames you. A few of us are going for drinks after her first night back at Heaven on Earth. You should come, talk to her. She can use all the friends she can get right now, you know? Anyway, just call me back when you get this and I'll let you know where we're meeting up.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Bobby wiped down the bar, singing to himself and collecting glasses as he went. He hated the afternoon shifts (hardly anyone ever ordered cocktails in the afternoons, and mixing them was his speciality), but he hated not having his evenings free even more and, with his rent swallowing what little money he did have whole, he knew he had to take what he could get. At least they always let him pick up whatever shifts were going when he needed the work – and he knew all the other regular bartenders well enough to be able to get away with running out on them at the drop of a hat. Bobby sighed and threw the cloth to one side, getting the bar's only current customer a refill before returning to his post at the corner of the bar, slumping slightly across it and resting his chin on his hand.

When the door opened a few minutes later, Bobby looked up with disinterest, expecting another miserable-looking New Yorker in a crumpled suit, come to sit and sullenly stare into a drink for a few hours. But, to his surprise, a much brighter and familiar face appeared, beaming and clearly excited.
'Iowa!' he exclaimed, his shriek startling his lone customer so much that he spilt some of his drink down himself. Not that Bobby himself made any move to actually look more alert, choosing instead to simply grin and waggle his eyebrows in Karen's direction.
'Hi Bobby,' Karen smiled back at him, half-skipping over to the bar and climbing up onto a barstool. 'You want to hear something exciting?' she asked as she dumped her bags on the adjacent stool before turning her eyes back to meet Bobby's sceptical gaze.
'Have you seen this place?' he retorted. 'This better be good, Iowa, coz I can actually feel something dying inside of me the longer I'm in here.' Karen gave him a giddy grin.
'Guess who just booked a national commercial?!' she burst out. Bobby narrowed his eyes.
'Shut up.'
'It's for orange juice,' Karen ploughed on and Bobby let out one of his cackles, pushing himself up off the bar and giving her a double high-five.
'Well done, Iowa! You know, you might actually make it in this town yet,' he grinned and Karen couldn't help but feel a glow come over her from his approval; she always felt like Bobby knew what he was talking about more than anyone else she knew, even the most experienced of people. Bobby seemed to make it his business to know things, and to have that information stored in his head for a time at which it might become useful to him or to someone he cared about. And thanks to all that knowledge he had become something of an expert on all the industry, a connoisseur even, making him extremely hard to impress. 'So, have you see the script yet? How much am I going to be able to mock you? A little bit or a lot?' Karen swotted at Bobby and he laughed brightly, dodging out of her way.
'You'll mock me either way so what's it matter?' she smiled back and Bobby grinned unashamedly at her, leaning back on the bar.
'So, spill; how come I'm getting this message in person – your other friends run out on you?'
'I was in the area. And...actually, I just really wanted to tell you. I like talking to you; even when you're giving me a hard time you make me laugh.' Karen shrugged. 'Besides, I'm really grateful, you know? I know I was pretty defensive at first, about everything, but...you and Jess have taught me a lot. And I know you didn't want to at first but...once you made up your mind you didn't hold back and...I appreciate it.' She looked up into Bobby's face and for a moment she caught him unguarded; no sassy remark on his tongue, no glint in his eye, he was just looking at her with a disbelieving smile. 'You're a nightmare but...as outrageous as you are? You can be pretty sweet.'
'Outrageous? I'm fan-tastic,' Bobby said in a low voice, that edge of attitude creeping back in as he recovered himself. Karen rolled her eyes.
'I should've known you'd say that.' Bobby laughed and Karen shook her head, sighing her most put-upon sigh but making no effort to hide the warmth in her eyes as she looked at him. 'Anyway; I wanted you to know. It's weird but I actually wanted to tell you more than I wanted to tell anyone...even Dev. I just...I knew you'd get it.'
'That's the business, Iowa. Boyfriends come and go, but shows are family. Especially the chorus.' Bobby suspected she'd caught his moment of surprise. But he found it hard to mind too much. Sure, it was fun being fierce, but every now and again it was nice to be known simply as...a good person. Someone that someone else would actually want to tell things to. He felt an absurd stab of pride at that; someone other than Jessica actually wanted to talk to him, wanted to spend time with him just because of who he was. As good as he was at deflecting compliments, that didn't mean he didn't take them in. It didn't mean that they didn't mean the world to him. It was easy for people to think he was all ego, but when people realised that that was all just part of his show and actually stopped to appreciate him for something more than his attitude, it would always be remembered.

'Hey, Chorus Boy!' a voice drifted across the near-empty bar and Bobby sighed theatrically, rolling his eyes at Karen and waiting for the coming lecture. 'You're not paid to talk to your friends. Come on, do something useful with yourself.' The man who had spoken was Ben; not technically Bobby's boss, but always up for giving him a playful lecture in front of his friends. Bobby flicked his hair out of his face and refused to acknowledge his arrival.
'I'm paid to be eye-candy, Ben. You're paid for the dirty work,' he replied. Ben chuckled and shook his head, grabbing a clipboard from behind the bar before disappearing once more into the back room. 'God, it's like he doesn't even realise how blessed he is to have me.'
'I'm pretty sure this whole city is blessed to have you, Bobby,' Karen replied.

.0o0o0o0o0.

'You wanna see my new headshots? They've already been made illegal in five different states. See, in this one, I'm smiling all innocent, but then in these three – Jess, stop mocking me over my shoulder I can totally see you – I look like the fiercest bitch to ever walk the earth. The photographer propositioned me after. And I'm pretty sure he was straight. Stop laughing, this is art, people. Please. You can all just go home anyway, basically, coz with these things I'm going to be getting every part in this town for the next three years. At least. Unless they need the whole straight-off-the-turnip-truck look, coz then they're totally calling you Iowa-OW! Really, Jess? The kicking thing again? There's an actual dent in my shin just from knowing you. Seriously.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'BOBBY!' The scattered group of autograph-hunters looked up, startled, as a small, pony-tailed chorus girl sprang from the stage door, grinning as she sprinted past them.
'Hey,' her friend called back, pushing himself up, boredom falling away and a grin spreading across his face as the girl leapt towards him, thudding into him and quickly wrapping her arms around his neck. He caught her with ease, lifting her up as their friends came up behind them. 'God you weigh a tonne,' he complained, though he made no move to break the hug.

Dennis couldn't help but laugh as Bobby and Jessica continued to make a spectacle of themselves, and he glanced over to Ivy, expecting to share a fond smirk with her. But Ivy was standing, arms folded, staring off into middle-distance, and Dennis let out a sigh. She hadn't been able to muster any enthusiasm for anything all day, not even when Melissa had turned up to work with homemade brownies for the whole cast (Melissa's baking was the only thing which kept the Heaven on Earth ensemble going some days.)
'I can't believe you haven't called me, you big lump! What have you been doing?!' Jessica was demanding of Bobby as he finally set her back down on the ground.
'What can I say, I'm in demand,' he shrugged, letting Jessica wind her arms around his waist as he flashed a quick smile at Dennis. And that was when his eyes fell on Ivy; Dennis could see the concern there immediately. Ivy had picked herself back up from so many knocks, but this blow was proving the heaviest to date and they could all sense she was struggling. Something which frustrated Ivy as much as the setback did; she hated not being able to cope. 'Hey Ivy,' Bobby ventured, his voice unusually soft. Jessica looked over at Ivy then, her wide eyes worried and caring. Ivy mustered a half-smile which didn't convince any of them.
'Hey Bobby,' she sighed. They all watched her a moment before slowly turning to look at each other, all of them at a loss.
'So, drinks?' Bobby tried and Jessica grabbed on to the lifeline immediately.
'Absolutely,' she linked her arm through Bobby's and nodded in the direction of the bar they had arranged to meet Sam at after the show. 'Now, you promised me a story! What happened with the guy? What happened with the song? What happened with San Francisco?'
'The guy's gone...but that's a whole other story. Right now? Right now it's all about San Francisco.'

As they walked into the bar, Dennis had to suppress as smirk when Bobby and Jessica stood on tiptoes, dropping behind him and Ivy, making frantic 'not good' mimes over the top of her head, attempting to give Sam an early warning about their friend's mood. Sam, meanwhile, had a big, hopeful grin already plastered on his face as he met them halfway.
'I got you a drink,' he told Ivy warmly, determinedly putting an arm around her shoulders and steering her towards a table where five beers were set out. As Ivy moved out of ear shot, Dennis turned back to look at Bobby and Jessica with a grin.
'Five people walk into a bar...how many will be left at the table by the end of the night?' he sighed with a roll of his eyes and Jessica laughed.
'Oh shush, give it a chance,' she said, giving him a small shove in the back. Bobby flicked a sceptical glance in Ivy's direction before looking back to Jessica.
'I don't know...she seems about ready for a fight.'
'Then we're going to have to work extra-hard to make sure you keep your mouth shut,' Jessica told him and Bobby pulled a face.
'No fair, why do you just assume it'll be my fault if something happens?!' he whined and Dennis chuckled.
'Come on you two; heads up, big smiles. We've got through tougher shows than this,' he tried hopefully as they made their way over to join Sam and Ivy. Bobby – arms folded, eyes dark – shot him a disbelieving look.
'Wow. You really are from a Disney movie, Bambi,' he said, but Dennis merely shot him a smile, knowing better than to take Bobby's attitude seriously; he could just see the corners of the other man's lips twitching up.

Bobby sat down first, hardly blinking when Jessica sat down on his lap, instinctively wrapping one arm around her before grabbing one of the beers and taking a sip. The two of them – as Dennis understood it – hadn't seen or spoken to each other for three whole days, which for them was practically a lifetime, but they fell back into routine as though they'd never spent a second away. Dennis hadn't been able to understand their friendship at all at first. From the moment he'd met Jessica he'd adored her; she was the dictionary definition of loveable, up there with puppies and kittens and Julie Andrews. She put out a sunny sort of energy into the world, without really realising it, and that warmth made you want to be around her. She was the sort of nice that Dennis was used to. But Bobby...Dennis remembered thinking he was prickly. Fine to be around, fun to be around even. But a good fit to be so suddenly joined at the hip with sweet, bubbly Jessica? Dennis hadn't quite been able to make sense of it. Now, watching the two of them, he realised that they were much better matched than he had given them credit for; Jessica softened Bobby's cutting edges and Bobby protected Jessica's soft heart. And of course, as well as all the other, superficial ways they matched, there was an innate goodness in both of them, even if they expressed it differently.

They were two drinks in when the peace of their evening was interrupted. All the goodness in the world was sometimes not enough to stop Bobby's mouth, Dennis thought with a smirk, and he couldn't say he was entirely surprised when that mouth got him into trouble, causing Ivy to make an abrupt exit whilst Jessica reprimanded the weakly protesting Bobby.
'You are in so much trouble!'
'What? What did I do? Are we not even allowed to say her name now?!' Dennis cast Bobby a sympathetic smile. 'I'm not apologising for knowing stuff,' Bobby was pouting, and Jessica stopped hitting him to share a look with Dennis.
'What are we going to do with him?' she sighed.
'You've been asking me that every day since you met him,' Dennis beamed back, taking a swig of his beer. 'You still keep him around though.'
'Guys, I'm still sitting right here,' Bobby pointed out dryly and Dennis gave him a wink, his eyes glittering affectionately.
'Don't encourage him,' Jessica put in with a sly grin, letting out a shriek of protest as Bobby tried to push her off his lap.

It was late when the group disbanded. Dennis departed first, with a yawn and Bobby calling after him that he was a weakling. But it wasn't long before the others were following him out into the night. Jessica was tired too, and Bobby rarely let her walk home alone, especially not when she was barely able to keep her eyes open. It was one of the unspoken rules of their friendship, and as they stepped out into the street that night, Jessica could feel the fuzziest glow of gratitude, creeping up beneath the buzz of the alcohol in her system. She glanced up at Bobby, about to put a least a fraction of that gratitude into a gesture; link her arm through his and lean her weight against him. But Bobby was frowning slightly as he shrugged on his jacket and it took Jessica by surprise.
'You ok, Chorus Boy?' she asked and Bobby bit his lip.
'Er...yeah...I um...I think I left my phone behind though. Wait for me whilst I get it?' Jessica nodded her agreement, though she couldn't help furrowing her brow. Bobby's phone was her only rival for his total affection; he was never without it and he never left it anywhere. The only thing that stopped Jessica from feeling a pang of jealousy every time he looked at it was the fact that part of his attachment to it was due to it holding her number and keeping her never more than a speed-dial away from him. Still, unusual as it was, Jessica was too tired to question Bobby's behaviour and she let him kiss her forehead before turning to head back inside.

Tom looked up in surprise when he noticed Bobby slipping back in through the door, coming over to him with an air of uncertainty that wasn't like the Bobby who Tom had come to know. As he approached the table, Tom tilted his head to one side and smiled.
'Back already? You've not come to throw champagne on me I hope,' he sighed tiredly, arching an eyebrow in Bobby's direction.
'Seriously; one time!' Bobby shot back, an almost-smile lighting his eyes briefly, and Tom chuckled, nodding before looking back down into the dregs of his drink, lifting it to his lips and finishing it off with a wince. He was aware of Bobby watching him still and slowly he looked back up at him in questioning as Bobby leant his weight on the chair-back in front of him, looking down. 'Listen...can I give you some advice? About Ivy?' Tom raised his eyebrows in surprise; Bobby asking permission to do anything was an event in itself.
'Sure,' he agreed slowly, curious. He'd never really figured Bobby to care that much for Ivy, considering him more Jessica's best friend and Ivy's friend-by-association. But there was something about the look in Bobby's eyes which suggested he'd been wrong about that.
'Don't cave.' Tom frowned. 'The minute you stop pushing her? That's when she decides everything sucks. And that's when she loses it for real.' Bobby looked down, giving a small shrug. 'You're a good person, Tom. I get that. You're nice, you don't want to upset anybody. But the friend who isn't afraid to piss you off? They get forgiven way more easily than the coward who caves and runs away when you screen a few calls. Trust me.' For a moment Tom stared at Bobby, thoughtful, mulling over his words. There was a sincerity and a determination about the way he was looking back at him that made Tom give more consideration to them than he might have done ordinarily. Anyone offering advice to him about how to handle Ivy was – frankly – ridiculous, or at least, that's what he had thought. But Bobby's conviction suggested something more was going on here; everyone has a story, right? Tom knew he was more guilty than most of forgetting that; of judging people on their actions without questioning what might have caused them. So he nodded slowly, and met Bobby's gaze.
'Thank you, Bobby. I promise you I will bear it in mind.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Sometimes it's the guy with six lines in a script who actually saves the day. Just think about it – maybe you could drift into someone else's story some day and transform the whole thing. Maybe you're someone else's plot point. Big reveal. Curtain-raiser. Act-opener.' Jessica gave the bed covers another tug, but this time, though he still held onto them tightly, Bobby didn't swear at her, just let her pull him a little way down the bed. She took that as a good sign. 'If you don't leave the bed, and you don't go out the door...who's that helping exactly? How are you proving anyone wrong about you if you stay in your bed all day swearing at me and telling me to go home? See. You know I'm right.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Jessica paced her dressing room, biting her nails and checking her phone. She'd been stuck in quick-change when Ivy had run out, but word spread quickly backstage and she'd hardly been able to focus for the rest of the first act. The whole company had been sent into something of a panic, and it was obvious to all of them that the audience weren't impressed, causing a strangely tense atmosphere to settle over everyone. Her first instinct had been to run right out herself, to track Ivy down and talk to her, make sure she was ok; it was so unlike Ivy to let any of her personal stresses show onstage, and everyone agreed she'd seemed drunk, so Jessica couldn't help but be worried for her friend. But at the same time, she knew that what Ivy had done was not going to be overlooked. You couldn't be allowed to damage the show's reputation (not even if you're the show's composer's best friend) and Jessica knew she couldn't risk doing anything to put her own job in danger. After all; it was the sort of drama which would spread round town in minutes, and could end a career in the space of a day. So she'd stayed put, worrying and feeling helpless. She groaned and flopped down into the nearest chair. And maybe a small part of her felt responsible, as though she were a bad friend for not managing to prevent this.

'Hey, I got your SOS. What's wrong?' Jessica's head snapped up at the sound of that voice. It had taken Bobby less than ten minutes to get from his friend Zak's birthday drinks to her Heaven on Earth dressing room, abandoning a night of fun with old classmates for a vague text, without even asking for much in the way of explanation. It was something which made a rush of warmth come over Jessica the second she laid eyes on him; it was in moments like this when she loved him more than ever. She got up from her seat to come over to him and she knew that even through her smile of greeting, Bobby was capable of reading the concern which was etched on her face. 'You said something about Ivy, right?' Jessica nodded.
'It's a mess, Bobby. She lost it tonight. And I mean...lost it.'
'How bad was it?' Bobby asked, his eyebrows knitting together in a concerned frown. Jessica pulled a face, wrapping her arms around herself and widening her eyes for emphasis.
'Bad.' She looked up into Bobby's face, her bright eyes meeting his dark ones as she spoke to him, communicating much more than she actually said out loud. 'She's really been pushed to the limit by all the Marilyn stuff, you know? I mean...honestly? She's a mess. Like...smiley-face pancakes bad, Bobby.' It had been their code for crisis since Bobby's own near-breakdown; Jessica had refused to go back to her own place until she'd finally coaxed Bobby out of the door, choosing instead to stick around, dragging him out from under his bed covers and making him smiley-face pancakes to eat as they watched bad movies together all day, making snide comments about the bad plots and worse acting until Bobby couldn't resist joining in and smiling with her. The mere mention of the memory jolted Bobby a little and he sagged slightly, leaning his weight against the doorframe.
'Where is she now?'
'Gone. She ran out. Mid-show.' Bobby raised his eyebrows.
'What happened exactly?'
'Hard to say. I mean, she was down, before the show. I could tell she was upset. But I didn't...she wasn't out of it or anything. But she was late out the dressing room. They reckon she'd been drinking. I don't know, I guess it could have been those pills her doctor has her on...Sam says she's on about five different medications now. Oh God, should I have said something? I didn't want to push her too hard, you know? But I...I knew she wasn't right. And now she's out of it and no-one knows where she is and...am I a bad friend, Bobby? Should I have talked to her more? Done something? I just...I don't...' Jessica trailed off, looking up anxiously at Bobby. His expression softened in an instant and he shushed her gently, wrapping his arms around her in a firm hug.
'Hey, come on, Jess. You're not a bad friend. And I should know, ok?' Jessica smiled quietly into his shirt, not wanting to break out of his tight hug just yet. 'Just look at me; I'm still stood here, aren't I? And that's thanks to you,' Bobby murmured into her hair. 'You called Tom and Sam, right?' he added and Jessica nodded again.
'Dennis called Sam. I think stage management called Tom. They both went looking for her.'
'Well then, Ivy will be fine. She probably just needs to be alone for a while.'
'I didn't leave you alone.'
'No. You lay on my bed with me. Then stole the covers. Then dragged me off the mattress. Then made me eat pancakes with you. Then you pushed me out the door. You're insane.' Jessica leant her head back to look up at Bobby with a small smile.
'You loved every minute.' Bobby smiled back.
'Shut up.' Jessica chuckled softly and tucked her head back under his chin. 'Ivy will be fine, Jess. But I'll make a few calls to people if it'll make you feel better.' Jessica squeezed Bobby as tightly as she could for that, and he could feel the curve of her smile through his shirt, she was pressed so close to his chest.
'Don't ever let anyone tell you you're not perfect, Chorus Boy,' she murmured.
'Back atcha, Blondie. Now let me go, you're crushing my ribs,' Bobby replied with a chuckle. Jessica just squeezed him harder. 'God, I live for this drama.'

As soon as the curtain came down on act two, Jessica was already dashing back in the direction of her dressing room. Her faith in Bobby's network of gossips was immense; wherever Ivy had ended up, Bobby would know someone who would know someone who would know what sort of a state she was in. And, sure enough, as she entered her dressing room, she found Bobby sitting there, gazing down at his phone, tapping his foot impatiently as he flicked a wickedly smug gaze in her direction.
'You found her?' Jessica asked hopefully and Bobby rolled his eyes.
'God, have a little faith, course I found her,' he shot back and Jessica folded her arms, giving him as stern a look as she could muster. 'She's fine. Safe and well. And you will not believe who she's with,' Bobby grinned.
'Who?'
'Karen.'
'Karen?! Shut up. Why would Ivy spend time with Iowa right now, she hates her!'
'Would I lie to you?' Bobby's eyes sparkled and Jessica had to laugh, sitting herself down on his lap with a sigh. Yes, Bobby would lie to her actually. But not about something like this.
'How come?' she asked and Bobby shrugged.
'Didn't ask. I just got this text from Karen and she said she'd given Ivy money for booze and asked me if she'd done the right thing or not.'
'And what did you say?'
'That she was going hell,' Bobby smirked, his tongue poking out slightly from the corner of his mouth as he widened his eyes for dramatic effect. Jessica laughed and smacked him on the arm, shaking her head.
'You're incorrigible.'
'But you love me.'
'I do.' Jessica looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. 'Because you never stop surprising me,' she added with a smile. Bobby glanced up from his phone then, meeting her sparkly blue eyes and staring deep into them.
'Yeah, well. Zak's birthday was lame anyway. I swear he only befriends straight guys just to piss me off.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Wow. So now, not only do I have an actual job in a musical, it's also a musical with a title. And a movie star. You know, I might not be cursed after all. I vote we test the theory. Shots. Karaoke. And flirting with the hottie in the v-neck over there. If that doesn't push my luck I don't know what will. Oh shut up, Jess, finders keepers doesn't apply when he's clearly not straight. You so need to get your eyes tested already. Although, full marks for taste.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Jimmy looked up as he heard Kyle let out a noise of disgust from the other end of the bar. His friend was staring down at something on his phone, shaking his head, his usually open face scrunched up into a frown.
'What's got you all pouty all of a sudden?' Jimmy asked, chucking down the cloth he'd been wiping the bar with and coming to peer over Kyle's shoulder. Kyle flicked a glance up at him, rolling his eyes and quickly putting his phone down.
'It's nothing. Just reading online about that Houston and Levitt thing,' he dismissed, grabbing some empty glasses on the bar, suddenly fascinated with completing the clean-up of the bar.
'Why so secretive all of a sudden? One minute you want me to be interested, then when I am you start whining at me,' Jimmy frowned and Kyle paused a moment, sighing heavily before turning to face him.
'You want to know why I'm secretive? It's because lately, everything I say, you take the wrong way. Then you usually insult me, make some comment about something I love and then run off to go and get drunk with a bunch of people who you call your friends but, as far as I can see? All they do is get you into situations I spend the rest of my time trying to get you out of. You've been hell to live with recently, you know that? And the worst part is, I don't think you even care how much I've been running round after you.' Kyle's frustration was obvious, but still he didn't raise his voice. Kyle never shouted at Jimmy, no matter what. He'd known him too long to put him through that, even when he was at his worst. Bad memories. Jimmy appreciated it more than he ever let on – because if he let on then there was a chance that Kyle might realise exactly how much he really was doing for Jimmy and decide that actually he didn't deserve it at all. But seeing his friend clearly so angry, he wanted badly to make it right. He just didn't know how. He was so often at a loss as to how to make things right. So he just stared at Kyle plaintively, watching his friend's blue eyes search his face, amazed to see pure tiredness in them rather than actual disappointment. 'This new musical is something I'm looking forward to. I'm excited about it. I'm interested in it. And given how you've been acting lately? I think it's maybe for the best I don't let it be associated with you in any way. I don't want it to be just another interest of mine that's up for being mocked when you get pissed off with me.'

Anyone else and Jimmy would've let them storm off to sulk. But this was Kyle; the only person in his life he'd ever really managed to stand by, the only person in his life whose opinion of him actually mattered. So as Kyle headed off into the back room, Jimmy followed him, and Kyle glanced back over his shoulder at him, attempting to glare at him but failing completely, falling instead into a resigned sigh. 'Look, it's not like it even matters anyway now, because they're spoiling the show all by themselves.'
'What do you mean?' Jimmy frowned.
'They're casting a star. Rebecca Duvall?'
'Never heard of her.'
'That's because you get drunk and high with a bunch of morons instead of coming to the movies with me,' Kyle shot back, his eyes strangely twinkly and playful rather than angry. 'I hate her anyway. And she's completely wrong for the part. But that's how Broadway works these days; theatre's not about art any more, it's about celebrity. Musicals from movies and back catalogues, movie stars trying to sing...I just love the shows, but they all get lost in the blur of their own PR these days.' Kyle shrugged then, glancing up at Jimmy with a sad smile. 'It's stupid that I care. I know it's stupid. But still. I hate when I see good projects have to fight so hard to even make it to previews.' Jimmy couldn't help but smile at that.
'Well if it bothers you so much, then why are you always on at me to work on our show? It was never going to make it anyway – and if Broadway's going to hell as well...'
'I still care about our show because it's ours. And because it's our way into that world. I still have faith in the theatre, Jimmy. Just because it's tough, it doesn't mean it's gone to hell.' Kyle smiled shyly, looking down, his hair falling in his eyes. 'I believe in the theatre. That's the whole point of the theatre, Jimmy. It makes you believe in things. Takes you out of your own life and into something...full of magic and hope. I mean; don't you think it's amazing how every poster you see on every street corner represents a dream someone had one time? A tune some guy had in his head, a lyric, a character. And then those dreams become something. And suddenly they're fuelling other people's dreams. And it all keeps spinning; dream after dream. Even the ones that end in disaster...they've probably inspired somebody somewhere. And so the theatre goes on, more dreams become shows every year on Broadway.'
'Like yours you mean?'
'Like ours, Jimmy,' Kyle corrected gently, looking back up to meet Jimmy's gaze. 'I've got faith in the theatre,ok? And, hey, I've heard your songs. You're talented, Jimmy. The whole of Broadway could down in flames, but I'd still know we were going to make it, coz I've got faith in you.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'So Jess is running down the street with one shoe on, Tristan is screaming at her out the window, Dennis is totally lost, hasn't got a clue what's just happened, and I'm stuck holding this beat-up umbrella, getting soaked, might I add, and I just cannot stop laughing. I mean; I was uncontrollable, at that point. I was laughing so hard no actual sound was coming out. It was insane. I swear it was the funniest thing. The best part was, we actually got invited for drinks with him after. And there were all these angry fangirls standing across the street taking photos on their phones and bitching about us coz we nearly got their idol run over and I broke his fucking umbrella. I was so drunk by that point though that I just posed for the camera. I mean for real; there is a picture out there somewhere on the internet of me and Jess doing a full-on tango behind his back. It's like my one big claim to fame.' Bobby let out another loud laugh before picking up his drink again and taking a sip. 'So anyway – where were we? Oh I remember; Rebecca Duvall. I bet you ten dollars she doesn't even show.' He rolled his eyes. 'Ivy should count herself lucky she got bumped. This ship is gonna sink before we even reach previews-JESSICA! Don't hit me. It's not any better than the kicking thing. God. Why was Timberlake so nice to you, you're a freaking psycho.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'So, have you guys ever done this before?' Jessica and Bobby turned to see Karen flopping down into seat beside them. They both exchanged a look before Bobby leant close to Jessica, his dark eyes bright with mischief.
'Iowa's finally lost it,' he stage-whispered and Karen shot him a half-hearted glare as Jessica stifled a giggle. 'So what, do you want my resume, you wanna call my agent for details or...did you actually mean something else?' Bobby asked jokingly, leaning back in his seat.
'I meant the movie star thing,' Karen clarified, pulling a face. Bobby simply tilted his head to one side, making a great show of considering the question.
'I stood next to Johnny Depp in a coffee line once...'
'Shut up; he means he was in the building of a place when Johnny Depp came in for coffee once,' Jessica said, rolling her eyes. Karen couldn't help but laugh as Bobby protested.
'I actually meant have you ever worked with one – I mean this whole thing with the investors before she's even seen us rehearse or anything, is that...it that normal?' she asked, glancing around the room as people began to filter in; the rest of the chorus beginning to take their seats at the back whilst Tom and Julia conducted a whispered conversation with Derek in a corner. Bobby shrugged idly, his attention wandering over to where Dennis was standing.
'In my experience? There's no such thing as normal in this business.' And with that he pushed himself out of his chair and went over to greet Dennis, with Jessica watching his path the entire time. Karen watched also, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched the way Bobby and Dennis interacted, suddenly curious as to just what their story was.
'Hey, those two have never...' she trailed off, watching as Jessica also studied Bobby and Dennis closely, her head to one side.
'Come on, Karen, you really think I'd tell anyone if they had?'
'Bobby would tell if you dated someone in the cast.'
'No. Not unless I said he could anyway,' Jessica shrugged.

By the time the investors had come and gone without meeting their movie star, Jessica was just about ready to strangle Bobby, and she abandoned Karen the moment the doors shut behind Eileen and Derek, rushing straight over to him to cuff him round his head. The entire time they had been in the room, Bobby had been pulling faces at her whenever she happened to glance his way. Most of the ensemble's boys were seated on the opposite side of the room to the girls, but that hadn't stopped Bobby from making Jessica struggle not laugh, and she fully intended to punish him. However, Bobby simply laughed wickedly at her efforts, pulling her down to sit on his lap.

'So...is that it? We just go back to rehearsing? Without a Marilyn?' Karen's voice cut in. Bobby, Dennis and Jessica all looked up at her in unison.
'She's still after the part,' Jessica said, matter-of-fact.
'Like I hadn't figured that one out,' Bobby smirked. Dennis offered Karen a sweet smile.
'Ignore those two. We'll probably just have to wait and see what happens. They might even pick an understudy,' he offered and Bobby arched an eyebrow.
'Oo, drama,' he chimed in and Jessica shook her head at him.
'How did your parents even live through your teenage years if this is you all grown up?' she demanded and Dennis smiled, resting his chin on Bobby's shoulder.
'Pretty sure Bobby just emerged fully formed actually,' he joked.
'You know I can imagine that. Just, his parents turning round one day and this sassy little two-year-old marching in their front door going 'I'm here' and totally not giving a damn,' Jessica giggled. Bobby flicked his hair out of his face and rolled his eyes.
'You're all weird, you know that,' he said, before turning to look at Dennis. 'And I'll have you know I was an adorable baby.'
'I've seen the photos. He was pretty adorable. And he had the chubbiest cheeks I've ever-' Jessica closed her mouth abruptly and stifled a laugh as Bobby glowered at her.
'I'm never telling you anything ever again,' he remarked as Karen and Dennis chuckled in the background.

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Look, all I'm saying is that it'll end in tears. I didn't say I wasn't happy for her, I just said, someone is gonna end up crying and it's not gonna be pretty. I'm talking diva-tantrum tears here, you guys. Someone's tears will be spilt before this even gets to the end of Boston. As for Broadway?' Bobby sucked in a breath and raised his eyebrows. 'This Marilyn thing isn't over. I'm telling you. There is trouble ahead and someone's going to get hurt. I don't get why you don't all see that.' He shrugged. 'You all carry on hugging her and clapping and being her personal cheerleaders. But I'll be honest. And we'll see who she thanks when this thing is an actual Broadway show, that's all I'm saying.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Hey, where did Jess and Karen go?' Bobby looked up at the sound of Dennis' voice behind him. He'd thought he was the last person left after Jessica had abandoned him for a dinner date with an old school friend of hers and Karen had all but run out to go and tell Dev the news of her promotion to understudy.'You didn't scare them off with your scepticism did you?' Dennis teased and Bobby rolled his eyes.
'Please, Jess would've ditched me on day one if she couldn't handle a bit of honesty now and then,' he replied, tugging his bag onto his shoulder before looking Dennis up and down. 'And what about you, Bambi? Did the other woodland creatures abandon you?' From anyone else it could've sounded dismissive, cruel even, but coming from Bobby, somehow, Dennis took it as a sign of affection.
'Actually, I was looking for you. You don't live that far away from me, you know. I don't know why we don't walk together more often,' he shrugged. Bobby smiled slightly, nodding a considering nod before turning in the direction of the door.
'Well then, let's walk.'

Later, Bobby would forget what it was they were arguing about. The playful spat had erupted only seconds after they'd made it out into the street and Bobby's main memory of it would be each of them taking it in turns to shoulder-barge the other as they walked, the shoves getting more and more forceful as the two of them laughed and shot sharp comments back and forth. But Dennis? He would remember it more precisely. An argument about the theatre. Bobby's devilish laugh. A shove. A tug. A kiss.

'I just don't understand you! The theatre is about joy, it's about expressing joy! But all you seem to do is despair of it.'
'If it's about joy, then why do they make us suffer so much, Dennis?'
'Because you have to work hard to earn the right to do a job you love.'
'That's a lame reason, you know that? HEY! Don't shove me!'
'I'll shove you if I-hey! That wasn't fair, I wasn't ready!'
'Well neither was I!' Another shove. 'Quit it, Bambi. I thought you were supposed to be nice.'
'Nicer than you.'
'Don't stick your tongue out at me. I can be nice.'
'You're not even nice to the theatre.' Shove.
'I love the theatre.' Shove.
'You just said you hated it, like five minutes ago. You say it all the time!'
'Fine. I don't hate the theatre. Happy?' Shove.
'Over the moon.' Shove, laugh, roll of eyes.
'Good.'
'So, why do you love the theatre then?'
'Why do you care?'
'I just want to know.' Shove. Grin.
'You're maddening.' Smile.
'I'm adorable.'
'Urgh. You so are.' Honesty.
'Then spit it out, Bobby. Why do you love the theatre?' Dennis grabbed Bobby's arm as he spoke, stopping him in his tracks, and Bobby let out a long sigh, tipping his head back to look skywards before turning to look at Dennis thoughtfully.
'The theatre is...everything. It's adrenaline and devastation. It's fury, it's love, it's tears. Silliness. It's family. It's absurdity. It's...extremes. And exhilaration and-'
'It's you,' Dennis half-whispered, incredulous at the realisation, looking at Bobby with a small, soft smile, his eyes bright and sparkling. Bobby slowly looked back at him, the corner of his lips twitching up.
'Yeah, I guess it is,' he replied, giving Dennis one more small shove. But instead of falling back, Dennis stood his ground this time, catching Bobby's arm and then reaching out his other hand to tug his shirt. Bobby frowned slightly and Dennis tugged again, and this time Bobby took a step closer, his eyes still searching Dennis' face. Another tug and they were standing toe to toe. And that was when Dennis leant in, cupping Bobby's face with his hand and pulling him in for a kiss.

When they finally broke apart and stood looking at each other, Dennis waited for the smart, cutting remark. The rejection. The dismissal. The turn away. But instead Bobby gave him a small smile and giving his shoulder one last shove. 'You taste of strawberries.' Dennis blinked and Bobby winked at him. 'See you around, Bambi.' And with that he stuck his hands into his pockets, turned, and walked away.

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Come on, Jess, you're taking forever. We need lunch! Sue's already gone without us, and I heard Dennis here threaten ditching us for Sam – what are you even doing? Urgh. You're such hard work. Hey, you know where we should go when you're finally ready? We should go get ice-cream. Don't look at me like that, Jess, you know you'll eat your own weight of the stuff when it's put in front of you. Besides; I've got a craving for strawberries.' Bobby glanced to his side and rolled his eyes. 'Quit smiling, Bambi.' He looked back at Jess, who was looking between the two of them curiously. 'You coming? Ok. Let's go already.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Bobby froze, spoonful of cereal halfway to his mouth, at the sound of a knock on the door. No-one tended to come knocking on his door late at night. Well, that wasn't strictly true; there had been a fun few weeks when he'd first moved in, where plenty of odd characters had shown up at his door in search of Ekaterina Barinov, but most of them had got the message after about a fortnight. His only late night visitor these days tended to be Jessica, but she used his door key more often than she used her own. There was another knock, slightly more forceful, and Bobby sighed, rolling his eyes. Jessica must've forgotten her key, it was the only explanation. He abandoned his cereal bowl on the side and jumped down from the kitchen counter, opening the door with a flourish.
'God, Blondie, and you have the nerve to accuse me of stalk-oh...hey, Karen.' Bobby blinked in surprise, arching an eyebrow in query. 'Ok, you don't look happy...' he added, looking her up and down. Karen offered him a half-hearted smile.
'Good to see you too, Bobby,' she sighed and Bobby smirked, flicking his hair out of his eyes and taking a step back to let her past him.
'Ok, Grumpy. Come on in,' he told her, nodding in the direction of his couch. He shut the door behind her and she made a beeline for his couch, falling heavily onto it. 'You look like you could use some ice-cream,' he remarked, turning to his freezer to grab some.
'I'm fine,' Karen dismissed and Bobby rolled his eyes.
'You are not fine; you just showed up at my door at eleven at night. Look it up, Iowa. It's dictionary definition miserable. Now talk,' he retorted, handing her a tub of ice cream and a spoon. For a moment she stared at them, then glanced up at him with a slightly disbelieving smile, before taking them off him and falling back against the couch cushions.
'Ok. Maybe I'm not that fine,' she admitted, pulling a face at him before glancing down. Bobby simply nodded, perching on the arm of the couch and studying her carefully.
'You want me to call Jess?' he offered. Karen shook her head.
'No, it's ok. You gave me ice-cream – pretty sure that means you're who I need right now,' she said with a small smile and Bobby smiled back softly.
'It's probably for the best. If Jess knew we had ice-cream? You wouldn't be allowed a spoon, she'd just have swallowed it whole,' he shrugged, winking at Karen and making her laugh.

For a moment they sat in silence, Bobby watching Karen carefully. 'You know I've got to ask what you're doing here, right?' he pressed after a minute had passed and Karen sighed.
'I know.' She glanced up at him. 'I got into a fight with Dev.'
'Really?' Bobby was surprised. Dev seemed too softly-spoken to be the fighting type.
'I was telling him about rehearsal today and...and then he started shouting at me and it just...it was too much. I needed to get out.' Karen stabbed the spoon into the ice-cream and rolled her eyes. 'It was just so stupid. I knew I shouldn't have told him.' Bobby frowned at her.
'Wait wait wait...he was shouting at you because of rehearsal?' He scrunched up his face. 'That doesn't make any sense. You didn't take Derek home by accident did you? The British accent can confuse you you know,' he said and Karen laughed softly, swotting at him.
'No! It wasn't really...look, I didn't tell him about Derek, ok?'
'I'm not following you.'
'The story I told you, about me going to his place...'
'Oh. Wow. Ok, starting to get it now.'
'I just...I thought he would react badly. I mean, I handled it, he didn't need to worry. And Derek's...got Ivy now.' Karen squirmed slightly and Bobby suppressed a smirk. 'Anyway, I sort of let it slip by accident and now Dev thinks it's wrong for me to even be in the same room as Derek and he doesn't get why I didn't run a mile from the show because of it and I just...I'd spent all day today being yelled at, I couldn't stand being yelled at by him too.' She glanced up at Bobby, who was looking at her with genuine sympathy, much to her surprise. 'You're not going to tell me to dump him just so you can go round there and claim him for yourself are you?' she asked with a smile and Bobby laughed, sliding down from the arm of the couch to sit next to her.
'I'm not even half as boy-crazy as Jess thinks I am, Iowa. And anyway, if he doesn't get the theatre? I'm not interested.' He put an arm around Karen's shoulders then. 'Look, for what it's worth? This is what this business is all about. Insanity. It makes you crazy. If your nice, normal boyfriend can't hack it, he can't hack it. But...if he calms down after a couple of days and you move on with your life, then maybe you'll be ok. You've just gotta hang in there, Iowa. Even if it ends with you going down in flames.'
'Is that supposed to reassure me?'
'No. It's just the truth.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'It's the spins. I don't know. I like watching you dance, but the spins...they're definitely the best part.' Bobby leant his head back against the wall, closing his eyes a moment, enjoying the feeling of Dennis leaning against him. 'You're kind of beautiful, you know that? But not in any definite way. You're just beauty and strawberries and it's killing me that you're making me this soft this fast.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Karen and Jessica sat side by side at the edge of the rehearsal room, watching the boys run through the new number one final time before Derek returned. Karen found her eyes drawn back to Bobby every time, studying him carefully; the way he moved, the way he seemed to throw his whole being into it. Jessica too was watching him, a smile on her face as he threw his head back, his hair flying out at a hundred angles as he danced.
'You remember when Bobby said I was watchable?' Karen asked, making Jessica laugh.
'No...but that sounds like Bobby,' she said, nodding her head. Karen smiled.
'Yeah, well...if I didn't before, then I definitely get it now.' Jessica arched an eyebrow and Karen shrugged. 'I mean; look at him,' she added and Jessica's lips twitched up into a fond smile at that, her eyes once more returning to Bobby, his ever-mischievous face working overtime to sell the number to everyone watching it. 'He's really good at what he does.'
'That he is,' Jessica agreed softly, allowing herself a moment of pride in her best friend.
'He makes people want to watch him. Without just going big. He can just...sell it with a look or a smile. And it's strange because you wouldn't expect it of him...you kind of just expect him to not take it as seriously as he does,' Karen tilted her head to one side then. 'He's funny too. He knows the exact right way to get a laugh. I didn't even realise the chorus were allowed to do that.'
'Bobby is one of the best on Broadway. I'm telling you, Iowa. His CV even puts mine to shame. People want to work with him because they know exactly the standard they're going to get. If you get someone like Bobby in your ensemble? Your show's got a good bedrock to work with. He's got a good reputation. He talks himself down but...Broadway runs on people like Bobby. It's just a fact.' Karen smiled, glancing back at Bobby once more. The boys were paused, listening intently to instructions before heading back to their places for the start of the number. Bobby was laughing at something Dennis was whispering in his ear, but the moment the music started, the switch was flicked and that was it. Bobby was performing.
'But I mean...he really can play the comedy. Like – how is that not the thing he's known for when he's so good at it?' she remarked and Jessica rolled her eyes.
'He can play anything, Iowa. That's kind of the point,' she teased. She was still watching Bobby curiously, however, her brow furrowed slightly. She hadn't had a chance to talk properly with him for a few days and it was beginning to make her curious. He was avoiding her, she was sure of it. But why?

.0o0o0o0o0.

'I swear, that's what happened! Ivy showed up, was all 'Here, have these sunglasses, aren't you cute, let's all have drinks together now' and by the time I'd scraped my jaw off the floor we were already about three drinks into it so I just bit my tongue and didn't say anything. Jessica was actually amazed – but she's suspicious of me anyway right now coz I've hardly talked to her in days. Anyway, I just want it on record that I called it first, ok? Ivy's up to something. I mean, I am never that nice to anybody unless I want something, never mind my sworn enemies. But you know the best part of this whole thing? Iowa is clueless. She just thinks they've had some sort of monumental friendship breakthrough or whatever. Oh, what, Bambi? Don't even try telling me I'm ever that nice coz I won't believe you and-oh. Ok. Kisses. I can do kisses. But I'm warning you, Jessica has a key to my place and no problem with barging in at 3am. Follow me up these stairs at your own risk, Bambi. And I really mean that on more levels than one.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Jess...I think I did something I shouldn't have.' Jessica opened one eye, just enough to reach out for her phone to check the time. She groaned when she read it and let her head drop back onto the pillow immediately, even as Bobby stood resolute in her bedroom doorway.
'Bobby, why do you never have a Best Friend Crisis in daylight hours?' she mumbled, scrunching her eyes shut again and curling up into a ball. She felt the movement of the bed as Bobby flopped down on it, crawling up to lie beside her, and she rolled over, opening her eyes once more to look at him. His dark eyes weren't red-rimmed or glistening and he didn't look upset, as such. Just...worried. Anxious. Given that he had hardly spoken to her in days, she knew whatever it was he was about to confess to was probably important, but she was just so tired. As she felt her heavy eyelids beginning to slide closed again, she forced herself to remember all the times he'd made mad dashes across town for her, all the times he'd taken care of her when one bad boyfriend or another had skipped out on her in the dead of night, and she knew she owed it to him to stay awake and listen to him.
'What did you do that's so bad it couldn't wait 'til morning, Chorus Boy?' she sighed. Bobby stared intently at the ceiling for a moment before looking back across at her.
'I kissed Dennis.' Jessica's eyes widened and she felt alert in an instant, rolling all the way over to face him and propping herself up on her elbow.
'Don't even joke, Bobby – are you being serious right now?!' Bobby shrugged, looking down guiltily. 'Oh my God. How long ago?'
'Well...technically? A few hours ago. But...it kinda...might've started...a few...days ago.' Bobby winced in anticipation of her hitting him. And Jessica didn't disappoint, sitting herself up fully to thwack him on his chest. He cowered against the pillow, a half-smile on his lips.
'Bobby! You kissed Dennis a few days ago?! And you didn't tell me?!' Jessica demanded.
'I didn't tell anyone, actually!' Bobby protested, glancing up at her. 'And actually, strictly speaking; he kissed me.'
'Bobby,' Jessica groaned, the energy draining from her as she dropped back down to lie next to him. He shrugged awkwardly, avoiding her eyes.
'What?! He tasted of strawberries, I had no choice.' Jessica fixed him with a stern look. 'I like him,' he added in a small voice.
'Oh Bobby...' she sighed, curling into the crook of his arm and resting her head next to his on the pillow. 'Why do you always have to fall for the sweet ones?' she asked, and she couldn't help but notice how sad he looked then. Memories, she suspected. The bad ones. 'Do you think it could actually last, or do we need to start doing damage control right now?' Jessica said cautiously.
'I don't know. This is me we're talking about. My whole life is about damage control these days.' Jessica nudged him and he looked down to meet her gaze at last.
'Don't talk like that.'
'I can't help it. I just...I like him, Jess. But, you know...if this all blows up in my face...it could actually be worse than last time.' Jessica frowned and Bobby shrugged. 'Well I mean; look at it. We're friends. We're in the same cast. And you know what else? There's a good chance our show's a sinking ship.'
'Bobby, come on, I know it's not good right now but-'
'Don't even, Jess. You heard her trying to sing today. I mean; I've seen shows survive on less than what we've got but...I've never seen a show survive a leading lady who can't sing.'
'Anything could happen before Boston, Bobby.'
'Yeah. That's exactly what I'm worried about actually. In every possible way.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Ok, Ivy, you need to tell me what lamp you rubbed; coz I need to get me some three wishes to match the ones you've clearly made. Seriously. I mean, what's next? Rebecca and Karen being involved in some freak dancing accident? And don't even think about asking to bring the lobster back because I'm actually on my final strike and you know I'd be the one to get the blame.' Ivy shot him a steady look, folding her arms, and Bobby flashed her a quick grin, trying his best to look innocent as he took a small step back. 'Yeah, so, anyway...welcome back, by the way.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Jessica nodded absentmindedly as Bobby talked at her side. He'd linked his arm through hers as they'd left rehearsal and started talking ten to the dozen, but she was struggling to pay attention to him, watching instead as Sam and Tom stood talking outside the rehearsal room doors, an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
'I mean, seriously, drama follows her around more than me! And yet she's busy worrying that there's too much music in the musical...just...wow. I certainly feel a lot better about my life, that's for sure.'
'Uh-huh,' Jessica murmured, scanning around the corridor before finally laying her eyes on Dennis, sitting by himself, staring intently at his phone. 'Hey, I just need to ask Dennis about something but...I'll see you at the screening thing tonight, right? We're due a really good night out.' Bobby looked at her curiously.
'Ok...I'll see you there,' he agreed slowly, not making any actual move to leave as he regarded her with suspicion. Sometimes she hated how hard it was for her to fool him and she was working harder than any Broadway actress should have to just to force a bright smile.
'Go on, go. We can talk properly later I promise,' she insisted, all but pushing him towards the exit before turning on her heel and setting her sights on Dennis.

As she approached him, she wondered how best to go about speaking with him. She would never dream of telling Bobby's whole life story without permission – besides, if he and Dennis were going to start something, that information had to be Bobby's to give. But at the same time, she needed to protect her friend. And there was no easy way to do that – especially not when he'd been perverse enough to start going out with another one of her friends. Slowly, she sat down next to Dennis and decided to cut right to the point, taking his phone from his hand to get his attention and looking him right in the eye.
'Bobby.' Dennis blinked at her. 'Don't even think about playing dumb with me because he told me everything. And now I need you to tell me some things, ok?' She kept up the eye contact but she made sure to soften her expression, aware that guarding Bobby didn't necessarily have to mean hurting Dennis, who was still looking at her in slight bewilderment. 'Are you just playing with him? I mean...is this like a casual thing or just a kiss or...'
'Jess, we're not-'
'Don't play with me, Bambi. You do realise that when Bobby tells me everything; he tells me everything, right?' Dennis moved to protest but Jessica smiled a sly smile that reminded him strangely of Bobby and he quickly closed his mouth. 'Everything,' she repeated. Dennis almost laughed, shaking his head slightly as he looked at her in earnest.
'Look, I swear to you Jess, it's not anything major. Not right now anyway. It's just...the same between us as it was before, more or less.'
'So you're saying this is friends with benefits?'
'No! No. I don't...look, we're just...it's casual but...it could not be casual, you know? If things carried on, I mean.' Jessica narrowed her eyes.
'Ok...'
'I don't know what you want me to tell you,' Dennis laughed and Jessica let out a long sigh, slumping back slightly in her seat.
'I don't know either,' she muttered, rubbing a hand over her face before looking back at Dennis from the corner of her eye. 'Other than...this doesn't have anything to do with Tom and Sam does it? Because if it does then you need to-'
'Jess! This is me you're talking to. Come on. I'm not like that.'
'I know. I know. Look, I'm sorry, ok? But just...be careful with him? I know he's got a smart mouth but he's actually softer than butter. And he's been hurt before.' She turned her eyes to the ceiling, not knowing how best to explain it. 'With Bobby, you need to pay attention to your words – and I know that seems ridiculous given some of what comes out of his mouth but...he listens more than you'd think, ok? So you can only say good words to him, Dennis. Only give him good things because if you give him one shred of something which could make him doubt then it could break him. I mean, even if you dump him tomorrow? Good words. It matters, ok? Because he listens to everything. Always. And then he dwells on it for the rest of his life.' She looked away. 'I'm not going to spill his secrets but...just know that he's really happy right now. As happy as I've seen him in a long time. And it's nice. And I want to see more of it. It's the way Bobby was meant to be and I'm just trying to protect that for him the same way he would for me.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'No, no. Tonight is all about me and my gorgeous girls, no talk of shows or movie stars. And this is not about some dumb movie I don't even want to see. I'm getting drunk with my friends, ok? And let the history books show; I did not hit on a single bar tender the whole night, and I got Sue and Jessica home in one piece, even after buying them many cocktails along the way. Because that's what's going to happen. And I want it on record because you know I'll probably never be able to manage it again. So, ladies, that's the point at which we toast. Please, join me – okay? Here we go.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

Bobby handed Jessica the bowl of popcorn as he flopped down next to her on the couch.
'I'm just saying; I smell a rat. A famous one. That can't sing.'
'Do you ever trust anyone?' Jessica laughed at him and Bobby rolled his eyes.
'I trust you don't I?' he said, shooting her appointed look, and Jessica smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.
'So young and yet so cynical,' she teased. Bobby huffed.
'Yeah, well, you trust too many people. And Karen? She trusts everyone.'
'Bobby!'
'What? It's true.'
'So? Why shouldn't she go out with the movie star. She deserves a little fun. And it's not like you wouldn't have gone if she'd asked.'
'I didn't say she shouldn't go, Jess. I just said she needs to watch her back. That Rebecca is smarter than she pretends to be. And the only reason I can think for someone like her to befriend someone like Karen? Is because she knows she can use her.' Jessica gave him a small smack on his arm but Bobby simply shrugged. 'Protest all you like, you know I'm right.' He looked over at her then, eyebrows raised in enquiry, and Jessica had to sigh in defeat, shaking her head and turning her attention back to the screen.
'It's one night out, let her have this. We can worry about her sanity later.'
'Oh, I'm not worried about her sanity. I'm worried that she's taking her eye off the ball. The minute you stop focusing? That's the minute you lose track of whatever goal you've set. You saw all the press there was the next day. And suddenly Karen's happy to get scraps from the movie star's table? She went from angling after the part to playing puppy dog in a day. That is manipulation at its finest.' Jessica gave him a nudge, looking up at him with a smile.
'You need to stop now,' she told him and Bobby rolled his eyes.
'You're no fun anymore.'
'Oh, so that's why you're spending all your time with Dennis instead then is it?' Jessica joked and Bobby pulled a face at her, something which on anyone else Jessica would've called a blush forming on his cheeks. But Bobby didn't blush, of that she was confident.
'You're just baiting me now,' he muttered and she grinned at him mischievously.
'So what if I am? It's fun to bait you.' Jessica paused then, looking at Bobby with a sweet, caring smile, her blue eyes sparkling up at him and forcing him to look right back at her.
'What is it, Cutie?' he sighed, fixing her with a steady look. Jessica just beamed up at him, poking him in his ribs with her finger.
'You're happy right now,' she stated. Bobby frowned slightly in confusion but Jessica's smile didn't waver. 'It makes me happy that you're so happy right now.' She looked at him intently, trying to project the seriousness onto him. His dark eyes were smiling at her and she leant up to kiss his forehead. 'You deserve it, Chorus Boy. Happy suits you well.'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Not gonna lie; Iowa is way more interesting in these gossip columns than she ever is in real life. What! Don't look at me like that, Jess, I don't mean it in a catty way I just...the stuff they're making up about her. It's ridiculous. If they had had to coach her for a whole night – no, if they had seen her closet before Rebecca glammed her up! – they would know; this girl is not dating a movie star. Honestly. Karen is a sweetheart, don't get me wrong. I'd give that girl a hug if she needed it, you know? But she's not about to be the next PR sensation. If they wanted a story, they definitely should've called me. Stories are my calling. I mean really, who wouldn't want to read about me?!'

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Hey, Jess, can you wait for me outside? I just need to go talk to Ivy for a minute.' Jessica frowned, confused, but Bobby didn't wait for her reply, hurrying back inside the rehearsal room and crossing over to where Ivy was still gathering her things.

'Hi Bobby, I thought you'd gone already.'
'I had...but then I came back – I wanted to talk to you, actually.'
'Ok...shoot,' Ivy smiled and Bobby took in a deep breath.
'That song-'
'You mean the song Rebecca wants to sing?'
'I mean your song, Ivy,' Bobby said with a smile and Ivy couldn't help but smile back. 'You should know that...if there's ever been a time when I've just lost myself to a song in rehearsal then...that was it today.'
'Really? You?' Ivy asked, sceptical and Bobby smiled strangely shyly.
'I'm not the reptile everyone makes me out to be.'
'I don't know, you do kind of have the mannerisms of a lizard.'
'Nice,' Bobby laughed and Ivy grinned playfully at him. 'Look, it just...I really love that song, ok? And I'm pretty sure you were meant to sing it. I just wanted you to know.' He was about to turn and leave when Ivy took a step closer to him, her smile softening.
'Hey, why is that song so important to you?' she ventured and Bobby paused, looking away a moment before glancing back to meet Ivy's eyes.
'The same reasons it's important to you. I kind of understand broken. And I kind of understand not wanting that to scare people away.' He shrugged awkwardly, rolling his eyes but Ivy's gaze was understanding.
'Yeah...that sounds familiar. But, hey, we both know we're not beyond repair now, right?'
'I like to think so,' Bobby agreed quietly and Ivy smiled back at him warmly, her understanding clear.
'Good. Me too, Chorus Boy.

.0o0o0o0o0.

'Ok, since you asked. Yes. The Derek thing is still relevant. I can't help it, it just is. It always will be.' Tom put down his fork and looked at Sam thoughtfully. 'When you're friends with someone, I mean, best friends with someone, and they turn on you, basically overnight...it doesn't...it doesn't go away.' He looked down, letting out a sigh. It was late, he'd had a long day, Ivy still wasn't texting him, and he didn't talk about this with anyone. But here he was spilling his soul to a dancer he hadn't even realised he was capable of getting along with until a few days ago. This is why he shouldn't stop out all night, he thought, before looking back up at Sam, who was still watching him intently. 'You sort of...carry it around with you. It becomes part of who you are. It's this dreadful open wound that you don't go a day without scratching at least once and every time it hurts like hell. And you dismiss it, you make a joke out of it, and half the time you live with it there without it hurting enough for you to need to acknowledge it out loud. But then one night you'll be sitting there at three in the morning and it stings like hell and you realise that you...you'll never look at the world the same again once you've been wounded like that. It changes you. It changes your story. Other people have this power over you. And it makes you wary. You trust again, that's not the issue. The issue is that it's changed you. The way you act, the way you see things. I always thought that's kind of a crappy pay-off to get from a friendship gone bad. The good ones change you too...but the bad ones...they never go away.'