Chapter Ten

Gossip

I sat down in my usual chair, as Tom entered the rehearsal room.

"So, what is it that I hear that Michael's staying with you?" Tom asked.

I sighed, watching him sit down. "He needed a place to stay." I whispered.

"So, you offered him your place, real clever, Julia." Tom said.

I frowned. "It's not like that." I whispered. Just then, Monica entered the room and was furious. "Michael!" She shouted. "Oh, c'mon, what's all this about?" Derek cried.

"Sorry, this should only—" but she trailed off. Staring directly at me.

"You!" She screamed. "Tom," I said. She lunged at me, and started hitting me. "Stop it!" Michael shouted, trying to pull Monica off of me. After ten minutes, she was successfully pried off of me. "Are you okay?" Tom asked. I nodded. "I'm alright." I whispered.

"Sit down," Tom said, pulling out a chair. I took the seat.

"I'm sorry, Michael, but can you please take this outside?" Tom asked. Michael nodded, glaring at Monica. They went outside, where we can hear shouting and yelling.

"I have to tell him, don't I?" I asked. "Tell who what?" Derek asked. "Derek, if it's all the same to you, I don't want to tell you." I said. "Why?" He asked. "Because if I told you, it will be the center of gossip until it got to press."

"I'm not a blabbermouth if that's what you're trying to point out." He said, upset. He then stalked off. "I didn't mean to hurt his feelings." I whispered to Tom. He just shrugged. "You know, I'm going to go tell him." I whispered, rising from my chair.

"What?" Tom asked.

"I'm telling him…you're right, he deserves to know." I whispered, heading for the door.

I found Michael sitting down on the bench, his head in hands. "Michael," I started. He looked up. He looked as if he had been crying. "Are you alright?" I asked. He wiped his eyes free from tears. "Yeah, it's official, Monica and I are separating."

"Michael, I'm so sorry," I whispered.

"Don't." Michael replied. "It wasn't your fault."

"You're right," I said. "It's both of ours."

He smiled. "You know, I actually thought we could work it out for Artie's sake, but it didn't work out." He whispered.

"Michael, there's something I've got to tell you." I whispered. Just then, the doors burst open and out came Derek. "Hey, you two, we're starting!" He cried. "Give me a minute!" I shouted back. Derek nodded ,and went back into the rehearsal room.

"Michael, I'm…"