While Julia was in the restroom trying to look a little more presentable, Ivy came in the room and found Michael and Derek cleaning in silence the mess that it was. She was early because even if she couldn't exactly remember what had happened the night before, she knew some cleaning would be necessary if she didn't want to get fired. She was already walking the line with everything that had happened in Boston. Nobody wanted a drama queen in the production, especially if the drama queen hadn't a leading role but was part of the ensemble. She wasn't worth putting up with. She knew Tom had pleaded her case. He was afraid she might do something desperate again and didn't want for her to have more reasons to do so.
She looked at Derek. He didn't even bother walking up to her and kissing her. He just waved and gave her a trash bag. Their relationship had become weird. She suspected Derek of wanting to break up with her, but Tom had probably given him a whole speech about not breaking her heart, at least not until she was feeling better. So she was trying to look as if she was enjoying life and as if she was strong enough to handle it, but the truth was she wasn't. If she was she would have broken up with him herself. But she needed him, she needed not to be alone every night, she needed, if not his love, at least his presence.
"Why nobody invited me last night ? I'm a really cool person to party with."
"It was more a spur of the moment than a real party, and, no offense, but I think most of the cast didn't really want you there. You're a harsh director, not really a friend." Ivy couldn't really picture him sitting with all of them and having fun. He was always acting like he was above them.
"Am I that harsh ?"
"Oh yeah. And your personality doesn't help." Michael grinned.
"You'd better watch it, I might tell everyone what I saw earlier." He was teasing him but Michael went silent anyway. His relationship with Julia was still very delicate. He didn't even know if what they had done the night before had changed anything. He was hoping it had because he was looking forward to spending more nights like that with her.
Derek apparently noticed Michael's concerned face because he became more serious and stopped what he was doing. "Don't worry man, she cares for you. In the end that's what matters."
Michael smiled. "Gosh, I hope you're right."
"I'm always right."
Ivy rolled her eyes but deep inside her she was glad. She liked it when Derek decided to be nice and put his attitude away. It didn't seem cheesy at all. It reminded her of what a great man he could be, of why she still needed him. And then she remembered that, unfortunately, these moments were really rare, and the sudden joy she had felt was gone.
Julia chose this moment to come back into the room. She was still wearing the clothes she was wearing the day before but she had managed to rearrange her hair and makeup, so that how she had spent the night wouldn't be obvious. She greeted Ivy and went to help them clean up.
When the room finally looked perfect Derek went to his table and Ivy went outside to make a call. Julia checked that Derek wasn't paying attention to them before talking to Michael.
"About last night-" She paused, she wasn't really sure of what she wanted to say.
"Please, don't tell me you regret it."
"I don't."
He looked relieved.
"It's just that... Now that we are not married anymore - although technically we still are, but you know what I mean - maybe we could be more... official ?"
"More... official ?"
"I don't know... Maybe we could go on a real date for example ? With a home-cook meal, music and everything..." She was blushing. "Oh gosh I feel like I'm in high school !"
He took her hands and held them against his chest. "I would love to go on a date with you."
They were staring into each other's eyes, reveling in the moment.
He finally let go of her hands.
"But I will not let you cook !"
She laughed. "Well, you could come to my new place and help me figure out how the kitchen works."
"That's a date then. Tomorrow at 7pm ?"
She nodded.
They broke apart as people were beginning to enter the room. Julia went to sit at her table. She couldn't let go of her smile. When Tom joined her she was lost in her thoughts and he couldn't help but notice that she was glowing. He put his hand on one of her shoulders and she turned to him, surprised of seeing him. He sat next to her.
"So... I guess you did it then." She gave him a guilty smile and nodded. "You look happy."
"I am."
He put his hand on hers and smiled to her. In the end it was her happiness that mattered. And he was hoping it would last. After all those sad months she had deserved some happiness.
Eileen finally came in. She checked that everyone was here and that they had all noticed her before speaking. Everyone was fearing what she was about to say.
"Hi, everyone. I had originally planned to come and tell you about our legal issues and the possibility of stopping the show-" Voices were beginning to raise around her. She waited to have everyone's attention before continuing. "But I had dinner with my ex-husband Jerry last night and we came to terms with an arrangement." She paused but no voices were heard this time, everyone was hanging on her every word. "He agreed to keep us out of troubles at the condition that he would co-produce the show. He also requested to make some changes but promised that in exchange he would get us on Broadway in five weeks and give us all the money we're missing."
Nobody knew what to think of it. On one hand they were now sure of getting the musical to Broadway, but on the other hand they had no idea what the changes would be and how it would affect them. The most worried was by far Derek. He was the one in charge of changes and he hated people forcing them on him, especially producers who had no business in telling the director what to do. But he knew he would have to comply if he wanted the show to go on Broadway.
"What kind of changes ?"
"I don't know yet but he talked about splitting the role of Marilyn."
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise.
"But that's absurd, there is no way the audience would ever buy that !"
"You'll have to talk to him yourself I guess. I'm sure you can convince him of what's best for the show."
Tom was also pissed. The show wasn't needing any changes, it was perfect as it was. And he certainly didn't want the future of it depending on Derek and Jerry. "Well I don't !"
"I agree with Tom. Tom and I wrote this musical and we care about the changes that you make. We should be part of the decisions too."
"Well, we will all go see Jerry together tomorrow then." After saying that, Eileen turned to the cast. "As for you, you all have two days off. I want you to take that opportunity to get some rest because we have a lot of work ahead of us."
I'm sorry this took more time than expected. I was stuck. Tell me what you think of it ! Reviews really make me happy.
