"Yeah, just been a long day."
The director laughed at the small hint, "Alright, then lets it from, 'the only thing I never understood...' if this scene goes well, we'll all get to go home. Remember: one week 'til previews."
Jake nodded and began the scene, what was going on? This part had never gotten to him before, and he had had rehearsals and work that had lasted much longer than this. So what was bothering him?
Something just felt wrong...but he kept on going, focusing...maybe it would go away.
"Okay. Good. We'll save notes for tomorrow. Good night."
Jake relieved grabbed his stuff and headed out. As he reached the lobby, his stomach gave a small lurched and his eyes caught sight of the lobby clock.
7:12
"Jenny, you just made me believe in miracles, you're actually early. The shock would have been too much if you had just been on time. I take there was no basketball competing with dance?"
"Basketball season is on break for about a month."
"Well, praise the lord, shall we?"
The dance instructor kept taunting, but Jenny began to tune her out. She knew it was all in fun. It had been this was since the beginning.
Jenny's head suddenly jerked up, her eyes wide...
"You alright?" One of her newly arrived, fellow dancers asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, it's just this feeling...like something isn't right."
"Oh, Jenny you're just nervous because the recital is on Saturday and you have the featured solo."
"Maybe." Jenny tried to shake it off.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I want to see you guys warming up. Miss Jagielski-Scott gets the front space to work on the solo before class starts."
Jenny got off the floor and made her way to the front. Before she began her eyes nervously checked the clock at the front...maybe it could give her some comfort, but it simply read the tiny red numbers.
7:12
"Rider, it's your turn." The birthday boy's mother called over to her son's best friend.
Theten year old bounced cheerfully to where the piñata hung.
"Okay, Can you see?"
The blindfold was being checked.
"Here we go."
It only took two good swings before Rider heard the crack and her cue to take off the blindfold.
Once the candy was collected the mother guided the ten ten-year olds to the table.
The woman's thoughts began to dwell on where the napkins she sent her daughters to get where, but she herself pushed the thoughts to the side. She had a party to tend to.
"Let's get some dinner. Everyone take a plate. Who wants the Pepperoni?"
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Rider suddenly sink in her chair, the little girl's face holding a small amount of confusion.
"Rider, are you okay? Do you want the vegetable pizza?"
The little girl just looked up, "May I please go home. I want to go home."
"Rider, it's only..." Her eyes went to the kitchen clock which hung on the opposite wall.
7:12
"Cohen, are sure you can handle all of them?"
"Sure, half of them are already asleep, what could go wrong?"
"Okay, alright. Well, then, consider us gone."
"Good luck."
"Uh-huh."
Cohen shut the door of the Tree Hill house to the retreating backs, and made his way into the living room.
"Everyone one enjoying the movie?"
The sea of the under six crew were either asleep ore to entrenched in the movie to listen, so he made his way to the kitchen.
"Need any help?"
The seven year old shook her head.
He leaned against the counter and his hand hit the phone. Maybe he should call, just to check how things were up there, just to say hi. Still contemplating, he picked up the phone.
Why did he suddenly want to call? What was the point?
He looked at the phone in his hand, and the little screen flashing the time.
7:12
"Davis, as soon as you get home could you start the salmon, please. And remember it's just gonna be the three of us tonight, the girls have other plans. Thank you, and I'm on my way home, I just have to make a quick stop. Love you."
"Love you, too." Davis automatically responded to the voice on the answering machine.
He set his bag down near the phone and made his way into the kitchen and towards the refrigerator.
Well, the message must have been rather recent, he thought, now pulling out the fish; otherwise he would have had company by now.
He continued to pull out the stuff for dinner, waiting for the door to open at anytime.
And despite the fact it hadn't opened yet, Davis kept thinking that tonight maybe, he'd have a chance to explain about Cohen, to apologize.
Slowly it began to dawn on him the door hadn't opened yet.
"Where is he? What time is it?" He asked no one in particular.
His eyes traveled to the microwave clock.
7:12
"You," Lucas felt a kick in his side as the voice addressed him, "Get up...don't look at me just get up...you're going to move those things in front of the door. Here you help him."
The robber had recruited a man who must be in his late fifties to 'help' Lucas. As the two of them began to move the first case, the older man muttered, "I never thought I'd say this, but the boy needs to watch more television. Doesn't he know he isn't going to win?"
"Shut up! I don't want to hear a word from anyone. Neil, Josh,..." He began addressing his companions, "Go get all our other guests and move them up here so we can keep an eye on them."
The young man turned back to face the two blockading the door, "Okay that's enough. Sit down."
Lucas took a seat near the older man while several more people where led from the aisles. A young mother with a carrier in one hand and a toddler clutching her leg came out from the first aisle, an older woman nicely dressed, a teenage boy who rushed to the store clerk's side both came from the second aisle. And from the third aisle came a well dressed middle aged man, and two twelve year old who caught Lucas' eye.
"Avari! Addison!"
As soon as he said it the first man had his gun facing Lucas.
"I said shut up! Next person who talks, or even tries to move from where they're at gets shot."
The second gun man pushed the girls over to Lucas and they sat there clutching thier surrogate unlce.
The gunmen obviously had a plan and the silence dragged on painfully while the moved about.
Lucas caught a glimpse of the cell phone Avari was clutching.
7:12
These robbers were either stupid or wanted to get caught, the first police officer on the scene thought to himself as he took his position while other cops were coming from the staiton down the street.
"What do we have?"
One asked.
"Armed robbery in progress. Three or more suspects, and at least five hostages including children."
That's when they heard it.
"First shot fired."
7:12
Until next time, this is me...signing out.