They watched her leave, and the moment she disappeared from view, Meena burst into an uncharacteristic display of anger.
"What's wrong with her?"
The rest stared at her, driven into silent shock once again.
"Stop staring at me, there's something up!" She snapped.
If there were ever any doubts about her being the evil stepmother, they were instantly retracted.
"Sweetheart, if we're going to find out, you should calm down." Rosita said soothingly.
"Sorry. But what's wrong?"
"That Andy guy really hurt her. The stuff she was trying so hard to bury came back up, and that's eating her up. She was so scared of what we would think, she never stopped to think about what it was doing to her." Johnny said, still in his own little bubble.
"This isn't the Nooshy we know. She would never let someone call her a street rat, and even if someone did, she would never believe it. He burned a huge hole in her self esteem, and if we don't do anything, it will crumble completely." Rosita spoke slowly, leaving the rest of the cast with pangs of fear.
Nooshy walked back up to her dressing room, only to find three faces scowling directly at her.
"WHO TOLD YOU YOU WERE A STREET RAT, AND WHY DO YOU BELIVE IT?!" Porsha thundered.
"F**K THAT A**HOLE AND FORGET HE EVER EXISTED! STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP!" Ash screamed, completely enraged.
"Why? Why would you do this to yourself?" Shuri spoke in a frustrated tone, pinching the bridge of her nose over and over.
"I dunno, maybe because IT'S TRUE?! Honestly, I was a street rat. I did live on the street. I did have nothing. Just drop it, all of you!" Nooshy exploded.
"Don't think this is over." Ash warned.
"I don't doubt it." Nooshy said, clearly annoyed.
She dressed back in her normal clothes and headed to the fourth floor, silently thanking her boss for giving her a two hour break.
"Please. Just stay with me." Johnny looked directly into her eyes, caressing the fur that framed her face.
A tear glittered on her cheek, and he gently wiped it away.
"What's wrong?"
"Why? Why me? You could have anyone other than me, prettier than me, richer than me. What do you see in me, dirty, poor, with nothing to offer? Why?"
"Your company holds more value to me than riches, and you are beautiful. You are smart, courageous, kind. They all see you, Cindy….you just don't see yourself."
"AND SCENE!" Buster called out, clapping.
"Great job, guys! I could feel the love, heartbreak, and touchy feelings with every word."
"And it's probably not even acting." Ash grumbled.
She, Meena, and Porsha watched the two descend the stage.
"After you, milady," Johnny bowed jokingly.
"Oh, shut up." Nooshy giggled, hoping no one could see her blush.
'What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I acting like this? OMIGOD, AM I DYING? SHIT, RIGHT WHEN EVERYTHING WAS GOING SO DAMN WELL! I have to tell the girls.'
Nooshy figured that that was the most reasonable explanation, because why else would she be acting all stupid and girly?
Johnny was having similar thoughts, but with much more common sense. 'I've got to get help. I'd go to dad, but he's not here right now…so, who? Who can I trust?'
"Hey! Johnny! How's it goin'?" A cheerful voice came from behind him, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Turning around, he saw a tiger bounding over to him.
"Ryan! Hey, man! It's been awhile, haven't seen you in forever!"
They clapped each other on shoulder and started talking until a voice came from behind them.
"You're not taking my place, are you Ryan?" Nooshy stood, grinning at the two.
"You don't have worry about that, Noosh." Johnny smiled.
Ryan took notice of this and took a few steps towards the girls.
"They're not a couple yet?" He whispered, clearly having expected it.
"Unfortunately. They're both blind as hell." Porsha responded with a roll of her eyes.
"But it's so obvious!"
"Ever heard the term 'blinded by love'? I think they're blinded towards it." Ash said.
"Maybe they just don't want to admit it to themselves. Nooshy especially. She seems to be the one that just can't give in. Oh, gotta go. See ya around!" He ran off after a quick bye to Johnny and Nooshy, leaving the girls stunned.
"That was oddly accurate." Porsha noted.
"He"s right though. You can see it, Johnny's slowly admitting it, but Nooshy is resisting it. She can't take much more." Meena said.
At this they turned to stare in bewilderment.
"What?"
"How can you tell that much?"
"When you're the quietest one in the room, you see things. Over time, you learn to observe when you don't talk."
As the day let out, Nooshy called Rosita, Porsha, Ash, and Meena.
"What's up?" Porsha asked.
"I need to tell you something. Meet me in Shuri's room."
"Oook?" They were all confused, but decided not to question it.
Once they gathered in a bewildered Shuri's room, Nooshy took a deep breath and said gravely, "I have very bad news."
"Omigod, what did you do?" Rosita was already pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Nothing!….yet."
"Well hurry up then, you're scaring us!" Meena groaned.
"It's very sad news indeed. My friends, I am dying."
Across town, Ryan was popping a bag of popcorn for a movie night when he heard the doorbell ring.
He opened it to find Johnny there, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Johnny? What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to someone. You were the only one I could think of." He stared at his sneakers as Ryan ushered him inside.
"Sit." He said, pointing to the couch. "Want popcorn?"
"Ok." Johnny obediently sat on the couch.
"So, first, why didn't you just go to Nooshy?" Ryan set the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and took a seat next to him.
"I figured I could trust you. I can't go to her because…it's about her." Johnny's face was aflame as he spoke.
Ryan tried not to laugh as he said, "You can totally trust me! What about Nooshy?"
"I honestly have no idea. I've been feeling weird around her lately, like butterflies, and feeling oddly happy…"
"And you don't know? For a soulful dude, it's hard to believe you're this clueless."
"What do you mean?"
"Love."
Back at the theater, the girls were stunned into slience.
An alarmed Shuri spoke up. "Why on earth would you think that?"
"It's the only explanation. I've had all these weird feelings, like butterflies and a warm bubbly sensation. AND I giggled. I. Don't. Giggle. Or blush for that matter." Nooshy insisted.
"Have these feelings happened when your around someone?"
Nooshy felt the blush in her ears as she gave a sheepish nod. "Johnny?" Ash guessed.
"That obvious?"
The whole room erupted in laughter.
"Honey, you're not dying. You're in love!"
(Imagine a split screen with Johnny on the right and Nooshy on the left) "WHAT?" (End split screen.)
"Are you saying I'm IN LOVE with Nooshy? My best friend? The girl who could beat up a gang and get away without a scratch? That Nooshy?" Johnny was practically yelling in Ryan's ear.
"Yep. Can you, uh, stop yelling please?"
"Sorry."
Nooshy, however, was less….civilized.
"FUCK NO! YOU ARE ALL CRAZY AS HELL!"
"Nooshy! Language!" Rosita scolded.
"CRAZY. AS. FUCKING. HELL. NO. NO NO NO NO NO."
"Nosiwe Vivace Ann Wright, get yourself together." Meena shook her by the shoulders. "If you're as strong as we know you are, you will shut up and admit it!"
Nooshy obediently stopped talking and sat on the floor.
"Your middle name is Vivace?" Porsha snickered.
"Porsh!" Ash nudged her, as if to scold her. "You forgot Ann."
Giggles echoed the room. "I hate you guys." Nooshy groaned.
"Well, too bad, you're stuck with us, and no take backs, honey." Ash chided.
"Yeah, yeah. Damn, this is a lot to process."
"And magically, swearing all the time will make it better?"
"Sorry, Rosita."
"If you need any help at all, come to one of us." Shuri gave her a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Shuri. You're becoming a real friend." Nooshy gave a little smile, but it soon disappeared. "How's Johnny gonna take this?"
"Oh, I think he'll take it rather well." The other girls snickered, leaving Nooshy confused.
(Across town)
"So, what are you going to do about it?" Ryan asked, watching the raging emotions across his friend's face.
"I can't tell her, obviously."
"Well, why not? It's not like you're Romeo and Juliet."
This reference made Johnny's face turn even more red. "Exactly. She's not a princess who wants to get swept off her feet by a prince. She doesn't want a relationship."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I know her. She won't stand for it."
"You can't bottle it up!"
"Just watch me. I'd rather live in agony then risk our friendship."
"And that's how I know you two are made for each other."
"Why?"
"You'll see. You'll see." Ryan gave a mysterious smile and then said, "Anyway, wanna stick around? I was gonna watch a movie."
"Might as well, if you don't mind."
"Nope! It'll be nice to have company for once."
Hiiiii! So, its been awhile, i actually finished this yeaterday, but forgot to post it sry! thax for ur reviews, they keep me goin! 2 questions, did u laugh when Nooshy thought she was dying, and have any of u heard of the selection by Kiera Cass? Also, i added ryan, yayyyy! Did any of you fall for johnny's acting?
loopywolf: i would never leave you all hanging like that without warning! it would b cruel.