HARLEM
I sit in the upper auditorium watching the other cast members rehears while I take a break munching on my sandwich. It's currently 7pm, yes 7pm, and I'm exhausted but I like it because we're making progress. It's also been a month since I last saw HIM and I'm beginning to wonder if he died or finally forgot about me. No idea why.
My phone rings and I see Zeke's name appear. I pick it up on the second ring. "Baby Birdie" Zeke's deep voice rings through the speaker. I smile, "You know, we're both getting too old for that, don't you think?"
"Maybe, but I'm not ready to stop. To me, you're still my baby sister." I roll my eyes.
"You do know that your baby siter is going to be on Broadway in two months, right?" I say and take another bite.
"What?! No way!... I'm just kidding, I know already. Zoran tells me your every move" I raise a brow.
"Stalker bros much." I murmur and take another bite.
"Yeah, it's our job as your brothers to stalk you." He states so proudly.
"Maybe get another job, one that pays." I state sarcastically. He chuckles.
"I do have a job. I'm inventing stuff, you know. Like foldable houses and Intelligent clothes"
"Okay, I'm going to need one of those intelligent clothes. Can you mail it?" I ask excitedly.
"We haven't… finished producing it yet." He mutters.
"Oh, so you're NOT actually inventing anything" I say like the annoying sister I am.
"Inventing takes time Har, maybe you'd know if you actually tried inventing something" Okay, low blow.
"I just invented new ways to tell you that you're not actually inventing anything" I say smiling proudly.
There's silence on the line before he bursts into laughter. "Wow, has anyone ever told you that you'd be good in comedy?" he asks.
"I get that a lot, at least I can invent jokes." I state with a sly smile.
"Okay, I get it now. You can literally stop." He says which makes me snort.
"But all jokes aside, do we come to see you on Broadway? We miss you" he asks. Awn.
"Yes, of course. If you can make it, I'll gladly reserve a seat for you. And I miss you guys too"
"Good, then I'll see you in two months." He says. "Also, I have a girlfriend. Her name's Mallory, she's American, I met her at the office I'm working in."
"Wow, that's great. No wonder you've been so cheerful. You were always depressed I wondered if you were broken. But I'm happy for you, please do greet her for me."
He scoffs. "Broken? Wow that's new birdie. But whatever, I'll send in my greetings. Goodbye Har."
"Bye Zoran." I wipe my hands as I finish off my last bite and sip my orange juice. I hear footsteps and turn to see Lucas. Uh Oh. I won't say I've been avoiding him but I'm just not always around him when I don't need to be. It's just that the kiss was weird but sweet but still weird, I feel like he might expect more that I don't have to give.
He takes a seat beside me and I try not to look uncomfortable or surprised so he doesn't also feel weird. "Hey" he says
"Hey" I give him a sweet smile and take another sip of my drink. "You look good, how has it been?" I add.
He smiles and blushes. "Do I? I think I look normal." He says looking down.
"Yeah, no. You're like above normal in looks. Don't you think?" I raise a brow. He goes red and clears his throat. Shit, am I making it weird? When di d we even start talking about looks?
"Well, I guess. Listen, I don't know if you're ready for anything and honestly, I can feel you're not. And that's fine with me. But I need you to be honest with me. Because the way you're avoiding me is speaking volumes." He says nervously rubbing his neck.
Wow, I was not expecting that. I sigh and turn to him. "Yeah. You're right, I'm not ready for anything. But I just wanted to give you that space to be sure that you wouldn't mind if I told you. And I'm glad you came to fruition about it. The truth is, that night was great, magical even but I need to focus on me and I don't want to hurt you. You're a great guy which is rare these days because a lot of guys are assholes but from the bottom of my heart, you genuinely deserve the best and I know for a fact that I won't be able to give you that because I'll be too focused on myself." I spill out everything, glad he asked himself. He smiles sadly and I feel like punching myself for being the heartless bitch I am but at the same time I won't ever apologize for it.
"I understand Harlem, honestly, I do, and I'm glad you were able to open up to me about it. Thank you. You're special and I want you to know that. And I hope at the end we both find a happy ending even if not with each other. So, maybe we can still be friends/colleagues?" This man has to be a prince from a Disney movie.
"Of course, Lucas" I hug him and we smile at each other. That was quick and easy to do. Guess it's a lot easier if the girl is not interested. He stands up. "So, we're doing a mid-shooting party this weekend and I'll be hosting it an exclusive center. I would like to see you there Harlem, and can I just say that you're doing splendidly well at your role and you're working really hard. Nexa Stage is proud to have you." He says and walks away leaving me dumbfounded, I blink a few times watching him leave, watching the man that lended me his hand when I had no way to go up. Bless his blood pumping heart. I wipe a stray tear and act cool and stare at the others.
Lexi is going to be so sad when I tell her the relationship she's been shipping crashed before it could set sail. I would have told Lucas sooner but when he told me what his ex-did, I just couldn't find it in me to be the girl who will open up a closed wound. I didn't give him a green light but I sure as hell didn't stop him. I would have blamed myself If I broke a kind soul like his. I'm glad it could end this way and not worse.
-----
I look at myself in the mirror, I look beautiful, as always. I've always loved my body. Yes, I have little to no boobs but my shape is to die for and can I just say, those glutes look good. Damn. I mean, come on, what model agency wouldn't want me? I chuckle and blow myself a kiss. It's giving Maddy Perez.
I pull the dress down and pick up my phone. It's a Black backless, sweetheart-neckline bodycon dress that stops below mid-thigh. Sexy, just how I like it: showing off the tattoo at my spine that runs down.
My Uber is on its way and so I gather my shit and kiss Bimmy goodbye. I wanted Lexi to come with me but she was also invited for a special event she didn't want to miss so we had to go our separate ways. Unfortunately.
The Uber arrives and I get in the car and we head to the venue. When I arrive, I pay the driver and I'm about to step in when I make eye contact with Ezra Roth standing at the entrance with a lit cigarette dangling off his mouth. I swallow, hard. Because he is so beautiful. Too godly for human eyes and I want it all for myself. I remember our last conversation and how it left me burning.
I raise my head and walk towards him. Better to face the devil now than later. I reach him and his eyes do an excruciatingly slow and painful perusal of me from head to toe. My hair is in a bun so I must be so red right now but thank God it's night.
He pushes off the banister where he was leaning and strolls towards me with his hands in his pocket, still taking me in. I unlock confident boss bitch and place a hand on my hip while raising my brows and slipping on my neutral mask. But my insides are on fire. Shit, the reaction my body is having to this man is promising dangerous things.
"Tamrin." He whispers my name; I try hard not to shiver but goosebumps caress my skin.
"Roth. Wasn't expecting you to show up." I look him in the eyes. He does the same.
"I knew you would." Goddammit, he's making this worse. I have to leave his presence; it's making me think some certain things I don't want to think.
"That's the sort of information I don't care to know" he smirks and Christ, I'm melting from the inside out.
He turns his head away, eyes never leaving mine, to exhale "You don't care to know about my endeavors, I've come to understand that. But then, you show up in that dress, and suddenly I care that you don't" he stares into my soul with those green eyes and I look away quickly to ensure I don't lose myself in there.
I scoff and don't bother to answer. I have no words anyways. I walk in the direction of the entrance and he follows, putting out his blunt. I feel the heat of his eyes on my back and it's only making it worse. I decide that ignoring him would be the best course of action and I do just that.
But he stays glued to my back, like an annoying bodyguard. I sigh and greet the others. We hug and exchange conversations and I take a drink. He hovers around me, not speaking to me but staring and I FEEL it, so strongly I don't know what to do about it. He talks with some people and I try to use the opportunity to escape but he ends up finding me anyway. Like a bloodhound with a scent.
I sit on one of the chairs because my legs are killing me and he walks up to me. "What's wrong?" he asks tilting his head almost predator-like.
I roll my eyes. "Just taking a rest from avoiding you in these shoes." I state blandly which earns another smirk and he's about to reply when I see Lucas and Renee walking up to us. "Harlem!" Lucas says and I stand up and we share a hug. I can feel a green colored hole being stared into my back.
We pull away and he smiles at me warmly. "I'm so happy you could make it. I see you've bumped into Mr. Roth." I chuckle dryly, bumped would be an understatement, more like glued.
"Well yes, but this event is wonderful, the place is exquisite and it's soothing for a mid-shooting party, just what we all needed to keep the fire burning"
"Yes, of course. My cast deserves the best. Especially you Harlem. You're working really hard, it's impressive because I know for a fact that it's not easy. And I couldn't have chosen a more talented female lead for the play." He turns to HIM.
"Mr. Roth, I'm sure you've met Miss Harlem, she's doing extremely well in the play production and we're glad to have her." He says enthusiastically
I turn to see Ezra staring hard at Lucas like he just figured something out, no idea what's up with the dude. I turn to Lucas.
"Thank you, Lucas, but I haven't yet made the play so let's just all keep working hard" I say smiling at him. He nods understandably. I turn to Renee and we hug and we excuse the men to talk, finally I can breathe.
"So? A little birdie told me that something's going on between you and Mr. Lucas" I drag my eyes to Renee and she's wriggling her eyebrows at me. You have got to be kidding me.
"What?" I ask. "Everyone knows already, you don't need to hide it. We all ship you guys, and we've known for the longest time that he's smitten by you" she says.
I clear my throat. "How so?"
"Well, it's obvious with the way he looks at you and the obvious admiration in your eyes, we've all been together for three months, we can tell. I sigh. Great, just what I need to crown this day.
"I see. Well please kindly let everyone know that I and Mr. Lucas are as a matter of fact not seeing each other and they can all drown their ships in the nearest ocean" I say and Renee laughs. I roll my eyes and smile. Guess, we were a bit obvious.
I look behind me to check if I'm being followed but thankfully, I'm not. Renee and I join a bunch of the others and we all talk, laugh, eat and have fun. And I do my best to forget about the big issue in this hall with me. I'm probably on my fourth drink now and I can feel the buzz in my bloodstream, so I go to the toilet to calm myself down and adjust my makeup.
But as usual, standing in front of the toilet is fucking Ezra Roth. Great.