The Next Night

Makayla hadn't planned to see the play again, but she wanted to see Alex. She hadn't thought to leave her number, not that she would have ever done something that forward. She nervously looked around for a seat up front.

"You can sit next to us," she heard a voice say. She saw a dark haired guy and a woman with short dark hair. "He doesn't bite... I do," she heard and noticed the man's face turn slightly red.

"Matt," he said offering his hand.

"Gaby," the woman said.

"Makayla," she responded.

She saw them share a knowing glance.

"You come to these often?" Gaby asked.

"No, yes... I mean I came last night and liked it so I decided to see it again."

She saw them share another knowing glance.

"That's cool," Gaby replied.

Behind them some people were taking their seats.

"Erik, chill out," a female said

"I don't understand why we can't sit in the back," a male replied.

"Because I'm not going to sit back there and make out with you," the female answered.

"Besides, if we sit in the back, she's making out with me," a second woman joked.

"Bianca!" the first woman exclaimed.

"I'm down for that," Erik replied. "Hmmph!" he cried out, having been elbowed in the gut.

"Behave," a second male voice demanded.

As they were leaving the theatre Gaby spoke up.

Hey we're going to wait around to congratulate our friend. He played George. Do you want to meet him.

"I, um..." she did, but she was also nervous and also worried about running into Gomer.

"Come on," Gaby said.

While they waited outside the dressing room she heard the door open and Gomer's voice. She wanted to run.

"Is it all there? Dana will have my ass if it isn't."

"It's all there, I promise." she heard Alex say.

Alex came out and seeing his friends smiled.

"Hey." then seeing Makayla, his smile got bigger. "Heyyy."

"Hey," she nervously replied.

"So did you enjoy it?" he asked turning back to his friends.

"Yeah, real good," Matt said.

"You were great," Gaby said, giving him a hug.

"Thanks guys, you coming around later?"

"Yeah, we'll be there."

"How about you?" he asked Makayla.

She really wanted to say yes, but knew the awkwardness of being around Gomer and Alex would be too much.

"I would, but I really have to get some studying in after last night."

"I understand," he replied, looking disappointed. "Thanks for coming though, it was good to see you again."

"Yeah, it was fun too see you... um... the play again, it was great." She then turned to Matt and Gaby, "Nice to meet you guys."

"Nice to meet you," they both said

She turned, embarrassed and quickly headed back to her dorm.

She had planned to actually study, but instead she was just laying in bed, kicking herself for not going to the party. She thought back to meeting Alex, seeing him in the bathroom with Gomer. "Tell him his ass is banned," suddenly rang through her mind.

Oh no, he's not even going to be there.

She quickly got ready, making sure to check herself out in the mirror one last time.

When she arrived the party was hopping, with a lot more people than the night before. She figured that made sense since it was the last night of the show. As she worked her way through the crowd she noticed Gaby and Matt in a corner fooling around. She peeked in the kitchen and saw Dana mixing drinks. She finally found Alex sitting alone, nursing a beer, in a room off of the living room where most of the party was happening. There was another couple whispering and occasionally kissing on another couch.

Alex seemed lost in thought.

"Hey," she said

Alex turned to her and smiled. "Oh hey, you came."

She sat in the chair next to the couch.

"Yeah, I wasn't getting much homework done," she replied "What's up? You seem awful quiet, over here away from everything. I figured you'd be partying hard."

Alex laughed.

"I'm just thinking about stuff."

"What about?" Makayla asked.

Alex looked to her thoughtfully

"I uh...."

He looked down then over toward the party. Makayla looked to where he was looking and noticed Aya flirting with the guy who had played her dad. Alex took a deep breath.

"I uh... there's this uh... girl."

"Oh," Makayla responded, remembering what Dana had said about him being smitten with Aya.

"I uh didn't think she would be here, but she is and now... well I'm nervous."

Makayla was feeling hurt, but she tried to cover it.

"Nervous? You go on stage in front of all those people, but nervous about talking to a girl?" she said with a **** laugh.

"She's not just any girl," he said still staring off at the party. "I just want to ask her to go for a walk with me, get away from all this noise. What should I do?"

Makayla felt like her heart was being stabbed repeatedly.

"I- I think you should just go for it."

"You're right," he said standing up. "Makayla, you want to get out of here and go for a walk?"

"I... what? I mean..." she felt her face go bright red as she looked up at his kind eyes. "Yes."

"Let me grab us a couple drinks."

He returned, handing her a drink, then he took her hand gently. She, however gripped him back tightly, not wanting to let go as he led her out the door to the back yard. It had a high fence and stones making a winding path around different painted scenes.

"This is what happens when a set designer lives in the house," he said with a smile.

He walked her around the path past the city skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Mt Rushmore. In the back corner was what looked like the opening to a spooky cavern. Her grip had loosened and instead their fingers were now intertwined.

"Shall we go sit in Paris?" he asked, pointing to an outdoor swing near a painting of the Eiffel Tower. "The stars look so beautiful," he added.

Makayla was thinking about how she had thought he was talking about Aya.

"I'm so emb..."

Suddenly his lips were on hers. He pressed gently, not hard, and they kissed. When they finally broke away their eyes met. He looked like he wanted to say something but the words wouldn't come. She placed her hand on his cheek and he leaned in and kissed her again.

They sat down on the swing and kissed a few more times. As she broke away the final time she whispered in his ear.

"Let's save some for the second date."

She then turned and laid her back against his chest, his arms wrapped around her. Not much was said. he ran his fingers through her hair, lightly massaged her neck. She vaguely recalled Dana bringing them a couple more drinks, and then a blanket. And then she fell asleep in his arms.

Makayla looked down at the pond, swirling her toes around and watching the ripples, when a rock came skipping through, surprising her. She turned to see a couple with a young kid.

"Sorry," the man said. he then directed him to skip the rocks the other direction.

She smiled and nodded, then looked back down at the pond.