Truth & Consequences: A Miss Independent Novel

by Leach, Kiki

  She moved around the door to allow him in, then quickly closed and locked it.

  His eyes landed directly on the two vases. “Nice flowers,” he said.

  “Thanks. The green are from V and Mo brought the others.”

  “Mo?”

  “Yeah. We may have our issues, but he’s still being a supportive friend.”

  “That’s good,” he said. “I’m glad.”

  “Right. If this is about Melanie again. Like I told you on the phone last week, she said she’s not pressing charges against me for slapping her, so…”

  “I can’t imagine that she would, seeing that she’s here with Maurice as his date. Wouldn’t bode too well for whatever they might have going on together if she tried to haul you into court for assault.”

  “They don’t have anything going on together.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I know Mo, and his dick only works for Vanessa.”

  “Does she only work for him? Because I saw her here with that Nathan guy.”

  “It’s…” She turned back to the mirror to adjust her wig. “It’s complicated between everyone. That’s all this group has ever been, one big giant complication after the other. I must have felt left out, which is how I ended up being with you.”

  “Don’t say that about us, Nik.”

  She spun around. “What the hell else am I supposed to say? Your wife is here with someone else and you’re here alone, I assume. I’m still with William, technically. And yet, it still seems like we’re all just floating out there in the middle of the ocean and not a single person has a life raft or jacket to hold onto in order to keep us all afloat. I don’t know what’s going to become of this relationship, of any of our relationships. But I know that right now, I don’t have time to deal with it. I have a show to do and I need to kick ass. I can’t do that if I’m thinking about you and whatever the hell this continues to be.”

  Another rap on her door followed by a screeching “SIXTEEN MINUTES” followed.

  “You should go,” she told him. “Maybe once tonight is over, we can find time to talk all of this through.”

  “Or maybe we can find some time tonight, at the after party.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The Bean is a sponsor for the part tonight, Nik. William didn’t tell you?”

  “No. I didn’t know that an after party needed sponsors.”

  “It’s more or less for the play. Besides, it gets us some free publicity that we’ll need for the new place once it opens.” He went over to the door and stopped. “I know that this is something you’ve always wanted. And I’m proud as hell for you finally accomplishing a lifelong dream.”

  “Thank you.”

  He nodded at her upon exiting.

  Her head was completely out of the game now. But she was not going to let Oscar, or the lack of William’s presence distract her from what she knew needed to be done tonight in order to establish what she was certain would be the beginning of a bourgeoning career.

  Part Thirty-Six

  As the final curtain rose for Nikki to take her last bow alongside the actress playing Elphaba (or the Green Witch), the audience erupted in enormous cheer and applause that echoed throughout, with Vanessa and Maurice being the loudest of the entire bunch filling the space of the entire theatre.

  When Vanessa spotted him on the other side, leaping from his chair and tossing flowers on the stage, she leaned into Nathan’s ear.

  “I’m gonna go and see if he wants to congratulate Nikki in person!”

  Nathan wrapped a hand around her arm and pulled her closer. “Shouldn’t that wait until you see her again at the after party?”

  “No! She may get lost in the crowd at that bar. Besides, who knows how many people want to talk to her now! Look at all the ass she just kicked! I want it to be the three of us again first before it gets a little crazy. Just get the car and I’ll meet you out there.”

  “V!” he called after as she raced off and grabbed Maurice by the hand. “Aw, fuck.”

  They hurried alongside the wall of the theatre before reaching a side door at the very front and slipping through.

  As they disappeared to the other side, Melanie stood in front of her chair dumbfounded at what had just taken place right before her very eyes. When she spotted Nathan, who immediately turned away from her and tried escaping from the theatre the moment he saw her, she shoved her way through crowds of people either trying to reach the stage or exit the theatre, and snatched him by the arm.

  “What the hell just happened back there?” she hollered out.

  He leaned in, feigning inability to hear her over the screaming crowd. “What?”

  “I SAID WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! BACK THERE?! You just let her run over to Mo like that, like they’re still together, and take him away from me?”

  “I can’t control what she does, Melanie, just like you can’t control the fact that he actually left. She wanted to take him backstage to congratulate Nikki in person, that’s it.”

  “They couldn’t have done it at the after party?”

  “She didn’t want that.”

  “Well, she couldn’t even acknowledge that I was standing right there beside him as his date?”

  “Hey, no offense!” he yelled. “But I told you I could get him to bring you out tonight, alright? I didn’t promise there’d be nightcaps and Moonlight and Valentino.”

  Confused, she rattled her head. “What the hell does that even mean?”

  “You work in the movies, figure it out. Look,” he snapped, “I’ll do what I can to keep them apart at the bar tonight. I can’t do much more than that.”

  He walked away from her, but Melanie remained fuming, already on the verge of losing yet another battle she knew she couldn’t win.

  By the time Vanessa and Maurice made it back to Nikki’s dressing room, she was in the middle of removing her makeup and wig.

  Vanessa knocked on the door with both hands, waiting anxiously for Nikki to finally answer to them.

  As soon as the door pulled back, Vanessa threw her arms around her best friend, as did Maurice. Standing in the middle of the hall and receiving a group hug from the two people who knew her struggle more than anyone else and chose to happily witness in person her first live performance was almost more than she could’ve asked for.

  “You did so good, girl!” squealed Vanessa. “SO GOOD! I was taking pictures and shit and hitting people around me like, AHHHHH! THAT IS MY GIRL! I’ll probably be labeled a nut in the papers next week, but who gives a fuck. I’m so damn proud of you!”

  “You did amazing, Nik,” said Maurice. “Really.”

  “Gracias, mi familia!”

  “Nicole,” a deep, dark voice boomed from the other end of the hall.

  Collectively, they turned their heads and saw William standing there with a single white rose.

  Vanessa slightly rolled her eyes, but turned back to her friend with a smile on her face and placed both hands on her cheeks.

  “We should get going to hat after party, but,” she said, “I felt like we needed to come back here and make sure that you knew we were so damn proud and happy! You are going to be a SUPERSTAR, bitch!”

  Nikki laughed as Vanessa pulled herself away.

  Maurice waved back at Nikki and slid a hand around Vanessa’s waist, leading her away from the room. William passed without looking at either one of them and headed into Nikki’s dressing room, closing the door behind him.

  Vanessa stopped at the end of the hall and turned back. Then looked up at Maurice, questioning.

  “Did you see him in the theatre at all tonight?” she asked.

  “I don’t remember. I don’t think so.”

  “I don’t either.”

  Maurice shrugged. “Maybe he was setting up at the bar,” he said.

  “I’m not so sure I believe that either. Whatever, let’s just go.”

  Back inside her room, Nikki was even less than thrill
ed with seeing William than Vanessa had been.

  “Nice of you to finally show up,” she said while removing her corset and tossing it across the room. “You do everything you possibly can in your power to help me land this role and then you don’t even bother to show up and watch me perform my ass off in it.”

  “I was there,” he said. “Here.”

  “Where? I looked around for you the entire time – every chance I had a free moment, and never saw you anywhere inside that theatre, not once.”

  “I was on the outskirts,” he told her. “I didn’t want you to see me. Didn’t think it would do you any good to have me right in your face, knowing that I was watching, only to make you nervous.”

  “You wouldn’t have made me nervous,” she said. “My parents were there, the press was there, Vanessa and Mo were there, THAT all made me nervous. You being there would’ve provided the comfort I needed before going out there.”

  “I’m sorry.” He moved toward her flowers and ran his fingers across each petal. Then placed the flower in his hand between the vases. “I guess I underestimated my importance in regard to how much you actually need me to be there for you.”

  “I don’t know how you could’ve. Aside from V, you’ve been my only other cheerleader about all of this. Coming with me to rehearsals when you weren’t working, giving direction when you felt I needed it, critiquing me to help me be better – getting me vocal lessons. How could you have ever thought that I wouldn’t need you on tonight of all nights?”

  He looked into her eyes, his heart heavy and filled with anger, remorse.

  Resentment.

  He wanted to tell her the truth of why he hadn’t been there when he knew damn well she needed him the most.

  But then, what would have been the point of his plan?

  “All I can tell you,” he said, “is I’m sorry. All I can do, is get down on my knees” – he dropped to both knees – “and beg for forgiveness.” He pressed his palms together and entwined his fingers. Forcing out his bottom lip and staring up at her like a scarred dog, he attempted to make her laugh, which is exactly what happened.

  “Stand up.”

  He did as she asked and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. “The next time you’re up on stage, or maybe even on the big screen, I’ll be right there beside you.”

  “Gracias,” she said.

  “De nada. Now let’s get you out of this Glinda costume and into something sexier. We’ve got a party to get to. One that I’m positive will be talked about within your circle for years to come.”

  “More than my debut on stage?”

  “Maybe it’ll be fifty-fifty.” He winked. “If you’re lucky.”

  His tone sounded promising, yet the usage of his words seemed ominous.

  Nikki wasn’t exactly sure of what to make of it, if there had been anything at all.

  Part Thirty-Seven

  As the party got underway at Bar Nineteen with music blasting from every end of the room, bodies shimmering and shaking against and around each other, drinks pouring, spilling on people and the floor, Nathan and Vanessa found themselves huddled together and staring at the various food options that lined the bar.

  “Shit, shit, shit, double shit,” said Nathan, pointing to every tray of food he passed. “And if I haven’t said it already” – he leaned forward into Vanessa’s ear – “This food is shit.”

  “It’s a bar.” She leaned back and pressed her hand against his shoulder. “What the hell do you expect? A whole chicken with a side of waffles?”

  “Yes! I expect real food not a bunch of finger shit after sitting through something for that damn long without even any popcorn to help fill my stomach. And what the fuck is this about having to pay for the drinks?”

  “They’re a dollar a piece, jackass, which is probably the only damn good deal William has gotten us tonight. You know, I don’t even think I saw him throughout the entire thing. Even the few times I went to the bathroom--”

  “Yeah, that kinda got on my damn nerves with you popping up to take a piss every five seconds.”

  Vanessa slugged him in the stomach. He bent forward and clutched himself. “It wasn’t every five second and stop being such an asshole. Just for tonight, try being normal for a change.”

  “I’m sorry.” He leaned back on the edge of the bar and groaned. “I’m just pissed I haven’t seen Sheila at all tonight.”

  “Why are you surprised? There was no way in hell she was showing up before the party to even pretend she was supporting Nikki.”

  “Melanie showed up,” he said.

  “Melanie thinks that by showing up that she might finally get some of Maurice’s dick tonight. Sheila doesn’t have that problem in not showing up to the actual play. That’s the difference.”

  “Nice imaging there, V.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He grabbed a few quiche from a plate and stuffed them into his mouth. After a few bites, he grabbed a napkin and spit them inside.

  “Once again, this food is shit.” He tossed the napkin in the trash behind the bar. “If Sheila and I had actually gotten married, no way in hell this kinda shit would’ve been on the menu. This is some WASP shit if I ever saw it. William could’ve at least had Nikki help with the menu so that we could’ve had some real food!”

  “Hey.” Vanessa smacked him in the stomach and pointed across the room. “I see your girl over there just walked in!”

  Nathan leaned into her ear again. “With your guy!”

  “He’s not my guy,” she shouted back. “Not anymore.”

  “Right.” He pointed to the opposite side of where Sheila and Adrian stood. “There’s your guy.”

  Vanessa chewed her lip as she watched Maurice cross the room with Melanie at his side.

  “Shit,” she muttered. “He looks so sexy tonight.”

  Nathan cut his eyes at her. “Yeah. He looks dapper as fuck.”

  “Sorry,” she said. She turned her eyes back to Sheila as she waded through the crowd with Adrian. “Sheila looks nice too. At least she’s wearing more than pasties and a bikini bottom.”

  When Sheila spotted the two of them standing together near the bar, she said something in Adrian’s ear, then made her way over.

  “Fuck, here she comes,” said Nathan. He fixed his collar and adjusted his pants. “How do I look?”

  Vanessa tilted her head and squint while attempting to evaluate him. “Like an ass.”

  “Well, well, well,” said Sheila as she stood before them, crossing her arms. She ran her tongue back and forth across her teeth and eyed both Nathan and Vanessa up and down. “If this doesn’t remind us all of high school--”

  “It shouldn’t, actually,” said Vanessa, cutting her off. “You two fucking in close quarters, now THAT is one hell of a reminder of the good old days, am I right?” She pushed herself away from the bar and smiled. “Excuse me.”

  “Good to see you too, V!” she hollered out to Vanessa, who waved back as she continued moving forward. Sheila turned to Nathan and contorted her face in anger. “So you actually got your wish. After everything that’s happened, I’m surprised she even wants to be seen out with you in public.”

  He made a grunting noise, ignoring her comment, and scanned her body with his eyes instead. “You look nice,” he told her.

  She tugged the bottom of her skirt and looked down at herself. “Thank you. It’s vintage Lauren.”

  “Looks good.” He peeked over her shoulder and saw a fidgety Adrian standing near a table and staring at them. He slammed his fist inside his hand and crushed his fingers around his knuckles. Nathan nodded. “Your boy doesn’t look too thrilled about you being over here with me.”

  Sheila peeked back at him. “He knows the deal.” She dropped her hands in front of her skirt and swayed back and forth, nervous. “So are you and V a thing again?”

  “Nah. Mo came with Melanie. She found out about
it and asked me to come along with her, I’m guessing to piss him off.”

  “I’m guessing that too.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, it was good to see you, given that we hadn’t actually seen each other since--”

  “You gave me back that ring --?”

  “Vanessa’s ring,” she quickly corrected.

  “Right.”

  “She still doesn’t know anything about that?”

  He shook his head. “No. Never told her about it, never showed it to her.”

  “Do you ever plan on telling her about it?”

  “Nope. It’s not something she needs to know. Besides, I’m not looking to get her back. Not anymore, I already know the deal there.”

  “You mean you finally accepted it.”

  “That too.”

  “I hate the cost of it. What it had to come to in order for you to do that. But it’s better for you, you know, in the end.”

  “I guess.” A sad smile spread across his lips.

  Sheila felt the ache, the pain inside her chest and started backing away.

  “I guess so too. Have a good night, Nathan.”

  “Yeah,” he told her as she quickly turned away. “You too.”

  As soon as she ran into Adrian’s arms, Nathan whipped around to the bar and flagged down the bartender.

  “Give me two glasses of scotch,” he said. “One with soda, one without.”

  “You got it.”

  Vanessa stood near a window at the front of the venue watching the arrivals of various Broadway veterans as they stood on the red carpet in front and posed for pictures. As many passed, she greeted those she knew personally while smiling at others who only knew of her.

  From the corner of her eye, she could see Maurice closing in. She didn’t know whether to run into his arms, or run for the hills.

  “Here.” He handed her a glass of champagne.

  She grinned up at him and wrapped her fingers around the stem. “Shouldn’t this be for your date?” she asked.

  He looked around the bar, then turned back to her and smiled as well. “She’s good somewhere.”

  “Oh, she’s good?”

  “Yeah, she’s good.”

  Vanessa laughed softly, as did he.