Chapter 10: The Accident

Once the show was over Renée stepped from the bows, "Thank you all for being here," she began once the applause subsided. "I would like someone to come up to the stage so you can know her," she paused as Ric nudged my elbow while I wiped the tears from my eyes. "Can Rose Stevens please come up here," she asked as I stood up and climbed the staircase to meet her center stage. "Now, how many of you were here for the Ham4Ham," she asked and many people in the audience raised their hands. "Congratulations if you were part of the lotto and won but I do have a question for the challenge that Lin set for you," she began, "did you figure out who in this magnificent cast is adopting Rose?"

There were shouts of Lin, Pippa, Daveed, and Renée as one of the ensemble members whispered in my ear to answer them. As I wasn't right next to Renée, I walked over to her and grabbed her hand before saying, "I am officially the daughter of Renée Elise Goldsberry and her husband."

The crowd cheered along with the cast, "With that being said she will move into our home a few days from now since her room is currently being painted. I ask that you all give her, her space and time as she went through her troubles and isn't the kind of person who's comfortable around a crowd of people," Renée said as another tear of happiness rolled down my cheek.

"Why don't you give her and Renée a resounding congratulations for the new adoption," Lin said, stepping forward as the crowd stood up and cheered with the rest of the cast.

I smiled as I saw Ric joining the audience, soon the curtains closed and I hugged Renée. "Thank you for everything," I said as she hugged me back and chuckled. "You did not have to take me in like that," I said with a sniff as Renée rubbed circles on my back

"I felt like I needed to," she began, "I had a feeling that wasn't a pole that made your face bruise like that."

She chuckled with that as I looked up at her in confusion, "What do you mean," I asked her

She smiled softly, "That bruise was too big for an accident and your face wasn't scratched up as if you fell on your face. Besides," she paused, "you're a terrible liar," she finished as I smiled

"I've never been good at lying," I said as Renée chuckled

"Well that is a good thing to note," she said, "go get Ric, we still have some more of the day to celebrate," she added and I nodded as I ran to get him from the house.

After that, I dropped my coat off in my room and the rest of the night was a karaoke night with a musical theme. By the end of the day the whole cast left which only left me and Ric, I was walking him to the stage door when he said,

"Be ready for another surprise tomorrow," he said with a smirk, "this one was planned by me and paid for by Lin."

"Well I can't wait for it," I said as he smiled before giving me one last kiss, "now go I don't want your mother to worry. Be sure to thank her for the gift for me," I said after our minute-long kiss ended

He smiled softly, "Okay," he said as he opened the door, "I'll see you in the morning, my dear," he said as I nodded

"I will see you then," I said as he stepped out into the cold night, with one final wave I closed and locked the stage door. With me usually being the last person in the theater I was to turn off all of the lights and make sure all of the doors were locked. Thanks to Renée saying that I would be staying here for a few days there was still a crowd of people by every door that they could get access to. I waved to each one as I made sure the doors were locked before I walked in the darkness to my room. From backstage, I had to climb one staircase into a long hallway that held the dressing room for the female ensemble, Renée, Pippa, and Jazzy with my room being at the back. But from the floor, I had to climb two passing hallways that held the dressing rooms for the male ensemble and the male leads. Once I got into my room, I opened the laptop that someone from the cast got me and checked everything that hasn't been checked since I was eleven. I even looked at Sammy's profile a little more before I messaged her.

Me: Hey Sammy, you were right about the adoption. I thought I'd give you a personal reply before the media caught up with everything 😊 have a good night!

With that message, I put the laptop away and went to bed dreaming of the happiness that was in my future with the cast, Ric and Sammy who I barely knew but trusted for some reason. The next morning, I woke up to my phone going off crazy on my bedside table. Groggily, I grabbed it to see that my lock screen was changed to a picture of the whole cast in costume along with four messages. One of them was from Renée, another was from Sammy that looked like she was jealous, Lin text next and the last one was Ric.

I opened Renée's first and read it before replying

Renée: Time to rise and shine sweetie, you have a big day today

Me: I'm up, very tired though, what's going on?

Renée: Wake up quick, Lin should've sent you a text on what you should wear since it's supposed to be nice. You'll find out soon enough

Me: Okay thank you

After that I opened Lin's text that was sent at five in the morning, does this man get any sleep?

A. Ham: Hey Rose, you should wake up soon, Ric is going to be there in about two or more hours to pick you up.

Me(now): Thanks, Lin, I'm up now how do you like your nickname?

A. Ham: I love it, it's time to change yours

A. Ham changed the nickname for Rose Stevens to Ms. Hamilton

A. Ham: How's that?

Ms. Hamilton: Nice, I gotta get ready, very dressy, or semi-dressy?

A. Ham: Semi dressy, be quick and talk to you later

After I replied to that last message, I looked at Ric's text

Ric: Can you let me in? People are starting to give me the side-eye

After I read that, I leaped out of my bed and ran down the stairs to the stage door letting in my shivering boyfriend. "You're not even ready," he stated as he walked in, "you're slacking," he finished with a chuckle

I scoffed, "Your text was the one that woke me up and for all you know I could've left you out there to freeze while I got ready."

He smiled before pecking me on the lips, "Okay, hurry up please we don't have much time," he said as I soaked the kiss in

I ran back up the stairs and looked at the number of dresses that I had; I picked a light blue dress that had frills throughout. I then took a quick shower before putting it on with flats and the wrap that I was given yesterday. I dried my hair and straightened it before putting it in a braid that went over my shoulder. I then put on some foundation with eyeliner and mascara before sliding on flats, grabbing a coat, and headed back downstairs.

"Ready," Ric asked once I got to the door where he stood

"Yep," I answered as he opened the door after giving me a peck on the cheek

"You are so beautiful," I heard him breathe before he said, "let's go."

After we both got into the car and started moving, I finally asked him, "Where are you taking me?"

"That is for you to find out," he said with a smirk before he pulled out from the parking spot and we started moving. Soon enough, we got to Manhattan, one of the busiest parts of New York, "We're going to be late," Ric started grumbling. "And I hate being stuck in the middle of the intersection," he finished yelling as he hit the steering wheel as I noticed the sounds of a crash happening in the distance

"I'm sorry," I said a pout as he glanced over at me

"No, it's not your fault," he began as he patted my knee, "you didn't know what time you were to wake up. It's these assholes that don't know the basic traffic laws," he finished as I smiled holding his hand in place

We waited for a bit more, only moving an inch since then, before I looked out the window to see the looming image of a semi crashing into every car at full speed. "Ric," I began as fear enveloped me, "aren't semi-trucks supposed to slow down when they crash into other cars," I asked the fear and worry clear in my voice.

"Yeah," he answered as he honked the horn once more, "why?"

"That's why," I answered pointing to the semi closing in on our car; the last thing I knew and felt was pain as I was pulled from the door before darkness came. I had one last thought as the sound of glass breaking reached my ears

Not again