"Please follow me. I will take you to your sits and your waiter should be here shortly." Josh and Christine followed the hostess and sat at the table for two. Christine picked up a menu and Josh did the same.
"Have you ever been here before?"
"No, I don't go out very much." Between rehearsals and classes at school, she only had a little spare time. And her spare time was spent with Erik.
"Well, if you'd like, I could order for you."
"Sure, thanks." When the waiter came Josh ordered both of their meals. He even ordered her beverage. Unfortunately he ordered them both root beer, which she absolutely hated. She wasn�t liking how controlling this Josh was being. The food came and Josh decided to start up a conversation.
"So, how's the food taste?" "Oh its great." She said even though she had only taken a few bites
"I love New York don't you? Its such a beautiful place. I grew up here you know. I've been dancing and singing my whole life. I won many singing competitions. Got a whole wall full of trophies for dancing and acting and singing." He boasted. Christine wasn't paying much attention to him. Her mind kept drifting away with thoughts of Erik. "He is probably so lonely" She thought.
"Once when I was only six years old, I beat a bunch of kids that were three years older then me at a tap dancing competition." He went on. "Think you brag much?" Christine thought to herself, but kept on smiling and nodding.
"Oh I'm sorry I keep talking about myself. But, there's so much to say ya know what I mean?"
"Oh that�s okay."
"So, what about you? Have you always been into singing?"
"Well, I didn't sing much when I was younger. My mother was a famous singer. But, she got cancer and died. My father didn't want me to sing, I guess. He was mean. He misses my mother terribly." What was she doing spilling out her entire history? She felt kind of embarrassed now.
"Oh I'm sorry." Josh looked down at his plate."Hey, wanna go take a walk around town? Have you ever been on a tour of New York City at night? It's really nice." Josh asked, trying to be more sensitive now.
"Well, I guess you're the expert huh?" She asked almost sarcastically. He didn't get it that he was being an annoyance. Christine figured he never realized he was conceited and annoying.
"Yes I am!" He chuckled and paid the bill and they walked out. When they got on the sidewalk, Josh grabbed Christine's hand. She didn't try to let go because he was holding her hand so tightly. Christine tried to ignore it and looked around at the amazing city. She hadn't spent much time outside.
"So, you live at the school. That's pretty cool. I have a place of my own." He said.
"You do? I don't think we ever asked each other our ages." She said surprised.
"I'm eighteen. How old are you?"
"I'm only sixteen." She was embarrassed. She felt like a child now. "I thought you were older. You're so beautiful." He said looking into her eyes. They found a bench and sat down.
"Thanks. Everyone says I look like my mother." She said shyly.
"Your mother must have been gorgeous." He said, keeping his eyes locked with hers.
"I wish she was still alive. I wish she could hear me sing. I wish my father would come and-" He leaned in and started kissing her, cutting her off. His kiss was firm and she tried to pull away but she couldn't. Finally she succeeded in breaking the kiss.
"Something wrong Christine?" He asked.
"I'm just tired." She said. She was getting sick of Josh and his pushy ways.
"Well, why don't you come back to my place? I have an apartment all to myself. We could-hang out there for a while." He said putting his arm around her. She pushed his arm away.
"No," She said firmly, "I would really like for you to take me home-now."
"Alright fine. I guess I'm not use to little girls." He muttered, annoyed with her.
"Just take me home!" She yelled at him.
"Jesus chill out. Most girls like this." He stood up and she did too. He pulled her closer to him but she pulled away. He grabbed her arm tightly and pulled her to his car. Luckily, he did take her back to the school.
"See you tomorrow, Christine." He whispered her name, and it freaked Christine out even more. She got out of his car without saying a word, and slammed the door shut. She waited until he sped away in his car before she began crying. "I was so stupid." She thought. �He just wanted to sleep with me, that stupid bastard.� She felt sick to her stomach and slowly made her way to the door to the theatre and to her dressing room. She needed to be with Erik. She prayed that he would forgive her for her stupid decision of leaving him to go out with Josh. She wanted him to comfort her and hold her. She felt she wanted to be in his arms and have him never let go�When Josh had kissed her, she felt nothing.
"What would I feel if I kissed Erik?" She found herself thinking. "You would feel love" A voice in her head told her. At that moment, she realized her true feelings for Erik. Quickly she went through the mirror door, hoping Erik would forgive her.
