Theatre Is A Lie ~ Joshua Burrage

Chapter 23

It was the last day for the tour at the Hobby Center and Ami was very disappointed. Josh could see it in her eyes every time she glanced up at her Polaroid's that she had taken. There were a few of just Austin and just Beau, a few of them together, a few with Ami and the two when they were younger (which displayed the constant dying of Ami's hair ex. Red, a copper colour, pink...) and then more recent ones that she had taken during tour while they were in Texas that had Josh included in them. She truly loved her boys and anyone could see it. Some of the male ensemble had asked Josh if he had felt jealous that she had pictures of Austin and Beau on her mirror but Josh didn't mind. She very clearly wasn't the cheating type and he knew that she would only see the two as her brothers. Josh loved watching her treat Austin like he was her own kid and he got along with Beau pretty well. You'd be shocked to see a guy who rocks a bass guitar and drums that sang 80's music for a living belting show tunes but Josh witnessed it for himself.

Beau and Austin were coming to see the show again just to say farewell. Beau had to wait till Austin got out of school though and the show wasn't until later so Josh and Ami went out for some lunch. They sat at Ami's favourite Chinese place which had very good food to Josh's surprise. They sat and laughed, acting like a regular couple. Josh had missed this and was glad that he had gotten things back to normal. Ami smiled gently at him and continued to pick at her food. She wasn't hungry and was too focused on Josh really to eat anything. She felt like something was wrong. It was this aching feeling in her stomach and she tried to push it off on just her anxiety but it didn't feel like it. When she had anxiety it felt like impending doom, yes, but normally she became very paranoid and felt like at any moment a random person would come and stab her in the throat. This felt like... something that wasn't just of her imagination. Suddenly she got a phone call. She jumped a little, confusing Josh. Josh leaned forward and put his arm on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"

Ami smiled weakly, "Yeah, just a little paranoid." She pulled out her phone, Beau's contact popping up. She answered right away, "Hello?" Beau sounded like he had been crying which sent Ami off the edge. She stood up abruptly, almost falling. Josh stood up, helping steady her. Beau's strained voice came through finally, "Austin... Austin's school. There was a man, a fugitive, he was supposed to go to a mental institute but managed to get away... he got a hold of a weapon and is keeping hostages at Austin's school. Some kids are dead but they haven't identified any of them yet." Ami choked back tears, "Listen, it'll be okay, Austin is a smart kid, he'll be alright." It was directed towards Beau but to Josh it seemed to also be directed to himself. Ami managed to get Beau's location and turned to Josh, "Joshie we have to go, Austin's in danger." Josh's eyes widened and he grabbed his keys and hauled Ami out to the car.

They drove quietly, Ami struggling to not break down into tears. Josh had begun to treat Austin as his own son and enjoyed spending time with him, the two playing catch when Josh was free and Josh spoiling the boy a little too much. Josh also gotten a blessing, much to Ami's amusement, from Christy and Marvin, Beau and Austin's parents and Ami's practically parents. Ami's actual parents really didn't care. Josh didn't want to lose part of his new family already and he knew that at this point he'd be as devastated as Ami. As much as he wanted to break down as well, he knew he had to stay strong for the female beside him and so he tried his best.

When they arrived at a small sandwich shop about a block from the school, you could already see the dozens of police cars and even a few helicopters. This worried Ami more as they parked. When they entered the shop Ami looked to the corner and saw Beau stress eating a cookie he had bought. She sat by him, burying her face in his shoulder as she gave him a long hug. The man hugged back, struggling not to break into tears. Ami pulled back with a small smile, "No wonder you're so chubby! I didn't realise you started stress eating." Beau snorted and swatted at her as she poked his stomach, trying to lighten the mood. Josh smiled weakly as they tried not to think of the dark situation at hand. Beau filled them in that the police said that they had it covered and to wait nearby but far enough to not get caught in crossfire to pick up children. Some parents were still at work though so there weren't many cars around waiting.

Josh grabbed Ami's hand as she sobbed silently into Beau's shoulder. Josh smiled weakly at Beau and took the silence as a chance to speak, "I'm sure he'll be okay... he's got brains and he's a scrawny little one so I doubt he's not crammed in a locker hiding." Beau smiled, "Sounds like something he'd do." They sat and waited, Ami refusing to eat a sandwich or anything at all until she knew Austin was okay, Josh not leaving her side, and Beau refusing to let the two out of his sight because he "didn't need two more siblings going missing." Josh felt his heart warm despite how dull he felt. He was glad he wasn't shunned for his mistakes before.

They waited for another hour, all three's hopes dropping with each tick of the clock. Right when they were about to give up Beau received a phone call.

From the school.

I'm literally sitting in my college placement testing room waiting for them to release us so here lol. Also my last show with the production of a musical I'm doing is this weekend and then my theatre group has to say goodbye to 5 of the greatest people in my life 😭