The night of the screening had come faster than I had ever imagined it would.  I was running around like a maniac, trying to find something decent to wear.  The entire film department, students, professors and guests (some big names) would be there.  I needed to look less like a bartender and more like a director.  I hate to say it was a make or break night, but it was.   
     Siobhan had quietly locked herself in the safety of her room, free from my path of confused sentences and freak outs.  It was 6:30 and I still had nothing to wear, I needed to be at the auditorium by 7:20.  I had to find something and fast.

“SIOBHAN! can I pleeeease borrow something for tonight?” I yelled at her closed door.
“I thought everything I had makes you look too girly.”
“It…uuuuugh!!! PLEASE?!”  I rested my forehead against the door.

After a few moments of no response I gave up. Once Siobhan decided to dig her heels into the ground there was no turning back.  I relented to the fact that I’d wear what I always wore on nice occasions.  My least torn pair of black dickies and a shirt that easily dated back to 1995.  So I hadn’t been clothes shopping in a long time.  There’s not much left in my budget after rent and food.

I didn’t see my antisocial roommate before I left, but I made her swear she’d be there.  She assured me in her most convincing manner that she would be there.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”  her exact words.

     I left the apartment in a rush, flying out to my car to make the drive that normally took me 45 minutes, in twenty.  Speeding was inevitable.  My stall on the clothing issue had seen to that.  I only prayed that I didn’t get pulled over, or worse, stuck in traffic.  Funny how the latter took precedence in this matter. 
     As I sped down the freeway I called Lara.  No answer.  She would probably make it there before me.   That would be a twist of poetic irony.  The filmmaker late to the screening of her own movie.  It didn’t matter, all I cared about was getting there in one piece, and ticket free at this point. 
     I arrived at the University, parked and proceeded to run towards the film auditorium, nearly running down my girlfriend in the process.

“Whoa there speedy.” Lara said with the slyest of grins.
“Hi-late…starting.” I huffed, winded from my sprint. (hey I’m a director, not an athlete)
“Easy, you’re fine.  Everyone’s inside mingling, I just decided to wait for you out here.”

   Lara ran her hand down my arm in a soothing motion. Staring into those eyes, I forgot for a moment why I was panicking in the first place.  She leaned forward and kissed me softly on the lips.  I hadn’t seen her in a few days, our schedules were vastly different with the added hours I had pulled at the lab to get the film done.  I savored every inch of her mouth, completely lost in this simplest of pleasure.  A clearing of the throat drew my attention.  Bruce.

“Glad you made it Jake…care to come in and actually introduce your film.” he snapped.
“Don’t be snippy.” I gave him a look before taking Lara by the hand, leading her inside the auditorium.

    When my redhead said everyone was inside, she damn well meant it.  From Bette, Tina, Alice and Dana to Shane, Jenny, Kit and Carmen.  I knew the faces and names, but had honestly not had very many conversations with any of them.  Still, the more people for moral support the better.
    I kissed Lara softly on the cheek before following Bruce up to the Podium, I had made it with not a second to spare.  It seemed to be the trend as of late.  I gave him a quick and supportive smile before starting to introduce our film.  I didn’t stutter either, points for me.
     I sat back down beside Lara, taking her hand in mine as the movie began.  I was sweating profusely, nerves never treated me well.  She leaned over and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek before turning her attention back to the movie.  Her plan worked, I was reassured that at least, my girlfriend liked my film.

   After the showings, there was a reception in the ballroom.  Surprisingly to me, I was more concerned with the redhead on my arm than the gaggle of Hollywood types that had shown up.  Well, some of the students managed to get SAG actors for their films.  I had no such luck.  Even still the film that came from my two hands was decent.

“You look great.” I whispered softly against Lara’s ear.
“Thanks. Your film was wonderful sweetie.” She said as she leaned in to kiss me softly. 

     I leaned to meet her, my hand resting itself against her hip as I again became lost in her wyles.  I was never one on PDA, but Lara made it so natural.  I kissed her as though no one else was around, like it didn’t matter that producers and agents were roaming freely through the tables of punch and water.
     I allowed myself to explore every inch of her mouth, the taste so sweet to my own tongue that I just wanted more.  More of that delicacy that was so rare and beautiful.  Noone I had ever kissed tasted like she did.  And it would seem, as fate always has it, we were interupted.

“I truly enjoyed your film.” came a voice from behind.
I turned to see Ms. Bette Porter standing there, a smile overtaking her face.  I blushed slightly, my ears growing warm as the slight embaressment set in.
“Thank you. I mean…thank you for coming.  I hadn’t expected this many people to show, I mean…” i stumbled through words, i had no clue what was leaving my mouth.

Bette gave a bit of a smirk and nod as Kit walked over with a smile just as wide as her sister’s.  She caught me off guard by pulling me into a hug.  I blinked a moment before patting her tentatively on the back.
“So you liked the film?” i said quietly.
“It was great, I mean…the shots at the PLanet looked so good!”

    I gave a nervous smile, easing when I felt a hand wrap itself around my waist.  I moved my hand to rest on top of Lara’s. She gave Bette and Kit a small smile and kissed me on the cheek.  I smiled, closing my eyes as I leaned my face into hers.  
    I spent the next hour chatting about the surrealist and experimetal nature of my Film with Bette and a few other afficienados who had crawled out of the woodwork.  I still hadn’t seen Siobhan yet.  A pit formed in my stomach as I slowly began to realize that she may not have come.  
   
    My fears were allayed momentarily when Lara and I went out for a breath of fresh air with a few other claustrophobes.  I caught glimpse of my roommate and as Lara and I walked over I stopped dead.
“What’s the matter baby?” Lara asked as she rested a hand on my back.

     I gave a scowl as he came into view.  Laurence.  Siobhan’s supposed ex.  I glowered as I stormed over, completely unaware that I had left my girlfriend to half run after me.
“What is he doing here?” I hissed, shoving my finger in Laurence’s direction.
“Jake…relax…he-”
“I came with Siobhan Jaqueline.  Is there a problem?” he snarled back, cutting off my roommate’s speech.

Recap for a moment.  Laurence was not a nice guy, I knew that from the first moment I had met him a year earlier.  Still, I didn’t want Siobhan to hate me, so I gave him a chance.  Not only was he an alcoholic abuser, he also had managed to turn Siobhan into a bit of a coke fiend for a while.  He and I had it out, resulting in a restraining order and Siobhan’s realization of what was going on.  Laurence didn’t like me very much either.  A self proclaimed homophobe, he was not happy that I had shoved him away from his toy.

“A big one.  You need to leave. Now, before I call the cops and inform them you’re violating the restraining order.” I growled.
Lara bit her lower lip and laid a hand on my shoulder.  I shrugged her away and glared at Laurence.  I didn’t want him ruining Siobhan’s life again.  I couldn’t take her in such pain.  I was not a strong enough person.

“Jake…please…he’s cleaned up.  He just wanted-”
“I know what he wants Shiv, and he’s not getting it.  He needs to leave!” I cut her off, so lost in my own fury that all I saw was red circles around Laurence.  I wanted to tear him limb from limb.

Laurence snickered and took a few steps closer to me.  I glared him down, I wasn’t going to throw the first punch.  But if he started it, I’d end it.  He just sneered and leaned forward, grabbing my neck from behind and pushing me into a kiss, one of those old 1950s movie kisses.  I finally managed to shove him away, about to start screaming when he walked off, blowing a kiss in Siobhan’s direction.
     By now a sizable crowd had gathered, drawn by my yelling.  After I watched him walk off I turned my head, greeted with a glare from Siobhan.  She shook her head and started off.  I grabbed her arm and spun her to face me.

“You’re joking right? How could you bring him here after what he did!”
“He cleaned up Jake! Besides, he’s sorry.” Siobhan said matter of factly.
“CLEANED UP?! How many times did I rush you to the ER after he left? How many ***** stitches siobhan? Do you remember? Because I do! 1,000 total!!!!”
“He’s changed Jake!” her tone began to rise.

From the corner of my eye I saw that Lara had retreated to her group of friends.  I was glad, I didnt want her near me this way.  I was starting to scare myself.

“HE’S the same ***** loser! how can you forgive him!?” by now I was screaming, tears rolling down my face.
“It’s my life Jake! stay out of it!”
“So I can watch my best friend get beaten to a bloody pulp every other day?! How much of a good ***** is he that you’d act like such a floozy all of the sudden? Is that what its about? The *****??”

The moment the words left my mouth I knew they were a mistake.  Siobhan paused a moment, the hurt reflected in her eyes as she shook her head, trying violently to fight back the tears. 
“At least I don’t go around pretending to be something I’m not.  Your film sucked! And you’re a goddamned emotional cripple! at least I feel!!!” her words were followed by a hard fisted punch to my jaw that sent me stumbling.

I grunted as I fell backward onto the ground.  I felt the blood running down my chin and knew that Siobhan had busted my lip wide open.  I stared at her in shock.  Siobhan started to walk away past me, and I grabbed her ankle, taking her slamming into the ground.  I was angry, furious.  I was lost in my own world.  I don’t remember much of the brawl, only that Siobhan got in more punches than I did.  We went at one another for what seemed like an eternity before I felt hands pull me back fiercely.  Dana had grabbed Siobhan as Shane took me under control.  I fought against the constraints as Siobhan did. 

“STOP IT!” Shane yelled before throwing me backward.
“Jesus you’re supposed to be friends.” she continued.

“Not anymore,” siobhan piped in “I’m moving out.” and with that she walked off.

I turned to look at Lara who just shook her head and walked off with Bette and Shane.  I stood there as the crowd dispersed.  Dana walked over, giving me a grimace.
“You should get that lip checked out. I’ll drive you.”
“I’ll be fine. thanks.” I said curtly before walking off.

THE NEXT MORNING

I felt like a mack truck had hit me.  I awoke with a headache and pain in my lip so great, I almost fell over as I stood.  I sighed, the events of the prior evening had done two things.  one, I lost my best friend and roommate.  And two? My girlfriend thought I was psycho.  Beautiful.  I never lost my temper, and I sure as ***** wasnt an emotional cripple. 
     I went into the living room, it was 4 in the afternoon.  A message flashed on my machine.  I played it.  Life couldnt get any worse right now.

“Hi Ms. DeLentorra.  I’m Adam Pratt, a producer for Lions Gate films.  We loved your short and would like to see it turned into a full length feature.  Please give me a call back at 555-9822. we look forward to your response.”

I stood frozen.  An option?  I turned, quickly towards Siobhan’s room before realizing she wasn’t there. She was with Laurence.  I sighed and picked up the phone, dialing Lara’s number.  She was at work.  I left message before moving into the kitchen to grab a bag of frozen peas, pasting it over my lip as I laid down on the couch.  My best friend gone, and my girlfriend quite possibly following suit—and I had just gotten the offer of a lifetime.  Life just got worse.