Zachary

Everett doesn't say anything. He just follows me, keeping a good five feet distance between us. Not that anybody is here to see us walking together. I really don't want anybody to see that. That would mean I will have to tell them about my job.

“Wait,” he says “Where are you going?”

I frown at him. “To work.”

“I know that,” he snaps at me “I meant why are you going that way?”

“To get a cab.” I grit my teeth so that I don't tell him to shut his trap and mind his own goddamn business.

“No need. I can just give you a ride.”

I stop walking. Now he wants to give me a ride? Not happening. “No.”

“Just come with me man. It's really stupid to spent money for a cab when you are getting a free ride.”

Logically I know that he is right. To top it off, I really need to save up money. I turn to face him, hesitantly. “Fine.”

He gives me a nod, and we start walking towards his car. God, he has a beautiful car. A Kona blue Ford Mustang. I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about getting a ride in this beauty. He motions me to get in as he takes the driver's seat. So I get in and damn. It's a fucking beauty inside too. He definitely knows how to keep a car.

He starts the car and silence falls. Good with me. If we talk it's just going to get into nasty battles between words. But I guess he has different ideas because he asks, “Why do you hide it?”

I know he is asking about the job. If he is trying to have small talk then this isn't how he should start. Actually he shouldn't at all, since we went without that for three whole years.

“None of your business.” I say. My fists clench.

He looks at me then. And it's not the usual anger or scowl that I see. He is actually looking at me like the way you look at someone when they have something on their face, and you don't know how to tell them. I am not going to ask what it is, he can keep his shit to himself.

“I feel like I don't know you right now,” he says.

“You don't know me.” I confirm.

“No, I don't. But I do know that you wouldn't let me see you like this. I am talking about how you are acting right now. Your whole body is tense, it's the first time I have seen you like this.”

That makes me feel self-conscious. He is right. I never let anyone see me tense. I try to relax but honestly, I hate this. I hate that he knows something about me that I didn't want anyone to find out about. It's putting me on the edge.

We don't talk after that. We stay silent till we reach the theater. I immediately get out of the passenger seat and head inside. Not checking to see if he is following or not. I don't care if he is or if he is not. But of course he is.

When we enter the theater, I notice that all of them are already there. I guess I am a little late then. Jessica sees us and comes over towards us with a smile on her face.

“Zach,” she nods at me and then turns to Everett “Everett, it's good to have you here.”

“It's just wow in here.” he says, the awe in his voice almost makes me laugh at him.

“Come on, let me introduce you to everyone.” Jessica says, moving towards the stage where everyone was looking at Everett intently. Everett trails after her. I do the same.

“Guys meet Everett, he asked me if he could read my script and I told him yeah... so here he is. He is also Zach's friend.” Jessica says.

“Bullshit. Zach doesn't have friends.” Sofia, one of the part-time workers, states. Everybody snickers and I roll my eyes at them. I don't bother correcting them. After all, they are not wrong. Everett looks at them and then at me.

“We aren't friends.” I confirm.

“Do you want to maybe go out on a date or something? Jesus, you're hot.” Sofia asks, turning to Everett. Her eyes scan him from head to toe. He gives her a full on smirk which only makes her swoon more.

“I am gay, but a date sounds great.” he tells her.

She stares at him. “You totally look like you work out, hard.”

He laughs. “Gotta take care of the body.”

Sofia contemplates that for a moment. “An athlete?”

“Soccer.” he nods.

“And you wanted to read the script because?” She asks, a bit confused.

“Literature major.”

“Then welcome to 'House of the Guns'. It's a pleasure to have you with us.” Mason cuts in dramatically.

“So what are we doing next week?” I ask. Trying to get everybody to focus on work.

“Was thinking Shakespeare, been a while since we did one of his.” Carl answers.

“Which one though?” Roman asks, sitting down on the stage, probably already running through the roles he could play in his head.

“Choosing from one of his plays is always difficult.” Leslie complains.

“Something headstrong and comical with a dark undertone?” Jessica proposes.

“The Taming of the Shrew.” Everett says immediately but then stops “Sorry I didn't mean to.”

“No, that's actually brilliant. For once, we didn't have to fight over the play.” Jessica says.

“I am kind of surprised you got it so easily.” Roman says with a smile.

“I just remembered the dialogue.” Everett says and then quotes “My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,

Or else my heart, concealing it, will break.”

I stare at Everett, completely stupefied. Is he seriously quoting Shakespeare? Of course, he is. He is a fucking literature major for God's sake. But I always thought that he chose it just like his other teammates who have no interest in their courses if they get to play soccer. Guess I was wrong.

“Ah... yes. Of course.” Jessica nods approvingly at Everett.

“Okay guys, let's decide on who plays what role now shall we?” Carl says, and they take out their phones and look through the script. Murmuring slowly to each other.

“Come on then, let me show you my script.” Jessica gestures for him to follow.

I go over to the stage to start talking to the part-timers about the stage settings. We all fall into a discussion of the things we will need, the paint, the materials and the clothes. Just like usual the banter starts, the disagreements blooms and the list we have to make gets longer and longer. Carl is going to be so pissed.

We work like that, just debating over different things for a few hours. Then get up to clean up the place. The actors are still discussing their respective roles. They'll have to memorize that script.

Just as my shift reaches its end, Everett and Jessica comes over. I notice that Everett has a thick bundle of spiral bound paper in his hands. The copy of the script. Jessica gave him an actual copy.

“I have an announcement to make,” Jessica gets all of our attention “Everett here will be helping me with writing my next script for the next few months. I hope nobody has any problem with that?”

“We are not going to meddle with how you write or who you take help from Jess. We won't take away your artistic license.” Carl tells her.

Jessica smiles at him. “Of course you won't.”

A few months. Everett will be here, working with me. If I didn't need the money and loved this place so much I would have quit this second. This just couldn't get better.

“See you all tomorrow then.” Carl says and we all turn to leave. I notice Everett waiting for me. Is this asshole really going to act like this after all that shit that we have said and done to each other.

“I can give you a ride from now on if you want.” Everett says as we walk side by side towards his car.

“And why the hell would you do that!?” I really want to slam my fist into something right now.

“Sure we hate each other, but I can still do that while giving you a ride. I mean it's really stupid to spent money when you don't have to.” Everett shrugs.

“It's not your money.”

“Money is still money.”

So he is careful about his money then. I didn't know that. Now that I think about it, I really don't know much about him. Except for the fact he is an absolute asshole.

We drive in silence. The really uncomfortable kind. I'm rethinking about the rides he offered because if the rest of them are anything like this then a cab feels like a great idea.

“Oh fuck this. Why the heck are you worked up!? It's not like I am going to blurt out your secrets.” Everett says.

“And why the fuck should I believe you!?” I retort back.

“Because I said so.” he snaps.

I narrow my glare at him. “Exactly why I don't believe it. And I don't care about it.”

That's a lie. But like hell I am going to ask him to keep a secret for me. As long as nobody knows the real reason why I have a job it's not a problem. His grip on the steering wheel tightens.

“Is that why you hide it?” he rolls his eyes.

“That's got nothing to do with you.”

He keeps silent. We don't look at each other, but I can feel him. A buzzing on my skin. It sets me on the edge the whole drive. As soon as we reach the parking lot, I get out of the car and rush to my room without a backward glance.

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