Working with Jess on her script is relaxing and exciting at the same time. The things I get to learn from her are stuff that I'll never forget. I also found out that when Jess is not working on her script, she is a freelance writer for magazines. I'd say she has become my favorite person here in the theater.

The week passed and everyone has got on with the fact that Zachary and I hate each other. We have been slandering each other non-stop, to the point where we stopped looking at each other. Just thinking about him makes me want to commit homicide. I still give him a ride to and from work, where we keep silent and ignore each other. But no fists were thrown. Yet. But I also found out that Zach is a completely different person when he is in the theater. He smiles more, and is friendly with everyone. Mason is his best friend even if neither of them will acknowledge that. But even he really doesn't know why Zachary works here. He told me that both of them had started working here since high school and Zach doesn't really talk much about himself.

“I don't know man, she's totally out of my league.” A voice says from behind me. I turn and see that Roman was talking to Mason and Leslie while Zachary scrolled through his phone. His head is slightly dipped making his wavy curls fall over his forehead. It almost makes me want to push them back. He might be attractive but he is still an arrogant jerk.

“Yeah definitely. But you won't know if you don't give it a try.” Mason says with a grin.

“Hey Everett,” Leslie calls out when she catches me looking “What do you think about it?”

“About what?”

“Roman here likes a lady. He doesn't know what to do.” Mason tells me pointing his thumb at Roman who looks a bit embarrassed by all the attention he is getting.

I walk over towards them. Zachary still ignores all of us.

“What's there to do? You go and talk to her.” I shrug at Roman who gives me an unimpressed glare.

“Is that how you pick up guys?” Leslie asks with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I give her a smirk. “No. I don't have to. They usually come to me.”

Leslie rolls her eyes at me. Mason snorts.

All of a sudden Zachary's phone rings and he tenses. That's the second time I have seen that happening. He blinks at the screen before turning to us. “Give me a minute.”

He doesn't wait for us to reply before rushing out of there. I look over to Leslie and Mason to check if they know what that was all about but both of them look as confused as I feel. They all stare at each other.

“Break's over guys. Get back to work,” Carl says loudly, turning to look at us “Where's Zach?”

“He got a call,” I tell him.

“Get him back. I need to talk to him,” Carl says.

I nod and move out to search for Zachary. Just as I reach the backstage, I hear hushed noises. Turning over, I spot Zachary in the corner talking on this phone. His face is set on a distressed frown. He is tense now but more nervous. And that catches me off guard. He just doesn't look like the Zachary I know.

“It's fine.” he says.

There's a pause then and Zachary's face turns into pain. Like someone just kicked his puppy. And it makes me feel a little unsettled.

“Of course not. You know that's not true. I will meet you somewhere else.” he says. His voice pleading.

Another pause before he talks. “I love you too, Vio”

He cuts the call and sighs. The grip on his phone is so tight that his knuckles turn white.

Everett doesn't try to hide or lie when I catch him looking at me after I cut my call. He stares right at me. Usually I would have been furious at someone for sneaking up on me while I am on the phone. Right now though, I feel drained. Violet was really desolate on the phone. She was mad at me too. I really need a cigarette.

“Carl's looking for you,” he looks at my phone when he says that.

“Okay.”

“Zachary, are you okay?” He asks that with a stoic expression but his voice is low, like he already knows that something is not right. His seafoam eyes keep locked with my eyes.

“Come on. I need to see Carl.” I ignore his question. He is the last person who needs to know anything about that phone call.

He doesn't move. He just gazes at me. I don't break eye contact; he moves towards me. He doesn't come too close, keeping my personal space intact. I feel lighter all of a sudden. That small gesture has more meaning to it than he will ever realize.

“You're deflecting.” he says.

I can feel my temper rising but I don't let it show. “It's a bit more complicated than that.”

“Okay.” He turns and leaves. I let out a sigh of relief.

Carl beckons me to him when I go over to the stage. He tells me about the music he wanted to use in the play and asks me if it was okay. I give him my opinion and we discuss it for a few hours. When we both are finally gratified, I go over to the other part-timers to help them clean up. After that my work's done and I go over to Everett to get my ride back to the dorms. When I see him he is leaning his back over his car with his legs crossed at the ankles while typing something on his phone. Jesus fuck, he has a nice body. Lean, muscular and relaxed. Except that I hate him.

He looks up as though he can feel me coming over. He doesn't acknowledge me in any way, just gets in the driver's seat and waits for me to get in too. So I do. He starts driving and our usual silence befalls.

My mind drifts off to the conversation I had with Vio. I replay it in my head again and again. All that does is make me feel even more helpless. No. I can fix this. Just like usual, it will all be fine. It won't be perfect but then again nothing ever is.

“I am sorry.” Everett whispers, breaking me away from my thoughts. It was so quiet for a second I thought I imagined it. I turn my head to him so fast I am surprised I didn't get a whiplash. I can't believe he is apologizing. Mostly because I don't even know why he is doing it.

When I just stare at him astounded, he continues “For listening in while you were on the phone. I didn't mean to, I just thought I should let you finish the call since it looked important.”

My brain is still stuck on the fact that he just apologized. My first reaction is to just snarl at him but I stop, not wanting to start a fight. So I keep my calm.

I know that Everett is nice to others, I mean, he is an asshole but the kind of asshole that everyone likes because he makes them feel included. It's just me he has a problem with because you obviously can't like everyone. The feeling is mutual. But still, never in a million years did I ever think I would hear him apologize to me. Especially since I definitely wouldn't have.

“It doesn't matter,” I shrug “It wasn't that important.”

It's a lie and he knows it. “You are lying.”

He isn't asking, just stating a fact. So I don't reply. If we continue this conversation we both know that we will just start fighting all over again. The silence that ensues has a weight on it that I don't know what to do about.

Soon enough we reach the dorms and I rush for my room. I immediately take off my clothes and get in the shower. I think about what to do about Violet. God, I miss her. I really need to meet with her.

My heart sinks when I think about how Everett knows that I am hiding something. It shouldn't be a problem. It's not like someone is going to get hurt because of that information. We all have our secrets. I am just rattled by the fact that he knows. I don't like anybody knowing about my problems.

I come out of the shower and check my phone. A few texts from Vio that immediately reply to. I know Vio will understand. She always does. Makes me feel guilty. The others are few from my friends. Nothing too important.

I sit down on my desk chair and start on my assignments and try to keep my mind off of my problems. Just for a little while longer.

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