# Chapter 12 Drama Club Drama


    Alex stopsing by as often as before.


    The hecklers aren''t motivated toe back, but it does cause a different disturbance.


    "Has anyone seen him today?" Charlie asks, fretting over him. "I tried to message him, but he didn''t reply..."


    The other club members look at each other awkwardly, ncing in my direction before answering her. I really wish they wouldn''t look at me. Whenever they do, Charlie always


    shoots me a dirty re, like I''m at fault somehow.


    Dammit. This is exactly what I was afraid of.


    I''ve diagnosed Alex''s problem.


    He likes talking with people, which is fine. However, he fails to establish boundaries,


    especially toward girls. Then, because he doesn''t like ufortable situations, he callously blows things off.


    The girls get misled when he doesn''t staunch their flirting. Then, he gets tired of the drama and leaves. Then, hurt and angry, the girls fight each other and cause trouble.


    Rinse and repeat.


    The worst part is he doesn''t even seem to realize he''s most of the problem.


    I sigh once she stomps past me. It''s just petty stuff like this, res and huffs and


    general irritation. Nothing I can''t handle.


    ...Except when it boils over.


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    #Chapter 12 Drama Club Drama


    "You idiot, what are you doing?!"


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    I stiffen, holding onto the rope for the curtains. I was a few secondste pulling it open, which certainly is my bad. But the way Charlie blows up at me genuinely startles me.


    She stalks over in her sweater dress and sleek tights. Her ankle boots ck against the floor until she''s in front of me, crossing her arms.


    "Are you even paying attention?! Is your brain made of slime or something?"


    "I-I-I''m n-"


    "I-I-I—" she mocks. "—I don''t care! Get your head out of your ass and remember the timing, Boston!"


    As she continues, neither she nor I realize that someone came in to watch the rehearsal. It''s


    not until that oppressive feeling returns that I notice them.


    "What''s your fuckin'' problem?"


    Alex hops up onto the stage easily, striding over to us with his brows scrunched. Charlie stiffly backs up a step or two, and Alex prompts her to move back further when he cuts


    between us.


    Oh, no...


    I grab onto the back of his shirt and tug, trying to get his attention. But he seems


    to misunderstand my gesture, his frustration bing even more visible.


    "No... I-I was just "


    "So it''s okay if you stutter, but not Cynthia? You think yelling will fix it or something?"


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    "Alex, I..."


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    Charlie''s expression is crumpling into despair, and I tug harder, trying to force


    words out


    of my mouth.


    "D-on...t. She''s not..."


    I''m too quiet. He doesn''t seem to hear me.


    "I really didn''t mean..."


    "-To show me how shitty you are?" He moves his hand back toward me


    protectively. "Don''t fuck with Cynthia. Got it?"


    Charlie pauses, then tears start rolling down her cheeks. With a sob, she turns around and flees the stage.


    Alex huffs, clearly irritated, then he turns to me.


    "What''s up with you, too? You always just roll over... Why?"


    I breathe for a few moments, trying to calm down as the others run after Charlie. "...She''s...nice. Generally. Today, s-he was just in...a bad m-mood."


    That''s not a good answer. Alex''s scrubs his fingers through his hair, grumbling. "...Seriously? If she was ''just in a bad mood;,'' why would she take it out on you?" Because of you, dipshit.


    But I feel so tired, I don''t even feel like exining. Exining doesn''t work often anyway, especially when someone''s already made up their mind.


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    Whether it''s Alex, Charlie, Danielle, Oliver, Jessica, or Dad.


    "...Later,” I manage, before slinking off by myself.


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    I''m dozing when my phone rings.


    It''s the theme motif for Estiria, so I know it''s someone from the club. I roll on top of


    my bed, still tired after the exhausting afternoon, and fish my phone from between


    the bed and


    the bedside table.


    "Hello?" I groan.


    "Hey, Cynthia, it''s Jonathan. Listen, uh, have you heard from Charlie?"


    I blink the grogginess out of my mind, trying to think.


    "...No. Why?"


    “Shit... Listen. She disappeared after running out. Hailey and Sophia have been trying to


    call her, but it just rings, no answer. No one knows where she is. Are you sure you have no


    idea?"


    Processing the situation, sleepiness leaves me quickly, and I sit up on the bed.


    "No, no idea. Uhm... checked with Alex?"


    "...Fuck, good idea. But no, I don''t have his number. You do, right?"


    "Mmhm."


    "Okay, try talking to him. Maybe he has an idea. I''ll check back with you."


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    Jonathan hangs up, so I shift gears.


    Alex and I typically text since I don''t stutter in messages. So, I open our most recent texts, seeing the ones he sent me earlier today asking if I was okay. I''d just sent him a thumbs up in reply.


    "u seen Charlie?"


    wait for his reply for a few moments. Then, getting impatient, I prepare to call


    him. Thankfully, he replies before I do.


    Nah, tried too see me tho?


    wym?"


    pause.


    Wanted to talk @Lwing"


    and u didn go?"


    Hockey training"


    aining Not practice. Self-driven training


    hut my eyes tightly, letting the burst of anger roll over my back. Then, silently


    cursing n, I hopped out of the bed.


    th Mom already fast asleep, I sneak out and get to my car, heading to the school


    to find


    I somehow doubt she''ll be inside, instead freezing somewhere along the outside of the Iding''s left wing


    en I arrive,te winter frost is already settling on the grass. I hurry out my car and start


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    searching. Apparently, she got here before snow fell since I don''t see any


    footprints.


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    My fingers start to prickle since I didn''t throw on anything big. Thankfully, I see a


    door propped open with a rock. So, she''s inside somewhere, but...well, that leaves the whole


    school.


    The first ce I look takes me to the main backstage dressing room.


    I hear her crying before I''m even fully inside.


    She sits at the makeup chair she''s imed as hers, crying into manicured hands.


    Swallowing thickly, I creak the door open, knocking so she knows I''ming.


    Charlie still startles, looking hopeful for a split second before it drops into open derision.


    "Oh...it''s just you."


    I don''t reply, staying where I stand as she turns away from me.


    "...Came to get augh?"


    These girls always think I''mughing at them. I really don''t understand why. There''s


    nothing funny.


    "...Everyone i-s...looking for you. Worried."


    "Even Alex?"


    A part of me thinks I should say ''No.'' The other part wins. It hurts her regardless.


    As her sobs shake her shoulders, I approach, sliding into the seat next to her. I


    don''t try to


    touch her, though. I''m not sure how she''d react to that.


    "You..." I clear my throat. "...He''s not...worth... crying over."


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    Slowly, she turns to me, sniffling. Her eyes are wide open.


    "...He''s...blind. To you. To anyone not h-himself. K-Kind but...not when it...it''s


    unrestrained. Won''t treat you like you''re special... You deserve b-better."


    Charlie stares at me for a little bit, hupping.


    "If... If that''s the case, why are you with him?"


    Ah. Shit. I didn''t think this far.


    Channeling all my previous acting skills, I think of a lie.


    "...To...hurt him."


    "Huh?"


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    "I...will..." I breathe in deeply. "I will make him love me. T-Then break his heart.


    Like he


    does everyone else."


    0/10, absolute garbage excuse.


    Charlie stares at me without blinking for a long moment, and I''m sure she sees


    right through me. I stare back just as hard.


    But then, she suddenly grabs my hands, sniffling. Her pretty nose bright red.


    "Fuck him up, Cynthia."


    ...Guess I''ve still got it.


    I make sure Charlie''s safely in her car and driving home before I head back to the


    front of


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    the school. She just had to park at the back, hub...


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    I was already tired before, but I''m even more tired now. My exhaustion only


    deepens when


    I return to the front. A second, familiar car is parking beside my dinky one.


    Alex immediately gets out, rushing over.


    "Fuck, Cynthia, why are you out here? It''s cold as hell... Are you in a camisole??"


    My lips tighten as he approaches, taking off his jacket like an absolute gentleman. And I know it''s allpletely fucking fake, Instead of epting his kindness, I dodge him. My shoes...slippers, actually...are much more pleasing to look at. And I head to my car, trying to slip away from him again.


    But this time, he doesn''t let me.


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