Even In Pieces [bxb]

Chapter 6

“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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