Danielle's POV :
I brought Charlotte home again this night, after her panic attack.
The next day we only had a short table read and we were free for the whole afternoon, so the cast decided to go karting.
I wasn't very fond of the idea and so was Stefania, but we still decided to accompany our friends for the party we would do after.
I entered the big room for the table read and Charlotte was already there, her head resting on her crossed arms on the desk.
I sat next to her and gently put my hand on her lower back.
"Hi beautiful girl."
She lifted her head and looked at me with tired eyes.
She looked broken and my chest got tight seeing her like this.
She was nothing like the girl they presented us when we learned we would welcome a new regular actress.
Flashback
"For this season, someone new will join the cast." Happily announced Krista.
"You probably already know her, it's Charlotte Rayne."
People exchanged surprised looks, but overall they were looking forward to meeting her.
"Isn't she like... nine ?" Wondered one of the guest actors.
"She's twelve but very professional. She has a lot of experience in different movies and series so I have no doubt she'll find her place among the main cast."
"I've met her personally and she's a bright and very nice girl. She knows what she is doing and looks more like an adult than a child when she's acting."
Some scoffed, others laughed.
We could hear comments like "She's just a little princess, having everything she wants thanks to daddy and mommy."
"She should stay where she belongs, between the rich and untalented stars."
"She probably got the role because of her parents' money."
"Or because she threw a tantrum."
"Enough !" Yelled Krista.
"I hope you'll all try and welcome her as an equal. She's young so remember that even if she's very professional, she's still a child."
End of Flashback
"How do you feel today ?"
"Fine." She simply answered.
"Charlotte, don't lie to me."
"I'm okay Danielle." She insisted.
"Charlotte..."
The rest of the cast started entering the room.
"Please Danielle, not now." She pleaded.
I nodded and everyone sat down.
The table read went well, as soon as Charlotte transformed into Hayley, she wasn't the same person. She was a confident, extrovert teen but when she wasn't on the scenes reading her lines, she was looking down at her lap, fidgeting with her fingers and trying to breathe deeply.
I could see how tense she was, how her shoulders were sometimes shaking when someone was speaking a little too loudly.
At the end of the table read, everyone gathered their things.
"Let's meet at the kart track." Grinned Barrett.
"Be safe on the road, it's raining pretty badly." Advised one of the executive producers.
"Is someone picking you up ?" I asked Charlotte, knowing deep down no one was going to drive her home as I already did it a few times this week.
She didn't even try to lie to me and shook her head, looking down.
"It's okay, I will." I smiled and took her hand.
"Guys," I started, turning to look at my friends.
"I will join you as soon as I get Charlotte home."
"Doesn't she want to come with us ?" Asked Boris.
I looked at her interrogatively.
She held her breath and looked at me.
"It's up to you sweetie."
"She rather stay at home with her maids and butlers." Laughed someone.
"I'll come." Charlotte whispered.
"Are you sure ? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I want to."
I nodded and led her to my car.
She settled on the passenger seat and before starting the car, I looked at her.
"I don't want you to force yourself to go tonight."
"I want to go."
"Do you want to go to have fun or do you want to go to prove them wrong ?" I demanded.
Charlotte looked at her lap.
"Sweetie... Don't take a word of what they say. They are just jealous because you're young and talented. You don't have to prove that you belong here because you just do. You earned your place on the show and everyday since you're here everyone can see it. If they don't, well, they are just stupid."
Charlotte giggled at the last part and wiped a few fallen tears.
"So now you can decide if you want to go karting or if I drive you home." I said seriously.
"I- I think I still want to go."
I nodded, trying not to act surprised.
I drove the both of us to the indoor kart track, in a comfortable silence.
We soon arrived and Charlotte let out a shaky breath as she stepped out of the car.
I took her hand in mine and we made our way inside.
Everyone had already their drinks and were in casual conversations so they didn't really mind us, and Charlotte seemed thankful.
"Now let's play real life Mario Kart !" Screamed Grey.
We all walked to the track and I kept an eye on the shy teen who was hiding behind my coworkers.
A man gave us the safety rules and each a helmet, then he told us to go chose a kart.
Grey ran to the one closer to the starting line and I went to choose the one just after when I felt someone grab my arm.
I spun to face Stefania.
"I will wait upstairs, I'm not a big fan of karting."
I nodded, knowing my brunette coworker knew better than to force herself to do something she didn't want to.
But I couldn't say the same about Charlotte who kept looking for me, as we were the last to choose our little cars.
"Come on lovely girl." I said reaching for her hand but she pulled away.
"Don't you want to do it ? It's okay if not."
She shook her head and I smiled softly.
"It's okay. Just join Stefania and you will be able to see the track from over there." I said pointing to the few rows of seats.
She now nodded and quickly walked to Stefania.
Stefania's POV :
I saw Charlotte make her way to me.
"Hi bambina."
She stood there, keeping a little distance between the two of us.
"I- I didn't... I wasn't..."
"It's okay. I don't really like karting either."
"You can sit bella." I said softly, patting the chair next to me.
"Thank you." She quietly whispered.
The race started and I encouraged Danielle.
I saw from the corner of my eye Charlotte giggle when I was cheering for my blond coworker.
So I kept cheering, my heart warming at the teen's laugh.
But towards the end of the race, the karts started going really fast and it was very loud.
I sat down, knowing Danielle couldn't hear me anymore and I turned to see Charlotte with her hands on her ears.
She was flinching every time a car was passing in front of us and she was beginning to tremble too much for my liking.
"Are you okay bellina ?"
She didn't hear me with the noise around us and kept her eyes shut.
I crouched in front of her and put my hands on her knees.
Her eyes flew open and they were filled with fear.
"Hey hey hey, come here." I said trying to take one of her hands in mine, but she pulled away instantly, covering her ear again.
"Let's step away bambina." I tried again.
"Come on."
"Come here." I said reaching for her again.
Finally she held out her hand and I took it, leading her to stand up and follow me outside of the indoor car track.
I stopped in front of a vending machine and bought her a bottle of water and a cereal bar.
"Here." I said handing it to her.
"I- I'm fine."
"Drink." I insisted, opening the water bottle.
Charlotte took a few slow sips while I took the cereal bar out of its package.
When she understood it was for her, she took a shaky breath.
"It's okay, only a few bites."
The teen nodded unsure but did it anyway.
She managed two bites when we heard laughing and screaming approaching us.
Charlotte took a step closer to me and all of our friends entered the hall.
"So who won ?" I questioned.
"I did !" Shouted Jaina, nudging Jason who apparently was second.
Danielle spotted us and walked in our direction.
"Everything okay ?" She checked first looking at Charlotte but as she was staring at the floor, she turned her gaze towards me.
I nodded but motioned that I would explain to her later.