Page 43 of Brutal Little Secrets

We sit beside each other as we eat our food. After a few minutes, Chase asks, “What’s happening with your house?”

I swallow my food hard and take a drink from my water bottle. Giving myself a minute to figure out my thoughts. Stick as close to the truth as possible.

I lift my gaze to his. “The rental was sold before Mom signed a lease. She moved us in with her new boyfriend.”

“How are you coping with that?” He seems genuinely interested.

“It’s not bad. I don’t feel comfortable having anyone over because it’s not really my house. You know?” I pick at my salad.

What would have happened if I’d let Chase in from the beginning? If he’d been there at the beginning of the year and I told him about my mom moving us in with Damon’s dad? Would things have been different? Or was this always the path I would have walked?

Of course, if Chase had been faithful, he never would have run Damon off the road. Damon would have gone off to whatever hockey thing he had, and I would have been alone in that huge house. Alone in that massive bed.

Lonely enough to stay with a boyfriend I kind of liked.

“That makes sense.” He looks around. “I want you to know I won’t do anything to jeopardize the play. I know you didn’t cast me because I’m your boyfriend. I can keep things professional if the worst happens and you don’t forgive me.”

“I appreciate that.” I may not believe it because of how he acted when he left me in the woods, but I can appreciate the sentiment. It’s the correct thing to say, but it’s just part of his script.

He nods and begins a story about football practice like it’s old times and I want to sit and listen to his prattle. I give him about thirty seconds, but I’m not his girlfriend. And I’m not obligated to listen to him.

“I need to work on some things for the play now.” I rise, and Chase stands with me. “Alone, Chase.”

I resist the urge to smile when his eyebrows dive together like he doesn’t understand.

He lowers back into the chair. “I’ll support you however I can. Can we meet for dinner on Wednesday?”

“No. I have dinner with my mom. I’m not seeing her as much with the play.”

“I’ll figure something out to spend some time together.” He gives me a smile. “Go do your work. Be brilliant.”

Chapter 13

EvanAnn

I stop at my locker to swap out my books. It feels like I’m being watched, but there’s no one else in the hallway. Nothing makes a sound except my own heartbeat.

I shake it off and head toward the drama wing. I have my notes from Sunday’s rehearsal open on my phone and read them as I walk.

“Careful, Miss Ward.” Mr. Watson’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts. “You’ll run into walls if you fall too deep into your Shakespeare.”

I smile as he joins me on the way to the black box theater. He opens the door for me, and we walk in. I breathe in the space, and it settles my heart.

“How’s the cast coming together?” he asks and picks up chairs to move them to the center of the room. He’s not setting them in a circle today. Each pair of chairs face each other.

“A little rough around the edges still, but I’m sure I can make them smoother.” I take a seat in the audience to continue to work.

“As your advisor, if you need me to come to any practices, all you need to do is ask. I’ll be at tomorrow afternoon’s rehearsalto see how far you’ve progressed.” Mr. Watson sets a chair at the end centered between the rows and looks over his configuration.

“What happens if two cast members get involved romantically and then they break up?” I lean my elbows on my knees, curious what his answer is.

“One of the core ideas we try to instill in all the actors who come through our program is professionalism. The job always comes first. Your private lives have no room on stage. If you need to talk to someone, get a therapist and work on yourself.” He crosses the room and sits backwards on a chair in front of me.

“That’s of course the standard answer.” He rubs at his jaw. “The reality is it can be rough to get the actors to focus on their work. Especially if it’s not an amicable split. Do you think you’re going to have any issues?”

I draw in a breath and release it. “Teenage relationships tend to be a flash in the pan. I’m worried someone will get their feelings hurt and want to quit.”

“Fortunately, like real theater work, if they quit, they lose something. Pay, prestige, their reputation. But here, they lose their grade. If you need someone to focus, you can always ask me to talk to them, or we can get them down to the counselor if it’s outside of my comfort zone. You don’t have to do this alone, EvanAnn. I know it feels like a huge weight right now, but you’ve got a team of teachers and staff ready to support you.”