Chapter 39
Hawk
It’s a full read through this Sunday. Mia still isn’t back, so Evan is on stage opposite Mark.
Cassio isn’t in this scene so I’m in the audience watching.
There are a lot of talented actors here, but Mark and Evan?
Together they make the rest of us look like students play acting. They truly are stars already.
“Hey, Hawk,” Sophie says as she sits in the chair next to mine.
I don’t say anything. She’s been a little bit more attentive since Chase went back to dating Abby. I haven’t been friendly, but I’m trying not to be mean since we perform together.
“Do you want to go into the hallway and run lines with me?” She twirls her hair around her finger and must have put on fresh lipstick.
“No, thank you.” Normally, I would, but she knows her lines, and after a few minutes, she’ll want to chat with me like we’re friends. We’re not friends. I’ve learned from Damon’s mistake that you don’t encourage a girl you don’t want.
“It’s just the one scene where I feel like I trip over my tongue,” Sophie tries again with a little hint of whine in her voice. “I just don’t want to do anything to damage the play since Mia isn’t here to carry it anymore.”
My brow furrows, and I turn to look at her. She smiles now that she has my full attention, like that’s all she’s been wanting. When I don’t say anything, she takes it as her cue I want more information.
“I mean, EvanAnn is good, but she’s a much better director than actor.” Sophie settles in the chair, content to stay here. “Obviously. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone into directing.”
“You know Annie’s my girlfriend, right?” Have I not been obvious about it? Fuck, what do I need to do? Wear a Property of EvanAnn shirt to practice? Because if that’s what I need to do, I’ll fucking do it.
“Oh.” Sophie giggles a little. “Yeah, I know, but it’s not like you guys are exclusive.”
Fuck. This. Girl.
“What makes you say that?” My voice conveys my anger. I narrow my eyes at her, and she shrinks a little in her chair.
“She... You...” Her face flushes red, and she stands abruptly. “I need to—”
She walks away quickly. There’s no way I’m letting someone tell me what my relationship is or isn’t. Annie is mine. She’s ours.
I don’t need to explain it to anyone, and there are no openings for extra people in this.
Annie finishes on stage and walks over to the desk to watch the others perform. I wish I could go join her, or sweep her into my arms and kiss her. But I won’t, because I respect my girl and what she’s doing. Enough to know not to make it about me.
This is her rehearsal. Her stage. And she owns every inch of it.
From what I can tell, she’s burning the candle at both ends to make this work. To be both a principal actor and director. I won’t put my needs above hers. Especially when it’s just to show some other girl that Annie is mine. She needs to focus, and we need to take care of her.
This isn’t forever. Yes, she’ll always have something she’s working on or working in, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get time. She’ll take care of us too. She does take care of us. Maybe it isn’t an all-night marathon, but more stolen moments here and there for now.
She turns, and when she sees me, she smiles softly. Because this morning, she woke to me sucking on her pussy before I fucked her hard while she sucked on Cam’s cock. Damon watched before rolling her onto her back and fucking into her.
I’m not sure how many times she came, but she definitely had a smile on her face this morning for breakfast. This week flew by. Mom has been breathing down my neck, wanting to have another dinner with Annie, but I had to tell her she’s busy for the next few weeks.
My parents seem to have settled into a rhythm. It’s still not safe to enter rooms without knocking or making loud noises as approaching, but they’re less affectionate than they were. Which is good, but it’s still odd to have my parents around all the time.
The rest of rehearsal goes off without a hitch.
Cam and Damon were busy today, so I get to wait with Annie.
She’s already at her desk, scribbling notes, as some cast members are hanging around, talking.
I walk over and take Keira’s empty seat next to Annie, but I don’t say anything to disrupt her train of thought.
“Chase!”
Abby hurries into the black box theater. She walks over and kisses Chase, like he’s returning home from war. I can’t wait to fuck with their little relationship. Guarantee he hasn’t stopped fucking around just because he’s with Abby.
“I missed you, babe,” she says, loud enough that even the people in the hallway probably heard her.
He might just be more sneaky about it.
“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” Annie says softly to me.
I chuckle.
But it must not have been soft enough, because Abby turns to glare at Annie.
“What did you say to me?” Abby projects to the whole theater.
Annie sighs and looks up. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t say anything to you.”
Abby braces her hands on her hips and gets a snotty look on her face. “You couldn’t even keep your man satisfied enough to stay with you. And now, you’re whoring yourself out to the Devil’s trio.” Abby laughs coldly. “Everyone thinks you’re pathetic.”
Annie leans back in her chair with a smile. “Really?”
Her nonchalance enrages Abby. “Everyone knows they’re only with you because you put out.”
“So which is it? Am I a prude or a whore?” Annie taps her chin with her finger like she’s thinking it over.
I could step in, but she’s got this, so I sit back and enjoy the show.
“Whatever. No one likes you.” Abby turns to put her hand on Chase’s chest. Chase has the decency to look uncomfortable with all this. He’s probably remembering everything we did to him and doesn’t want a repeat.
“I like her,” Mark says. “Honestly, I’m pretty sure if you asked anyone in here to pick you or EvanAnn, I bet they’d pick EvanAnn.”
“You don’t even count.” She waves her hand dismissively.
“Why?” Mark straightens. “Because I’m not from wealthy parents who bought my way into this school?
Or is it because I didn’t have to bribe the guy whose parents bought him a spot in the showcase?
I mean, you’ve got some talent, Abby, but you’ll never reach the caliber of performance EvanAnn will. So tell me again how I don’t count?”
Abby’s mouth opens and closes, but she’s not wordless for long. “I bet EvanAnn set up that social media account herself to get attention. And how do we know Mia actually went home? Maybe EvanAnn hurt her somehow.”
“Are you that threatened by me?” Annie hasn’t moved at all.
She’s still relaxed in her chair. “Are you so worried everyone would choose me over you? Even your boyfriend? Sure, he was an asshole, but he needed someone like me to clean up his image after you ruined it. Do his parents even know you two are dating again? Or is he still keeping our breakup a secret?”
While Abby tries to figure out what to say to that, Annie stands.
“Rehearsal is over. I need to lock up.” She looks directly at Abby. “You don’t belong in here.”
Abby huffs and grabs Chase’s hand, tugging him toward the doors.
Annie watches them go before gathering her stuff like nothing happened.
“You amaze me,” I say. She remained completely cold during that whole interaction. Nothing fucking fazed her.
She smiles and nods to the camera she uses during rehearsal. “You want to stop the recording so I can take it home?”
“Nice.” I chuckle and do what she asks. “You going to use it?”
Annie shrugs. “You never know when a little blackmail might come in handy, and I do owe her for that social media account.”
I chuckle. “Damon would be so proud.”
Mark comes over. “Sorry, I got carried away. Those girls have been catty since freshman year, like they fucking own the program.”
“You didn’t say anything I hadn’t thought before.” Annie touches his arm and smiles. “Thank you for defending me.”
“Anytime.” Mark nods to me.
“What did you mean by Brandt’s parents bought his way into the showcase?” I ask. We’ve been looking into it, but it’s hard to find the paper trail.
Mark steps in closer and lowers his voice. “Brandt wants to be a lot of things, but he doesn’t really have the talent to act or direct. But his mother is his biggest fan. Daddy, not so much, because he’s had to clean up his son’s messes.”
“Messes?” Annie asks.
Mark smirks and glances around, but no one else Is close to us.
“Brandt uses his dad’s fame like a calling card.
It gets him into clubs, free stuff, and girls he otherwise wouldn’t have a shot with.
That leaves behind a trail of really fucking bitter people who are willing to expose their stories to the media. ”
“How do you know this?” I ask because this isn’t something we’ve been able to find out.
Mark smirks. “Guys talk. Especially when you give excellent head. I also listen when they think I’m not. Apparently Daddy Stanwell has been threatening to cut off Brandt. Thinks Brandt needs to pay his dues and figure out his own success without relying so heavily on him.”
“So he needs the win for the internship to prove to his father he can be something because his dad isn’t going to give him anything else?
” I ask and some of the shit that’s been happening falls into place.
We didn’t have a motivation before, but if Brandt really is the one pulling the strings, it would make sense.
But what we don’t know is how many people he has under his thumb.
“Thank you, Mark.” Annie steps in and gives him a quick hug. “I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
“I’m just happy to be part of your production.” He smiles. “You’re an amazing director and actor.”
He gives me a nod before heading out. I touch Annie’s cheek because I can’t believe this girl is mine.
“I love when you stand up for yourself, baby girl.” I brush her hair behind her ear.
Annie steps up to me and puts her hand on my chest. “I’m done trying to fit what people think I should be.”