"Wyatt?"
The other four boys were his teammates, so what were they doing here?
The boys slouched into their seats, exchanging awkward glances, trying to mask their unease with forced grins. Kayla's heart raced, praying Bianca wouldn't notice them—or her.
"I didn't know we were going to have an audience, and who might we thank for that?" Her icy glares scanned the room and Kayla prayed she wouldn't look at her.
"Hudson and his entourage come forward," Bianca instructed and the boys wanted to protest but Wyatt signaled for them to listen which made them angrier because Wyatt forced them to come here for whatever reason.
On their way down the stairs, Wyatt tried to wave at Kayla but his hand paused mid-wave, his confident smirk faltering. He quickly masked the awkwardness, pretending to scratch his neck, but his thoughts spiraled. Why was she ignoring him?
Kayla didn't even glance at Wyatt. Her fingers dug into her palms, hiding her reaction. She couldn't— she wouldn't —acknowledge him right now.
The five boys stood in front of Bianca, their backs turned to Kay. The girls who could see their faces used all the self control they had to not take pictures, though some were sneaky about it Bianca and her sharp gaze caught them.
"May I ask why you're here, Hudson? Do you want to be an actor too? Realized that you're wasting such a handsome face playing soccer?"
Bianca's harshness, she said, "My standards apply to everyone. Even you." and that included Wyatt. They wondered how he would react to such words, which by Bianca's standard was already nice.
Wyatt smirked, hands in his hoodie's pouch, "You think I'm handsome? Why thank you. I'm honored that such a stunning woman like you would think that I'm handsome."
Even Kayla had to hold in her laugh.
Bianca's lip twitched, unimpressed. "Don't flatter yourself, Hudson. Answer the question."
"Well…. I came to see-"
"We came to watch the rehearsals since we had nothing to do and we've heard of the talent of the theatre arts department!" Aiden interrupted Wyatt. His friend had become wrapped around a woman's finger but he still had common sense.
What would people think? They came to stalk a girl who may or may not like his friend.
The other three boys didn't want to be here at all. This was embarrassing even for them.
"Really?" Bianca's chest puffed a bit. "Yes, our department is one of the greatest in the city if not the country." Her voice was light but the pride wasn't amiss to the years.
"So we can stay?" Wyatt asked cautiously, containing his excitement.
"You can stay…" Kayla grimaced but everyone else was happy.
"Yes! I mean thank you." Wyatt cleared his throat.
"You haven't let me finish, you can stay if you help with the props and other things we need extra hands for."
"Of course."
"Hell no." Wyatt and Aiden said at the same time.
"No, we are not staying. I've got a class now!"
"Me too!" The three boys slowly backed away and ran out of the auditorium and when Aiden wanted to make his escape, Wyatt grabbed his hoodie.
"One second," he told Bianca and they both went to a corner to talk.
"You are my best friend, Aids."
"Don't me call Aids and this wasn't part of the plan! To hell with the plan, I'm outta here, man!"
"Aiden. If you stay I'll do whatever you want for a day."
"What I want is for us to get outta here, Wy."
"Aiden, please?" Wyatt had never asked him for anything before and he would be such a bad friend if he didn't agree.
For the first time, his friend is doing what he wants and not what his father wants him to do. Kayla made him happy and he would be a fool to ignore the effect she had on him.
"The things I do for you! I hope this is worth it, you cunt." He sighed.
"She is worth it." His eyes shone with a smile.
"Fine. But if this blows up, you're buying me lunch for a week." Wyatt's eyes sparkled with relief. "Deal."
The chocolate-skinned boy wore a scowl while the blue-eyed boy had a skip in his step as they went back to inform Bianca of their decision "We will be glad to put our muscles to use."
"Wonderful!" she clapped once. "Kayla we're going to take that again after Maya has shown you how to do it. Maya get on stage."
Kayla's body stiffened, her gaze chilly looking at Maya. Maya got up from her seat, red tinging her cheeks.
"As for you boys, Dimitri will keep you busy."
Dimitri hearing his name from backstage came forward and ushered them to the back, so they passed by Maya and Kayla.
Wyatt's pinky finger grazed Kayla's palm but right now Kayla's senses were dulled, which made Wyatt's eyes dim.
She hadn't looked at him once. Was it because of what the director said to her?
Maya performed the song and she did it perfectly so Kay had to do it again but it still didn't sound right.
Bianca's forehead was in her hands. "Kayla, what is wrong with you today!? This was the very reason I didn't want to give you a big role in the musical!"
Kayla's nails dug into her palms and her wound hadn't healed. The pink long-sleeved top covered her palm only leaving her nails to peek through.
She didn't want to worry Louisa but the pain was fleeting compared to the one stinging in her heart.
"Bianca isn't trying to be mean to you, Kay. Don't take it to heart. You are a great actress and Bianca is like this with everyone."
"I'm fine." she bit the insides of her cheeks to stop the tears from falling. However, her words came out cold.
The next thirty minutes were hell for Kay. They kept doing the same thing but she wasn't getting it.
"Kay, you are using the wrong leg!"
"Kayla the 'devil' is off-pitch! Use your belly to sing! Hold your breath!"
"Kayla, what are you doing? You are singing off-key!" Bianca didn't want to be too harsh on her but Kayla had potential, yet something kept holding her back and she needed to know what it was.
An actress who could show a wide range of emotions on the spot, and improv was nothing less than a talent and that was Kayla but she needed to get out of her way and head. Coddling wasn't what she needed.
"Kayla! Kayla! Kayla! Kayla!" That's all she heard. This happened every fucking time.
At home, in school, everywhere! Why am I always the one falling short? It's never enough.
Her heartbeat slowed down, and her vision blurred as she made the last move but she tripped and fell.
Everything was falling apart. It wasn't just the play—it was everything. The debt, the pressure. Bianca's voice was just another weight added to the crushing pile.
"Kayla!" Wyatt had been watching the whole thing but Aiden stopped him from getting involved.
He went over to help her up but she shrugged his hands off. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not. Let me help you up." He tried to touch her but she snapped, "I said I'm fine, goddamit!"
Wyatt didn't listen and dragged her to her feet.
"She doesn't need to be babied. I am tired of you slowing down the process, Kayla. You've done enough for today-"
"Bianca, I can do this. Give me one more try. I'm just not in the right headspace."
"Yes Bianca, she can do this. One more chance."
"I can speak for myself, Maya." She gritted her teeth.
"Just trying to help. Don't bite my head off for it, Kay." Maya clapped back.
The tension was dense. Bianca didn't care and said, "Go home, Kayla. Don't ruin things further."
"But I can! I can do it please!" She pleaded her Hazel eyes swirling with a thousand emotions.
Wyatt's heart ached for her.
Bianca exhaled sharply. "I'm not kicking you out. You wrote the play but you need to rest. If we keep going, you'll wear yourself out."
"Come on, Kayla. Let's go." This time, she didn't resist and let Wyatt pull her away. Maya handed him Kay's bag.
Was it better to feel everything or nothing?
Nothing was going right in her life. Nothing.
Wyatt drove her home but she stared into the distance, silent. Too silent.
She wanted to open the door when they arrived but Wyatt stopped her. "Are you sure you don't want me to come up with you?
"No."
"I'm worried about you. If you want to talk about it, I'm here. And if you don't want to, that's fine too. I just want to know you're okay. Is there anything I can do to help?" Concern etched on his face but Kayla saw pity.
"Do you want your boba tea? Or something else?"
"I want to take a long nap. I'll be fine after that, Wyatt." She attempted to smile but it came out all wrong.
Wyatt sighed softly, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel. "I get it, Kayla. You've got a lot going on, but… it feels like I can't reach you sometimes. Like you're a million miles away."
Kayla swallowed, guilt washing over her. "It's not you, Wyatt. I just—"
"Yeah, I know," he interrupted, trying to keep his tone light but failing. "But maybe it would help if you let me in, even a little."
She couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm trying."
Wyatt watched her, wanting to say something—anything—but nothing felt right. She was slipping, and he didn't know how to stop it.
She needed space, he figured. He would give her space, for now. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he watched her go into her condo.
Anytime he was sad or needy, his father would buy him the latest toys so he didn't know how to comfort anyone, so maybe he should buy her a gift.
He didn't want to leave her alone, so he drove out to buy her boba tea and a teddy bear.
He knocked on the door and she opened it, surprised. "Wyatt?"
He handed her the bag. "I know you want to be alone but no one deserves to be alone, so I bought you a friend."
"Open it." he urged. She did and saw the cutest, softest sky-blue bear.
"Wyatt." She didn't know what to say so she wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you," she said into his chest.
Wyatt hugged her back, burying his nose into her neck.
"I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you, Kayla just say the word and I'll come." he stroked her hair and his words were sweet but it wasn't it.
Oliver wouldn't ask her for permission, he would come. He was like a terrible pimple that refused to go anywhere. Unlike Wyatt who had some self-awareness.
What would Oliver say to her if he saw her like this? Would he laugh or comfort her?
She let go of him and sniffed. "I love the bear. Thank you."
He smiled, "Anytime. Take care of yourself and don't let their words get to you. I love seeing you perform on stage!"
Kayla nodded. Wyatt hesitated, watching her door close. He couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his gut. If he left her alone now, would she be okay?
She also saw the boba tea which before would have made her happy but it only added to her problems. It was too expensive. Expenses she couldn't afford.
Dreams, hopes, goals, none of those things were hers in the first place. It never mattered and that's what people couldn't understand.
"Useless! Stupid! It's all your fault!" Her mother had once said and today the reality of the words were truer than anything she had heard.
The words echoed in her head as she stifled a sob. Her chest was constricting and any other emotional whirlwind would send her into an attack and she couldn't afford that right now.
She had to be strong. She could picture Oliver's expression seeing her cry because of someone other than him. He was the only one who could make her cry.
Alone in her room, Kayla stared at the pile of clothes. Once, they had made her feel invincible—bright fabrics that sparkled with memories. Now, they felt like relics of someone she no longer recognized.
Her breath hitched, and she pressed her palms against her temples. Everything was closing in. Her family's debt, the pressure from Bianca, and the strained connection with Wyatt. She hated how she felt—trapped, helpless, suffocating under the weight of it all.
Her breath grew shallow. Her apartment, her safe space, felt smaller, tighter. Every corner was a reminder of how trapped she was.
"I hate this," she muttered, her voice cracking. "I hate who I'm becoming."
A notification entered her phone and blood drained from her face.
She needed to do something, fast. Now. Why was this happening? What could she do? How could she solve the problem?
She couldn't ask her friends for help. Her family didn't need that from her. Who or what could she go to? Who could help her?
Her eyes flicked to her computer screen, and before she could think, she was already searching. Clothes weren't enough. The idea of selling them felt like a band-aid for a deeper wound. Maybe the dark web had more options—something that could ease the burden faster.
She stopped going to the dark web because of the last big job she did. That one destroyed her soul but it paid for her tuition and her sister's medical fees still it wasn't enough.
Would she have to sell her soul for her family for them to leave her the hell alone?