Page 19 of The Fate Of Us

“And you took it out on me becauseeee?”

She sighed.“I swear I didn’t mean to. Usually, after auditions, I write my stories, andthat makes me feel better, but I was more angry than sad today. I saw the balloon in a drawer and filled it up without thinking. I was actually just going to throw it towards the backyard… but I sneezed and dropped it on you, and I’m really sorry.”

I let out a tiny laugh. “That makes sense. I get angry too sometimes.”

Her head tilted. “You do? When?”

My hands tug and pull at the torn balloon still in my hands, as my eyes get lost inhers.“I don’t know… my panic attacks sometimes get me angry. I get frustrated that I can’t be like everyone else… and not be so overwhelmed by little things.”

I drop my head when I admit that, finding it odd how easy it was to tell her somethingso personal, when only my family knew about my anxiety. But I still feel her eyes on me, which comforts me in a way I don’t really understand, like I know nothing can hurt me or bother me when she’s around.

I know that makes no sense, because this is the first time I’ve spoken to her, but I don’tignore that feeling either. I don’t want to forget it.

I lift my head slowly, and sure enough, her shiny eyes are fixed on me. It makes mesmile. Which then causes her smile to appear again too.

“What can I do to make it up to you, Nate? Do you want the answers to the Englishhomework? I can just slide them across to your desk.”

“You know we have English together?”I ask.

“Duh, we sit next to each other. Of course, I know. I just… couldn’t remember yourname…”She admits, her tone so soft and sweet it relaxes me more than I thought I could around a stranger.

My chest starts to feel fuzzy, but not the uncomfortable kind that tells me my anxiety iskicking in. I like this feeling.“You said that you write stories, when you have bad days?”

Her eyes narrow.“Yeah.”

“Could I read one? I love reading.”

“Oh… I’ve never shown anyone my stories before. They’ve always been a secret. Idon’t know.”

I feel the corners of my mouth curve into a smile at the way she suddenly got so shy.

It intrigues me. I wouldn’t think someone as confident as Addy would have a shy side. But I like the fact that she does. A lot.It makes me feel less alone than I did a few minutes ago.

It was like her drop in confidence gave me the added boost I needed to match herenergy.“The only other option is that I can get payback by throwing a water balloon at you.”

I watched her, eyes still wide and smile slowly growing, as she mulled over the options in her mind. I truly didn’t know what she’d choose. But when the words that came out of her mouth reached my ears, my fascination for Addy spiked and stayed at one hundred.

“Wait there… I think I have a spare balloon.”

“Nate?… Nateee?”

I swerved my head to where a high-pitched voice was calling my name, my eyescoming into focus on the figure walking towards me. “Yeah?”

The closer the figure gets, I realise it’s Amber, smiling like she’d slept with a dozenhangers in her mouth. “Daydreaming on the job?” she laughs, forcing one out of me too.

“Yeah, I guess I was. Sorry.”

“It’s okay!” Her bouncy steps bring her closer to me. “I was just coming to let youknow that Sebastian wants you and Nigel on set.”

“Oh, right, cool. Thanks.” I mumble as I shuffle past her, wondering why she chose toget me and not one of the assistants who were scattered around.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like Amber; she was sweet. When we worked together, years agoon an off-broadway show, I remember enjoying being around her, for a certain amount of time.

“Knock ‘em dead!” She calls from behind me, that high-pitched tone grating me in away I felt guilty about.

When I made it to set, I let go of a breath, my hands raking through my hair as I slowedmy steps. That’s when I caught the head of auburn curls that was leaving the set, my hands falling to my forehead and swiping away the sheen that I knew would invade in a few seconds.

I changed direction and headed over to Sebastian, who was already talking withNigel.

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