"Time to get up."
A pillow suddenly whacked me on one side of my face. What the hell? I slowly opened my eyes, groggily glaring at whoever the culprit was.
Hugh?
I blinked until my hazy vision cleared. Sure enough, there he was, standing above me as I laid on the couch.
Last night did happen, right? Wait, of course, it did. I was still a bit disoriented, so why was he here telling me to wake up? Shouldn't he be avoiding me? What was going on?
"I don't like this." I heard Alana from somewhere nearby.
"Me either, but I already told everyone about her, so we don't really have a choice."
The same pillow hit me again softly . "Hey!"
I grabbed onto it, pulling it out of Hugh's grasp, and chucked it to the other end of the couch. No longer distracted by Alana, he turned to face me with an unreadable expression.
"Oh, you're up."
"I am," I glowered. "Why am I up?"
"You have to come with Alana and I."
He said it like I didn't get to decide whether I could stay or go. Would this be considered a kidnapping? Because I'd much rather be getting some shut-eye. I didn't get enough sleep as it was.
I had tossed and turned all night thinking about Hugh's and my interaction. Thought about apologizing and going back on it. I couldn't. I kept telling myself that it was better this way, but it seemed he didn't quite get that message.
"Why?" I asked again, refusing to sit up.
Both Hugh and Alana were standing above me, dressed and ready for the day, while I was wearing an extra pair of her pajamas and cozied on the couch.
If they didn't give me a valid reason, I wasn't going anywhere with them.
Hugh heaved a breath, like he didn't want me to come as much as I didn't want to go, so then why was he forcing the issue, and more importantly, why did it involve hitting me with a pillow?
"Unfortunately, we need someone with your expertise."
I combed my fingers through my hair, tugging it back and away from my eyes as I begrudgingly sat up. "For what?"
Alana smacked Hugh as he gulped nervously. "I thought you were going to tell her last night?"
"I was but...," he trailed off, his gaze wavering between Alana and I. "I didn't get around to it."
Sliding a hand up his chest to rub the back of his neck, it was evident that this was making him uncomfortable. Same went for me. I didn't want to talk about what happened either.
Hugh coughed, bringing our focus back to my prior question.
"We're putting on a play, and we need help designing a promotional poster. The last guy graduated, and I know you have a degree in graphic design, so I thought you could come with us to class and help us out."
When he said he told them about me he meant his classmates? What else did he tell them?
Alana, to my surprise, encouraged me to go. "We could really use you. You'd be doing us a huge favor, and the Centre will pay you for it." Her smile was tight, and that told me everything I needed to know about her true motives.
Making money meant I'd be out of her hair faster. Little did she know that what I actually needed was to get that watch fixed and working, but I'd let it go.
If I agreed to this, I wasn't sure how I'd create the poster. I used software that didn't exist during this time. I'd have to heavily rely on my art skills, and I hadn't practiced drawing in quite some time.
But, if I said no, would that make them more suspicious? It was so hard to stay away from everyone and pretend I was just a run-of-the-mill tourist at the same time. They were contradicting each other. It was going to give me a headache.
Unenthusiastically, I agreed. "Okay, but in order to go, I'm going to need a change of clothes."
I glimpsed knowingly at Alana. Would she let me borrow more of her clothes? I didn't think she would, but she turned over her shoulder and headed to her bedroom, motioning for me to follow with her hand.
Flipping the blanket off of me, I walked behind her until we reached her room. The whole time - her searching her dresser and handing me clothes - was filled with a very tense silence. She basically shucked the striped T and high-waisted jeans at me. Then she was gone, leaving me to swap out the pajamas.
No words. Nothing. I shouldn't be taken aback by it, but damn, if I didn't already know how she felt about me, the way she treated me right then was more than enough to let me know how strong her dislike for me was.
This was going to be a very long next couple of days.
...
The atmosphere of the Actors' Centre was abuzz. Students were milling around, preparing for the play by rehearsing lines and working on props. There was so much energy and excitement.
In a single moment, I saw Hugh adapt to his surroundings. His face was aglow. He was in his element here, how he carried himself and approached his friends with an ear-splitting grin.
That was when it dawned on me that Mason might be among the group of people we were heading towards. This wasn't good.
"Hey," he greeted them, and I tried to hide myself behind him, but it was of no use. He moved out of the way to introduce me.
"So, this is who I was telling you lot about yesterday. This is Kinsley. She agreed to help with the poster."
Hugh stiffened at the mention of my name. He was trying to play off what happened last night between us, but I could discern the subtlety of his actions without much struggle.
The entire time I'd be here was going to be strained. With him, Alana, and Mason, if he was here.
Everyone started to talk all at once.
"It's nice to meet you!"
"We really needed you."
"Losing our minds over the design."
"Hugh wouldn't shut up about you."
That last statement had Hugh laugh breathily. He immediately shut it down real quick.
"Anyway," he spoke over them all, raising his voice to get their attention, "just wanted to introduce her since you might be seeing her around more often. Please make her feel welcome.
"Mason?" He called for his friend. The friend I had said I went to for help. I didn't know how I was going to get myself out of this, but I smiled at him nonetheless as the group dispersed.
"Yeah, mate?"
Mason reminded me a lot of Chris Hemsworth. In that they both had golden, blond hair, colored eyes, and overall good looks. He had the muscle too and that easy-going simper I knew had many girls swooning.
I wasn't one of them. He seemed like the kind of guy who would be full of himself. It was just the way he appeared, kind of snobby and arrogant.
"Would you show Kinsley the rounds? Have her meet Ryan and Sheila. I have to get back to Evans about script changes."
"Yeah, sure."
Once Hugh was out of sight, Mason turned to me with an accusatory glare. "So, you're the one I was supposed to 'help' but left behind?"
His tone more than clued me on what he meant. It was dripping with suspicion. Not only did I have Alana to worry about, but now I had Mason too.
Had he told Hugh the truth?
At this point, what more harm could it cause? I'd be homeless, but at the very least, I wouldn't be meddling in a past I shouldn't be in.
"I don't know how you ended up here, but I've had my fair share of lies when I'm caught in something I shouldn't be, so I haven't told Hugh."
I let out a breath of relief, but even then, I knew Hugh already had an inkling that I wasn't being entirely honest. However, as grateful as I was for this, why wouldn't Mason tell him?
They were friends, and if I was in his position, I would've tattled on me from the get-go.
"How come?" I said softly.
Mason tilted his head to the stage, making his way to it. I got his drift and tagged along beside him.
"I don't know how you did it, in under 2 days no less, but Hugh hasn't been himself as of late until he met you."
My brows pinched upward at the new information. What did that mean? Did something happen? Was Hugh okay?
"Judging by the look on your face, he hasn't told you, and I'll let him tell you in his own time, but whatever you're doing, don't hurt him. He's been through more than he should."
I didn't know what to say to that. I couldn't promise him that I wouldn't, and based on yesterday, I kind of already had, while hurting myself in the process.
I felt even worse after Mason said all of this, but what were my options?
Influence their lives and change their future, possibly ruining Hugh's dreams of being an actor, but get him out of whatever slump he was in only to leave once the watch was fixed?
Or stay out of it all and let things take their proper course, distancing myself from Hugh, and put him in distress like how I did before for however long I was here?
Both cases ended in hurt. It was a lose-lose scenario, and I was only then beginning to see it.
I had to think long-term though. The future had already been decided way before I got here, and who was I to mess with it? What made me special to twist fate?
The fact was I wasn't. I was only human.
"Oh, and by the way? Never make me take the fall for you again. It's a one time deal." He proceeded to smile at me with a wink.
Well, alrighty then. Did this mean we were good?
I raised my hands in a mock surrender. "Okay. Thanks."
Before we get to the end of the aisle we're in, right ahead of the stage, Mason gave me a quick rundown of things.
"Ryan and Sheila are co-directors of the play. We're doing Macbeth this year. Nico, our last designer, left some of his stuff here after he graduated, so you can use what we have."
That was where we stopped first.
After going up the stage, we headed to the back. The hallways leading to the dressing rooms were dimly lit, but amongst the dark walls and doors, there were different posters for each year. Some of them had been hand drawn. Others looked like they used super basic computer software. The closer we got to the room with all the supplies, the more they grew in number. The door to it was jaw-dropping. It was like a mini-mural had been painted onto it.
There were different art styles splashed onto a black backdrop. Despite that, it looked cohesive. Abstract, sure, but it was beautiful. I'd never seen anything like it.
"Cool, ain't it?"
All I could do was nod.
"Every graphic designer we've had adds their own artwork. Looks like you'll be the next one to give it your signature touch."
Not sure that was a good idea, but the thought of continuing the tradition made me feel like I belonged for once. I had felt so out of place since I got here. It was nice to be a part of something bigger than myself until I remembered who and where I was.
The inside of the room was a bit lackluster with only a small desk and minimal art supplies off to the side, but I took a notebook and pen with me for now to jot down any input I might get from the directors.
After we left, Mason led me back the way we came, back down the aisle and out into the foyer. To the right of us, beside the entrance into the auditorium was an office. I assumed that's where the co-directors were, and I was right.
Mason politely knocked on the door before we went inside.
Only one of them was there, and by the looks of it, it was Sheila. A woman with bright red hair and green eyes. She definitely stood out, but she didn't have a problem with it. Her personality definitely matched her appearance.
"Ah, finally! Some good news. Kinsley, right?"
There went my greeting, but it made her get to her point a whole lot quicker. I wasn't even able to get a word in before she started to ramble.
"We're going for a bold and edgy theme. We're doing a more modern take on the play, but we still want to keep some of the elements with a gothic aesthetic. We're working with a limited budget though. Think you can whip up something that'll catch attention? Oh, you do know what the play is about, yes?"
"Of course," I concurred. I'd have to live under a rock not to know what it was.
"Good, good! Then I'm sure you'll do great with it. Make sure to run the final design by me, but for now, you can discuss the specifics with Hugh."
Was he the center of everything here? What exactly was his role in all of this? I kept those questions to myself though.
"Ah, yes, I almost forgot," Sheila continued. "We'd like to include our main cast on the poster as well! Well, versions of them. Can't afford a photoshoot so I hope drawing them won't be too much of a hassle. What else am I missing?
"Mason?" She turned to him as if he would have the answers, but he just shrugged.
"Sometimes, I wonder why Hugh entrusts you with all this responsibility."
"Because of my out-of-the-world good looks?"
Sheila didn't appreciate the humor. She forced a smile. "Anyway, I apologize for the curt introduction, but we have a lot going on, and I'm running all over the place. Only have a month, and we're behind on everything.
"How are the costumes coming along?" Again, directed to Mason. This time he had a response.
"Almost done."
"Perfect." Sheila took a moment to inhale deeply. "Is there anything you need from me, Kinsley? Questions? Concerns?"
"Not at the moment," I finally was able to say. "I think Mason can show me who the main cast is. I've already got something in mind."
"Just what I want to hear," Sheila sounded like she was in a much better mood. Not as frantic or frenzied, but I knew the moment we left the office, she'd be right back at it.
When we returned to the auditorium, it was encompassed in complete darkness aside from the few spotlights shining on the stage. In one of them, Hugh was standing there, delivering his lines for whatever scene they were rehearsing.
He completely transformed up there, fully immersing himself in his character. He said every phrase with just the right amount of emotion conveyed, his facial features distorted in betrayal. Right away I knew he was playing a character named Malcom, who brought peace to Scotland in the play after Macbeth was killed.
I didn't recognize him up there. He was a different person, and it was scarily impressive. I was struck by how naturally it came to him. This was what he was meant to do - acting. I was in awe of all the hard work and effort it must have taken him to get to this point.
He was going to be famous one day. I knew that, but seeing him on stage like that, it was hard not to feel something for him.
Admiration, maybe?
Whatever it was, it bloomed dangerously, starting a fire I knew I was going to have a hard time putting out if I didn't douse it right then and there.
I couldn't. I was starstruck from his authentic performance.
It made me vulnerable. Enough for another feeling to start sneaking in before I had the chance to stop it.
...
I didn't get a chance to edit this, so I'm sorry for any errors you might find. I haven't had a moment to myself all day to get a chance to publish this, but it's here! Still keeping on task with the daily updates, just waaaay too late today. So sorry about that. Might be another late update tomorrow too, but then it should pick back up! I hope you're liking it so far!