“Hey,” Eli said into the phone. “Dunstan, you have got to see all the hot chicks here.”

“I can’t come right now,” Dunstan replied, glancing over at Angela.

“No, dude, these chicks are really hot. Also, your girlfriend Charise is here.”

“Oh, really?” Dunstan replied. “I thought she said she was going to go visit her dad.”

“Yeah, well, she’s here, and she’s supposed to be in charge of props.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

“Fine, I’ll be over there shortly,” Dunstan responded. He hung up the phone and looked over at Angela. “Time to go wrangle Charise. You can tell me the news later, okay? I‘m so glad you don‘t pull these kinds of stunts!”


“…and three and four and turn,” Clayton called out. “No, other way, Tacita.”

“You didn’t specify which direction to turn in,” Tacita called out, continuing to dance along with the others. “It’s like saying ‘raise your hand’ and not specifying which hand.”


The doors to the room opened with a loud bang, and Dunstan strode into the room, followed by Angela. Ophelia and Jade stopped dancing, and Valo and Charise stopped their work. All four stared at Dunstan. In unison, Ophelia, Jade, and Valo yelled, “What the hell are you doing here?”

The actors halted their dancing. Cleo stormed over to Dunstan. “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded. “Why are you barging in here, interrupting the rehearsal?”

“I’m here to get my girlfriend,” Dunstan said calmly.

“Your girlfriend?” Jade called out. “Who did you trick into bed with you this time? I thought the kid following you was your girlfriend, given how young you seem to like them.”

“What, you dated him too?” Valo asked, looking over at Jade.

“Unfortunately. You too?” Jade replied.

“Very briefly a few years ago.”

“We should start a support group.”

Dunstan glared at them, not amused, then turned his attention to Charise. “Charise, I want you to come home.”

“I don’t want to,” Charise replied slowly.

“Charise, I thought we agreed that you would not be taking part in this.”

“I’m just going to be in charge of props.”

“I don’t care. I want you home now.”

“Can’t we discuss this outside?” Charise pleaded, looking around.


“There you go, bullying women again,” Jade yelled. “I thought you’d have learned your lesson, you *******.”

Dunstan glared at Jade. “Shut your mouth,” he cried out, hurt by her sharp words.

“No,” Jade snapped. “I think your little girlfriend has the right to know what she’s dealing with. Honey, I dated that jerk long before you did, and let me tell you something: he’s a controlling jerk who is incapable of handling anything not going the way he wants. He’ll do anything necessary to get you to be the kind of woman he wants you to be. Hell, I bet he’s already got a replacement lined up, just in case you do skip out on him.”

“I--” Charise began.

Dunstan grabbed her arm sharply. “Charise, I will discuss this with you in the hall,” he said sharply. “Angela, you stay in here.” He led Charise out of the room and into the hall.


The group was overcome with awkward silence. After several seconds, Tacita sighed and spoke up. “I’ll go scare him off,” she said, walking away from the others and over to the door, which she flung open. She strode into the hall and saw Charise cowering against a wall, a red mark on one cheek. Tacita’s eyes narrowed in fury.

“What’s wrong with you, hitting a girl like that?” Tacita yelled.

“She’s my girlfriend, and I’ll do whatever I want!” Dunstan snapped.

“You have no right to treat anyone like that. If the guy I was dating was an abusive jerk like you--” Tacita broke off, her eyes widening, as she remembered that other time in high school…


“What’s wrong with you, hitting a girl like that?” Charise yelled at the tough-looking boy.

“She’s my girlfriend, and I’ll do what I want!” he replied sharply.

“You have no right to treat anyone like that. If the guy I was dating was an abusive jerk like you, I’d dump him in a second!” Charise snapped. She stormed over and helped Tacita up. “Are you okay?” she asked.


Tacita glared at Dunstan. “You are a horrible, terrible man,” she said slowly, infuriated. “I used to date a jerk like you, and you know what? Charise made me see what a loser he was.” To Charise, she said pleadingly, “Where’s that strength you had? Where’s the Charise who threatened that drug addict boyfriend I had, ready to kill, just because you saw him slap a woman? Where did that woman go?”

Charise shook her head slowly. “Tacita, please… you’re just making things worse. This is just a petty lovers’ quarrel--”

“Petty lovers’ quarrel? Charise, you have a handprint on your face!” Tacita cried out.

“Stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, I really can see that,” Tacita responded sarcastically. To Dunstan, she said sharply, “If you lay a hand on her again, I swear to God--”

“You don’t scare me,” Dunstan said calmly. To Charise, he said, “Go get Angela out of there, and let’s all go home.”

Charise nodded obediently. Tacita followed her into the room and said softly, trying to appeal to her, “What did he do to you? What kind of threat is he making to where you’re acting like this? Charise, you’re not being yourself, and it worries me. Charise… you’re one of my best friends. I don’t like to see you like this.”

Charise looked away and replied, “What I do is none of your business, Tacita. I can understand your concern, but I’m fine.”

“This is about S, isn’t it?” Tacita blurted out. Charise looked over, shocked. Tacita nodded, noting Charise’s response. “It is, isn’t it? He threatened to hurt S if you don’t listen to him. Right?”

Charise noted that Angela was heading over. Glancing over at Tacita, she gave a cursory nod, before saying to Angela, “Come on. Dunstan is waiting for us.” She looked over at Tacita. “I guess I’ll see you later, then,” she said softly, lightly squeezing her friend’s hand. Tacita watched Charise and Angela leave the room, then balled her hands into fists and punched the wall angrily.


Ophelia, Jade, and Valo walked over to her. Valo rubbed Tacita’s back. “Calm down, Tac. We’re all ticked off by that jerk right now,” she said softly.

“That ***hole is beating up one of my best friends,” Tacita snapped. “And you want me to calm down?”

“That’s my cousin,” Ophelia pointed out. “He is beating up your friend and my cousin.”

“Look, I might not be close to her, like you guys are. Hell, I just met the girl today. But she’s dating the world’s biggest jerk, agreed?” Jade spoke up. The other three murmured in agreement. “And, you know, I think we need to teach Dunstan a lesson.”

“Like what?” Ophelia asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Jade replied. “Any suggestions?”

Eli scowled, mentally slapping himself. That really did not go as planned, he thought. Why does this kind of stuff always happen to me? I wanted him to be jealous of me for getting to work with Iris, not start World War III!