Act Forty-Two
Baylee Wright
In the performance gym, I stretch on the blue mats with Brenden and Zhen, yawning in my armpit. We stayed up most of the night and early morning talking, and then 7:30 a.m. hit and we needed to leave for work.
What’s strange is that more than half of Infini’s cast is late. All of the Kotovas are straggling, and other artists loiter around the locker room longer than normal.
I barely reach for my foot. I’m distracted by the constant mutterings from passersby. The side-glances and even some pointing. All directed at me.
I don’t believe Brenden shared my secrets, but I grow antsy and turn to them. “You are seeing the same thing as me, right?”
Brenden and Zhen scan our surroundings.
“Maybe one of us has toilet paper stuck to our ass,” Zhen quips and checks his butt. “Not me.”
Brenden lifts his ass up to Zhen.
“Not you either.”
“I thought for sure it was me.” Brenden plops down with a grin.
I say, “I’m serious.”
“We know,” they both reply in unison.
I elbow Brenden and crane my neck for answers. Dimitri. I see him speaking to his brothers hastily by a water fountain, and they’re all nodding in agreement.
They must all be distraught over Luka quitting.
I frown deeply at the tiny squared windows of the blue double doors, leading into the hallway. Offices on the other side.
I spy bodies darting down the hallway. I just see flashes of people through the windows. Moving quickly. Hurriedly. None of these bodies enter the gym yet, so I assume they’re slipping into offices instead.
I have a nagging feeling something big is happening.
Zhen rises to his feet. “I think I should…ask around.” He sees what I see.
“Good idea,” Brenden says, zoned in on a group of girls gawking at me. “Try Reesha and Lanie. They look like they know something.”
“Already there.” Zhen waves us goodbye, even though he’s going thirty feet or less.
I think Brenden would follow if I didn’t soak his Pillow Pet with my snot. Meaning, he wants to keep me company while I’m blue.
Brenden scoots closer, and I half-heartedly stretch my arm over my chest. I could text Katya, but if it’s just everyone upset about Luka’s departure, I don’t want to poke at her wounds.
Brenden takes out his phone. I kept mine near too, but I don’t retrieve it.
“Can you text Luka?” I ask hesitantly. “See if he knows something—”
“I’m already on it,” Brenden tells me.
I nod, but I’m still uneasy.
Zhen returns slowly, like he just saw a hoard of naked people, and he’s unsure of how to relay the image.
I frown at him. “It can’t be that embarrassing.”
He opens his mouth but then tilts his head, quizzical? I don’t know that look.
“I’ve heard all your boner stories,” I say to prove a point. “Ninety-percent were boring, Zhen. Okay, so whatever’s going on—it won’t faze me. I’m cool.” I feel like I’m trying to convince my older brother’s best friend that I’m part of the “cool mature club”—which, really, is what’s happening.
Zhen drops his gaze to gather his words. “I’m not embarrassed. I’m…shocked.”
“Oh.” I haven’t seen him really surprised before? At least maybe not concerning me. “What is it…?” My eyes start welling again. I thought the tears had ended.
He pushes back his black hair. “In New York, you were caught having sex with Luka. Nothing with cocaine.”
I’m stunned silent. Brenden is assuring me that he didn’t tell, but I never doubted him. I think…Luka must’ve told someone.
Zhen lists off a few more things: the contracts we signed, the threat of the no minors policy, and Luka being forced into quitting by Geoffrey. Basically, everything.
It’s all out in the open with the whole company. Blood drains out of my head, cold biting me.
I’d feel more at risk of being fired if this day didn’t start out weird. But I just realize—there are young kids, no older than ten or twelve, crying by Viva’s trapeze.
And I caused their grief. With the no minors policy. “Is it already enforced?” I stare off, a chill snaking down my spine. Brenden wraps his arm around my shoulders, but I’m as stiff as a board.
“It’s all just talk right now,” Zhen says. “I don’t think anything official has happened.”
Brenden’s phone buzzes.
I lean over and read the text.
Brenden sent: is something going on? Baylee is freaked.
Things are up in the air – Luka
Another text comes in fast.
She’s staying in Infini no matter what. It’s boiling down to the policy & our old contracts – Luka
Brenden asks me, “What? You keep shaking your head.”
“Who has that much sway in Aerial Ethereal to override a contract written by the company’s creator?”
Not long after I say it, artists start collecting their bags. With quick glances at their cells, they leave the gym. Brenden checks his phone for any cancellations, but he shakes his head.
The hallway starts emptying, but no one rushes into the gym. Everyone seems to be headed for the elevators. Like they’re going home to their suites.
Viva has an early-afternoon show soon. Most of the cast should be warming up. I look again at someone who may have answers.
Dimitri catches my questioning expression this time, and he nods heartily at me. Like stay strong, Baybay. We’re fixing this.
We’re helping you.
I blow back, my lips parting in recognition of what this all may mean. That they’re not giving up on Luka. On us.
For the first time, we may actually have people on our side.