The Tea

"Just to clarify Dillon, I'm telling you this because I need a man's opinion."

"I'm your guy."

"We'll see. Okay, so you know Alexi?"

"Who?"

"Xander."

"Oh yeah, of course. Wait, why do you call him Alexi?"

"It's a long story that I won't be talking about today. Anyways, over the past 3 days he has sent me 1,601 roses."

"He's sending you flowers?"

"Yeah, but that's not even what makes the tea hot. Will tried throwing out my flowers today, and when I caught him I thought they were from his fans and he went along with it."

"That is some tea."

"Yeah, but how am I supposed to get the flowers back? I kind of actually want to keep them this time."

"Seriously, Astra? That is what your concern is right now?"

"No, that's my concern for later. Right now my concern is getting my pizza back."

He hands the box back to me. I immediately dive into a slice of pineapple and happiness.

"Astra, I don't think you understand what's going on."

"Elaborate then."

"Okay, there's obviously a love triangle going on and you're in the center of it.

I start to choke on the pizza I'm eating when he says this.

"What in tarnation are you talking about? There's no love triangle going on here."

"Yes, there is!"

"No, there isn't."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a very simple situation. Alexi is just being nice and giving me a very excessive and warm welcome to the company, and Will is probably tired of seeing all the roses. I mean, Alexi did send an astronomical amount of roses."

"Don't you know that roses mean love in the flower language? Xander is sending you different types of love every day, and Will probably got sick and tired of seeing it. I'm telling you it's a love triangle."

"And I am telling you that the idea of that is absolute bulls-"

"I thought you two were going to get some tea." Will says as he walks up.

"Well, we are. I just remembered that tea doesn't pair well with pizza at all, and then I

thought to myself maybe I should finish my pizza and then go and get the tea."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say there isn't any tea at all."

"Good thing you know better," I say before finishing my last slice of pizza.

"I need everyone's attention on the set. I have an announcement to make!" Hearing this we all turn to the director.

"There are going to be a few changes to the script. This is Cassiopeia Alaric. She is going to be playing, Andromeda. Yes, it is a new addition. We are very lucky to have her here so I want everyone to be nice to her."

"You have got to be kidding me," I moan to myself quietly.

"Could be worse, she could be your ex girlfriend," Dillon says

"Could be worse, she could be your cheating ex that you have to work with."

Dillon and I both nod our heads in agreement. He's not wrong.

Cassiopeia asks if she can give a speech, and the director gives her the floor.

"Hello, I'm sure everyone here knows me. I'm Cassiopeia Alaric. Though I am an internationally renowned star, I am also just a normal person. I hope we all can get along with each other and work hard to make this the best movie we possibly can!"

The director starts clapping enthusiastically and everyone else follows his lead. That was some speech she gave. She spots Will and makes a beeline for him. He walks away and she tries to follow, but I step into her path. When she tries to walk around and I block her again.

"Excuse me, I'm trying to get through." Cassiopeia says in a huff

"No, you're trying to bother someone who doesn't want to speak to you."

"I'm trying to talk to him about work."

"What a coincidence. I happen to be his personal assistant. Tell you what, why don't I make an appointment for you. Oh look at that, he's booked for weeks. Guess you'll just have to wait."

"How about you get lost."

"Oh you know, I'd love to but I like it here. I think I'm going to stay for awhile."

"Enjoy being his new slut?"

"Hey Cas, you went too far there you need to apologize," Dillon intervenes

I start padding my pockets and looking around, as if I lost something.

"Or what Dillon? What are you going to do and what the hell are you doing, whore?"

I continue to look around and then I finally ask Dillon.

"Dillon, I seem to have lost something. Can you help me find it?"

"Sure. What did you lose?"

"My 'give a damn.' I had a whole pocket full of them but they seem to be gone. Do you remember what I did with them?"

"I think you used them all."

"You're right! I did use up all of my 'give a damns' for the day. Tell you what Cassiopiea, if you come find me bright and early tomorrow morning, I may have some."

"You you–" she stutters

I hear a text go off, and I look at my phone. It's from Chicky, but Cassiopeia doesn't know that.

"Now excuse me, I need to go do my job."

I walk over to Will's trailer and knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Astra."

Without a word he opens the door for me and lets me in. As I close the door behind me, I hear Dillons booming laughter. I can only imagine the look on Cassiopeia's face.

"Everything ok, Astra?"

"Yeah, everything is perfectly fine. Just doing my job."

"I'm sorry, I know she can be a lot to deal with."

"It's fine. This is what I signed up for. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

"Sure."

"Thank you."

When I get in there, I lock the door and brace myself on the sink.

The words just keep repeating themselves in my head over and over. Slut, whore, useless. I feel a weight on my chest and the tears roll down my face.