“Why are you nervous?” Jesse asked.It was the day of my meeting with Molly Renee and for some reason I wasn’t feeling very confident. Something about her being famous made her seem larger than life and I couldn’t, for the life of me, get past that thought. We were in my office going over what I'd say to her.“It's nothing special. You hung out with Ashley, right? Think of Molly as–”“Molly Renee. She's particular about that,” I interjected. I'd seen a video of her throwing a tantrum over being called her first name only. I should probably have done some research before picking her. He rolled his eyes. “Remi, relax. Breathe.”I took in a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “Didn't make me feel better,” I muttered. “Cool but if you give her this nervous energy when she comes in, she'll give it right back to you. I promise you don't want that. It's easier to just relax and get out of your head.”He wasn't wrong but I was shocked this was coming from him. The shocked look on my face told

“So all of this?” Molly Renee asked.“Yes, all of it. Just make videos with them,” I said. Even through the screen I could see Molly Renee’s eyes light up like a firecracker.“Are you serious?” “Yes it will be like your regular job but you will be promoting us. You understand, right?” She couldn’t contain her excitement. “Crystal clearly. I won't let you down.” I clicked the screen off and ended our meeting. It has been only a week and the board was already breathing down my neck for results. It was quite clear what was going on; that snake Mike was probably poisoning their minds. Why else would they want results for a project that started only a week before. “You just keep doing what you are doing and don't let them get to you. This is how they are but you have to show them who's boss,” dad said.He had it so easy. I was literally his only child, how did I not inherit his ruthlessness? It was so draining. Was it always going to be like this? With me constantly having to justif

“What the hell are you doing here?” Celia demanded.“What's going–”“Get the hell out of here, you bitch. What do you want with my husband?” Rachel's face appeared out of nowhere.“Where am I?”“Somewhere you aren't supposed to be. Get out!”“Leave him alone, you husband snatcher. Get your stinking hands off my husband.”“Get out or we'll drag you out,” their voices said in unison.My legs started to move on their own. I was walking. No, I was running but why was I so slow?Both women were chasing me. Run, I thought. Run faster.But my legs wouldn't cooperate. It felt like I was running through jelly.“You better run away and never look back.”Their voices were further away but I couldn't stop.A figure appeared in the distance but I couldn't tell who it was. The closer I got the less defined the figure became.“Where are you running to? You're mine. You can't escape me.”In a flash, the figure was right in front of me and I ran right into his arms.It was Oscar's disfigured face, w

Her face contorted into what must have been the look of pure bliss and she let out a howling laugh. I was more confused than shocked as I stared at her for a while then eventually joined her with a nervous laugh that soon turned genuine.I didn't know why but I was laughing so hard. Of course, it was a joke. Maybe a bad one, but a joke nonetheless. And I was taking her seriously. It hit me like a basketball to the face when I realised how dumb I was being. I guess I just wasn't used to having a friend. With your friends, you could be free. Free to express yourself for all the quirks you had, good or bad. At work, I had to be professional… mostly. But with a friend, I could let down that social guard.“You know how crazy that was?” I asked as we caught our breaths.“I know. You were so scared,” said Sadie as she wiped her eyes.“I was. It was a joke, right?”We burst into another bout of laughter that lasted almost as long as the first.“Can you imagine?” she asked. “Anyway, how about

“He must have thought he had you,” Oscar said with a chuckle, placing a hand on the small of my back.My body jerked forward on its own but I didn't look back. Maybe I was going to lose Jesse but I needed to lure the fool into a false sense of security.Even if Jesse was still going to give me a chance I knew Ashley wasn't. And if Ashley didn't then he wouldn't. “The girl is cute though.” He was glancing over his shoulder and I could see his eyes look down. Pig. “She could really– wait, is that Ashley? She’s all grown up!” He whistled.I was about to ask how he knew Ashley but remembered he and Jesse were brothers. “Let's go,” I said.“All right, baby. We'll go anywhere you want,” he needlessly yelled.Something broke inside me knowing Jesse had probably heard him.I didn't wait for him as I strode to my car.“Hey, wait up.”Immediately I got into my car, I locked the door.He tried opening it but eventually gave up. “Remi? What are we doing here?”That tone. It used to strike fear