The first show was in a week, that means they had Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to adjust to the stage, perfect there performance, and know every cue as if they could do it in there sleep. That left Monday for rest, since usually the theater is dark, and the the next Tuesday for opening night to all producers, sponsors, family, and high profile people. It was tech week...it was musical theater hell.
On that Tuesday, Penny went into costume, make-up, and hair, and told the ladies about the situation. They demanded for the young woman to undress and some them. So behind closed doors, she slipped off her pants and stood in her underwear as they all gathered to look at her wounds. Some of the deeper cuts where dressed up in gauze and Band-Aids, but most where too thin to need anything.
The final plan was to use Band Aids, cover them in foundation, and put on tights. Thankfully, her long white go-go boots covered a majority of her cuts, but some slips out above her knee.
Tuesday morning was a little slow, since the priority was on the crew and working with the sound, stage, and lights. So almost all the girls gathered into the dressing room while they practice hiding her cuts and asked about the man who dropped Penny off.
"It was my husband," Penny said simply, like she didn't just drop a bomb on all of them. Suddenly she was bombarded with question about him and how they met. Thankfully, when Addison joined them, she helped cover some of the story. Once the story started to make sense for the girls and the other crew members, they left her alone. However, only after they are introduced to mysterious hubby.
Everyone was done up in makeup and hair, and after lunch they ran through the first act of the show. Or at least tried too...
The lighting crew, sound tech and orchestra, and people in charge of set changes worked very hard. It was basically the first time everyone was working together and Diane and Yoora started to stress out. It was a lot and the show was in a week. Everything had to work perfectly.
Penny and the rest of the cast worked very hard to be as accommodating, patient, and amazing. Every time Diane paused to get a sound or light cue correct, no one on stage complained. They stood, sometimes fouling around with the people beside them, and waited to continue.
All the girls and even the director gave Corey eyes all day. Not fun, flirty eyes, but like "you are going to die" eyes. Everyone must have heard how he stalked the poor girl. They all seem to forget the fact that he saved her life, but Penny is happy that the tidbit is forgotten. She doesn't like remembering how she basically owed him.
Wednesday morning hair, makeup, and costumes was done for the purpose of teaching the cast how to do it on their own. Most of the women did pretty well and caught on fast. Thomas was experience in theater and could do his own foundation but the extra age lines and grime took sometime. Adam was basically done in ten minutes since he had the least makeup. Corey didn't have too much but he complained constantly to the hair and makeup team about doing it. Even though it didn't take a lot of effort, it took almost as long as the women's complex glittery eye shadow.
Afterward, the cast and crew spent the rest of the time working on Act Two, working overtime until three, then eating lunch. Everyone was tired, sluggish and hungry by two, but they kept working. Soon, people became irritated and impatient.
The rest of the evening, the crew worked together with some of the cast, mostly Penny since she was on stage the most, to fix common mistakes. This meant that the woman had to repeat scene after scene, never getting a break.
That night, she barely talked to Quentin and just crashed the minute she got home.
Thursday Penny actually canceled her weekly therapy with Aubrey. The show was in a crucial and fragile state. So they ran through the show as many times at possible, having everyone yelling at each other for every single mistake. Diane was starting to become ruthless. She would scream at the smallest mistakes and make everyone go back a fix them.
Her whole career did rely on this show.
Sadly, Penny had to handle aftermath of the frustration, anxiety, and fear from the director. It got to a point she had to actively push her tears away, or look up to the sky to prevent tears from falling down her face. It was all too much for her. Every shout and curse of frustration was starting to sound more and more like her father.
She felt like she was either going to cry or find a kni-
That thinking wasn't healthy for that. So instead of talking through her intrusive thoughts by maybe calling her therapist, she went home with Quentin, found all the alcohol, drank most of it, and went to bed.
Friday morning wasn't very funny. Her alarm didn't go off, which was a blessing. Instead, Quentin gently shook her and right away offered medicine and water. He cooked her a full breakfast, something they didn't do very often. The medications worked for her headache, but her stomach was still twisting and turning.
She remembers everything from last night, which wasn't that much. She was silent after dinner and snuck away to her room to drink alone. Quentin checked on her when she was heavily intoxicated and helped her get ready for bed. She was mumbling things, but neither could really make out what it was.
Quentin was disappointed in Penny. He never wanted to see the stress of work overcome her like this. He has done it several times, over and over. He would go straight to the bar after work (when he first started), get hammered, and wake up in either his bed or another bed. Having ADHD and depression made it much harder to avoid substances that altered the state of mind. It was a dangerous escape.
He prays that it won't become a new normal for her.
In the car that morning, he tried to talk to her to see what trigger it. She was never one to just pick up a bottle and drink, even if it was for fun. "Penny, what happened to make you drink last night? Was it Corey, did he do something?"
Penny, who was once facing forward, deliberately turned to look out the right window. Avoiding the conversation and her feelings, she answer, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, it would help. Maybe there is something I can do," he pushed.
He pulled in, hoping that she would take a second to tell him wants wrong. She instead rushed out of the car (as fast as someone hungover could) and said, "If I wanted to talk, I'd call my therapist." Slamming the car door, she walked away to the stage door. Sighing, he pulled back on to the street and to work.
For him, it was a difficult day. It was the day before a weekend and if wife wasn't acting like herself. She was obviously hurting, but he felt so powerless. So, he sent her flowers mid-day hoping that would cheer her up.
Penny walked into work that day with that infamous (and frankly sexist) resting bitch face. But, it was true. She wore the biggest frown and furrowed eyebrows. Most people got the message and tried to keep small talk to the down low. She quietly did her makeup and hair while everyone else chatted. All were extremely stressed out and nervous, but the atmosphere of backstage was always light and playful.
They did vocal and physical warm-ups on stage and got right to work. Penny really wasn't feeling herself. Not only was her brain a mess of emotions, but her body was ready to collapse. In the middle of one of her dance sequences and songs, Penny didn't perform too well. She would spin around, but then feel a vile form. Eventually, Diane was sick of this and stop everything.
"Penelope what the heck is going on! Can you do anything right? Should I get a new actress? Get your act together or get off my stage," Diane shouted. The theater was silently, waiting for Penny to do anything. She couldn't hold the tears she's been saving for a few days. They roll down her face, only smearing a little bit of foundation. She covered her mouth and ran off stage.
At the closest bathroom, she closed and locked the door, only just making it to throw up in the toilet. There goes breakfast...Sorry Quinn She thought, flushing it all down. She relaxed her body, laying her back against the bathroom wall. More tears streamed down her face, from both the harsh words Diane said and the fact she threw up. No one likes throwing up.
She shouldn't have reacted like that. It was necessary. The director yells at everyone, but no one ran off crying. No one else would hear a woman's voice turn deep and booming. No one else would have to fight the urge to flinch and clench every muscle for protection.
She wiped the tears from her face and stood up to look in the mirror. Her fixed some of her smudge makeup with her fingers, but it would have to do until her lunch break. She heard a knock at the door. Out of instinct, she started, "I'm sorry father, I will be better."
"Uh..." an uncomfortable female voice started.
Shit! Penny wasn't in San Francisco. She was at work and her father was dead. She knew that, why would she ever say that! She wiped the door open to Marisa with wide eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to say that."
Marisa wasn't uncomfortable about her mistaking her for her father. Not like how a teacher gets awkward then someone calls her mom. Marisa was disgusted by the small, scared, and submissive voice she said it in. Marisa heard it before, in her own voice against her ex-boyfriend and knew exactly what was up in her past. She never wanted anyone to face something like that. However, she quickly covered her feeling and responded, "It's okay. I wanted to check on you."
Penny tried to smile, "Yeah, I'm good. Tech week is just so stressful."
"I know, let's head back to the stage."
And they did, and they finished the show by lunch. Upon walking into her dressing room, she found a beautiful bouquet of red roses. She could basically smell them before entering the room. The thorns were removed and the well-taken care of petals were soft to her touch. There was also a note attached. Opening the tiny envelope, it said,
I'm sorry you are having a bad day. I hope these flowers cheer you up. -Q
Then, it was like the dam broke. Penny couldn't handle the complete broke down that was going to happen...in front of everyone. Her perfectly coated skin bled a deep blush as hot tears formed at the corners and streamed down her face. Like earlier that day, she covered her mouth, but this time to hold in the sobbing noise. It didn't work. Heavy sounds of crying bounce around the room. Her other hand was used to support her now weak body. She was so tired from the day, from the yelling and the hangover, that a simple note from Quentin just let everything loose.
Most people surrounded her, but even most wasn't a lot. The girls stood behind rubbing her back, stroking her hair, and whispering encouraging words.
Everything is going to be okay.
It really didn't feel like at the time.
Penny wasn't the first one to have a breakdown this week. She is just the first to do it in front of everyone. They enveloped her into a close and tight group hug. No longer were the girls supporting Penny, they were supporting themselves. Seeing the sweetest and most dedicated woman on the team breakdown from the stress of the show was almost terrifying.
If she could do it, then how could them.
But then, Penny released her arms, bringing her hands to her eyes. She wipes the tears from her face, foundation now smearing her skin. She stood up straight and told them all how she was good now. Her voice was raw. She wasn't going to sing very well for the rest of the day.
Somehow, hope was restored. The cast and crews faith was tested. Penny's faith in herself was tested. She was resilient. She will make it through.
Penny took the vase and brought her to her things, specifically where her street clothes and purse is. She grabbed her lunch and went about the day like nothing happened. Everyone knew something happened and they weren't good at hiding it. Even Diane seemed hesitant to correct the girl during end of day notes.
No one wants another breakdown.
When she walked out into the freezing December night, Quentin's car was there waiting. She struggled to get the door open with a vase of red roses basically taking up her two hands, but achieved nonetheless. Without saying anything, Penny reached over, grabbed the side of Quentin's head, and gave a hard kiss on the cheek. Afterwards, he turned his face to look at her. She had tears in her eyes. He didn't know that it was about the third time that day. Whispering she said, "Thank you. I really needed that."
Quentin fought everything in his soul not to grab the sides of her head back and give a passionate, longing kiss. He didn't feel that they were ready yet. He wants to make his feeling clear to her. Right now wasn't the time. Right now wasn't the place. It was smart if she went through this week first, then he took action.
If it all back fired and she doesn't feel the same, he wouldn't want to make her feel even more overwhelmed. Little did he know that she also wanted to kiss him badly, but was already so overwhelmed. She also told herself that she will express her emotions to him once this week was over.
Just once this week was over.
Before letting go, Quentin lended forward and gave a forehead kiss back. "Anything for you."
She couldn't help smiling like a little school girl when she heard rumors that a boy liked her. A flush red appeared on her cheeks, but it was concealed in the dark car.
Penny slipped on her seatbelt, her flowering resting on the ground in front of her. "Diane had been really stressed lately and has basically been taking it out on us."
Realizing that she was telling him what was wrong this morning, Quentin listened very closely.
"Its really stressful for us too, and it doesn't help that she is being completely rude to us. I just last night to forget everything. It's just too much sometimes. Today was really really hard. The things she said...it just- just reminded me of my father." Her tone becomes softer, as if she was hiding from the world. "She was yelling at me and I swear to God her voiced got deep, but, like, it was just my brain. I actually had to run off stage at that point because I was going to break down and cry and throw-up at the same time. When I got the flowers, I had another breakdown, but in front of everyone." Putting her head in her hands, tears pricking her eyes again, she blew out a breathe, "It's been a really hard time."
Quentin didn't know what to say, how to cheer her up. There honestly wasn't a way too. Once getting back home, they went upstairs together where he starting to run a bath for her. Digging around every cabinet in the bathrooms, he found a package of lovely smelling epson salts. He told her to just relax in the tub, and left her to change. Downstairs, he ordered delivery from there favorite Chinese restaurant.
She came downstairs after a while to find food spread across the table. Quentin thought she looked lovely with slightly dried red hair and a clean face. Well, not totally clean. With the amount of makeup she wears for stage, remains bits of glitter and black linear stayed stuck to her face. Regardless, she looked beautiful.
Saturday morning left two more days of work, then a day break, and then the first show. Even thinking about it made Penny develop stage fright prematurely. It was better not to think if the future now, for her own physical health.
Saturday morning also started with a small fight in the car. It wasn't anything too serious; nothing relationship destroying and ending.
"Why can't I? Diane should know better than to treat you guys like this." Quentin wanted to go in with Penny and have a strong talking to with the director. He wanted her to know how triggering it was for Penny. And no one should be name calling in the first place, no matter how stressed.
"It's fine! It's my fault anyways. I shouldn't get so worked up about stupid stuff like that. It is so minor." Penny in all honestly didn't want to make a scene. It wasn't her place to correct the director in her directing style.
Quentin pulled off to the side of the street, by the stage door as usual. "Fine. I won't! Does that make you happy?"
"Yes," She smiled, grabbed her things and skipped into the building, thinking she won the argument.
Yes....thinking.
Quentin found a lot close by and walking in through the stage door like earlier that week. He passed by a slightly open door and saw Penny distracted, talking with the girls around her and doing her own makeup. He quickly slid past and moved to the stage. She saw Diane talking with some crew members, but he interrupted.
She wasn't upset. It didn't even look like she was stressed. He shouldn't judge, but she looked so  put together and didn't have a worried look trapped in her eyes. "Hi Quentin! Here to buy some tickets."
Actually thinking that is a great idea, it needs to wait in a minute, "I came here to talk about how you are treating my wife."
Certainly confused, she asked, "What do you mean?"
Getting a little to close for comfort, Quentin said, "Be careful what you say to my wife. I don't want her crying and coming home to get black-out drunk again."
Diane was taken aback. She was disgusted in herself, that she let the stress of the show and her whole anxiety over it going perfect effect other. She took out something that was meant for her on other. Immediately she said, "I am so sorry for my treatment of them, it's just my-"
"I don't want to hear any excuses. I better here from Penny that you apologized for you behavior to everyone." He threatened. Like, as fast as a light switching flipping up he said, "How about I buy thought tickets."
Quentin was gone before Penny came out for stretching and warm-ups. The rest of the day went smoothly. Diane was stilling being a hard-ass over every little detail, but she wasn't being mean and nasty anymore. Penny told Quentin on the ride back about how her day was better. He was pleased.
Sunday was the last day. Tensions were high, but they were all excited. Diane before starting, had everyone gather, so she could give a quick speech. "Before we start on out last rehearsal, I just want to say how special everyone here is. The show would be nothing without you guys." She stopped so they could all applaud each other. "It has been really stressful and I knew it wasn't going to be easy from the beginning, but I didn't care. This is my project. This is my baby. And you are all my family. I just want to say how sorry I am for treating you guys this week. Mean doesn't even begin to cover my attitude. I was completely out of line and there is no excuse for that. I promise from now on to keep my attitude in check. Now, I love you all and let's go perform the best that we have every."
The speech certainly brightened everyone's mood, including Penny. The cast and crew all cheered and went to places.
And the last rehearsal went smoothly. Every transition on the crew's side was seamless and the actor performance was dazzling. The week may have been one of the most stressful events in Penny's life (and she had many, many stressful moments), but it was all worth it. It will be worth it ounce they perform for the first time.
At the end of the day, the last tech day, she got in Quentin's car and said, "Next time I'll be hear will be opening night."