4. Don't Fuck With Tizzy

-Finley pov-

"You guys know this theatre lacks windows so can we keep the smoke to a minimum before we set off the fire alarm," Kaeden calls out the window of the booth from his desk. Sitting on the window ledge, I watch his warning go ignored by the actors sharing a single Juul on stage.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they got mono from sharing it like that," I add and he grunts in response.

"Sorry Kae! But Noell needs his daily dose of herbal supplements! Does Finley want some?" He asks and I kindly refuse.

"He talks in the third person?" I whisper to Kaeden who looks up from his board somewhat annoyed by all my questions.

"Huh? Oh that. Yeah, I'm so used to it I forgot. He does that sometimes when he's comfortable, which is good because usually gets really nervous around new people. I guess you give off good vibes," he says.

"Am I supposed to give off bad vibes? Am I an intimidating person or something?"

Kae finally gives up on whatever he was working on and rest his elbows on the desk, seating his chin in the palms of his hands.

"Yes and no. When I first met you, you were pretty rude and nasty. That doesn't exactly leave the best impression," He says.

"If I was so rude, why did you decide to stalk me?" I chuckle as I take a few sips from my water bottle.

"Because when you came outside and that guy started to threaten you, I noticed that it was only a front and you were just really...vulnerable. I didn't have it in my heart to leave you like that. Also I did not stalk you, I just found you on coincidence," He picks up a script and leafs through it for a second. There's something on his mind and I knew what it was, but I waited patiently for him to bring it up.

"Who was that guy? If you don't mind my asking,"

I open my mouth to answer him honestly but a loud cackle of laughter echoes through the theatre.

"What the fuck is that?" I turn to see a new face had appeared on stage.

"That would be our stage manager, Tzippaurorah."

At the name I couldn't contain my laughter.

"I'm sorry what? It sounded like you sneezed," I choke out through my laughter and he rolls his eyes, giggling softly.

"I know it sounds like some Egyptian princess or something but don't let her catch you making fun of it, she'll kick you out," he joins me at the window and waves to her.

"Oh Kaeden! You're actually here today, and you've brought a friend?" She asks and points to me.

"Hi, I'm Finley," I try to introduce my handsome charming self while containing the laughter currently hurting my lungs.

"Why hello! It's nice to meet you! I'm Tizzy!" She calls back.

"Thank the gods, at least she has a nickname," I mutter under my breath and Kaeden finally burst out laughing.

"What was that?" Tizzy asks and I shrug.

"Nothing! I was just saying you have such a beautiful name! I don't know why you would shorten such a rarity," I lie through my teeth and she smiles.

"Aw thank you but I can tell that you're actually being a sarcastic asshat. I wouldn't continue fucking with me or laughing at my name if you would like to have a future in this theatre," she calls me out on my bullshit with a girlish giggle and I'm instantly terrified. I look down and kick Kaeden in the side.

"Look at what you did!" I blame him as he wipes the tears forming at the rims of his glasses.

"Sorry bro, I'll look out for you next time. Everyone has to face the wrath of Tizzy at some point, a least you got it over with sooner rather than later," he sighs and I give him another light kick just for extra measure when Tizzy's eyes meet mine with a dark glare.

When the first read through is over Kaeden and I start walking home together on the heavily populated Oxford Street.

"Well that wasn't bad for the first day," He says. I nod my head in agreement while zipping up my jacket from the cold cross breeze that wiped us in the face. It was mid-January and the breeze was killer, but at least there wasn't any snow.

"No, I guess it could have been wo-" I'm interrupted by the slam of the stage door and a loud call.

"Hey! Can I walk home with you guys!" I turn my head to the side just to catch a glimpse of Sonya waving her arms and she jogs beside me.

"Sure," Kae smiles as we near the closest tube station.

"I usually do this alone but I saw you guys and figured why not get to know this new person. I hope we didn't weird you out too much," She says as we enter the station. Making our way through the maze of people to the escalator.

"I don't think he's seen the half of it just yet," Kaeden adds and she nods in agreement.

"I think you guys are...interesting," I say and Sonya smiles, slapping Kaeden on the shoulder.

"Well would you look at that, he called us interesting. I don't know if I'm going to take that as a compliment. It's a hell of a lot better than 'I think you're okay'. Interesting means something you know," she says with so much enthusiasm that I didn't know if she was being serious or sarcastic.

"Well I'll try to make it to the next practice. I have nothing better to do with my life," I grunt as I sit down in a seat on the seat. Knowing we would have to switch trains in one stop but also tired and not giving a shit.

"That won't be a problem if you stick around long enough. Sometimes I feel like theatre is life," Kaeden sighs and Sonya shushes him.

"Shhh, he's can find that part out for himself," She winks and Kae winks back before the two laugh it off together.

Feeling separated from the close friendship they shared, I pull my phone out of my pocket to discover the 157 notification mixture of text messages and missed phone calls from Marius. I curse him out under my breath as I now have to put in the extra labor of scrolling to the very bottom where he threatened to call the police if I didn't tell him where I was.

157 messages and I proudly respond with a single

'k'

Like the asshole I am.

"Anyway, I didn't think that readthrough was too bad. Cassie surprised me considering she's never acted before. I didn't expect that much emotion to come out of such a calm and collected person," Sonya says and my phone goes off again just as we switch trains.

My cousin had sent me a lovely message saying, "i hate you so much, come home you dwarf bag," I'm pretty sure there were worse things to be called than an auto-corrected dwarf bag so I choose to ignore him. Maybe he'll get the creative juices flowing and actually curse me out for once.

"What are you guys up to tomorrow?" Kaeden asks as we get on the next tube taking us to Baker Street.

"Nothing much, why?" I answer. Feeling my phone vibrate again but continuing to ignore my angry cousin.

"I was thinking of shopping for props in Soho, do you guys want to come with me?" He offers and I think about it.

"Of course, I'm sure other people would want to go too. We can ask the group chat," Sonya pitches in.

"By other people, you mean Noell?" Kaeden huffs.

"Hey! What's wrong with Noell?" She asks as we finally make it to our stop and hop off the tube to exit the station.

"I never said there was anything wrong with Noell, I just don't want Maisie getting mad at me again," he groans.

"Maisie gets mad at everyone who looks twice at Noell," Sonya sighs with clear annoyance.

"What about you Finley, want to join us on this adventure. We can all be 3rd wheels together!" Kaeden coaxes and I finally give in.

"Sure, why not?"

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