“Fuck you, Trelyn!” Raine yelled, anger written all over her face. “You’re so full of shit, and Iknewit was a bad idea to go along with having you on this team! You’re a bitch, and I will forever hate your ass!”
“There you go playing the victim again,” She rolled her eyes. “All I was doing was looking out for the team. I had a suspicion, so I reported it. Was that so wrong?”
“You told them that I was popping pills, Trelyn!” Raine argued. My eyes bugged as my mouth dropped open. “They came and rummaged through my shit without even talking to me first, all because you and Dawn’s aunt are all buddy-buddy. That’s not some shit to play about! Not only could I have gotten fired, but I could’ve gotten arrested! I know you hate me, but that’s taking it too damn far! Why are you constantly trying to ruin my life? What did I do so wrong to you?”
“So, did theynotfind pills on you then?”
“Fucking aspirin, you asshole!” she shouted, tossing the bottle at her. “Regular ass headache medicine.Excuse mefor being sick, but still coming in to do the job I signed a contract for.Excuse mefor having to take a silly little aspirin every now and then to deal with your bullshit!”
“Oopsie. My bad. Honest mistake,” she replied with a smile, but I saw right through it.
And I didn’t like it one bit.
I knew that she and Raine had beef of some sort, but never in a million years did I think that she’d stoop this low. She knew as well as everyone else that the company we worked for had it written in the contract that partaking in the consumption of illegal substances, especially during a show or other public event, was strictly prohibited. She knew that reports were taken seriously and that this could hinder Raine’s chances at getting jobs here in the future. She knew all of this, yet she still made a false report.
And then to know that my aunt was in on this shit? Nah…
I could feel my blood boiling as I stepped forward. She glanced at me with an innocent look, but I was disgusted. I wanted nothing to go with her right now or any time in the future. I felt as if I was seeing a different side of her as she stood there looking unbothered. Whatever it was she thought she was going to accomplish by coming for Raine like this, I wanted no part of it.
I turned to Raine and told the others to let her go. They do, and she crosses her arms over her chest, staring past me at Trelyn. I step in front of her, blocking her vision. She looks up at me, her face softening. I cup her cheeks in my hand and kiss her softly. Gasps could be heard behind me, but I didn’t care. I’d have to deal with all that other shit later.
“You okay, love?” I ask. She shakes her head and exhales a shaky breath.
“No, not even close,” she admits. I nod, taking her hand and leading her out of the room and away from prying eyes and listening ears.
“Dawn, where are you going?!” My stage manager called behind me. “You’re on in five!”
“I don’t give a fuck! Postpone the shit until I say so!” I yelled back, shuffling down the hall as I pulled Raine along with me.
When we made it to my dressing room, I closed and locked the door behind us before turning to face Raine. She was shaking and visibly upset. It reminded me of all the times her sister pissed her off, and my heart ached for her. I reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched before relaxing.
“Baby, please talk to me,” I said softly. “What is going on with you and Trelyn? What kind of history do y’all have for her to pray on your downfall so hard?”
She huffed, swiping the few tears as they fell. It took her a minute, but she finally looked at me. Her expression was solemn, and she looked as if she were ten seconds away from breaking down again. I pulled her in for a hug, stroking her back lightly.
“I hate that bitch so fucking much,” she finally said after a few minutes of silence. I pulled back to look at her. “I tried so hard to work with her, but every day she’d do something to remind me why I cut her off all of those years ago.”
“I have to ask…did y’all date in the past? Is she an ex?”
“Kind of,” she sighed, and I couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of jealousy. “I mean, we never actually dated, but we were best friends until the lines got blurred. I ended up falling for her, and she took advantage of those feelings, stole from me, and showed me her true colors.”
I nod, taken aback as she goes on to tell me of her first heartbreak and betrayal by the woman she thought was her best friend. She explained how it wasn’t the first time her kindness had been taken advantage of, but it was the time that it hurt the most. She explained that experience, combined with the way her sister always treated her, was the reason why her confidence had wavered over the years. It was why she didn’t believe that she deserved the good things she earned, and it made me so damn mad.
“Raine, why didn’t you tell me that she caused you this much stress and anxiety?” I asked. “Had I known that, I wouldn’t have agreed to let her on the team with you. I would have deaded that shit so fast.”
“Because she’s your friend and I thought she wouldn’t try to sabotage anything because it’s you we were dancing for,” she replied. “Also, I was tired of her thinking that I wasn’t strong enough to deal with her. I refused to let her get to me, and I held out for a good bit of time, but today was the last straw.”
“First of all, she and I are not that close for me to care about her feelings over yours,” I clarified. “Yes, she’s a friend, but that’s all. You’re more than a friend. You’re my future wife. You tell me to jump, and imma be in the air before you even make it to the last letter.”
She chuckles softly, and I smile, feeling myself calm. She wraps her arms around me and buries her face into my chest, inhaling my scent. I could feel her body relaxing against mine.
“Now, on to my aunt.”
She sighs, pulling back a bit to look up at me. “I don’t want to talk mean about your aunt, but the woman hates me,” she replied. “I’ve felt it for weeks. She always has some snide comment to say about me and how I do things, constantly implying that I’m not worthy of the position that I have.” She shakes her head. “Dawn, you should’ve seen her today, accusing me of stuff with no proof. She let two of the security guards wreck my shit without giving me a chance to defend myself, all because of a lie that Trelyn told her. I was so embarrassed, and she barely even apologized when she realized I was telling the truth.”
I paused, letting her words stick. My stomach was in knots, and I was heated that she’d gone through all of this thanks to Trelyn and the woman I’d trusted these last five years with my life. Trelyn was dead to me, but it made me sick to my stomachthat my aunt would go and do some shit like this after the talk we had not too long ago. I was tired of her overstepping my boundaries, and I was going to put an end to it today.
“Raine, as long as I’m around, you never have to worry about anyone making you feel less than or that you’re not worthy of what the universe has for you. You are one of the most important people in the world to me, and I promise to spend the rest of my days proving just how loved you are, okay?” I state, and she nods. “And as far as my aunt goes, don’t worry. Leave her to me. I’m sorry you had to go through that. It’s not right, but I’m going to make sure it’s all straightened out.”
