“Cut!! What do you think this is!? A funeral!?” A tall pale man viciously hit the black and white striped clapboard upon itself.
“This is a high school party goddammit!! Get some energy and show it in your dancing!” he strained his lungs as he paced the floor back and forth. His hand fled up into the air signaling them to start again. The extras started up again and attempted to dance and cause a ruckus to make the scene look believable.
“Charles…I thought you weren’t coming…” mentioned a fair-skinned and petite girl with blond hair falling down her back and only about five inches from reaching her toes. She stood there as actors around her danced and drunk (fake) beer out of those classic red party cups.
“There you are, I came here to look for you Sarah.” the last character that entered the set was built, sexy, and mature-looking…this was Charles Flora, and the girl was Sarah Class.
“B-but why!? I told you I didn’t want to see your face ever again!” Sarah answered hurtfully, her character began tearing up.
“No! I would never let my girlfriend say something like that!” Charles responded desperately.
“Oh, so now I’m your girlfriend!? I was sure Venessa had taken that title. ” Sarah cowered in defense as Charles saw her only running away from the truth.
“You know I would never do that to you! Vanessa and I have nothing going on between us! I promise you it was a misunderstanding, and I can prove it!” dramatic music played throughout the set as the cameraman begins focusing on another body that was entering. Sarah’s eyes turned towards the girl that was proceeding to her.
“Julie!?” More dramatic music had echoed loudly as one of the cameras was now facing Sarah directly in the face.
“I’m sorry Sarah! It was me who locked Charles in that closet with Vanessa, I thought they would come out of it as a couple so I recorded everything that happened while they were in there. Nothing happened…and I have evidence through the camera to show you…” Julie’s eyes had never met Sarah’s, but if they had they would’ve seen the forsaken fire growing within it.
“WHAT!? ARE YOU SERIOUS!? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!?” Sarah swiftly moved her legs towards Julie who was now the victim. She hurriedly dashed so quickly in her direction and aimed for her hair and face.
“I WILL KILL YOU!!” She cried. Unfortunately, this was no longer Sarah, but Cecelia AKA CeCe.
The actor still fleeing from her life from Cece began screaming her lungs out.
“Cut, cut, cut, cut!! What the hell CeCe!?” The director hollered at the two female figures that were now offset and on the other side of the building.
“Oh, sorry director the scene was just too real for me!” she called out while eying her prey.
“Again!? Ugh fine whatever! Everyone take five!!” the director had impatiently threw his clipboard to the ground before storming out of the room. Charles, oh excuse me, Thaddeus’s composure remained still. Cecelia has always been sincere with her acting, especially when it involved her boyfriend. He sat there with a disappointed gaze and a hand sitting comfortably on his forehead.
“All Sarah was supposed to do is ask why…and yet you go full-on girlfriend and start attacking some amateur actor…I’ll never understand you,” Thaddeus mentioned. CeCe, having sharp ears (and a sharp tongue) heard her lover’s words, halted her attack, and began heading back towards the set.
“She tried to snatch my man for another woman, what other choice did I have?” she scoffed.
“It’s acting CeCe, none of this is actually happening in real life, you have every choice,” he replied. CeCe had taken her spot near Thaddeus.
“Well you know, I just relate so much to Sarah, like with her boyfriend problems and all.” She giggled obnoxiously while attempting to pat Thaddeus’s shoulder.
“Seriously CeCe, you got to stop doing this before you get kicked off the show. It’s not cute. You’re ruining the show and you’re ruining my spotlight!” he responded harshly.
“They won’t ever get rid of me, not as long as you’re on here and as long as I’m dating you. That’s why I love you so much Thaddy, not only are you hot and sexy but being with you gives me much more attention in the celebrity world.” CeCe not only loved him but she needed him. They had been together for almost two years now since the show began. She, of course, was the first to approach the boy who only focused on himself in the mirror and even in cast photos. Why she was attracted to such a narcissist is still questionable. Maybe it was because, despite the fact, he never gave her the time of day, he gave her the most media attention she has ever received throughout all her years of acting (which was much longer than Thaddeus’s). Many shipped the two on RTH believing they were the true Ying and Yang of the show. These two were always together after they got together (although it was more like she followed him everywhere he went), but they were inseparable, two in one. So surely these two would never break up.
“About that…just come with me.” Thaddeus snatched CeCe’s arm aggressively and yanked her whole body along with it across the set. He proceeded to an area where he noticed fewer people were in and stopped in his place.
“What is it, love…?” CeCe had gotten distracted by Thaddeus’s strong grip that imprisoned her arm but pretended to answer normally.
“Listen, Cecelia, when you first asked me out… I answered yes because I was curious. I knew you were using me to gain more fame and…I was using you.” Thaddeus had finally let go of his tight grip and directed his eyes away from CeCe.
“W-wait! No! it was more than that Thaddy! I love you…I’m in love-” Cece was cut off abruptly by his harsh words.
“Stop, don’t say any more. ” he continued, “Listen, that was just how I felt in the beginning but I ended up catching feelings for you. To be honest, I never thought I would love someone other than myself and I guess you changed that.” Thaddeus took his right hand and began clenching his left arm nervously, rubbing his skin and hair against his hand. Cecelia’s eyes swelled with tears of conflicted emotions, she was filled with joy from his words but also pain.
“Thaddy…” She muttered.
“Cecelia, what we had was good…really good actually, I enjoyed it. There are rumors of me heading back to school and I know you’ve heard of them.” CeCe nodded with reluctance, she knew exactly what was coming but she didn’t want to admit it. She felt a throbbing pain within her heart that refused to go away.
“It’s true, I’m planning on going back to finish school.” Thaddeus was firm in his decision, his eyes held a strong message of sternness and seriousness.
“Wow…so it’s actually true…” Cecelia murmured, her voice barely making it out the entrance of her mouth.
“You’re actually leaving me, your girlfriend, to go back to school!? Are you serious!?” Cecelia’s eyes were a puffy bright red as tears began mercilessly flowing in. They couldn’t compare to Thaddeus’s, which were completely dry and clean. He continued to look straight ahead as if looking right pass Cecelia. Thaddeus, after all, was someone who always got what they wanted, whether by just being lucky or by constantly working hard to achieve it. Once he wanted something he would do everything in his power to get it and no one could change his mind or stop it– nonetheless, neither could Cecelia.
“I’m going back to experience a real high school life. You know my story, my parents pulled me out of regular school when I was just starting 9th grade and homeschooled me instead so I could focus on my acting career. So since it’s my last year, I want to go back to get my high school diploma. Not only that but I want to evolve my acting and make it more authentic. I don’t feel connected with Charles… or any of the characters anymore.” Thaddeus continued.
“I can’t connect with them if I’ve never truly experienced what they’re going through or at least have an idea of it. It’s ironic. This whole show, in my eyes, is ridiculous. It has lost all of its impact on me because I’ve never experienced anything real in my life.” Cecelia’s tears increased along with her now obnoxious wailing.
“What hell are you talking about Thaddy!? Are you f-ing with me!?” CeCe continued, “You know none of this stuff is actually real right!!? it’s all dramatized–and yes it’s ridiculous but who cares! You’re leaving me!” she called. Cecelia’s arms wrapped around and embraced her entire body as if she was desperately trying to replace the warmth that Thaddeus no longer provided her.
“Don’t be like that,” Thaddeus said attempting to calm her.
“No! You know what!? Screw you Thaddeus Banquo!! You ain’t shi–” Cece’s words were sharply cut off by the director’s loud announcement. “Okay break time over!! Back to your places everyone!” The cast, that was once scattered amongst the set had begun grouping together again. Cecelia whipped her hair passively yet aggressively, each strand hitting Thaddeus. Her resent radiated strongly through each step she took. Thaddeus had followed cautiously behind by keeping a safe distance from her.
“Okay back to the scene with Julie confessing! And Cecelia… don’t mess up again,” the director waved his hand commencing the scene to start again.
“Why!? How could you do this to me, Julie…I thought we were friends…you know how much I love Charles!” Sarah was the first to start as she expressed the painful emotions on her face.
“I’m not sorry! You hurt Vanessa first when you went after Charles!” Julie cried, her face a crimson red.
“How was I supposed to know she liked Charles when she never even told me!’ called out Sarah whose hands were replacing her face.
“Shut up witch you know very well you did!” Julie’s eyes glistened up as if she was the only right person in the world and everyone else was in the wrong.
“Stop it!!” Thaddeus yelled, “It doesn’t matter if Vanessa has feelings for me! I didn’t choose her, I chose Sarah! She’s the only girl for me so I will choose her! Every. Single. Time. Over everything and anyone!” The whole set became quiet. Sarah began to scoff at his words.
“Wow…” She began clapping slowly. “Oh, Charles! You’re so amazing…you always choose me over everything and anyone, right?” the amount of sarcasm coming from her voice reflected clearly, this was no longer Sarah but once again, the fabulous Cecelia.
“Now if only my real-life boyfriend took some hints from Charles and…oh I don’t know…DID THE SAME!” Cecelia stormed off the set in the direction of her trailer which she preceded to storm in, slamming the door on all the faces she left behind.
The director sighed and laid his palm gently upon his disgruntled face.
“Cecelia…such a good actor but the amount of times she breaks character is just too many. We’re done for the day, everyone is dismissed! Thaddeus, come here!” called the director. He sat upon the director’s chair, only a few feet away, with his legs crossed against each other firmly.
Thaddeus had made his way towards the director with no hesitation.
“John?” he responded. The director knew no matter what he said his words wouldn’t sway Taddeus’s decision but he attempted anyways.
“Thaddeus…you know she’s acting this way because she doesn’t want you to go…so why won’t you just stay? I promise you I will make sure you never go jobless, if you stay, you’ll always have work with me. So please…just think about it even if it’s just a little.” the director’s voice was calm but stern.
“I broke up with her,” Thaddeus continued, “and I don’t plan on getting back with her.”
“But-” the director’s attempted rebuttal had ultimately failed with the interruption of Thaddeus’s.
“Neither do I plan on changing my mind, I’m firm in my decision John.” Thaddeus’s eyes did a quick check around the set before meeting back at John’s.
“I’m going to miss this place, but I leave tomorrow and I don’t plan on coming back until I’m done with high school.” he ended.
“As I thought…I simply can’t change your mind. I’ll make this episode the season finale, which should give you some time to get in what you need before the next season. However…if you’re not back to us by then, I’ll also have to make a firm decision of replacing you.” John’s eyes aligned with Thaddeus’s earnestly and in exchange got the same earnest eyes from Thaddeus.
“I understand but just know that no one can play Charles except me. ” he continued, “You will lose fans, and you will lose viewers. You can’t replace me.” Thaddeus finished off as he began walking in the opposite direction away from the director.
“Thaddeus,” the director advanced, as the distance from him and Thaddeus began to grow, “Anyone can be replaced. Tomorrow is your last day so please go talk to CeCe. Convince her to work with us a little longer in order to make our season finale…a good one. ” Thaddeus had no reply and continued to pace away from the set and the director.
