Chapter 1: The Unscripted Strip
The air in the college acting studio was a specific kind of warm. It smelled of dusty velvet from the old curtains, rubbery sweat from the yoga mats piled in the corner, and the faint chemical ghost of Ben Nye stage makeup. Ethan adjusted the fake crown made of tinfoil and embroidery thread, waiting for Chloe to finish her monologue. He’d agreed to do this extra rehearsal, script free, just to block out some movement for the absurdist pirate scene they’d been assigned.
“A trust exercise,” Ms. Davies announced, snapping her stool against the worn wooden floor as she stood. She was tiny, dressed entirely in black linen, but her voice filled the cavernous room. She’d been circling them, a hawk watching two nervous sparrows. “Too much thinking in your faces. Not enough truth.”
Ethan fought the urge to roll his eyes. Trust exercises usually meant falling backwards into someone’s arms. He was ready for that.
Chloe didn’t even glance his way. Her red hair was piled high in an imperfect bun, stray curls framing a face that seemed perpetually amused.