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Chapter 5 - unspoken tension

I let your silence be the space we shared, But in every word, your love was always there.

Joanne stood in the shadow of the stage, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. She wasn't supposed to be here; technically, she'd finished her work for the day. But the empty auditorium felt like the only place she could escape her thoughts. The quiet hum of the lights overhead and the faint echo of her footsteps grounded her, even as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Paxton had been acting differently lately, and Joanne couldn't shake the feeling that their easy friendship was slipping away. Or maybe, she thought bitterly, she was the one letting it slip.

Paxton, meanwhile, was pacing near the costume rocks at the far end of the room. He had noticed Joanne's growing distance, her brief smiles that didn't quite reach her eyes, and the way she seemed to avoid being alone with him. It confused him, frustrated him. He'd always thought they had an unspoken understanding, a bond that didn't need constant reaffirmation. But now, he felt like he was grasping at shadows,

Amy watched all of this unfold with a satisfaction she could barely conceal. She'd spent weeks laying the groundwork for this exact moment. Subtle comments, strategic interruptions, and perfectly timed looks had created a wedge between Joanne and Paxton that she was more thon happy to exploit. Now that the cracks were visible, Amy focused on widening them. The more uncertain Joanne become, the less likely she would ever try to reclaim her place by Paxton's side.

Joanne's internal turmoil didn't go unnoticed by Emily, who'd been watching. her friend with growing concern. Emily had never trusted Amy, though she could never quite articulate why. There was something about Amy's overly polished demeanor, the way she smiled too brightly and spoke just a little too carefully, that set Emily on edge. Lately, Amy's behavior toward Joanne had seemed... pointed. Emily wasn't sure what to do about it, but she knew she couldn't stay silent much longer.

The next morning, Joanne arrived at the cultural department cabin earlier than usual, hoping to avoid running into Paxton. She'd barely had time to settle into her corner when Amy appeared, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

"Joonne," Amy said with her signature syrupy tone, "you're here early. Is everything alright?"

Joanne tensed, unwilling to let Amy see just how much she'd gotten under her skin. "I'm fine. Just wanted some quiet time before rehearsal"

Amy's smile widened. "Of course. Everyone needs their space sometimes. Especially with all the... pressures you've been under lately."

Joanne frowned, "Pressures?"

Amy tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, you know. Keeping up with the production, managing everything so perfectly. I mean, it's no wonder you've

been a bit... distracted."

"I haven't been distracted," Joanne said sharply, her cheeks flushing.

"Of course not," Amy said quickly. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant... well, it must be hard with Paxton always hovering around. He's such a great guy, but I can see how his constant attention might feel a little overwhelming."

Joanne's stomach churned. Amy's words echoed the doubts that had been swirling in her mind for days. Was Paxtan only helping her out of pity? Had she been leaning on him too much without realizing it?

Before she could respond, the door swung open, and Paxton walked in, carrying a box of props. He froze for a moment when he saw the two girls, then gove a hesitant smile. "Morning."

"Morning," Amy replied cheerfully, her voice as bright as a summer day. Joanne mumbled a greeting, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.

Paxton set the box down and looked at Joanne. "Hey, Jo. Can we talk?"

Amy's eyes sparkled with mischief as she stepped between them. "Oh, Paxton, I was just telling Joanne how lucky she is to have you around. You're always so dependable."

Paxton glanced at her, his brow furrowing. "Uh, thanks? But I really need to talk to Joanne."

"Of course," Amy said, stepping aside but not leaving. She leaned casually against the wall, her presence a silent barrier that made it clear she wasn't going anywhere.

Joanne shook her head. "It's fine. I... I have to get something from the storage room anyway." Without waiting for a response, she hurried out, leaving Paxton standing there with a frustrated expression.

"Don't take it personally," Amy said, placing a hand on his arm. "She's just been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe she needs some time to figure things out."

Paxton pulled away from her touch. "I don't need you to explain Joanne to me."

Amy's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered. "Of course not. I just thought you might appreciate some perspective."

Paxton didn't respond. Instead, he picked up the box and walked out, leaving Amy alone in the room. Her smile returned, sharper and mare determined than before.

Emily found Joanne later that afternoon, sitting on a bench outside the school. The sky was overcast, the air heavy with the promise of rain, Joanne's hands were clenched in her lap, her eyes distant.

"Hey," Emily said softly, sitting down beside her. "You okay?"

Joanne shrugged. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," Emily said bluntly. "And don't try to tell me it's nothing, because I've seen the way you've been acting lately. Something's going on."

Joanne hesitated, then sighed. "It's Paxton. Or maybe it's me. I don't know. Everything just feels... off."

Emily's expression softened, "Is this about Amy?"

Joanne looked at her in surprise. "How did you

"Because I've been watching," Emily said, "Amy's been messing with you. I don't know what her deal is, but I've seen the way she's been needling you, making those little comments. It's not right."

Joanne shook her head. "It's not just her. I mean, yeah, she's annoying, but maybe she's right. Maybe I've been leaning on Paxton too much. Maybe he's getting tired of me."

Emily grabbed Joanne's hand. "That's not true. Paxton cares about you. Anyone can see that. Don't let Amy make you doubt yourself."

Joanne's eyes filled with tears. "I don't know what to do, Em. I'm scared that if I keep pushing him away, I'll lose him for good. But I don't know how to face him. either."

Emily pulled her into a hug. "We'll figure it out together. You don't have to do this alone."

That evening, Emily decided it was time to confront Amy. She found her in the rehearsal room, flipping through a script with a smug expression on her face..

"We need to talk," Emily said, her tone firm.

Amy looked up, feigning surprise. "Emily! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Cut the act," Emily said, crossing her arms. "I know what you're doing to Joanne."

Amy's smile didn't waver. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You've been sabotaging her," Emily said. "Making her doubt herself, pushing her away from Paxton, I don't know why, but it needs to stop."

Amy's eyes narrowed slightly. "I think you're overreacting. If Joanne's feeling insecure, that's hardly my fault. Maybe she should take a closer look at herself."

Emily stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. "Listen to me, Amy. You might think you're clever, but people are starting to notice what you're doing. If you keep this up, it's going to blow up in your face. Consider this your warning."

Amy's smile faltered for the first time, but she quickly recovered. "You're awfully protective of Joanne. It's sweet, really. But maybe you should stay out of things. you don't understand."

Emily stared her down." understand plenty. And I'm not going anywhere."

She turned and walked out, leaving Amy alone in the room, her jow tight with. frustration. For the first time, she felt a flicker of uncertainty. But she quickly pushed it aside. She'd come too far to bock down now

Later that night, Paxton sat in his room, staring at his phone. He'd tried texting Joanne earlier, but she hadn't responded. His mind replayed their last conversation over and over, searching for something he could've done differently.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed his jacket and headed out, determined to find Joanne and fix whatever had gone wrong between them. He didn't core if it took all night. He wasn't going to let Amy or anyone else come between them..

Joanne deserved better, and he was going to make sure she knew it.

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