Guy met Fausten and Petty at a one-off show. Being around them, around Fausten, was such an upgrade at first. Guy had never witnessed such confidence. Within weeks, their acts had merged together seemlessly, organically. And when their success began to snowball? What else can you do when everything you’ve ever wanted is being handed to you piece by piece but sit back and grin as it slots itself into place all around you? And to think there was still so much more to come.
But Fausten didn’t want to chase a snowball. She wanted to stand with her arms outstretched as she was bombarded with an avalance. She wanted matured success and she wanted it now, and damn everyone else.
Literally.
It took everything Guy had to tell her he was leaving. Not because of her, exactly, though he’d miss who he’d thought she was, but because of their mounting success. Did lightening strike twice? And were the odds better or worse when it only hit you the first time after bouncing off the person you were working with? Guy didn’t know. But he couldn’t let fear that he’d already peaked keep him with Fausten, not with the way she was achieiving that success.
No, after her accident, it wasn’t fear that kept Guy with Fausten. It was guilt. Guilt that he hadn’t done more to rein her in. Followed by a sense of duty to do what he could to rein her in now.
Because even in her current condition, she still needs reining in.
Fortunately their new boss is up to the task. It took 18 months to get this opportunity with L’Aornum Theatre, a smaller, much less prestitious theater than the Orphic Starlight, that’s for sure. But Guy liked the owner. The man would probably never learn the truth about Fausten, not really, but he was a rare guy, the kind where lack of knowledge didn’t make him a fool. Their new boss was probably the only person who refused to put up with Fausten’s shit. Guy liked him a lot.
I’ll tell you all about him tomorrow.
Megan Bledsoe 