After an argument with Maddox about how to split the bill, Bradley and I headed back to the theater with Jack. I was a little miffed that Maddox wouldn't even let me see the total, much less take care of the tip.

According to Bradley, it was just Maddox's way. He always wanted to share with his friend, and most of the time, he did it by taking care of the financial load.

Most everyone was headed back to the theater. Maddox and Raisa were taking measurements for costumes, and everyone had to show up for a fitting Bradley had talked Jack into a tour of the theater department and had invited both of us to tag along.

I decided to run along and do my fitting first while Bradley did the bulk of his tour. It made more sense for Bradley to do it since he knew a lot more about the department than I did.

The fitting was behind the auditorium in the green room. Maddox had a massive sewing kit laid out on a six-foot table. Raisa pulled a few outfits off a clothing rack, and Maddox draped fabric over a mannequin.

Lucas stood in the center of the room wearing a doublet stuck through with pins. Raisa clicked her tongue and shortened Lucas's dangling sleeve.

"I'm thinking that the lords all need lace cuffs," Maddox said.

Raisa nodded. "And to make Lucas stand out as the king, he needs a regal cape and a crown."

"I'll see what we have," Maddox disappeared into a back room.

I'd never really thought how much work went into sewing. My mom and aunt could do basic patchwork, but they didn't do much larger projects than tutus and seams.

Kayleigh walked out of the back room wearing a loose white dress with billowing sleeves. The dress seemed a little big, but I had a feeling Raisa and Maddox could fix that.

"Not bad," Raisa said. "Okay, Lucas, you're good. Be careful when you take that off. Kayleigh, you're up."

Kayleigh stiffened as Raisa added pins to hem her dress. Maddox bustled back into the room with several plastic crowns.

"Oh good, Kayleigh's costume doesn't need too much alteration," he said. "Don't forget we want a sash on that gown."

"Right," Raisa picked up a gold cord from the table.

"Maybe you could stitch in belt loops," Kayleigh suggested.

"If I wanted a belt, this would be a belt," Raisa said. "Maddox and I want a gold sash. It'll sinch the dress and give Miranda that innocent look."

Kayleigh looked almost green as Raisa sinched the sash around her waist. Maddox looked over Raisa's work with approval.

"Nice," Maddox nodded. "You look lovely, Kayleigh. Parker, I have a costume for you on the rack. I'll grab it, and you can try it on."

Maddox disappeared into the back again. That didn't bother me. I wasn't in a big hurry today. Shayna wouldn't finish her tour for at least two hours, and Bradley would bring Jack back here whenever they were done.

The door to the green room flew open behind me. I turned to see Jude. Kayleigh jumped, and Raisa stuck her with a pin.

"Kayleigh, are you okay?" Jude asked.

The normally unfiled Instagram model didn't even look in her boyfriend's direction. Instead, she closed her eyes and started mouthing a countdown as if she was wishing Jude to disappear.

"You know, storming off in a huff isn't good for communication," Jude said. "We have to talk, Kayleigh."

"Raisa, please tell him to go away," Kayleigh's voice was quiet but steady.

Raisa looked from Jude to Kayleigh. "She wants you to go away."

"Leigh-Leigh, darling," Jude said. "Please, talk to me."

Now I wasn't sure what was going on, but the look on Kayleigh's face worried me. She didn't look like a jilted girlfriend. There was something darker and broken about her face, and Jude was watching her with a level of concern and worry that outweighed a college boyfriend.

Maddox bustled back into the main area of the room carrying a gray costume. Jude tried to take a step towards Kayleigh, but she jerked backward as if he'd burned her.

"I-I can't," Kayleigh pulled at her costume, and the white dress came loose.

Raisa cried out. The material pooled on the floor, nearly torn in half as Kayleigh herself fled the scene, her usually olive skin whiter than her costume.

Jude tried to follow after her, but Maddox moved faster, putting his body between Jude and the door.

"Let me go," Jude said, pushing against Maddox, but he didn't flinch.

"She needs time," Maddox said. "Save your lover's makeup for later, Jude."

Jude didn't move. "She needs me."

Raisa laughed. "She told me she broke up with you."

"She doesn't know what she's doing," Jude said. "She's just upset."

I couldn't imagine that this could get worse until Lorne pushed his way past Maddox into the green room and rounded on Jude with menace in his eyes.

"What did you do?" Lorne pounded on Jude's chest.

Jude looked slightly stunned as his best friend walked him against the wall before Maddox or I could get in between them. I jumped forward to pull Lorne off Jude as Maddox held Jude back.

"Get off me," Lorne hissed as I held his hands behind his back before he could throw a punch. "Let me go."

Lorne brought all his weight down on my foot, and I released him. Maddox held up his hands like a disgruntled matador with my costume swinging between them like a flag as he stood between Jude and Lorne.

"Enough!" It was the first time I'd ever heard Maddox raise his voice. "Both of you! I don't care about whatever the hell is going on here, but you need to stop."

Jude looked almost remorseful and shriveled under Maddox's speech. Lorne, however, bawled his fists, and I had a feeling that if looks could turn people to stone, both Maddox and Lorne would be statues.

"You made her cry, Jude," Lorne said. "I saw her in the hall, and she wouldn't talk to me."

"I just want what's best for her," Jude said. "She has to listen to me."

"Asking her to marry you was not the solution," Lorne was breathing hard. "What were you thinking?"

Clearly, I'd missed something big because Jude and Kayleigh weren't the type of couple I expected to get engaged. Still, from what Lorne was saying and how Kayleigh had reacted, I got the feeling she'd said no.

"It's the right thing," Jude said. "You know it, and so does she."

Maddox sighed. "Boys, can we table this conversation so I can get you both fitted? Jude, Raisa needs some measurements, and Lorne, yours is the silver and green one on rack three."

"Fine," Lorne stomped off towards the costume rack.

Maddox gestured Jude over to Raisa and her measuring stool. Then he handed me my costume and gestured to a changing area behind a curtain.

It took longer than I thought it would put on the red checkered pants that ballooned around my calves. I had to let the drawstring out almost completely, and I wasn't sure the pants were supposed to be this short.

The shirt was white and had big puffy sleeves cinched at the wrist with twine. Then there was a gray vest I couldn't quite button because it wasn't big enough, so I let it hang open rather than rip the fabric.

Ten minutes later, I walked back into the room for an inspection by Maddox. Raisa was already finished measuring Jude, and he was replaced by Lorne on the measuring stool wearing a princely doublet and tights getting lace sewn on the edges of his sleeves.

Maddox came over to inspect my costume. He harrumphed, then tried and failed to button the vest.

"You're a bit bigger than I thought," Maddox said. "Not that that's a bad thing. It's clear that you hit the gym more than I do."

"So, you're the expert," I said. "What now?"

"Take that off and come back tomorrow," Maddox said. "I'll search the costume room for something a little more your size, and we'll try again. Also, if you see Bradley, tell him that his fitting is ready."

"Bradley took Jack on a department tour," I said. "But he said they'd be back."

Maddox nodded. "Lexi's coming in early tomorrow for her fitting, and the rest of the costumes are just finding things that fit."

"What got you into costumes?" I asked.

Maddox laughed. "I always hung out on sets with my mother as a kid. I loved to hide in the costume room. Making them is fun. I've always been dressed by a professional, even as a kid, so costumes are the only place I get to let loose."

I couldn't imagine someone else deciding what I got to wear every day. Maddox's appearance was always so tailored that it didn't surprise me at all that his outfits were both expensive and chosen especially for him.

Returning back to the changing room, I took special care removing each element of the costume. Once I got them all back on the hangar, I returned the costume to Maddox in the main area.

It was easy to find Bradley and Jack once I left the green room. I followed the sound of Bradley's voice straight into the theater, where I found him onstage with Jack.

"Here cometh our fearless friend Parker from the depths of costume hell," Bradley was grinning from ear to ear. "How goeth the journey, faithful squire?"

I didn't know what on earth Bradley was talking about, but it made me crack up. I wasn't sure how Jack stood beside him with a straight face.

"Maddox wants you for a fitting," I said.

"Perhaps I do not heareth the summons and then would shirk off the proud costume master?" Bradley bowed.

"You can tell Maddox I passed along the message then," I sighed.

"A fool does not hear a call to destiny but a costume fitting doth for the weak," Bradley crossed his arms.

"You should get your costume fitting done," Jack said. "It'll be over quickly, I'm sure."

Bradley jumped down from the stage. "Me thinketh the knave, not a knave at all but, in fact, a wise knight. Perhaps then those who have ears hear the summons of the costume master."

"Hey, if you're lucky, you might see Lorne throw another punch at Jude," I said.

Bradley broke character, and his jaw slackened. "What?"

"I'm not sure what's going on with them, but Maddox and I had to pull them apart," I said.

"That's..." Bradley drummed his hand on the top of his ear. "Did I hear that right? Lorne and Jude got in a fight?"

"Yeah," I said. "And Kayleigh burst into tears."

"Maybe I will go do a costume fitting," Bradley said. "Mind waiting for me?"

"Of course," Jack hopped down from the stage.

When Bradley was gone, I turned to Jack. I didn't know how to describe what happened between Lorne and Jude. All I did know was it all had something to do with Kayleigh.

"You can't escape backstage drama," Jack said. "Maybe this theater is more like home than I thought."

Hey everyone!!! This chapter came together quite quickly. I hope you liked it and you might consider voting. I love feedback and hearing from people enjoying my work. I think that'll be the last chapter with Jack and Shayna for now. If you're interested in their theater shenanigans, I encourage you to check out my other book. We'll be getting more into the trio's drama as we go on, but I'd love to hear your theories. Until next time.

--- Eliana