The Lost Little Starlet

Chapter Four: The Beginning of the End

((WARNING: THIS STORY IS FOR MATURE AUDIENCES AND CONTAINS ELEMENTS SUCH AS HEAVY ADULT LANGUAGE, DRUG USE, VIOLENCE, AND POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING ADULT SCENARIOS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.))

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"Do you have any idea what you've just done?! I told you not to get involved with Joey because of how dangerous both he and this studio are yet you deliberately disobeyed me! How could you do that to her?! To me?! I trusted you with that information and you stabbed me right in the back!"

"She wanted this Samuel!! Hope was ecstatic to hear that she would be working alongside you and she is looking forward to being this cartoon character very much! Do you really hate the idea of being with your niece that much?!"

"Did SHE want this or did YOU Juliette?! She's a ten year old girl! What kid wouldn't want to be a cartoon character?! But that is not the point! You put Hope into harm's way and for what!? Some mother you are you selfish, self centered bitch!"

Hope nervously twiddled her thumbs as she sat in the back of her mothers car, patiently waiting for her to come back after her uncle had dragged her off to the opposite end of the building and around the corner so hopefully she wouldn't hear their argument. She could make out the faint, distant sound of them yelling and screaming at each other but the words were hard to make out and the little girl was confused as to why her uncle was so angry in the first place. Did he not miss her as much as she missed him? Did he not want her around anymore? Did he hate her?

She tried not to think about it and overwork herself as small tears began to form in the corners of her eyes but she was quick to try and wipe them away. The only reason she wanted to be here and had accepted the opportunity to be a voice actress for Joey was just so that she could be there with him. Hope yearned to see him smile at her when she sang or when they played on the piano together, anything that would bring them closer like how they used to be. Juliette would tell her stories of how she and her uncle would fall asleep watching cartoons side by side on the living room couch when she was little and it always brought a smile on her face, knowing that they were practically inseparable.

The minutes that passed by felt like hours to Hope and she dared to look out the window to see if her mother was coming back anytime soon or if Sammy was going to storm from behind the corner of the building but she was met with neither or. Just the continuous sound of their escalating argument. She found some comfort in her new Boris plushie and hugged him tightly as she buried her face into his soft, black velvety fur. He smelled musty like the studio but Hope quickly learned to find solace within the scent. After what felt like an eternity, Juliette angrily marched away from her brother who only shouted one last remark towards her before angrily waving her off and stormed back inside the studio, slamming the door behind him as he did so. He had a bigger fish to fry and right now he couldn't bear the thought of Hope seeing him this enraged.

Juliette approached the car and opened the driver's side door while tossing her purse on the opposite seat and climbed into the vehicle in an aggravated manner, her facial expression practically screamed the word loathing as her brows were furrowed in anger and her red painted lips had formed into an awfully thin line. She was so enveloped in her own fury that she didn't even realize that she was mumbling rather mature profanities and insults about Sammy under her breath until her daughter softly piped up in the backseat, asking if everything was okay. Juliette paused her words as her face melted away any traces of her inner turmoil as she quickly looked over her shoulder to see her daughter's quite saddened and worried expression.

"Yes honey, everything is alright don't you worry! Why don't we go to Mr. Pubs Ice Cream Parlor for a celebratory dessert hm? Mommy is in the mood for a triple hot fudge sundae with extra whipped cream right about now haha! I might even spoil myself and get sprinkles!"