Did you ever leave?

2

4 months ago...

I stared wide eyed at the doctor. 'This can't be happening to me.'

'I've got some pamphlets about your next steps. You may want to take a look at them.'

He handed me three. 'Is there anyone that you could call?'

Yes.

I shook my head.

——————

Present day

It was kind of weird to be filmed. Before the first meeting of my celebrity partner and I, I had to record a voice over about myself and my feelings about finding out he was who I'd been paired with.

When I got the call telling me it was Gaten Matarazzo, I was very surprised by my previous guess that it would be a Stranger Things actor, even if I was only half serious at the time. I felt kind of psychic.

I had to walk onto a fake film set and greet him, giving some small talk about practice and how I'm a big fan. I explained how it was my first season and he said he was glad he'd been put with me - the stars don't find out who their partner is until they're doing the filmed meeting so that their reactions are more real.

Our initial plan was to meet up four times a week to rehearse, but we ran into a slight blip. We were doing some drills and, uh...

He fractured his femur.

Yeah.

Don't even ask me how it happened. One minute he was fine, the next he was crying on the floor.

The casting director got to work straight away, looking through her list of backup celebrities for the one that fit me best. Before I had to go through the same process as I had done with Gaten, they informed me that they were changing things up.

'Look, Milo, we watched the tape of you and Gaten and we feel it'd be best if you didn't know who your partner was, just like the celebrities.'

I slowly nodded. 'Okay...why?'

'We need more...shock value,' Deena said, flicking her wrist. 'All we need you to do is walk into the room, gasp, give him a quick hug and crack a joke about a strict training regime. Think you can do that?'

'Sure. Yes, definitely. I can do that.'

'Great. I'll text you what time we want you there and we'll send a car to pick you up, okay?'

'Sounds great, thanks.'

More...shock value.

Hm.

I stood and faced the mirror.

Alright. Okay.

I gasped, putting my hands on my cheeks.

Too staged.

This time, I tried just one hand to the mouth.

Still a little too much.

Hand to the chest?

Mmmmm...

Hand to the chest and then the mouth. That's the winner.

'Dinner's r- what are you doing?'

'Practicing a shocked reaction for my meeting with my partner.'

'What happened to toothless?' Eden asked, putting her laundry hamper on her hip.

'Don't call him that, he's a really nice guy.'

'Sorry,' she said, rolling her eyes. 'What happened to the really nice guy?'

I gave her a dry stare before picking up my phone and tossing an old T-shirt into her hamper. 'He broke his femur.'

'He broke his what? What did you do to the poor kid?'

'I didn't do anything! He just...has really weak bones,' I said, grimacing.

'His weak bones are on your head. Its pasta so you better hurry before it's cold.'

'I'll be through in a sec.'

I checked my notifications.

Still nothing.

~•~

'We're going to have you sitting here,' the director said, pointing to a seat, 'and your new partner walking from over there.' He gestured to an opening with a curtain over it at the other side of the room.

'Got it.'

'You'll stand, hug him, and have a bit of a talk.'

'Yep.'

'Then you'll both go get changed into your workout clothes and we'll film some initial rehearsals.'

'Yeah.'

'Alright, let's get started.'

I took a deep breath and sat. I know the doctor said that it probably wasn't my fault, but I was still worried about overworking another child actor. I had really started to bond with Gaten and now he's in a cast for the next six to eight weeks.

'Aaand we're rolling.'

I straightened my spine.

It's fine. I'm fine. It'll be okay.

He poked his head out of the curtains. 'Hello?'

No.

Please, god, no.

My mouth hung open.

Now, that's shock value.

'Hi,' I gasped, trying to act like I was just happily surprised.

He coughed a little but took a few more choppy steps towards me.

I went to shake his hand but he went for a hug, so we fumbled a little until I got us back on track.

'I'm Milo, it's great to meet you.'

'Grayson,' he said.

I laughed awkwardly. 'I'm totally fangirling right now. I've watched all of your videos.'

I could see that he wasn't sure why I was saying this but I continued, anyway, trying to give a good performance.

'You're even taller in person!'

'I get that a lot,' he replied with a tight smile.

'What do you say we go get changed and get this show on the road?'

'Sounds like a plan.'

'That's a wrap! Great work guys.' The director clapped us both on the back. 'Loosen up and get out of those clothes, we're rolling in fifteen.'

Grayson and I turned for the changing rooms.

'You need to request a new partner.'

I reared my head back. 'Me? I'll do no such thing. My job is already at risk because of the Stranger Things kid going all "twig man" on me and snapping his leg.'

'Well, I'm not staying partnered with you.'

'Why are you even here?' I asked. 'I don't know if you knew, but you can't dance.'

'Of course I know that, that's the point of the show. You get better.' He was speaking through his teeth.

'The point of the show is to put a dancer and a celebrity together. I'm not seeing any celebrities.'

'Kiss my ass,' he retorted.

'If you want a new partner, go ask for one like the little bitch that you are. If you're going to be a big boy and stick with me, that's fine. But, rest assured, I'm doing everything in my power to make your life a living hell for the next ten weeks.'

He stopped and faced me outside of the entrance. 'Bring it on.'

'Consider it brought,' I retorted, spinning and marching to my stall.