Triage: A Backstage Story

Chapter 7

May 2024

"Bianca, what are you doing here?" Kit smiled and reached out to hug her.

Kit. One of the reasons Bianca had wanted to get away from New York was because she'd kissed Jax, Kit's boyfriend. She'd totally forgotten Kit lived in California now.

"I have a movie role," Bianca pulled away.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Kit scolded her and then laughed. "It's so good to see you."

"You too! DJing for famous people must be quite the life."

"It's fun, but I miss home."

The sound of elevator doors opening and closing punctuated the silence that descended on them.

"I'm sure Scarlett would be thrilled to see you," Bianca pushed past the lump in her throat. Scarlett had said Bianca would have to find a new place when she got back. She'd hoped they would've made up before she left, but Scarlett was still giving her the cold shoulder and hadn't responded to any of Bianca's texts.

Alya kept her updated on house news though. Curtis was still living with them, hadn't found a job yet, and wasn't paying rent. Bianca knew it was only a matter of time before they would be begging her to come back so they could afford the apartment.

"I miss Scarly so much," Kit's voice snapped Bianca back to the present.

Bianca sighed. "Me too. We were in a fight when I left," she said, unable to lie to Kit about it. She slowly explained how she'd gotten the job and who had offered it to her.

Kit scrunched her nose. "You're working with Austin Taylor?"

"I know he was a jerk in high school, but he's actually pretty decent now." Bianca frowned. "But Scarlett didn't see it that way."

"I'm having a hard time understanding, too." Kit fiddled with a long strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder.

"What am I supposed to do, Kit? Alya can't keep a job. Then Curtis moved in, and he doesn't have a job either—"

"Curtis is with you?" Kit tilted her head.

Bianca's mouth stayed slightly open. She definitely hadn't meant to let that slip.

"How long?" Kit took a step forward.

"A month? Maybe six weeks?"

Kit's face wrinkled into hurt. "I just talked to Scarlett yesterday. She didn't mention it at all."

Kit's hurt look made Bianca feel guilty. A few weeks ago, she'd been kissing Kit's boyfriend. Actually he'd kissed her. And even though she'd pushed him away, some part of Bianca had to admit she missed Jax. And she liked being kissed by him.

"Have you seen Jax lately?" Kit changed the subject.

"What? No!" Bianca lied. "Why?"

"We haven't had much time to talk lately that's all."

Good. She didn't know. Jax hadn't told her. Not that Bianca expected he would.

"I was hoping to head back to New York sometime next month, but it doesn't look like I'll make it," Kit continued. "I guess that's good. I don't really want to deal with Curtis."

"Me neither," Bianca agreed.