La Pantera

Ch.12 The Art of Illusion

Song for Chapter: The Double by Clint Mansell

Whilst Stevie headed to the filming spot for cussing out Matt's character, Francis noticed a mark on her eye. "Costa! Come here!", he called to her. She turned and walked to him looking a little confused. "What happened to your eye there?", his brows furrowed as he eyed the teen with a quizzical expression. "Nothin' , someone just elbowed me on accident.", Stevie casually said. Francis stared at her for a moment before saying "Alright...". He didn't believe her , especially now seeing the marks on Nick's face. "Now what happened to you?", he impatiently asked Nick. Nick noticed from his peripheral vision Stevie giving him the warning glare as she subtly cracked her knuckles. "I was messing around with a few of my buddies here and I got cut up on the sidewalk.", he lied smoothly , not wanting Stevie to fulfill her threat she made from the night before. "Wild kids, all of you.", Francis muttered . "Get that eye fixed in hair and makeup ; we shoot in 5.", Francis informed her. "Aight.", Stevie walked over to a makeup chair set down at the location and seated herself as the makeup artist began to conceal her slight injury . Matt walked by and noticed the mark ; he immediately came over to her. "What happened?", he asked Stevie . "It ain't important.", she drawled out. "Oh really? I'm sorry but I can't help but be concerned seeing a girl I know's eye all fucked up.", Matt snapped at her. "I said it's fuckin' fine!", Stevie snarled , her voice rising . She was all ready to go as she headed into the school bus that would drop her off for the scene. Matt huffed in frustration, running a hand briskly through his hair , his lip snarling in anger as he stalked off to the bench he was supposed to sit on. "That broad is fuckin' nuts.", he whispered to himself .

After the crew wrapped up filming the scene between Stevie and Matt , Stevie stalked off to her trailer . She ground her jaws together subconsciously, looking behind her every few seconds . She didn't understand why she was more paranoid today than usual , she didn't have anyone coming after her as far as she could remember. She got distracted enough to where she ran into Nick. "You're a fucking case.", he snarled at her as she backed up a few inches from him. "You're lucky I lied as well....don't want Goddaddy Coppola findin' out ya hit a girl, right?", she sneered , her upper lip snarled up like a panther growling at it's enemy. Nick huffed , knowing she was right . "You better not say anything to anyone.", he barked at her. "Or what?...You gonna get brave and smack me again?", she stood face to face with him , her eyes dancing like a madman. Nick smiled evilly at her . "Maybe I'll do a little more than smack you.", he chuckled stepping closer .

Matt had been walking by when he saw the scene. His dark eyes lit up as he stalked over , beginning to lose patience with Nick. "What's the problem?", he asked too smoothly. "She's givin' me more lip again that's all.", Nick grinned at Matt with a simper. "I ain't buyin it. Leave her be.", Matt growled , face to face with the slightly bigger 18 year old. They were both the same age , but Nick had a little more muscle than Matt did at the time. "You gonna beat me up too? Come on Matt....learn to do something else besides fight.", Nick laughed . Matt hated that tone of condescension being used towards him ; it reminded him of many people back in New York and he wasn't going to put up with it. "I'll do that when you learn to quit harassing girls.", he barked , his voice rising a bit as a warning. Nick's smile faded as he grew pissed. "You seriously gonna defend a hoodrat like that? There's no future for her except prison , drugs, and being a whore.", he sneered. Before Stevie could take action , something inside Matt snapped hearing the last sentence ; his fist took a cheap shot at Nick's head causing him to fall down hard. Too surprised by Matt's actions , she didn't react , watching as Matt kneed Nick's ribs . Nick got the upper hand then and went to punching Matt whilst pinning him. Stevie then seized the opportunity and tackled Nick, her thighs securing her prey as she took him to the ground . Francis came running over with some other producers and yanked the teens away from each other , 2 having to be used to yank Stevie off. Nick wheezed a bit from his rib injuries whilst Matt coughed a bit his stomach having taken a beating. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!", Francis yelled . "She started it.", Nick sneered in Stevie's direction . "I STAWRTED IT?!!", Stevie roared before being held by her arms tight so she didn't fight Nick. "ONE OF YOU TELL ME NOW!", Francis's face was red and looked it would pop off any second now.

Stevie sighed, yanking the producers off of her before stepping forward. She told Francis about accidentally running into Nick, the entire conversation that transpired, Matt stepping in ...and also what had happened the day before referring to her messed up eye. When Matt heard Nick had backhanded Stevie , it was as if you could see he saw red as he lunged at Nick. They couldn't stop him in time as he tackled him in rage . "SON OF A BITCH!", he snarled punching Nick's chin hard enough to make the area feel numb for a moment, blood starting to seep from his gums. The producers pulled the angry teen away , having him stand 12 feet from Nick. "You threatened to kill my godson?!", Francis roared in Stevie's face. "He hit me first! What did you think I was gonna do?! Play fair?!", Stevie snapped. "You're lucky I haven't fired you yet! Shape up young lady.", he chastised. "And you two! Do the same as her before I ruin both of your careers , yours included.", he growled at Nick. Frustrated and upset , Stevie stormed away . She made it back to her trailer slamming the door hard before sobbing. "ITS NOT FAIR!", she yelled. She threw a set of makeup brushes at the wall, tears blurring her vision . "He didn't even acknowledge I fuckin' got hit! He had to make it fair for his stupid godson!", she shrieked. Her foot kicked the wall angrily before sliding down onto the floor , staring ahead as her mascara slid onto her face .

She remained like this for a while , her cries being reduced to shaky sniffles. Her glare bore into the other side of the small trailer. "Not sure how long I can last this time.", her voice whispered hoarsely. A smile began to creep its way on her to face , a little giggle coming from it too before it became laughter. It was maniacal , matching her disheveled form. "THERE'S NO WAY I'LL LAST!", she cackled , pulling herself to her feet . A loud yowl left her body , her head thrown back as her teeth were bared . She stumbled around a bit before hearing a knock on her trailer door. Her eyes still wide , her grin still maniacal, she backed up a bit near her bed. "Enter.", she spoke lowly. Matt came in and shut the door before noticing how messed up Stevie looked. For the first time , he was truly frightened by her , noticing the look of insanity in her eyes and her grin . It reminded him of The Joker from Batman. He also noticed the mascara running down her face as well. "Hey....you need some cleaning up?", he asked her. Stevie chuckled lowly in her throat. "I got it. Thanks."  "Why didn't you say anything about Nick?...it might've helped out you know.", Matt snapped impatiently. "Save it. You know the same damn thing would've happened. You just see me as a charity project.", Stevie snapped. "No I don't! Stevie there's something wrong with you! You need help!", Matt yelled. "Of course! I'm a basket case right?!", Stevie laughed annoyed , coming close to him. "No Stevie, you're anything but! You're acting really strange though ; I know that behavior from my old friends who were on DRUGS!", he yelled back. "IM NOT ON DRUGS! MAYBE IM JUST REALLY LIKE THIS!", she roared before pushing him away from her . Matt didn't raise his hand to her , instead a angry smile forming on his face as he opened the door . "Fine , don't let me help.", he snarled as he opened the door.

"You're on your own now."