The Scars That Connect Us

The week leading up to auditions was intense as everyone rehearsed lines, perfected scenes, and debated who had the best shot at landing the lead roles. But something else had shifted—Xavier.

He was avoiding me. It was like he suddenly disappeared. No texts, no casual run-ins, no teasing smirks. It was like he vanished into thin air. It stung more than I cared to admit.

At first, I told myself it didn’t matter. Focus on the audition, Halle,I kept repeating in my head like a mantra. But that gnawing ache in my chest was hard to ignore. I hated drama, and now there were awkward situations brewing on all fronts—Jenna being a stuck-up diva, my insecurities creeping in, and Xavier avoiding me like I had the plague.