T/W:

***

Monday morning, Pedro and I head to the sight where we'll be filming for the outdoor scenes in this movie. I haven't heard from Mel since she more or less admitted to being jealous of me seeing Pedro. It's possible that she left and returned to California without telling me.

Pedro hasn't brought up me firing Mel again and I'm glad. I know at some point I'll have to confront Mel and possibly make a difficult decision in deciding whether to actually let Mel go or see if she can learn to be an adult and put all of this crap behind us. Despite the fact that Pedro's right, Mel has been my main source of support since I chose to start acting.

We've been through a shit ton together. Mel was always there when it counted. No one else. And though I know Pedro cares deeply for me, he and I don't share the same connection nor do I know just what his reaction will be when I finally confess my crimes.

Plus, Mel's my best friend. Pedro might think he's doing me a favor by having me cut Mel loose, but every time I think about it, it makes my stomach cramp up and my chest get tight. I don't want to fire Mel. Besides, with my less than stellar reputation, who'd be willing to agree to be my agent? And even if I did find a replacement, would I be able to fully trust them?

"Charley? Earth to Charley?" Pedro snaps his fingers in front of my face. We're in wardrobe, about to head over and start shooting for the day.

"Hm?"

Pedro frowns. "You're a million miles away, chica. You still have what happened with Mel on the brain?" I sigh. The assistant director is frantically motioning for Pedro and I to join her. I start walking, eager to start filming and push Mel completely out my mind for the time being.

"Kinda," I murmur. Pedro takes my hand.

"Don't sweat it, amor. Let's get to work."

***
Surprisingly, despite how crappy I feel about Mel, filming has been going extremely well. I'm proud of myself for being able to rise above my personal shit and put my best foot forward. During lunch, Pedro and I cuddle together on the couch in my trailer, munching on sandwiches and fruit.

My phone buzzes and I check it. I stiffen. It's Mel. Pedro feels me tense up and glances over at the text message on my phone screen.

Charley. We need to talk.

I set my phone aside and poke the last bite of sandwich into my mouth, slowly chewing. Pedro rubs my back.

"You gonna answer?"

"Not right now," I respond. "She didn't bother contacting me for over twenty four hours. Now she can sweat it out for a few hours."

Pedro nods. "Do you know what you'll say to her?" I shake my head.

"It depends, I suppose, on what she has to say first." Pedro continues rubbing slow circles on the small of my back as I inwardly wrestle with this dilemma.

"That sounds like a plan," Pedro says at last. "Hear her out, see what she says. If she can't agree to be civil about our relationship, as much as I know it'll hurt, you may have to let her go."

"It's not that simple." I hang my head, my hair falling across my face, covering it like a curtain.

"I understand how close you and Mel are. But if she can't choose to be an adult about our relationship, things will go to shit and possibly become intolerable between you two."

Without raising my head, I reply: "And who the hell is going to be willing to take me on? I have a shit reputation and hardly anyone wants to be associated with me!"

Pedro gently takes my hand, his thumb rubbing circles over my palm. "I bet you'd find someone. There are dozens of agents out there and I bet some of the lesser known ones would kill to have you as their client."

I nod, head still down, my gaze trained on a small spot on the fluffy, blue rug lying across the floor in front of us. Pedro, though I care about him, is oblivious to my personal feelings.

"You're not fully understanding just how deep these feelings go," I say.

"No," Pedro agrees. "I don't. But why keep Mel around if all she's interested in doing is guilt tripping you into dating me?" Pedro releases my hand, sighing. "Sometimes I wonder if Mel isn't part of the reason you've received such bad press."

That does it. I abruptly stand, hands on my hips, glaring as I tower over Pedro, who looks both confused and defiant.

"Who are you to judge Mel? Huh? You don't know anything about our relationship! Mel, I'll have you know, is the only person who's ever stood by me when I was at my lowest! So do not tell me to just cut her loose!"

Pedro stares at me for a few seconds before slowly rising, heading to the door. He doesn't utter a single word. He simply slips out, leaving bewildered and somewhat confused by his reaction.

***

The rest of the day, things are once again, strained between Pedro and myself. Since it's our first day on location, James decides to wrap early. I'm looking forward to crashing in my bed at the hotel. I call a cab, not bothering to wait around for Pedro. I need a break from him as well. Plus, I don't need him breathing down my neck when I decide to FaceTime Mel.

I reach the hotel, immediately calling Mel. She answers right away and I perch on the edge of the bed. As soon as Mel's face fills the screen, I notice how she looks terrible.

"Hey," I say. "Sorry it took me a while to respond. I wanted to do this face to face."

Mel scrubs a hand through her dark hair, nodding, eyes bloodshot, her skin blotchy. "Understood."

"You contacted me first, so the ball's in your court."

Mel looks away from the screen for several seconds. I wait, stomach cramped, scared of what she'll say.

"When you first got together Pedro, I figured it was just a fling," Mel begins, much to my disappointment. I was hoping she'd start this conversation with an apology. "Then as the days went by and especially after he took you away the weekend, I knew he was serious."

"So what's the problem?" My voice is tight, strained. "You're pissed off because for once in my miserable life, I'm happy?"

Mel sighs, rubbing her forehead. "Of course not. But lemme ask you this: can you fully trust Pedro?"

I hesitate. "I can't answer that yet."

"Therein lies the problem," Mel says. "He says he wouldn't care if you shared your deepest, darkest secrets. But if he knew the full story, would he really?"

Stung, tears pricking at my eyes. "I thought you were supposed to be in my corner?"

"Oh, sweetie, I am," Mel croons. "You know I am."

"Then why are punishing me for being with Pedro?" I snap. "Why do you care?"

Now Mel looks stung, like I've reached through the phone screen and physically slapped her. "Sweetie, I'm not punishing you. I just want you to make sure you can trust him completely."

"Pedro wants me to...fire you." The words tumble out. First shock, then hurt then betrayal flashes across her face.

"You cannot be seriously considering that?"

"I don't know," I respond, suddenly drained and breathless, as though I've been running for miles. "If you can't move past how I feel about Pedro, then..then maybe it's for the best."

My phone screen goes black. I blink, wondering if that was an an accidental disconnection. Then it hits me: that wasn't an accident.

Mel hung up on me.