dead?
FIVE
Though Mr. Bixby tried to maintain his composure as he delivered the news, he told us that he’d learned of Missy’s death only an hour before we’d all gathered in building Twelve. He said he’d spoken to Missy’s family and received permission to share their loss with us—her “second family”—before the media got a hold of it. He thanked us for attending and stated filming would be on hold for the next three days in observance of Missy’s memory. News about renewals and cancellations was postponed as well. He asked that we extend our condolences to Missy’s loved ones and offer our support to those at Bixby who were close to her. The crowd was only quiet for a moment. As soon as Mr. Bixby left the set—his head down, wiping away a tear—the whispers began. Soon building Twelve was flooded with talk. I looked to Kaci, not sure what to make of what I’d just heard. Her mouth hung open, her eyes blinking rapidly. Taylor and Amber’s expressions were unreadable. My eyes fell on Brendan whose initial look of shock soon crumbled into a mix of confusion and sadness.
I didn’t have any words of comfort to offer him. I was speechless. Instead, I took his hand in mine and gave it a small squeeze. Brendan had to be taking the news hard since he and Missy were friends. He looked dow n at me with a weary half-smileand gave my hand a squeeze in return. My heart ached looking at him. I’d rather Mr. Bixby announce d Dia of the Dea d didn’t make the cut than have to look at Brendan Baker’s sad, sad face.
Kaci and Taylor stared at Brendan’s hand in mine. Kaci shot me a look of warning while Taylor tsked and shook her head. I dropped his hand. Amber let out a small whimper, her bottom lip quivering. It looked like the news was slowly dawning on her. Her expression grew more and more grief-stricken by the second until she broke.
“Brendan!” she cried, tears trailing down her face. She threw herself at him—nearly knocking him onto the ground—and buried her face in his chest. I stepped aside to let him console her. They needed their space.
Reactions throughout the room weren’t what I expected. Though Missy and I were strangers—despite her puking in front of me—I still felt a pang of sadness. As The Bixby Network’s star actress she had worked with many of the people in the room. I expected to see more reactions like Amber’s. She was still crying and muttering things through sniffles and sobs. Or at the very least a few somber expressions that showed they were a little bummed out by the whole thing. Instead, people were beginning to leave and those who didn’t were gathered in small circles, talking.
The hushed conversations going on weren’t expressing concern or condolence. They were speculations about the cause of Missy’s demise. I knew she was a mess, but I couldn’t believe what I overheard. Someone talking near us said it was bound to happen sometime soon anyway. People shrugged off Missy’s death as if it were nothing.
“Man, this is craz y, ” a voice said behind me. I turned around to find Mason shaking his head. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe Missy’s gone.”
“I was just with her. She was okay when I left her. Well, okay for Miss y, ” Amber said through tears. She’d finally pulled herself away from Brendan, leaving smudges of black mascara on his shirt. “What could’ve happened?”
“Who knows,” Taylor said, her voice lacking emotion.
“We’ll find out soon. You know how these things g o, ” Brendan offered with a bit more empathy.
“I’m going to find my mo m, ” I said suddenly feeling extraordinarily low.
“Want me to go with you?” Kaci asked.
“Nah. I can handle it on my own.” I put my hand up, stopping her from attempting to tag along.
She took a step back. “Are you sure?”
“I am. Try talking Amber into going to the hospital to get her arm looked at. The bandage is almost soaked through.” I pointed at
FIVE
Though Mr. Bixby tried to maintain his composure as he delivered the news, he told us that he’d learned of Missy’s death only an hour before we’d all gathered in building Twelve. He said he’d spoken to Missy’s family and received permission to share their loss with us—her “second family”—before the media got a hold of it. He thanked us for attending and stated filming would be on hold for the next three days in observance of Missy’s memory. News about renewals and cancellations was postponed as well. He asked that we extend our condolences to Missy’s loved ones and offer our support to those at Bixby who were close to her. The crowd was only quiet for a moment. As soon as Mr. Bixby left the set—his head down, wiping away a tear—the whispers began. Soon building Twelve was flooded with talk. I looked to Kaci, not sure what to make of what I’d just heard. Her mouth hung open, her eyes blinking rapidly. Taylor and Amber’s expressions were unreadable. My eyes fell on Brendan whose initial look of shock soon crumbled into a mix of confusion and sadness.
I didn’t have any words of comfort to offer him. I was speechless. Instead, I took his hand in mine and gave it a small squeeze. Brendan had to be taking the news hard since he and Missy were friends. He looked dow n at me with a weary half-smileand gave my hand a squeeze in return. My heart ached looking at him. I’d rather Mr. Bixby announce d Dia of the Dea d didn’t make the cut than have to look at Brendan Baker’s sad, sad face.
Kaci and Taylor stared at Brendan’s hand in mine. Kaci shot me a look of warning while Taylor tsked and shook her head. I dropped his hand. Amber let out a small whimper, her bottom lip quivering. It looked like the news was slowly dawning on her. Her expression grew more and more grief-stricken by the second until she broke.
“Brendan!” she cried, tears trailing down her face. She threw herself at him—nearly knocking him onto the ground—and buried her face in his chest. I stepped aside to let him console her. They needed their space.
Reactions throughout the room weren’t what I expected. Though Missy and I were strangers—despite her puking in front of me—I still felt a pang of sadness. As The Bixby Network’s star actress she had worked with many of the people in the room. I expected to see more reactions like Amber’s. She was still crying and muttering things through sniffles and sobs. Or at the very least a few somber expressions that showed they were a little bummed out by the whole thing. Instead, people were beginning to leave and those who didn’t were gathered in small circles, talking.
The hushed conversations going on weren’t expressing concern or condolence. They were speculations about the cause of Missy’s demise. I knew she was a mess, but I couldn’t believe what I overheard. Someone talking near us said it was bound to happen sometime soon anyway. People shrugged off Missy’s death as if it were nothing.
“Man, this is craz y, ” a voice said behind me. I turned around to find Mason shaking his head. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe Missy’s gone.”
“I was just with her. She was okay when I left her. Well, okay for Miss y, ” Amber said through tears. She’d finally pulled herself away from Brendan, leaving smudges of black mascara on his shirt. “What could’ve happened?”
“Who knows,” Taylor said, her voice lacking emotion.
“We’ll find out soon. You know how these things g o, ” Brendan offered with a bit more empathy.
“I’m going to find my mo m, ” I said suddenly feeling extraordinarily low.
“Want me to go with you?” Kaci asked.
“Nah. I can handle it on my own.” I put my hand up, stopping her from attempting to tag along.
She took a step back. “Are you sure?”
“I am. Try talking Amber into going to the hospital to get her arm looked at. The bandage is almost soaked through.” I pointed at
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