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I thought The Tragedies would be all for this – they were the ones who pushed for the first meeting with Zayan. But I should’ve consulted them, at some point, about the fake dating. It’s not exactly betrayal that’s passing over The Tragedies’ expressions, but it’s something uncomfortable. I hate that I’ve put it there, that they think I haven’t thought of them.
‘The LSDCATS have learned their lesson after getting attacked on social media. They are going to stay silent as long as it suits them,’ Zayan explains patiently. ‘It’s not a rivalry to them; they’re just waiting for the dust to settle before re-emerging. If you seriously want to end their reign of power and influence, you need to capitalize on your popularity, build intrigue around your play. I can do that. I am a walking story for the press. A story that you need.’
I see The Tragedies thawing, but I also see their worry about the LSDCATS still coming out on top. To hammer away their final doubts about the plan, I rush in with my own assurances.
‘If you’re worried about the legitimacy of all of this, I’ve got a contract drawn up about the play, which you can all look over before signing today. And this is beneficial for both sides. Aside from beating the LSDCATS, we’ll also have directors, talent agents, casting agents there on opening night. That way, we have an opportunity to make any of our ambitions come true. And –’ I take in a sharp breath – ‘if you don’t want me to be the lead because there’s too much conflict of interest, then it’s fine. We’ll work something out.’
‘All right,’ David cuts in. ‘Assuming the contract checks out, I’m all for this plan. And Farah, as much as it kills me to agree with him, Zayan is right. If we really want to use this publicity to boost the play, you need to be the lead alongside him.’
I wait, with bated breath, for the rest of the group to agree. Slowly, one by one, each of them gives their assent, and the knot of worry loosens in my chest.
‘We should really get started with the play,’ Anushka adds, a serious look on her face.
‘I agree,’ Nur chimes in. ‘First things first: we need a stage. The LSDCATS are going to be hosting Romeo and Juliet in their own theatre, but that’s because their theatre is amazing. It’s got velvet seats.’
‘Don’t worry about the stage,’ Zayan steps in, all confident and self-assured. ‘I’ll get you guys a theatre.’
‘How?’ Ben asks.
Zayan shrugs. ‘I’ll cash in a favour.’
There’s a moment of tension. I see it in all of them. David’s narrowed eyes, Nur’s uncomfortable smile, Ben’s straight face and Anushka drumming her fingers on the table. This is our plan. Our fight. Not Zayan’s. Trusting him with something as important as the stage we stand on is a leap, but it’s one each of us is going to have to take. My nails dig crescent moons into my palms as I try to get a grip on my flailing feelings.
We need to use Zayan, the same way he’s using us. There’s no point in this relationship if we don’t.
‘Good,’ I cut in briskly, swallowing my worry and trying to appear as confident as Zayan sounds. ‘Now that that’s sorted, we need a script. David?’
I wait for one of them to fight back against my sudden control over the conversation, but David simply nods after a moment of tense silence.
‘I can have a script ready in a week.’
‘That’s brilliant,’ I reply, launching into an explanation. ‘Once we have the script, Zayan and I will start hinting at our relationship and his involvement in the play. It will drum up support for both things.’
‘It’ll also fit the timeline,’ Zayan adds.
‘When will this relationship end, by the way?’ Ben asks, amused. ‘How long will our play be?’
‘The same as the LSDCATS, with the same opening night – the first of December. Almost two months from now. We’ll break up right after,’ I say. ‘David, do you have any ideas for which play we’ll do?’
Zayan interrupts. ‘Surely it’s got to be Romeo and Juliet, like the LSDCATS?’
‘That’s what I thought,’ Ben replies. My face crinkles with annoyance, the urge for an eye-roll itching my eyelids. ‘But from the way Farah’s looking, I think not.’
‘We’re not trying to be the LSDCATS, we’re trying to rival them, compete with them,’ I attempt to explain. ‘We need to stray away from the usual.’
‘I understand where you’re coming from – you want to support marginalized voices – but you’ve got to be realistic too,’ Zayan argues. ‘There’s a reason people flock to the theatre to watch stagings of Shakespeare’s plays. They’re well known, well respected and have universal themes.’
‘They’re only universally understood because plays from other cultures have been ignored,’ I shoot back, irritation lining my words.
Zayan turns his body to face me fully. ‘But no one is going to show up to see a play with a story they’ve never heard of, produced by someone they haven’t heard of.’
‘Good thing we have you, then,’ I reply acidly. ‘You’re our publicity ticket. If your name isn’t going to get people in the seats, then really, why are you here?’
His jaw clenches, his mouth snapping shut. We stand off against one another, his arms folded over his chest – my eyes do not linger on the curves of his biceps – as my hands form into half fists.
‘Yeah, so you wanted us to believe that you two are in a relationship?’ David breaks in, amused.
Zayan’s attention turns to David, but before he can open his mouth and say something possibly insulting, I step in.
