He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the mayhem going on just 40 feet away. Through the cacophony he heard Emily's laughter, a sound that shattered his heart. He hated being here, hated the costumes, hated the director and her assistant, hated this night. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone found him and made him go back out there to be filmed like some sort of lab experiment. The thought caused him to shudder outwardly as he tried to fold in on himself, to vanish from this place completely.

Emily: "Are you hiding?"

Tristan didn't move, keeping his eyes closed and still trying to will himself out of existence. It hurt too much to see her, the longing in his soul cutting like a knife with every breath.

Tristan: "Trying to, yes."
Emily: "From what?"

She was suddenly on the ground next to him, so close and yet further away than she'd ever felt. He opened his eyes then, still not looking at her.

Tristan: "From all of this."
Emily: "Are you ok?"
Tristan: "Right as rain."
Emily: "What's wrong?"

Tristan could only laugh dryly. How could he explain to her how everything was wrong? How all he wanted in the world was to be with her, every waking moment, and yet she clearly didn't need him in the same way? How could he tell her that he loved her with everything he ever had been, ever was, and ever would be when her heart belonged to someone else? On top of all of that, the one thing he could always count on having as a release had dried up. He felt frustrations piling on themselves, a pressure deep within his head that had no way of escaping. He turned and looked at her then, steeling himself against the pain he felt lately when seeing her.

Tristan: "Existence is getting me down tonight."
Emily: "Seems to be a recurring theme."

Tristan turned his attention back to the smiling skull across from him, letting the quiet drift over them like the fog. He had to fight the urge to pull Emily close to him, to hold her in his arms and never let her go. The sound of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked up to find Andy standing over them.

Andy: "Break time's over, Tristan. We need you back on set."

He felt Emily stand up, playing out the same old familiar scene. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her join Andy's side, slipping her arm around his waist. Tristan felt sick.

Tristan: "I'm finished here."
Andy: "Excuse me?"
Tristan: "I said I'm finished here- I'm leaving."

Tristan stood up, catching a strange and fleeting expression passing over Andy's face. He couldn't quite read it- it was gone so fast he wondered if he'd perhaps imagined it. He'd almost seemed pleased.

Andy: "Are you alright? Do you need something to eat? Maybe something to drink?"
Tristan: "The only thing I need to do is leave, Andrew."
Andy: "You've got obligations to fulfill. If you've got problems, you need to deal with them on your own time."

Andy's voice was calm and collected, the voice of someone dealing with a tired child.

Tristan: "Problems? You're kidding, right?"
Andy: "Is there something going on that I should know about? I know we've never been friends, but if you're in trouble I'm sure I could find some way of helping."

Something inside Tristan cracked- he found himself lunging at Andy, fully intent on beating him to a bloody pulp. He'd had enough of trying to be civil, he was sick of playing games. He was no longer thinking, one second of pure rage propelling him forward.

Within a half a second Emily was suddenly in front of him- he was only just able to pull back. The rage had subsided as quickly as it had boiled up, giving way to a quieter anger.

Emily: "Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Tristan couldn't answer, he couldn't even look at her. He was seething now, mired in his pure hatred for Stone. It took hold of him, spreading out from where it once lay hidden.

Emily: "He was just trying to help!"
Andy: "It's ok, angel. Tristan, we'll talk about this later."

Tristan shot Andy a look of unadulterated malice, the only thing he had left in his soul. There was room for nothing else, its black tendrils coiled around every cell and burned him from within. Without a word, he began to walk away. He knew that if he didn't, there would be blood shed.