Unscripted - Nicole Kronzer Page 0,76

I spat, staring at my knees. “I—”

“And Ben told me he felt badly if he encouraged your little crush.”

My eyes flew up. “My little—”

“But it must be so hard with all those hormones flying!” He gestured at my . . . my what? My body?

“I—”

“It’s just not a good idea to . . . socialize . . . in that way.”

Was this guy for real? I tried to breathe and flip through the talking points in my head. I glanced at the wall over P2’s shoulder. A poster of much younger Pauls with their arms around a vibrant Jane Lloyd from what looked like the 1990s promised, “A Summer of Theatre in the Rocky Mountains!” Would things be different if Jane were here?

I shook my head.

“Look. Mr. Paulsen. It’s not just Ben. It’s also the team. It’s a very misogynistic place to be and—”

“Great vocabulary! Look. Honey.”

I frowned. “Zelda.”

“Improv tends to attract more guys than girls. And while we’re thrilled you’re here, you have to learn to—”

“Play with the big boys.” Fire was burning in my eyes.

“Exactly.”

I gripped my chair and tried one last tack. “Sir, Ben has been emotionally abusive. And he’s . . . touched me when I asked him to stop.”

Paul waved a hand at me. “Ben also said you’ve been very sensitive and probably misinterpreted his coaching. And as far as touching you goes, that’s just how theater people are! But . . .” His face grew serious. “You can always give him a little slap if he goes too far.”

My mouth dropped open.

“Boys will be boys. We don’t always know when to stop.” He chuckled. “We rely on you girls to keep us in line! And look, since you came and confessed, you won’t get in trouble for fraternizing with your coach.” He gave me a wide smile. “So, you have a free morning! Are you going to go hiking?”

I nodded a little, flabbergasted at his response. I wouldn’t get in trouble?

“Okay. Toddle-oo!”

I had been dismissed. That was it? I’d been holding in all of this hurt and these secrets . . . for this? Disbelieving, I slowly shouldered my bag and stood. I had one more question. “Mr. Paulsen,” I said.

“Yes, sweetie?”

I huffed. “Zelda. How many women did you contact to be our counselor in Gilda Radner?”

“Oh—isn’t it working out?”

I shook my head. “We’re fine. But—do you think maybe the reason you couldn’t get anyone to come up here is because word gets around?”

He frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

I glared at him. “Clearly.”

Before he could respond, I was gone.

Will was waiting in the hall.

“How’d it go?” he whispered.

“Come on,” I hissed. “Let’s get out of here.”

We scurried down the hall, out onto the front porch, and got as far as the steps when we ran into Ben.

“I thought you were going hiking.” Ben’s voice was an accusation, but he plastered over his tone with a smile for Will.

“It’s a free morning,” I said, a pool of lead forming in my stomach.

“Talk to the Pauls?”

“No,” I lied.

“That’s good,” he said, “because I hope by now, you know you can talk to me about anything.”

I said nothing and ground my teeth.

Ben leaned over. “If you want those lessons later,” he said into my ear, “I’ll be along our path.”

“We don’t have a path,” I said at full volume.

“I think you know exactly where I mean.” He smiled, stepping back. “And I know you need those lessons.”

Fury bubbled up in my chest. I wanted to pound him.

“Goodbye, Ben,” Will said firmly. I stood my ground until Ben left.

“What is he talking about?” Will whispered as we hurried toward the cabins.

“Kissing lessons.” I couldn’t help it. Tears were everywhere these days.

Will wrapped his arm around my shoulder. This time, I leaned into it. “He is a monster,” he hissed. “Don’t listen to him. What did the Pauls say?”

I wiped some tears away with the back of my hand. “It was only Paul Paulsen. And Ben beat me to him. Warned him I’d be coming. P2 told me to toughen up. That boys will be boys.”

Will stopped walking. “You know, I’m offended by that. Guys everywhere should be offended. ‘Boys will be boys’? What—we’re so out of control we can’t be kind? Thoughtful? Human? ‘Boys will be boys’ aligns us with wild animals. I can think about what I say before I say it. I can anticipate how someone else might feel before I do something. I can keep it in my pants.”

I smiled a little and squeezed