Anthony thought jealousy was something he controlled.
But tonight… jealousy controlled him.
THE DALTONS’ LIVING ROOM — EVENING
Soft lighting. A warm glow. A fake peacefulness that doesn’t match the tension building under Anthony’s skin.
RONE and PIARRY stand near the bookshelf, laughing lightly about something only they know.
AMBER walks in from the kitchen with two glasses.
ANTHONY sits on the edge of the couch, eyes glued—too glued—on Rone.
A storm is forming behind his calm face.
AMBER
(smiling, light tone)
Y’all good? I swear Rone got more personality today than he had the entire last month.
RONE
(dramatic shrug)
New environment. Good energy. Friendly people.
Rone shoots a glance at Piarry—playful… familiar.
Too familiar.
Anthony’s jaw ticks.
PIARRY
(laughing)
Don’t gas him. He only talk when he comfortable.
A beat.
Rone leans closer to P.
Too close.
Anthony’s eyes narrow instantly.
AMBER walks past Anthony, brushing his knee jokingly.
She’s in full petty mode—light, smug, beautifully unbothered.
AMBER
Oh Anthony, you nervous? You acting real quiet tonight.
Anthony forces a smile—thin, sharp, dangerous.
ANTHONY
Nah, I’m good. Just… observing.
But it sounds like a warning.
RONE
You sure? You look like somebody told you your barber retired.
Piarry almost chokes laughing.
Anthony does not laugh.
Not even a little.
PIARRY
(trying to shift the energy)
Let’s not start. We all chillin’. Rone don’t mean nothing.
But Anthony’s stare is burning a hole through Rone’s calm face.
AMBER
(teasing, soft but piercing)
Anthony… relax. They look good together. Right?
She gestures at Piarry and Rone.
Anthony’s breath freezes.
His smile drops.
A direct hit.
ANTHONY
(voice low)
…What you mean by “good together”?
AMBER
(sweetly innocent)
Just saying. Rone got that gentleman vibe today. Sweet. Polite.
You know… the type of man who understands real chivalry.
It lands exactly where she intends.
Anthony blinks slowly, stung.
RONE
(chuckling, oblivious and bold)
Not me being a gentleman. I just treat P how he deserve to be treated.
Anthony stiffens.
There it is.
The hit.
Direct to the chest.
CUT TO — ANTHONY’S POV
Rone stands relaxed, confident. Comfortable around P. Too comfortable.
Piarry’s smile—warm, open—looks like something Anthony remembers from a time he pretends never existed.
A time when he was the one Piarry confided in.
When he was the one Piarry laughed with.
When he was the one Piarry cried to.
Before everything got messy.
Before Amber.
Before Shayla.
Before the secrets.
The memory stabs.
PIARRY
(innocent)
Oh, tell them how we met, Ro—
Before he can finish, Anthony snaps back to attention.
ANTHONY
(tight)
Yeah. How did y’all meet?
Rone doesn’t catch the minefield he’s stepping into.
RONE
Through Shayla and Iman. They introduced us.
Silence.
Amber’s eyes widen—then she cuts the air like scissors.
AMBER
Anyway—! Who wants snacks?
The way she dodges the name “Shayla” is too obvious.
But Anthony heard it.
And that’s enough to wreck his night.
ANTHONY’S FACE CHANGE IS SHOCKING.
Every emotion—jealousy, betrayal, rage—flashes for half a second before he masks it.
But Piarry saw.
Amber saw.
Rone did not.
ANTHONY
(very slow)
So… you met through Shayla.
Interesting.
PIARRY
(nervous laugh)
Ant, don’t start—
ANTHONY
Why didn’t you tell me?
The question is quiet. But it hits like thunder.
RONE
(confused)
Bro why it matter who introduced us?
ANTHONY
(snaps)
I wasn’t asking you.
The room freezes.
Amber bites her lip, trying not to laugh at the tension she helped ignite.
AMBER
(stirring the pot again)
You okay, babe? You acting like P owes you an explanation or something…
Anthony shoots her a side-eye sharper than a blade.
ANTHONY
Cut it out, Amber.
AMBER
(smiling)
Just asking.
Her tone is sugar—but it’s poison sugar.
Because this is the first time she hits him exactly where he always hits her.
His past.
His jealousy.
His possessiveness.
Tonight, she flips the mirror back at him.
RONE, still clueless, keeps talking.
RONE
I mean yeah, Shayla introduced us. We all used to hang out—
Piarry elbows him hard.
PIARRY
Rone. Stop.
But it’s too late.
Anthony’s entire posture changes—like someone just handed him a betrayal wrapped in pretty paper.
ANTHONY
(voice low, dangerous)
Used to hang out?
How many times?
RONE
Uh… enough times to—
PIARRY
(interrupting fast)
Ant, don’t do this.
ANTHONY
Do what?
He stands. Slow. Controlled.
But his eyes scream.
Jealousy is fully awake now.
Amber watches him with a slight grin.
She’s petty, but she’s reading him.
She knows The Question is coming.
And it does.
ANTHONY
(looking at Piarry, ignoring everyone)
When were you planning to tell me you were hanging around Shayla behind my back?
The room goes silent.
Piarry freezes.
Amber’s smirk drops—she didn’t expect that question.
Rone finally realizes the tension is real.
PIARRY
Ant… it wasn’t like that.
ANTHONY
(steps closer)
Then what was it like?
PIARRY
Look—we all linked up a few times. It wasn’t deep. I just didn’t think you needed to know.
Anthony laughs.
A short, hollow, frightening laugh.
ANTHONY
You didn’t think I needed to know.
AMBER
(quiet)
Anthony…
He doesn’t look at her.
He keeps his eyes locked on Piarry.
ANTHONY
Tell me something…
When you were chillin’ with Shayla…
Did y’all ever talk about me?
Piarry’s face says everything.
And nothing.
Because he doesn’t answer.
And the silence is louder than the truth.
Anthony stares at him—devastated, furious, jealous, betrayed.
Amber watches Anthony carefully… and realizes:
He is way more invested in Piarry than he ever admitted.
Way more.
Anthony finally exhales.
Slow. Heavy.
ANTHONY
(to Piarry)
We’ll talk later.
He grabs his keys.
The tension is suffocating.
Amber steps forward, ready to follow him—
But he turns slightly.
ANTHONY
Amber… stay.
The command slices the air.
Amber freezes.
Piarry looks stunned.
Rone looks terrified.
And Anthony walks out the door…
Slamming it behind him.
The room trembles.
And the story does not end here.
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