Note: The first 33 chapters of this story have been written 5-2 years ago and I've just moved them over here, so this isn't technically new content, but I'm finally continuing this story, so you guys over here get to read it, too.

Note 2: Danielle is the HWU MC and her backstory is basically the entirety of the game's story. NOT the Hunt dates, though.

To say that Thomas was relieved when he made his way from his office to the car without anyone speaking to him would have been an understatement. He wasn't superstitious by any means, but he was almost convinced that this day – the last day of the semester – was cursed. Because not once, in the five and a half years he'd been teaching at Hollywood University, had this day gone well for him. The first semester, it had been a certain Professor Singh asking him to take over the Hollywood 101 course, which had led to many a headache and a not insignificant rise in his blood pressure. The second semester, he had found out that the building his office was in would undergo renovations, thus he would have to share an office with a colleague for the foreseeable future. When he was informed of a rather unfortunate incident involving a tank and several destroyed buildings at the end of the third semester, he wasn't even surprised anymore. But today… today no one had given him any bad news at all. He was sitting in his car, key in the ignition, ready to leave and enjoy the time away from students insisting they deserved an A when they earned a B- at best. Then, just before he could turn the key, there was a knock on the window. Shit.

For a brief moment, Thomas considered ignoring whoever was going to tell him that the dean had resigned and would be replaced by Viktor Montmartre or whatever else terrible must have happened, but eventually decided to roll down the window and face whatever nightmare was waiting for him. When he looked at the person who had knocked, however, it wasn't anyone he'd have expected. Perhaps he should have. After all, he did consider this day cursed, and if his least favourite former student of all time was ever going to visit him, today would be that day.

"Hey Hunt," the young woman said, far too cheerfully for his liking. "What's up?"

"It's Professor Hunt," he corrected, "And I was on my way home, so if you were hoping to speak to me, I'm afraid I must disappoint you."

Danielle – Thomas wished he could pretend he didn't remember her name, but it was seemingly engraved into his mind ever since she had first entered his classroom – simply smiled and shrugged. "That's okay, we can talk on the way." Before he could fully process what she meant, she had rounded the car and opened the passenger door, planting herself on the seat next to him. "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

Thomas blinked – once, twice – and then turned to her slowly. "I'm not going anywhere until you get out of my car."

"Fine," Danielle sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'll be quick then. You know I'm working on a big project at the moment, right?"

"I'm aware you were recently cast in a Tommy Phelps film, yes. I fail to see how that would lead to you sitting in my car, and I don't particularly care. Get out."

It was a lie, of course. Thomas was insanely curious to find out why Danielle had come to speak to him about this project, but if he knew anything about her, he wouldn't have to actually show any interest in order to get this information. She would tell him either way.

"Well, I got in a fight with him."

That was probably the least surprising thing she could have said. Of course she got in a fight with him. Danielle got in a fight with everybody, over everything she didn't agree with. "So? Did you lose your job over it and want me to get it back for you? Because even if I could – and, mind you, I probably can't, since Phelps and I aren't exactly friends – I wouldn't."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "He quit."

It was said so matter-of-factly, Thomas nearly didn't register what her words meant. But once he did, he was glad he wasn't driving, because he was certain he would have hit the brakes so hard, he would have damaged the car. "What?"

"He quit," Danielle repeated slowly. "As in, the movie no longer has a director. As in, we're screwed unless we find a new one."

Thomas should have realised where this conversation was headed, but he was still too hung up on the fact that a fresh-out-of-college actress such as Danielle had made an established director such as Phelps quit a job that would have made him millions. So he ended up sounding like a broken record when he asked again, "What?"

"Okay, did you, like, lose a bunch of brain cells since I graduated? Because I could have sworn you were smarter than that."

Whether or not it was the intended effect, the insult got his brain working again, and he finally managed to ask, "And how did that happen?"

Clearly, it was the right question to ask, because her demeanour changed instantly from annoyingly cheerful to suspiciously evasive. "That's… not really important."

"Then why are you here, Miss Allen?" Thomas asked.

She rolled her eyes. "And again I ask: what happened to your brain cells? Come on, you're a smart guy, you can figure it out."

"I don't have time for these games. I just want to go home and enjoy my time away from my students," he said, narrowing his eyes. "And former students, too."

Danielle crossed her arms in front of her chest and tilted her chin up. "Well, you're in for a lot of disappointment, then. Because you, my dearest Mr Hunt, are going to take over his job."

"Excuse me? I will do no such thing. I haven't been directing for a long time, and you know—"

"That the Silver Circle is no longer a problem? Why, yes, I do. No need to thank me, by the way."

She was right, of course. If he hadn't been terrified that he'd lost his spark, he would have gone back to directing two years ago, when the Silver Circle had been taken down by Danielle and her entourage. But he was terrified and, in any case, his comeback film was not going to be a mindless blockbuster that was supposed to be directed by the likes of Tommy Phelps.

"My answer is no. Now get out of my car and let me go home."

"Fine," Danielle huffed as she opened the door. "But just so you know: I was the carrot. Have fun with the stick."

With that, she got out of his car and slammed the door shut with more force than necessary. And Thomas drove off, not giving too much thought to her words, though he probably should have known better. Danielle Allen wasn't one for empty promises – or empty threats, for that matter.