Page 106 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

“Me? Why me?”

I shrug. “All this was your idea. Thanks.”

She smiles. “Both of them deserve to be happy.”

“Let’s just hope they’re meant to be and we’re not making a huge mess.”

“Oh, they’re totally meant to be. I can feel it. And my feelings are never wrong. Same way I knew Willow and Colt would end up together.”

“Did you really?” I ask.

She beams. “Yep! They fake dated, but it was so obvious they liked each other. And now they’re living their happily ever after.”

Seeing her this excited and happy for her sister makes me smile. Maybe, hopefully soon, I’ll see my brother happy, too.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mia

I squeeze through the small crowd of kids surrounding Declan on Friday morning. They’re not demanding selfies or autographs, but are begging him to reenact their favorite scenes from his movies. Like the nice, charming guy that he is, he obliges with a smile. Everyone claps and cheers when he bows.

His eyes meet mine as I push past the kids and walk down the hallway to my locker. It looks like he wants to say something to me, but the kids keep him occupied.

I meet up with my friends and the guys at Zoey’s locker. They’re talking about the masquerade ball that will take place next Saturday. I haven’t even bought a mask yet, but I’ve got time. Zoey and Kade want to match and Rylee and Mason want to as well. I feel a little blah about going all by myself—no one has asked me to the dance and I’ve got no one to ask—but I tell myself I’ll have fun with my friends.

“Mia? Are you excited for the dance?” Rylee asks me.

“Of course I am. I wish I had someone to dance with, though, but don’t worry about me. I want you guys to have an awesome time together.”

Zoey looks around. “You think Declan will go to the dance? Think he’ll go with Tiffany or something?”

“Probably not Tiffany. He walked away from her, remember?” I shrug. “There are many girls he can choose from. But why are we even talking about him?”

We all turn to where he’s swallowed by a small crowd of girls.

“Because he’s Declan Hart,” Rylee says with a laugh. “Also known as the guy you’re getting super, super friendly with.”

My mouth falls open. “Super friendly? Well…um…”

“You did spend many hours with him over the past two days,” Mason reminds me.

“And you haven’t stopped looking at him since you entered school,” Zoey adds while Kade nods in agreement.

I frown. “That’s because the crowd is so loud I can’t hear myself think.”

They lift their brows like they don’t believe me.

I throw my hands up. “What are you guys getting at? I mean, we were dish pigs at Ji-Ho’s and then we played Chronicles of the Eternals for hours. But he probably does that with all his friends. I’m not special.”

Rylee wraps an arm around me. “Of course you’re special and Declan knows that.”

“Agreed,” a voice says from behind me. Whirling around, my eyes nearly pop out of their sockets and my breath hitches when I take in Declan’s beautiful emerald eyes.

Laughing awkwardly, I tuck some hair behind my ear. “Hey, dude. We were just talking about the masquerade ball next Saturday.”

“Are you going?” Zoey asks him. It’s like she’s trying to push us together or something. Which is insane because there’s nothing going on between us. A friendship and a co-starship, but that’s all. I bet he doesn’t even think of me outside of the auditorium.

A few weeks ago, she kicked me under the cafeteria table when I was being too pushy about her and Kade. Now I want to kick her.

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