Page 147 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

He tilts his head toward the curtain, his long hair falling over his shoulder. “Are our parents out there?”

I motion for him to follow me and we both stick our heads out. Miss Lane doesn’t like when we do this because she doesn’t want the audience to see us, but it’ll just be for two seconds.

“Chase and my parents made it,” Declan says as he studies the audience. “And there are your peeps. Wow, everyone came.”

We pull our heads back in.

“Except for Willow and the rest of the Junior Musketeers,” I tell him. “They couldn’t leave school for the play. But my dad always gets someone to record my plays so I can show them to her later.”

“I’m sure she’ll love it.”

I give him a wry smile. “You mean, you’re sure she’ll love you.” I playfully whack him in the chest. “When we video chatted with her last night, she couldn’t get over what a charming dude you are. And Willow is the last person to be charmed. Well, maybe she changed since she and Colt got together.”

He pulls me into his arms. “The only person I want to charm is you. You have no idea how much you mean to me.”

Ah, screw the makeup. I’m kissing him.

Just as I bend forward, a voice says, “Declan? Mia?” Miss Lane is heading over to us. “The play is about to start. Please go backstage, Mia, and Declan, take your spot.”

The play opens with Declan and a few other soldiers patrolling The World Above. The point is to give the audience backstory and to explain what’s happening. Then we’ll shift to The Underground where they’ll be introduced to the females.

Everyone goes to where they need to be and Miss Lane steps before the curtain to thank everyone for coming. She says a few words about the play and how hard we worked.

This is it. What we’ve put all of our blood sweat and tears into. It amounts to these two hours.

Declan turns his head to me and gives me the sweetest, warmest smile. He mouths “Love you.”

I press my fingers to my lips, then blow the kiss to him.

The curtain opens and the play begins.

***

“You guys were amazing!” everyone gushes when the play is over and we’re hugged to death by our friends and family. They can’t stop complimenting us.

We’re in the auditorium, since there’s no room for all of us backstage. The rest of the cast and crew are also being hugged like crazy by their family and friends. Declan, his parents, Chase, and Miss Lane are a few feet away from us, and they’re all praising Miss Lane and Declan for an amazing job.

His eyes meet mine and he waves. I wave back.

Mom and her friends can’t seem to let go of me. One by one, I’m squished and pulled in different directions.

“Can’t breathe,” I mutter against Dani.

She holds onto me even more tightly. “I just can’t get over what a phenomenal actor you are, Mia. We always knew you were amazing, but tonight was exceptional.”

Mom raises a brow. “Maybe it had something to do with her boyfriend starring opposite her.”

“Yeah, I mean that kiss…” Kara says.

My face burns. “Oh my gosh…”

Ally laughs as she hugs me next. “We’re just teasing you. You and your friends are our Musketeer babies, and it’s hard for us to see you growing up. But we’re so proud.”

Dad nods as he kisses my forehead. “Very proud.”

“Thanks.”

My grandparents, my friends, and Mason and Kade also can’t stop gushing about the play. I’m so happy and relieved that it was such a hit and that the audience loved it. I wonder what Kara will write about it in The Edenbury Press.

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