Page 15 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

“Please make your way to your classes,” VP Rivera announces. “Detention will be given to those who don’t head to their classes in the next few minutes.”

“We’d better go,” Zoey says as she takes my arm and pulls me up.

I’m cool with this. Totally cool with this, I tell myself as I follow my friends toward the exit. How bad can it be, right? I already know that kissing him is like kissing a frog, so at least I’ll be prepared. I’m a professional. I’m a professional.

Because I’m so consumed with my thoughts, I nearly ram into the person walking right next to me. “Sorry, I—” My voice cuts off when I realize it’s none other than Mr. Charming himself. A crowd of kids, mostly girls, surrounds him.

He puts on a smile, but when he notices it’s me, the smile vanishes. “Oh, hi.”

“What are you doing at my school?”

“I didn’t know you go to this school. Tori—Miss Lane—is a family friend and asked me for this favor. So here I am. Are you in the play?”

“Yeah. I’m playing the female lead.”

“Oh.”

We’re quiet as we look at each other. I still can’t believe he’s here. In my school. Somewhere he’s not supposed to be.

“What’s wrong?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Got so much time on your hands? Can’t you get any movie roles?”

His gaze drops to his shoes.

Oh wow. I meant it as a joke, but his reaction tells me there is some truth to my words. He’s having problems getting roles?

I open my mouth to apologize, but he spins around and marches away, the crowd following him.

“Darn it.” I rub my forehead. “That was so mean of me.”

Rylee pats my back. “We should get to English before we get detention.”

Even though I don’t like the dude, I feel really rotten for saying that to him. I’ve been rejected many times throughout my career, and it sucks. I guess I’m still hurt by the way he treated me after the kiss fiasco.

Ally is seated at her desk, reading a Regency romance. She’s so into the book that she doesn’t realize that most of her students have already arrived.

Zoey says, “Good morning, Aunt Ally.”

She startles and looks around, then laughs sheepishly. “Wow. I was in the middle of such a romantic scene.” She puts her bookmark in the book and smiles at us. “How was the assembly?”

“Very informative,” I mutter as I lower myself in my desk. “Declan is sure to make waves here.”

Ally laughs again. “I remember when your dad came to Edenbury High, Mia. This feels like I’m going back in time thirty years.”

There’s a bit of a commotion at the door, and then Declan walks inside, once again surrounded by a crowd of kids. “Is this Mrs. Hastings’s English class?” he asks.

“You’re in the right place,” Ally says. “Please find a seat. Class is about to start.”

He faces the crowd, throwing his head aside so his hair falls out of his eyes. “I’ll see you all later.” Then he faces the class and waves. “Hey, classmates. I can’t wait to get to know you all.”

“And now he’s ruining my favorite class,” I grumble. I take a deep breath and let it out. Be professional, Mia.

Zoey and Rylee laugh at my reaction. They think I’m acting this way because of the kiss, but they don’t know it’s more than that. I hoped I wouldn’t have to tell anyone about it because I wouldn’t have to deal with Declan ever again, but clearly, that’s not the case.

“Guys, can we have a sleepover tonight?” I ask. “I need to tell you something.”

“Of course,” they say.

As Declan makes his way to the back of the classroom, he notices me. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but then he shakes his head and continues on.

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