Page 23 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

“Finally, you’re here,” Rylee says. “We have lots planned for this sleepover. But since it’s a school night, you know we can’t stay up too late.”

“We’re going to watch the new romance movie that just came out, discuss the next book for book club, and talk boys, of course,” Zoey says.

“Words I never thought I’d hear from Zoey Brooke Hastings,” Rylee says with a laugh. “You never wanted to talk boys in the past.”

Zoey lifts her shoulders. “Being in love really does change a person.”

“Cool, sounds like tons of fun,” I say as I place Lady Bunny on my pillow. Dad got me the small orangish-pinkish rabbit plushie after my first audition. She brought me luck back then and has been bringing me luck ever since. She has also brought me comfort over the years. Zoey gave me a lobster plushie as a gift a few weeks ago when she visited her grandparents and brother in Boston. As much as I love Lobsty, Lady Bunny will always be my best plushie buddy.

“Annnd…” I unzip my laptop bag and pull out my gaming laptop. “It’s time I show off Valarina to you. I’m telling you, guys, once you see how amazing Chronicles of the Eternals is, you’ll convert to gamers.”

Zoey shakes her head with a laugh. “Doubt it.”

“Aw, come on! I don’t have anyone to play with other than Colt and Willow, and they’re busy with college. There are some quests that are more fun with friends.”

“Sorry, Mia, but with cheerleading and school and Mason, I don’t have time for gaming,” Rylee says. “But I’d love to see you play now if you want to show us.”

“Cool.” I go to Rylee’s desk and set up the game.

They settle down around me as I show them the amazing medieval fantasy world that is Chronicles of the Eternals.

“It’s really cool!” Zoey says. “You ended up picking a healer?”

“Nah,” I say as I kill some monsters. “I thought about it, but I need to use magic damage. Ooh, look what I looted. Nice, armor. Ooh, doesn’t she look so cute in that outfit?”

All of our phones get notifications.

“Ugh, do I want to know what that is?” I grumble.

Zoey checks her phone. “It’s just a reminder about the masquerade ball,” she informs us. “It’ll take place in three weeks.”

The town puts on a masquerade ball every year. It’s a lot of fun, filled with dancing and there is a trivia game where you can win money for charity. Mom and Willow won so much money for charity when they played. I’m sure Mom will win a ton more this year, too.

“I’m glad it was about the masquerade ball and not a video posted about Declan,” I say as I mount my white lion and ride to my quest location. “Kids from school have been posting videos of him all day on social media.” I accidentally fly off a cliff. Poor Valarina and her white lion now lie dead on the ground. “Whoops!” I resurrect my girl and then add, “I wonder if anyone took a video of his performance at rehearsal. Technically, Miss Lane doesn’t allow it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone did. He did do a very good job. And yeah, even I can admit he’ll make a darn sexy William.”

“Wait, huh?” Rylee asks. “Did you just compliment Declan? Did you just call him sexy???”

“Hmm?” I ask as I mount the lion again. “Oh.” I laugh. “I guess I did. Weird. But I still hate him.”

“Mia, we need more details,” Zoey says.

“Yeah, can you pause your game for like ten minutes and tell us? I’m like dying here.”

“You can’t really pause an MMO…”

“Mia!”

“Okay, okay.”

I step away from my laptop and drop down on my bed, grabbing Lady Bunny and hugging her to my chest. Then I tell them about the rehearsal.

“The weirdest thing is that apparently, we had like really good chemistry,” I tell them. “How crazy is that? Our chemistry was terrible in The Beat of My Heart.”

Rylee and Zoey contemplate it for a few seconds. Then Zoey says, “Maybe it’s the project? Maybe both of you are better suited for this play and not the movie.”

I frown, not sure I buy that. Shouldn’t chemistry between two people be the same no matter what the project is?

“Maybe you both matured over the last few months?” Rylee suggests.

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