Page 28 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

She stares into my eyes, but quickly looks away. Holding her script up, she reads the words without any emotion. “I already told you. I’m curious.”

“Mia, I know you know this by heart. Please look at Declan when you talk, and Declan, be careful not to hurt her.”

I nod, loosening my hold. “Sorry.”

She’s still looking at the script as she says the line again.

“Mia, look at Declan.”

She reluctantly looks at me and says the words.

“Why?” I demand. “You don’t belong up here! I ought to report you.”

She shakes her head, struggling to free herself from my clutch. “Please.”

“You’re a female and you’re forbidden to be up here. Would you prefer I shoot you instead?” I reach for my gun with my free hand.

She shakes her head again. “I mean no harm.”

I glare at her. “You’re not allowed to be out here!”

She narrows her eyes. “What about you? Why did you come looking for me?”

I’m about to answer, but Tori steps over. “Mia, with more emotion, please.”

Sighing, she does as our director asks. But Tori isn’t satisfied and asks her to do it again.

I just stare at her, wondering what’s going on. Mia has never struggled with lines before as far as I know.

“We’ll work on that later. Carry on.”

I press my lips together. “That’s preposterous. I didn’t come looking for you.”

“Yes, you did. You came three times today.”

My eyes widen and I pretend to tighten my grip on her throat. “You spied on me!”

“No! I didn’t spy. I went up again and was hiding behind the bushes and saw you come a few times. I hid because I was scared. But I came out and then…you came.”

“Females belong in The Underground,” I say through clenched teeth. “You aren’t allowed in The World Above. If I see you again, I shall….”

“You shall what?” she asks. “Shoot me? If you wanted to shoot me, you would have done so by now.”

Again, she’s not saying the words to Tori’s liking and Tori asks her to repeat them a few times. And Mia looks at the script instead of at me.

Tori holds up her hands. “Let’s call it a day, everyone. Mia, please follow me to my office.”

She bites her lip as she glances at me. I keep my eyes on her as she curls her script in her hands and trails the director into her office.

Everyone wonders what’s up with her, and I wonder the same thing. She’s always been so professional and prepared. I’ve never seen her struggle through a scene before.

Chapter Eleven

Mia

Miss Lane leads me to her office, then closes the door behind us. After gesturing for me to sit on the chair before her desk, she settles down in her seat and leans forward, resting her locked hands on the desk and smiling. “Is everything okay, Mia?”

I muster the most innocent face I can. “Of course. Everything is great.”

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