Page 52 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

Uh uh. No way in heck.

“Coming, Mia?” Zoey asks. She and the others are on their way to Ally’s class.

Shaking whatever that was out of my being, I rush to catch up with them.

Chapter Seventeen

Mia

The thing about not having a license is having to rely on people to drive you places. Like the mall, where I desperately need to buy a new gaming mouse. I should probably get started on the license thing…

Dad texted me during rehearsal, letting me know that things are crazy busy at Ji-Ho’s and he’s not sure when he can pick me up, drop me off at the mall, then head back to the restaurant. I could try to catch a ride with someone, take the city bus (which everyone knows sucks because it’s the only one in the whole town and is always packed), or I can wait for who knows how long for Dad.

I puff out my cheeks as I drop down on the school steps and think what to do. Rylee and Brayden already went home and I don’t exactly have other friends…Maybe I should see if Gianna or other kids from theater could give me a ride? Or I can always go to the mall tomorrow or order a mouse online. But Valarina needs to exact revenge on the demon lord who tried to rip her soul out of her body…

Chatter and laughter pull me out of my thoughts. A group of students walk out of the school, most of them from theater. And in the center is none other than Declan. He’s wearing his usual disguise, the L.A. cap and sunglasses. None of them pay attention to me as they go down the stairs and head to the student parking lot.

With a sigh, I take out my phone and check if the city bus is near. It should arrive in fifteen minutes. Is it worth getting on the stuffy bus for a mouse? I can see Valarina hitting her fists against my computer screen, begging me to help her get her revenge.

A shadow looms over me. When I raise my head, I see Declan standing before me. He lowers his sunglasses, exposing those gorgeous emerald eyes. “Need a ride?”

“Um…no thanks.”

I might be desperate for a ride, but not from him. He and I haven’t really said much to each other all day, and we got along well enough during rehearsal. Miss Lane seemed pleased with our performance, but I know we could have done much better.

The two of us in a closed space like a car might be a recipe for disaster, and I have no patience for that.

“You sure?” he asks. “Where are you headed? Home?”

“The mall. My mouse died right when I was about to annihilate a boss.”

“Sucks. That definitely happened to me before. Is it the cool gaming mouse I saw yesterday?”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“RIP.”

“At least someone gets it. My friends showed no sympathy for my great loss. I had the mouse for years.”

Declan nods in understanding. Weird, we’re not arguing right now. It’s like whenever we talk about gaming, all of our problems fly out the window.

“I was actually planning on going to the mall, too,” Declan says as he slides his hands into his pockets. “I need a new headset.”

“Cool.”

He’s quiet for a bit before saying, “That was me offering to take you to the mall.”

My gaze snaps up to his. “You were? Oh!” I slap my forehead. “I’m a dope.”

Why would he offer that when he can’t stand my guts?

He balances on the heels of his feet. “So…?”

“You don’t have to. I can take the bus or wait for my dad.”

He gazes out in the distance. “I don’t have a contagious disease. And despite what you insist, I’m not trying to kill you.”

I open my mouth to retort, but then I snap it shut. The truth is, I’m over what happened yesterday. I know I might have overreacted.

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