Page 87 of Drama Queens Don't Fall For Charming Boys

“Ugh! Why are you protecting me? I told you I can handle it.”

I’m quiet for a bit. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I said terrible things to you?”

“We already established that you’re not a gentleman.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not going to leave you alone and you’ll ruin practice. Do you want us to undo all our progress, disappoint Miss Lane, and the rest of the cast and crew?”

I inch closer to her until she backs into the wall. Pressing my hand to the wall, I bring my face close to hers, so close I can see how beautiful her brown eyes are. “I don’t want to hurt you, Mia,” I murmur.

“I already told you I can take it. Look, I don’t want to force it out of you, but she said it about me. I need to know what it is.”

I release another breath. “If I tell you, will you promise not to be mad at me?”

“You didn’t say it, so why should I be mad at you?”

I hesitate.

“Come on, Declan.”

I gaze into her eyes as I say, “She called you a loser and claimed you and your friends’ parents abuse their power at this school. And that your dad abused his power and that’s why you were asked to return for the sequel and I wasn’t.” I shut my eyes. “I’m really sorry.”

She just laughs. “Is that all? She’s been calling me and my friends losers our whole lives. I don’t really care what she says.”

“But it’s still hurtful.”

She shrugs. “Yeah it is, but I guess I’m used to it. Tiffany…I mean, it’s hard for me to stand up to her. I’m not brave like Willow and my mom. But she can’t really hurt me. I’m glad…I mean, thanks for, you know, leaving her.”

I nod. “I wouldn’t give someone who speaks lowly of others the time of day.”

She opens her mouth to say something, but Tori passes us on her way to the auditorium. Mia and I quickly pull away.

Tori beams. “Practicing Act One again, I see. I’m so glad to see how dedicated you kids are.”

Mia forces a smile. “Yep. Totally dedicated.”

I nod in agreement, tilting my head to the side and combing my fingers through my hair.

As we head into the auditorium, Mia looks at me and I look at her. Then we quickly avert our gazes.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mia

We have an amazing rehearsal on Wednesday. Maybe because Declan and I are friends now. If we’re friends. Well, I guess we are. Either way, Miss Lane informed us that we were perfectly in tune with each other and had really good chemistry. I still don’t understand the big mystery—why we have good chemistry now when we didn’t on the set of The Beat of My Heart —but there’s no use obsessing over it. The only thing that matters is that The World Above will be AMAZING.

After leaving the auditorium, I stop by my locker for a few textbooks I’ll need tonight. When I close my locker, I release a small gasp. Declan stands there.

“You really need to stop doing that, dude,” I say.

He chuckles. “Sorry. I just wanted to tell you that you were incredible at rehearsal today. You’re always incredible, but you were extra incredible today.”

My cheeks warm up as my heart skips a beat for some reason. “Thanks.” I tuck some hair behind my ear. “I guess I was really feeling the scene, you know? You were great, too.”

He quirks a brow. “Just ‘great?’”

“Just great. I mean, how can you compare to Mia Park?” I step back and stretch out my arms as far as they can go, then do a very exaggerated bow. I put too much effort into it because when I yank my body back up, I lose my balance and stagger backward.

Declan quickly grabs hold of my shoulders. “You okay?” He stares into my eyes.

The area where his hands touch me burns.

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