Page 51 of Celebrities Don't Date Bookworms

Yeah, that checked out. I doubted she had anything against the boys themselves, but she didn’t seem pleased with the way that her class got derailed yesterday by everyone staring at Hudson and Jude for the whole class.

Sloane sat up straight and focused her eyes on the door. “Speak of the devils.”

I looked over as well, just in time to see Jude and Hudson fully round the corner and come into the class. I felt like every person in the class sat up a little straighter, fixed their hair, and put on fake brilliant smiles as they stared at the boys.

It was a little unnerving to see everyone do it at once, actually.

Hudson and Jude both smiled politely and shared pleasantries with some people, but they didn’t stop to talk to anyone. I felt a little bad for some of my classmates who seemed to genuinely think that one of the boys would single them out, and have a conversation with them right now for the thirty seconds we had before the bell rang. I was sure that when they foundout their favorite boy band was coming to our school that they had visions of what it would be like, and this probably wasn’t living up to their expectations. But I guess it was about time that they learn what celebrities were truly like—that their fans were only there to line their pockets, and they couldn’t care less about them beyond that.

“Hey, Starbucks girl,” Hudson said as he sat down next to me. I sighed and spun to face forward.

“Are you going to keep calling me that forever?”

He shrugged. “Only until it stops being fun.”

Lovely.

“Did you get my present yesterday?” he asked.

For a second, I didn’t understand what he was talking about, and thought he meant a present at my house or something, which would have been creepy since he had no idea where I lived. But then I realized he meant the Starbucks card.

“I did,” I said. I twirled my pencil in my fingers. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“You wouldn’t let me pay you back any other way.”

“But fifty dollars? We both know coffee would never cost that much.”

He shrugged with one shoulder. “Consider it interest.”

The bell rang then, followed by Principal Roman’s voice saying, “Please rise for the national anthem,” effectively cutting off our conversation. Even though Mme. Dubois hadn’t actually entered the room yet to watch us, talking through O’Canada wasjust waiting for a teacher to stare you down or, if they were really strict, give you detention. He didn’t stop looking at me with that stupid lopsided grin of his, though. In fact, he didn’t stop for all that class or our next one, even when I once again went to sit by myself on the other side of the room while his adoring fans fawned over him for the final ten minutes of class.

Group name:I promise this isn’t a group chat, Dad

Members:Ni-Ni, Bay, Sharky, Tis Moi Luca, Not Zesty, Eggo

Tis Moi, Luca

Is anybody else bored out of their mind in class right now

Eggo

meeeee

Tis Moi, Luca

What class are you in

Eggo

Can’t say

Gotta stay anonymous

Tis Moi, Luca

Boring

Eggo

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