Page 47 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
“Your dream will come true. I know it.”
“Thanks.”
We’re quiet as we eat and drink.
“I heard about that thing with you and Harper in the cafeteria on Thursday. Everyone was talking about it.”
“I know it wasn’t cool to call her out like that, but she was really getting on my nerves. I mean, I know she cares about theater, but her whole attitude is just wrong.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he says. “I’m glad someone put her in her place. I thought I was the only one who did. Everyone here seems to worship her.”
I roll my eyes. “She is the most popular and prettiest girl at school.”
His eyebrow rises. “Most popular, sure. But prettiest? Definitely not. There are many girls at school who are much prettier than her. Both inside and out.”
The look he gives me…it’s almost like he’s hinting to me. But nah, that’s probably all in my head. Wishful thinking.
I shift in my seat. “I don’t really want to talk about Harper.”
“Yeah, me either.”
We pick a few more scenes to practice, and the hours fly by so fast it’s already past lunchtime. I was so absorbed in the world we created together that it takes a second for me to get back to reality. I think Eric feels the same because he drops down on the couch with a heavy huff, like that took up way too much energy and emotions.
“You were really great,” I say as I settle down near him. I didn’t mean to sit so close. But I don’t want to move away. That’d be rude.
He sends me a grin. “Thanks. I think you bring out…like the fire in me.”
“What?”
He shifts a little like he didn’t mean for that to slip out. “I guess I felt…I don’t know, like not confident. Discouraged. In over my head. But acting opposite you makes me like…confident.” He shakes his head, laughing. “Sorry. I’m not making any sense. I don’t think Harper cared too much howIfelt. She focused on herself and how she portrayed the role or played out the scene, but she didn’t care if I was nervous or anxious. But you do. So thanks.”
That causes a warm feeling to enter my heart and spread to all parts of my body. “I can’t imagine someone else playing Beast. I’m glad Miss Diaz and I walked in on you in the music room. You’re the perfect Beast.”
He waves his hand. “Doubt that.”
“I mean it. You should give yourself some credit, Eric. It’s not easy being the lead in a big production likeBeauty and the Beast. And Beast is very complex. The audience needs to sympathize with a character who kind of is the villain, at least in the beginning. And you do that really well.”
He lowers his eyes to his lap for a few seconds before slowly lifting them to me and giving me another smile. “Thanks. It means a lot coming from you.”
We both sit there quietly. I’m normally okay with the quiet, but it’s so awkward now. I feel like I should say something, but I have no idea what. If I don’t talk, will he leave? I don’t want him to.
“I have some good news,” he says as he reaches for his Coke and guzzles some down.
“What?”
“I didn’t tell Ethan or Cody yet because I want it to be a surprise and I don’t want to jinx it, but I need to tell someone.”
“The suspense is killing me,” I say with a laugh.
“Okay.” He twists on the couch until he faces me completely. “I’ve been in contact with a few people…long story short, someone reached out to me about The Rock E’s putting on a concert.”
Both my eyebrows fly up. “Ourownconcert?”
He’s beaming so hard his whole face lights up. “Yeah. But don’t tell anyone, not until it’s final. I just hope it works out, because this could be a real game changer for the band.”
“That’s so exciting!” I say. “It’ll be so much fun to put on our own concert.”
“I know. Fingers crossed that it comes through.”
