Page 57 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
I pull free from her grip. “You’re an awesome bestie, but I think I want to be alone.”
“Okay, let me know if you need anything.”
I nod and climb the stairs to Katie’s room. After dropping down on my bed, I stare at the ceiling. Then I grab my phone and delete all the texts from Liam. But that’s not enough. I remove each and every single comment he wrote on my videos and delete his name from my friends list on my account.
It actually feels good to remove all traces of him. It’s like I’m deleting him from my life.
“Good riddance.”
Chapter Nineteen
Katie
I enter the auditorium and take a seat in the front row. I can’t believe opening night is only a few weeks away. We still have so much to do, but things are looking amazing so far and I’m so excited.
It’s a little hard to think that in only a few weeks, I won’t be spending nearly all my afternoons with Eric. I mean, I’ll still see him at band practice, but doing this musical with him is something special the two of us share. It’ll suck when it’s over.
I peer at Eric, who sits a few seats away from me. He doesn’t look as nervous as he did last week. I think now that he has the lines down, he finally believes he can do this.
As if he feels me watching him, he turns his head toward me. I’m about to tear my eyes away and silently yell at myself for staring like that, but he smiles warmly and waves. I return the smile, thinking back to Saturday. I had so much fun hanging out with him and wish we could do it every weekend.
“Good afternoon,” Miss Diaz greets as she walks into the auditorium. “I want Belle and Gaston on stage.”
We’re doing the scene where Gaston asks Belle to marry him. I always feel everyone’s eyes on me when I’m on stage, and I’m kind of used to it, but now…I’m nervous for some reason. I look out at the audience and find Eric’s eyes fastened on me, a smile on his lips. He’s watched me perform my scenes since I got Belle, but I feel totally uneasy now. I’m worried I’ll mess up and make a total fool of myself. In front of Eric. Which is ridiculous.
“I just don’t deserve you,” I say, dodging Gaston’s lips.
We end the scene, and thankfully Miss Diaz is pleased with it. We do a few more scenes that feature Belle, and then our director tells me I can return to my seat.
When I’m halfway down the stairs, she says, “Actually, Katie, wait. I think I want to do the dance scene.”
“The dance?” I ask, my blood starting to race.
“Yeah.” She rubs her chin. “You and Eric haven’t rehearsed it yet, have you?”
“Um, well…” Sort of?
She tells Eric, Gabby, Lumiere, and Cogsworth to join me on stage.
My heart speeds up even more. I can’t forget the way Eric and I danced together the last time. How his hand touched mine, the spark I felt, the way he dipped me and stared into my eyes…
I snap out of it when Eric’s cologne, or soap, or whatever it is that makes him smell so good seeps into my nose. Every part of me is so wound up I wish I could smack some sense into myself. I’ve always considered myself a professional, but I unravel every time I have to do a romantic scene with Eric. Seriously, what’s wrong with me? It’s just a scene. Not real. It doesn’t mean anything.
Miss Diaz instructs us to begin. I go off to the side while Beast talks with Lumiere and Cogsworth. Then he and I meet at the center of the stage.
Eric looks just as nervous and awkward as he did the last time. I reach to caress his face, and his eyes slowly flutter shut. I swallow hard before I take his hand and place it on my waist. Electricity sparks through me, just like last time, but it’s more intense now. My hand is a little shaky as I place it on his shoulder. Then I take his free hand in mine.
His eyes bore into mine as we glide across the stage. Everyone around me blurs into the background as I stare into Eric’s face. The only sound comes from Gabby’s beautiful voice as she sings “Beauty and the Beast.”
Our gazes don’t leave each other’s once, like they’re magnets. His movement is gentle but commanding, and the hand on mywaist feels strong but also feather-like. He sweeps me across the stage as though he’s been dancing his whole life. Even though I’m not dressed in the golden ball gown, right now I feel like a princess.
Eric dips me, his face dangerously close to mine. Hislipsare dangerously close to mine. It takes all I have to keep my eyes trained on his face.
Until his gaze drops to my mouth. I lose all resolve and look at his.
We remain staring at each other like that until Gabby hits a high note, yanking us out of our reverie. Eric gently tugs me upward and we continue dancing.
“Beautiful, Eric and Katie,” Miss Diaz says.
