“Nope.” He laughs. “Definitely not.”
I grin again. It’s impossible not to. “I like you too, Zayne.”
“Do you know what that means?” he asks.
“What?”
“That means you should be my girlfriend and I should be your boyfriend.”
I smirk, though he can’t see it. “You mean you’re not going to string me along? Wait until I join another play and start liking your childhood enemy?”
“Never.”
“Good.” The butterflies in my stomach rapidly flap their little wings. My cheeks sting from smiling so much. This moment is perfect.Perfect.But still, I can’t help but wonder about what Rue said. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” he says.
“Is it common for co-stars to date each other at Fallbrook?”
“I’m not sure.” His tone sounds wary. It makes my stomach clench. “Why?”
I bite my lip. “Just wondering.” I’m dying to ask him about Cassidy, but I don’t want to spoil this moment. I don’t want the mention of who might have been his ex-girlfriend to taint my memories of this moment. So, I leave it alone for now and add, “By the way, I decided that Ivies might not be all they’re cracked up to be.”
“What are you talking about?”
I take a deep breath. After all this, what if Zayne doesn’t want me to go to Underwood? What if he takes this as me trying to steal his spot? Carlton would. “I finally admitted to my dad that college isn’t for me. It felt so good to finally let it out,” I breathe.
“Seriously? Dot, that’s amazing.”
“Thanks. And I’ve been thinking…you said Nigel Weathers usually offers his two spots to the leads every year. I don’t think I would be able to turn down an opportunity like that.”
“You mean you wouldn’t give your spot up for Carlton?” He sounds surprised, and maybe a little too pleased by this idea.
“If I get offered the spot, that means I deserve it more than he does, right?” I try not to sound too hopeful or desperate. I didn’t realize until now how much his approval means to me. He’s been telling me for months that I’m becoming a better actor. A great one, even. But what if all this time it was just words? “Does it make me a bad person for wanting to steal his dream?” I ask.
“Not if it’s your dream, too.” His voice is firm. “If you want it, Dot, go and get it. And you better not let someone like Carlton stop you.”
Getting into Underwood on scholarship would mean Dad could stop working so hard to pay for Fallbrook. This is my chance to take some of the burden off my family and prove to them that this time, I’m not choosing a path on a whim, or outof envy. It’s because of passion. The thing I’ve finally discovered after so much searching.
“I want it, Zayne. I want to be an actor so bad. I want to go to the best acting school around.” I exhale a low breath. Talking about this is making me anxious. Excited.
Terrified.
Because there’s nothing in all the world quite as daunting as talk of the future.
“Then Underwood, here you come.” There’s a smile in his voice.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
The future may be out of my control, but right here in the present, things are good. I like them. And nothing—not even Little Birdie herself—can do anything to change that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Fledglings,
As promised, I come bearing more tasty worms in the form of gossip! Our dearest theater darling, Dot Bennett, has caused quite a stir among the drama club with her new boyfriend. That’s right—boyfriend. No, your eyes don’t deceive you as you read. And you guessed it! It’s Zayne Silverman, who was caught last week attacking her previous beau, Carlton Peters. More on that later.
Dot and Zayne haven’t left one another’s side the past week, during which they’ve been spotted holding hands, sharing food from their lunches, and—dare I say it—kissing on campus!
