Dearest Fledglings,
It pains me to write words such as these but write them I must.
As it turns out, our theater darlings are not darlings at all, but imposters. From the moment we laid eyes on the pair of Dot and Zayne, we’ve been enchanted by their undeniable chemistry. Their bonds have strengthened into something not even Dot’s old relationship with Carlton Peters could compare to. But now, I must unfortunately shatter the bubble of illusion we’ve all despairingly fallen under.
According to an insider, this news has escaped from the lips of Zayne himself. He stated, “Dot thinks she's the better actor, but I've had her fooled all along. First, she believed Carlton Peters was a good guy, and now she believes I'm into her. I guess that proves I have more talent. Or maybe she's just plain naive."
Zayne then revealed that dating Dot Bennett has been done with the hopes of creating chemistry between the two of them—chemistry that Zayne will hopefully be able to replicate onstage while the representative from Underwood Academy is watching.
Some will go to drastic measures to get what they want. Apparently, Zayne Silverman is one of those people.
What we’ve considered a budding romance has really been an act all along. Dot Bennett is no It Girl, but another Cassidy Tucker in disguise. We all remember her,or…do we? I can only hope Underwood is treating her well.
The real question is how Dot will handle this awful truth! Will she collapse under the pressure of it all, or will she prove to Zayne that he cannot get the best of her?
An even more delicious question—how will this leaking news affect their performance?! This little birdie will be sure to watch and find out. And so will anyone who’s anyone.
Yours truly,
Little Birdie
Chapter Twenty-Seven
My chest fills with rage and hurt, making it difficult to breathe. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Little Birdie, it’s that there is truth to her words. Of all the things she’s written about me, I’ve only ever detected a bit of embellishment in the content of her writing. Some added effect, for the sake of drama.
But the core of her stories are true.
I think that’s why—hidden in the bathroom, phone still in hand—I choose to run.
My heart feels like the strings of a guitar, thrumming at top speed.Zayne was using me. He was using me all along.Tears prick in the corners of my eyes, but I wipe them away and duck my head down as I push through the exit to the bathroom.
I half expected there to be a crowd waiting for me on the other side of the door, but luckily that’s not the case. Almost everyone is still crowded on the dance floor. Maybe, since we’re at a dance with loud music playing, there’s a chance no one read the blast yet. But there’s also a chanceeveryonehas, including Zayne. I have no intentions of waiting around to find out or hear whatever sorry lie he’s cooking up to serve me next. I am so done with the lies. After everything I just went through with Mom, Idon’t think I can survive another one of this magnitude. I don’t want to listen to Zayne try to explain this away.
I keep my gaze on the floor and speed to the doors in the back of the room.
“Dot!” a male voice calls. I have no idea who it is, and I don’t care. I run faster, pushing through the exit and down the dark, empty halls. My heels clack rapidly against the ancient stone, and finally, I’m outside.
And then I remember Zayne drove me here. The tears come faster now. Unstoppable. They sting against my cheeks in the cold night air. I let them fall. Somehow, I knew my makeup would be getting ruined tonight.
“Dot!” I turn at the voice. It’s Carlton. He stops running once I look at him, bending over to catch his breath. “Dot, wait.”
“Are you following me or something?” I hate that he can probably tell from the sound of my voice that I’m fighting tears.
He straightens and holds up his phone. “I saw it. Are you okay?”
“What do you think?” I face the street again. “I just want to go home so I can be alone.”
When he speaks again, he’s closer. Right at my side. “Let me drive you.” I don’t answer, don’t even acknowledge him. He tries again. “We don’t have to talk. I can drive you home in silence, and then you can get out of the car and leave.”
I frown. “What about Meredith?”
“What about her? She has her sister. She’ll be great.”
I sigh. If it weren’t for the fact that I have no other ride home, I wouldn’t even consider it. “Fine.”
The corner of his lip turns up, but he tries to hide it. I follow him to his car and get in. The familiarity of it, the smell, the feel of the heated leather seats, the dashboard I’ve stared at as he drove us around all summer, hits me like a brick wall. It feels like flipping through an old album full of unflattering photos.
Carlton keeps his promise. He doesn’t try to talk to me, though I can tell he wants to. But I don’t care. I stare out the window, watching my own pathetic reflection mirrored back at me.
