I try not to meet his gaze as we all get fitted with our mics, but I can feel him looking at me, and I’m forced to endure the sensation through rehearsal.
The whole thing passes much too slowly, and until today, I didn’t realize just how many scenes I have with Zayne.
As soon as it’s over, I speed-walk out of the green room, but Mabel catches up to me. I’m about to run down the long staircase leading to the parking lot when her hand squeezes my shoulder. “Dot, I think you need the mall.”
Rue is right next to Mabel when I spin around. “Yeah. Let’s go. This is important.” She grabs my hand and yanks me forward.
The mall. Like that’s supposed to fix anything.But at the same time, I can’t deny it sounds nice.
I follow Mabel and Rue outside to the parking lot, where Rue’s silver sedan is parked and waiting. The cold air makes me shiver in my blazer. I rub my arms.
Rue starts her car up with the press of a button on her keys, and the three of us get in, Mabel taking shotgun.
I bite my lip. “Was that rehearsal as awkward as I think it was?”
Mabel turns to wrinkle her nose at me. “Oh, yeah. For sure. You and Zayne were really…stiff with your lines.”
“Great,” I mutter. The worst part is how guilty I feel knowing Zayne’s performance was affected by me. Zayne, who never lets his personal life bleed into his acting.
Rue sighs, shifting the car into reverse. “I’m sure everything will be fine before the show. You just need to de-stress, which is why we’re going shopppiingggg!”
It takes us much longer than it should to arrive at Prudential Center in Boston, thanks to New England traffic. We probably would have gotten here faster if we walked. But when we finda parking spot on the street and step out into the open air, dome-shaped buildings and glass-front stores surrounding us, I breathe out any lingering tension left from seeing Zayne.
I follow my friends along the brick sidewalk. Tall buildings melt into the sky as we make our way to the nearest boutique. A firetruck cuts us off and honks at us as we navigate the packed crosswalk under a glass-walled bridge.
But then we enter sanctuary.
Mabel’s mouth curves up into a smile. “Let’s look at accessories.”
She gravitates to a table full of sunglasses and headbands like a magnet, and we follow her. “Look at this!” She holds up a checkered scarf, eyes practically glowing. “Maybe I’ll buy it for Meredith for Christmas.”
I glance at Rue to gauge her reaction at the mention of Meredith. “Speaking of her, what’s going on with you two?” I can’t stop the words from slipping from my mouth.
“Uh…” Rue widens her gaze at Mabel, who just smirks.
“If you’re talking about Little Birdie’s blast about you having a crush on Carlton, it doesn’t matter to me. I always knew something was up.”
Rue looks horrified. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, you know.” Mabel shrugs, holding a blouse against her chest to guess its sizing. “You’re always gazing at him longingly. Being nice to him even when he’s a complete jerk. And you seemed so sad when he liked Dot.”
“I do notgaze longingly,” Rue sputters. “I do notgaze.”
“The problem is,” Mabel continues, “I think Mere likes him, too, and feels awkward around you now.” She sighs. “Apparently, I’m the only one here who isn’t obsessed with C.”
I arch a brow at Rue. “Has she let you talk to her about what Little Birdie said? It seems like things are somewhat normal between the two of you.”
“I haven’t said a word to her since she asked me to give her space.” Rue sighs. “And she hasn’t brought it up either. I have a feeling she’s never going to, either. It’s just going to be this unspoken, awkward thing between us for the rest of our lives. Carlton hasn’t said anything either. I think he’s either ignoring it or he thinks none of it is true.”
I touch her shoulder. “Just try talking to Meredith again. There are worse things than two best friends liking the same guy.”
“Fine.” Rue smirks. “I’ll talk to her if you talk to Zayne.”
I sigh, trudging forward to the boot section of the store. “And this conversation is over.”
I hear them both giggle behind me, and though I should probably be irritated, their laughter somehow makes the situation feel lighter. Easier to withstand.
I spin back around to face them. “I love you guys.”
