Page 27 of Prince of the Palisades

“That’s dope.” Even his smile is sincere. “Imagine one of the two melanin boys here snatching the lead role from allthese Chris Pratt and Margot Robbie wannabes. Hollywood’s shaking right now.”

I laugh, hard enough to earn ado you mindglare from Dr. Garza Villa in the front row. I shrink lower. Dustin calls the next student up.

“Huh.” Karan adjusts his T-shirt collar. VERSACE is printed in large block letters across his chest, reminding everyone he comes from money too. “My bestie was wrong about you.”

My face scrunches, confused.

“That was low-key my fault, though,” Karan clarifies. “I kept texting him while you two were talking the other night.”

I inhale too sharply.Fuck my life.That’s where I remember him from. He’s the boy Reiss was laughing with in the courtyard the other day. The best friend Reiss mentioned at the party.

“So…” Karan grins. “Are you interested?”

I startle. “Interested in what?”

“Rei—”

I cut him off. “I’m not interested inanythingthat has to do with him.”

“He’s not that bad.” When I stare skeptically at him, Karan adds, “He pretends to have this total emo, ‘I make films for all the sad boys’ energy. That he’d rather eat glass than socialize with anyone here. To be fair, have you met our classmates?”

I fight off another laugh, waiting for him to go on.

“TherealReiss is a quintessential softboy. In all the best ways.” Karan’s warm smile returns. “Smart. Funny. Exceptional taste in moviesandfriends.”

I purse my lips, unconvinced.

“He said he really liked you,” Karan casually adds. “Before the whole, you know.”

I don’t need him to finish. What happened lives rent-free in my head. The party. In the hallway after he opened my locker. All of it.

Hold on. I squeak out, “He likes me?”

Karan sparkles like this is the role he’s been dreaming of all his life:wingman. He checks his phone. Then his eyes dart to the aisle. “Perfect timing. Ask him yourself.”

Before I can turn my head, I hear: “Karan, you asshole. Hell no.”

“Be quiet,” Karan hisses, dragging Reiss by the elbow. They bicker softly until Karan shoves Reiss down. Into the seat next to me.

“Get me out of herenow,” I whisper over my shoulder to Ajani.

“Sorry, my prince. I can’t.” She doesn’t even lift her eyes. “Not until you finish your audition. Strict orders from the crown princess.”

“What?!”

Dr. Garza Villa whips around again. I sink so low I might as well be on the floor. Which would be much better than breathing in a now-familiar smoky, earthy scent. Staring up at a sharp jaw. Watching Reiss’s cheeks turn scorched red.

“Bro, you promised you’d record my audition,” Karan whispers.

“I lied,” Reiss grits out.

Karan leans past him to look at me. “Prince, help me out. Tell my bestie it’s adick moveto promise to support thebiggest moment of my future career and then back out.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” I argue.

“Like I’d listen to him,” Reiss says flatly.

“Karan?” Dustin calls. “Karan Sharma?”

---