Page 9 of The Confidant
But once you read aboutWake Me from My Nightmare’sstruggle with his mom’s terminal illness andPositive Test Distress’sanxiety over telling her ex-boyfriend that she was pregnant, it helped you see that even though people might look like they had it all together on the outside, it was highly likely they were dealing with huge difficulties of their own.
If only I had someone I could write to ask for advice for myself.
I slipped my phone into my pocket when I reached the great hall, deciding I’d figure out which emails to answer later. Then I got in the cafeteria line and loaded my tray with food. Tonight’s menu included Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli—which was one of my favorite meals that they had in rotation at the school.
After adding a slice of chocolate tuxedo cake to my tray for dessert and grabbing a bottle of water, I headed toward the long, rectangular table where Scarlett and my roommate Asher were already seated.
“Hey Hunter,” Scarlett said with a smile when I reached the table. “Have a seat.”
And just like always, she scooted a little farther down the bench to make room at the table beside her.
So maybe everything is still normal between us and all my worrying over the past two hours was for nothing?
4
SCARLETT
“Doyou know how many scouts have come to see you perform so far?” I asked my friend Asher as Hunter took the seat next to me at our table during dinner on Monday night.
Asher was one of the leads in the school’s musical production ofThe Phantom of the Opera. He was crazy talented, and I had no doubt that he’d have offers from several of the country’s most prestigious performing arts schools after they saw him bring Raoul to life on stage.
“Miss Crawley said there have been two so far—a scout from Juilliard and another from Carnegie Mellon. And I guess there are a couple more planning to attend this weekend.”
“That’s so cool,” I said. “I bet they’ll all be fighting over you.”
“That would be pretty amazing,” he said, his dark-brown eyes meeting mine from across the table for a second before sweeping over to Hunter. “But I’m trying not to think too much about who might be watching me or the possible scholarships on the line. Just trying to enjoy being part of the show that everyone has worked so hard on.”
“Well, you guys are doing amazing. I watched it two nights in a row for a reason.” Then, with a smirk on my lips, I added, “I mean, the chemistry between you and Elyse looks so real.”
“Maybe that’s because it is.” He winked, and the huge smile on his lips showed just how in love he was with his real-life girlfriend who played his character’s love interest on stage.
Elyse and Asher had just started officially dating a month ago and were so cute together that even though my love-life was currently a mess, I couldn’t help but be happy for them. Asher certainly hadn’t had it easy this past year and deserved to be with someone as sweet as Elyse.
Asher’s phone buzzed on the table beside his tray. After turning it over to see who had texted him, he said, “Speaking of Elyse… She said that she just pulled into the parking lot, so I guess I better head out.” He slipped his phone in the back pocket of his school uniform slacks. “Do either of you feel like watching the show for the third time?”
“As much as I’d prefer that to homework…” Hunter chuckled beside me. “I really have to study tonight.”
“Yeah, same,” I agreed. “I have a test I need to study for if I want to keep my GPA up. Sadly, not all of us have multiple theater-school scouts after us and offering us scholarships.”
“As if you have to worry about scholarships, Scarlett.” Asher chuckled as he stood from the bench. “Didn’t you just get offered full-rides to both Columbia and Yale?”
“Maaaaybe…” I said, drawing the word out. “But valedictorian is still up for grabs. And with Carter and your girlfriend in the running with me, I can’t just sit back and twiddle my thumbs.”
“Did Elyse finally let it slip that she’s going for valedictorian, too?” Asher asked, surprised.
“Not exactly,” I admitted. “But I might have caught a glimpse of her transcript when I was helping her move into her dad’s house last month. And yes, I also might have screamed when I saw that her GPA was exactly the same as mine.” Like…down to the hundredths of a point.
“That’s my girl,” Asher said, a proud look on his face. “She’s amazing.”
“Well, if you feel like distracting her from her studies here and there, I won’t hold it against you,” I said.
“Nah.” He bent over to pick up his dinner tray. “I think I’m gonna suggest even more study dates now that I know how close of a race it is. Maybe come up with a rewards system for every A she gets on a test. Possibly even bribe my roommate here to keep you distracted with non-scholarly activities.” He winked at Hunter.
I couldn’t help the blush that rose to my cheeks at the idea of Hunter and me doing what Asher was suggesting—of flirting or cuddling or kissing…all the things that people who liked each other did.
But then Addison and Evan stepped up to our table just in time to hear Asher’s comment. The blood drained from my cheeks. From the way Addison was awkwardly looking down at her tray, I knew she’d overheard what Asher had said and also understood the implication that the feelings Hunter and I had been trying to ignore all year were still very much on everyone’s radar.
Ugh. Why did friendship and dating at this school have to be so complicated sometimes?
