Array
(
[text] =>

Mae →

Kari, Mae, and I stared at the sign-up sheet for the play auditions. Trust me, I wasn't standing here at my own will. My friends had kidnapped me from my locker and dragged me here, and to think Kari had my back. Surprisingly she was convinced that I should audition, but knowing her, she was probably doing it for her own amusement.

"Okay. So the play is set in a dystopian past. I'm thinking during the Renaissance period in Europe or something like that," Mae explained. "Of course, it's a play so it has to have some art and historic relations. Sounds fun?"

"Let me guess, it's forbidden love, punishable by death, blah blah blah?" Kari inquired, folding her arms in disinterest. "Is there a death scene? I'll show up for that part if by some divine miracle Jaden lands the role."

"Gee, thanks. Good to know you always have my back, Kari," I sarcastically appreciated as she smiled at me mischievously. "So what's this play called anyway? Not Another Forbidden Love Story?"

Mae rolled her eyes. "No, dingus. It's called Where the Heart Is. Yes, it's cliche, but it's also the school's first gay play. Evil king, slightly wicked prince whose heart is softened by the love he feels for a lowly servant boy. And more drama."

"Ah, so even worse than what I was expecting," Kari understood.

Mae grinned and shoved a pen in my hand. "You got this, J. Even if you don't get the role, you'll still get to meet your crush. You get to look him in the eyes. Sign up and pick up a play scene from the drama club office."

I sighed, clenching my jaw as I tried to build up the courage to put my name down. Maybe I could just sign up and not show. Before I could even make that decision, I was suddenly pushed aside as someone took my spot in front of the sign-up sheet. I looked to see my offender and it was none other than Corbyn Starr.

Holy shit; I don't think I'd ever come into contact with him. He's Kris's boyfriend.

Oh my lord, he's Kris's boyfriend.

"Sorry, whatever your name is. Get lost," he said to me almost snobbily. He wouldn't even look at me as he spoke, as if I were invisible. He whipped out a blue gel pen and looked at the sign-up sheet. "Wow. Three other people actually think they have what it takes to make it past audition." Taking out a blue gel pen, he carefully signed his name over eight lines, leaving four spaces open. Smiling at his 'artwork,' he replaced his pen then paused. My friends and I just watched him as he pursed his lips in thought. "Wait a minute..." he gazed at me. "Were you seriously considering signing up for the part of Jaxxon, the love interest?"

I couldn't speak, I opened my mouth but after coming up blank, I decided to close it before I risked swallowing a fly. Yeah, Corbyn was scary, but he was the closest to Kris Hamilton that I may ever get.

I was hopeless.

Corbyn blinked at me, expecting my response before grimacing. "God, what a weirdo. I almost forgot how pathetic people beneath me really are. You just reminded me."

"Jaden's not pathetic," Mae defended. "And yes, he's totally signing up."

He turned around to face her, assessing her features and outward appearance. "Usually anyone who wears a cheer uniform is important... so who are you supposed to be?"

"Mae," she shot. "You should remember that name. I'm a very talented cheerleader."

"Oh?" Corbyn raised one of his perfectly sculpted dark brown eyebrows. "So you're planning to steal Brooklyn's spot as cheer captain?"

Mae's blue, doe eyes widened. "Wait! I-I never said that!"

He squinted. "Really? Because that's pretty much what I heard, and she's my best friend. I'd better tell her some girl named Mae wants to steal her spot."

"Whoa, I'm sorry," Kari butted in. "Did someone pour acid down your crack this morning?"

"Excuse me?"

"Brooklyn's gonna kick me off the team. I never said I wanted her position!"

"Alright, well tell your weirdo friend to walk away from this sheet, never come back, and I'll consider keeping your shocking intentions to myself."

I swallowed then nodded at my friend. Everybody knew Corbyn's reputation for making select students miserable. He could target anyone without fail, so I would hate for Mae to jeopardize her spot on the cheer team in defense of me.

"Let's go, guys. It's fine." I grabbed my friends' arms and pulled them away from the sign-up sheet.

"He is so mean," Mae whined once we were completely away from Corbyn's satellite eyes.

"What does Kris see in him?" Kari wondered. "He's a socio, so he and I would obviously get along, but... there's something off."

"No, he's a narcissist!"

"Whoa, big word there, Mae. Don't hurt yourself."

"He's extremely good looking," I envied. "Sharp jaw, chiseled cheek bones, A+ talent. His last name is Starr for crying out loud. I can't compete with that!"

"You're handsome too, J. You have a softness about you and hello? You're a talented violinist. Why can't you see how awesome you are? Because once you do, others will notice that confidence. Most importantly, Corbyn will have no power over you."

I knew that Mae was right. It wasn't that I completely lacked confidence, I just knew that the reality was, I was way out of Kris's league.

"We're getting you into that audition," Kari said. "If it's gonna piss Corbyn off, then by all means. Let's spite the hell out of him."

"He basically called me unimportant," Mae whined. "So I agree. You're doing this."

"So that's it? My life as I know it will be over if I piss off the King Bee. Well, if this is how it ends, as long as I get the chance to talk to Kris H then there's no better way to go." I sighed, shaking my head dramatically. I placed my hand over my heart. "Oh, to die in his arms. Gazing up into those eyes as if they were heaven itself―"

"Okay, no," Kari stopped me, lifting a finger. "J, I love you, but I refuse to listen to your poetic fantasies any more."

"I have to get the part." I widened my eyes once the sweet revelation came to me. "If my role ever dies, that means I get to fake it in those muscular arms. God, I would do anything to feel his touch. I'm getting that spot; whatever it takes."

✨✨

I opened my locker in the boys' locker room and pulled out my P.E clothes. Just like every unfortunate soul in this school, this definitely wasn't my favorite class of the day. I only talked to one person in P.E and he was extremely odd. All he ever talked about was death and darkness, but at least he was nice to me. Other than that, I was pretty much either a loser to everyone or invisible.

I was a little self-conscious as I took off my shirt and pants to change into my gym uniform. It didn't help that I felt someone practically breathing down my neck. I squealed in fright and whipped around to see who it was.

Ah, it was Nico, the demon-possessed rebel; probably the only rebel in this school who liked me enough to interact with me in a decent way.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shrieked, timidly clutching my shirt to my chest as he doubled over in laughter.

"Scaring you, what else?"

"Oh what? The devil told you to sneak behind an innocent and breathe down a boy's neck this morning?"

"Last night, actually, but yes. Yes he did."

I eyed him, shook my head, then rolled my eyes. "Well, I've dealt with enough demons today."

"Oh yeah? Which demons, Abaddon, Aamon, Incubus, Succubus? Ooh-Succubus is my favorite," he licked his lips as my face twisted into a grimace.

"I don't even know what you're talking about and I still think it's disgusting. By demon, I meant Corbyn."

Nico grunted, removing his shirt. "Kris Hamilton's boyfriend?"

"What other Corbyn is there?"

"I know but... he and Kris are practically royalty. And that's saying something because I only hail Lucifer."

I blinked at him and rolled my eyes yet again. I put my normal shirt in the locker before putting on my gym shirt.

"But yeah, Corbyn's just insecure," he deadpanned.

"I doubt it," I laughed. "I managed to speak to him today because I was gonna sign up for the school's play. I don't know how, but he blackmailed my friend into making me not sign up... Heck, she didn't even do anything wrong. Anyway, he seems extremely self absorbed."

"Maybe, but he's clearly threatened by anybody with a penis or vagina."

"Wouldn't that just be... everybody?" I slipped on my shorts and Nico nodded.

"Exactly. Do you really think if he wasn't insecure, he'd be patronizing or terrorizing every girl or guy that so much as looks at his boyfriend?"

I sighed, sitting on the bench so that I could put on my shoes. "I really like Kris," I whispered.

"Who doesn't? He's like Adonis in human form. The guy's so famous on Instagram that he's verified. Look, we probably shouldn't be talking about him or Corbyn."

"Why not?"

"Because, penguin. Rumor has it he's joining our PE class starting today."

My eyes slowly widened as I dropped one of my shoes. "W-why-who-what? Who's he? Corbyn?"

"No. It's required to take one form of physical ed and Corbyn's already in dance. I meant Kris."

"You're joking. You're joking, right?" I gasped, pointing at him accusingly. "Y-you're just playing mind games with me because the devil told you to!"

"Honestly, I wish that were the case so that I could get your hopes up then laugh as I crush them, but... he's in coach's office right now."

I could feel my heart palpitating in my chest and my face burned brightly, making Nico laugh at me as usual. This was not happening. No. No, no, no! I couldn't come to PE every day knowing Kris was in the same locker room as I was. Knowing he would be changing and undressing just yards away. Oh my god, what if his locker was near mine?

Shoot! There were rows of empty lockers near mine because nobody wanted theirs next to the weirdos (basically Nico, me, and a couple others). Maybe that was a good thing. Maybe Kris had some buddies in this class whose lockers were far from mine.

"You're silently freaking out, aren't ya? Hey, we should head to the gym. Wanna shoot some hoops with me?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "And embarrass myself? I'm a violinist, not a basketball player. I'm 5'6" and incapable of athletic skills."

"Well, it's either hoops or walking around the gym's perimeter. What's it gonna be?"

I tied my second shoe on and stood up, stuffing my belongings in my locker before shutting it. "I'll walk. If I try basketball, I might hit someone and if it's Kris, his boyfriend will smash my face in."

"That... would be awesome to see."

I glared at him playfully before backing away to leave the locker room. I just had to get out of there because being in the same setting as Kris was nerve wracking. I was crushing on him so hard that the thought of being near him was unfathomable. As I told myself too many times before, he didn't know a boy named Jaden Briggs even existed.

Well, at least now I had a slim chance of getting seen by him, but probably not remembered. This should be very... interesting.

🎗🎗🎗🎗🎗

[text_hash] => 437d08bf
)