“Who is, then?” My voice sounds like a whisper.
“Heis,” Carlton seethes. “Zayne Silverman. And I’m stuck playing the main supporting character, Edgar Linton.”
“Carlton…I’m so, so sorry?—”
He breaks away from me as soon as I speak, turning on his heel and marching down the long stairway toward the wing of his first class.
I stare after him, my heart sinking as he leaves.
What have I done?
It may not be my fault that Carlton didn’t get the role he wanted. But if I hadn’t been so focused on my own situation, I would have realized how much he needs me right now. Meredith being mad at me for stealing her role feels like nothing compared to Carlton being mad at me.
I walk up to the cast list, my eyes scanning the names of the drama club and the characters we’ll be playing this winter. I stop when I reach the name at the top.
Zayne Silverman.
If he hadn’t changed Carlton’s script in the first place, he wouldn’t have gotten away with taking the lead role. In fact, he only won by playing dirty. It isn’t fair.
Zayneisn’t fair. And the worst part is now that we’re co-stars, we’ll probably be spending a lot more time together, rehearsing as the main couple in the play.
My eyes burn with unshed tears, but I won’t let them fall. And I will not let Zayne get the best of me or get in the way of me having a relationship with Carlton.
Latest on theLittle Birdiegossip feed:
There’s been quite a stir among Fallbrook’s most interesting students. Have you heard the news?
I’m sure you’ve noticed the new girl by now. If not, her name is Bardot Bennett. Apparently, she goes by “Dot.” A drab nickname, in my opinion, but to each their own. It looks like Dot has found her way into the circle of none other than Carlton Peters himself. And who can blame her? With a knack for theater and a jawline like his, she was bound to be interested.
Carlton and Dot are both playing leads in Fallbrook’s adaptation of the classic love-story Wuthering Heights. Only, it looks like Carlton won’t be playing the Heathcliff to Bardot’s Cathy! No! Heartthrob Zayne Silverman snagged the role of the ruggedly handsome Heathcliff, and I can’t complain that he doesn’t fit the bill. If anything, Carlton was made to play the passive and polite Edgar Linton.
But the question is: Who will truly play the part of stealing Bardot’s heart?
Yours truly,
Little Birdie
Chapter Four
The rest of the day, everyone continues to stare at me. Only now, I’ve officially gone from quietly being the new girl to being the girl who was blasted about by Little Birdie. And not even for having the highest grades or the best chances of getting into a school like Harvard or Yale. Of course not. It’s about me starring in the stupid play.
Part of me wishes I never downloaded the app, but I’m also glad I did, because otherwise all these whispers would have me thinking I sat in gum or something.
At lunch, I pretend to need help with tonight’s algebra homework and eat in Mrs. Lane’s classroom, so I don’t have to show my face in the hallways. I don’t have Carlton on my side right now. Not after the way I acted earlier. Even if he did want to see me, I doubt Meredith would appreciate me showing my face in their circle at the moment.
It’s bad enough being new and having no one know you.
It’s even worse having everyone know you, and not having anyone to turn to.
I can hide now, but there’s nothing I can do about the drama club meeting after school. They’ll both be there, and I’ll have to face them, along with the rest of the theater crew.
My phone rumbles and my heart races when I see that Mabel texted me.
Mabel
Where are you???
Me
