It flips again when I decide I’m going to.
There are a million reasons why this is a terrible idea. We just got done discussing the biggest reason of all. Iwant to do it anyway. From the upward tilt of her chin, I know Ella does, too. My heart pounds violently against my ribs as I lean in closer. Her eyelids flutter closed. I hold my breath as I close the last bit of distance between us.
The door flies open, slamming against the wall with a loud clang. “Hey, Ella. Do you have the enchanted rose ready yet?”
We jump apart.
Ella scrambles to her feet and wipes at her pant legs. “The rose. Yeah, it’s, uh… let me go find it.” She disappears behind a long shelf, leaving me alone with the intruder.
Thank goodness it’s David who came looking for the prop and not someone else. Relief courses through my veins, or maybe it’s adrenaline, because my hands won’t stop shaking. I don’t even want to imagine what stories would have spread through campus if anyone else caught me almost kissing Ella Adams.
“How’s practice going?” I try to keep my tone light.
“Fine,” he says, his voice filled with suspicion. “I didn’t think you wanted to help with theater.”
“I don’t.” I shove my hands in my pockets. “But Ella needs all the help she can get.”
“Is that what you were doing?” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Helping Ella with set design?”
I motion to the paint cans and brushes. “What else would I be doing?”
He narrows his eyes. “I’m not sure, but I think you should be careful. Someone is going to get hurt.”
“Noted.”
“Found it.” Ella reappears with the rose. She hands it to David, and with one last pointed look at me, he leaves.
“So…” Ella says, rocking back on her heels.
I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah.”
“We should…” Ella hitches a thumb toward the wall.
“Yeah, definitely,” I say.
There’s no easy way to shift back to the moment before David burst through the door. Even if we could, it would be a terrible idea. Nothing good would come from kissing Ella Adams. Similar thoughts must be going through her head too because we spend the rest of the afternoon painting the wall with no more close encounters.
15
MOST MUSICAL
The bass vibratesmy ribcage as Hardy, Lily, and I move in a little circle at the winter dance. Music thumps loudly throughout the space of a building that is nearly a hundred years old. It has hardwood floors, ornate chandeliers and glass windows and doors that lead to a balcony that overlooks a lake. The classic beauty clashes with hanging cutout snowflakes and a snow globe photo backdrop against one wall. Not to mention the strobe light that flickers so fast, I’m convinced I’m going to have a seizure.
But I’m having fun—for the most part. The three of us jump and sing to another song before the music suddenly shifts to a slower melody absent of any discernible beat.
“Seriously?” I sigh, under my breath.
This DJ is killing me. We only got two high-energy songs before they played another slow one. That’s four by my count. Much higher than usual. Normally it wouldn't bother me so much, but the ballads that used to have Lilyand me swaying dramatically and singing at the top of our lungs are now reserved for romantic moments with Hardy. Even though they’re doing their best not to make me feel like a third wheel, this playlist is not doing me any favors.
I force a smile and waggle my brows suggestively at Lily and Hardy before yelling over the music, “Try not to have too much fun without me.”
“We won’t,” Lily yells back, grabbing Hardy’s hand as he pulls her close. Her giggles ring out over the music.
My face falls as soon as I turn around to navigate through the crowd of happy couples swaying back and forth on the dance floor. I’ve done this walk of shame enough times that I’m running out of things to do.
I’ve gone to the bathroom.
I went out to the balcony to look at the sun set.
