Where Love Leads

THE AUDITION TRAP

I should have known peace wasn't going to last.

It never did at Rosewood High!

One minute, Sky and I were enjoying lunch, and the next, Claire and her little entourage appeared at our table.

Mickey.

Joanna.

Peach.

And, of course, Claire herself, walking in front like she owned the entire school.

Sky looked up from her food.

"Can I help you?"

Claire smiled.

"Actually, yes."

I sighed.

Here we go again.

Claire folded her arms.

"We heard you're the new president of the drama club."

Sky nodded.

"I am."

"Interesting."

"What exactly is interesting about it?" Sky asked.

Claire pulled out the chair opposite us and sat down without being invited.

"I just think the position could have gone to someone more... suitable."

Mickey giggled.

Joanna nodded.

Peach whispered something into Claire's ear, and they all laughed.

Sky didn't even blink.

"Are you saying you wanted the position?"

Claire smiled.

"Not wanted. Deserved."

I nearly laughed.

"You didn't even apply."

Claire's eyes snapped toward me.

"And nobody asked you."

"Well, I'm answering anyway."

Sky touched my arm.

"Dianne."

I stopped.

Claire leaned closer.

"Let's be honest. Everyone knows the drama club needs someone popular. Someone who actually has stage presence."

Mickey laughed.

"Not someone who got lucky."

Sky's expression hardened.

"You know what? I'm not going to argue with you. Why don't you go back to your 'i'm sad i didn't get the role of president table'. It really covers up your failure. " Everyone who could hear burst into laughter.

"Good," Claire said. "Because when the auditions happen tomorrow, I'll make sure everyone knows who deserves the lead."

My stomach dropped.

"You're auditioning?"

Claire smiled.

"Obviously."

She stood.

"And Dianne?"

I looked up.

"Yes?"

Her smile disappeared.

"Don't get your hopes up about Jason."

My face immediately heated.

"What does Jason have to do with anything?"

She laughed.

"Please. Everyone knows Sky is trying to pair you two together."

My eyes widened.

I turned toward Sky.

She looked calm, as always.

Claire continued.

"Jason won't pick you."

I swallowed.

"He doesn't even like you."

The words hit harder than I expected.

Sky stood up. "How dare you? that's enough."

Claire shrugged.

"I'm only telling the truth."

Then Jason appeared behind them.

I hadn't even noticed him approaching.

Claire immediately smiled.

"Perfect timing."

Jason looked at me.

Then at Claire.

"What?"

Claire tilted her head.

"Tell Dianne what you think about her audition."

Jason's eyes landed on me.

For a second, I thought he might actually defend me.

Instead, he smirked.

"She's auditioning? What a joke."

Everyone laughed.

My heart sank.

Jason leaned against the table.

"I thought the drama was supposed to be... good this year."

More laughter.

I stared at my food.

My eyes suddenly felt hot.

I refused to cry.

Not here.

Not in front of them.

Jason noticed.

His smile faded for half a second.

Then he shrugged.

"Relax, doll face. I'm joking."

I pushed my chair back.

Sky stood immediately.

"That's enough!"

"Sky-"

"No!"

She pointed at Jason.

"You don't get to talk to her like that. What is wrong with you, you arrogant boy! You're not all that, just so you know."

Jason raised his hands.

"I didn't even do anything."

"You knew exactly what you were doing!"

Claire rolled her eyes.

"She's being dramatic."

"That's literally the point of a drama club, but you wouldnt get it because you're not smart." Sky snapped.

Mickey burst out laughing.

The argument got louder.

A teacher eventually stormed over.

"What is going on here?"

Everyone suddenly became quiet.

The answer was apparently:

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

According to Claire.

According to Jason.

According to Mickey.

According to Joanna.

According to Peach.

Unfortunately, the teacher didn't believe any of us.

And somehow, twenty minutes later, Sky and I were sitting in detention.

With Claire.

Mickey.

Joanna.

Peach.

And Jason.

"Wonderful," Sky muttered.

I glanced at her.

"Are you okay?"

She sighed.

"I'm worried."

"About what?"

"My presidency."

I frowned.

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"I shouted at people in front of a teacher."

"Because they were insulting you."

"Still."

She buried her face in her hands.

"What if they take the position away from me?"

"They won't."

She looked at me.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Before she could respond, someone cleared his throat.

We looked up.

Josh was standing outside the detention room.

Sky's eyes widened.

"What are you doing here?"

"Visiting."

The teacher glared at him.

"Visiting?"

Josh smiled.

"Technically, yes."

Sky laughed despite herself.

He waited until the teacher walked away before whispering,

"I heard what happened."

Sky's smile disappeared.

"I'm fine."

"I know."

He paused.

"But you shouldn't have to deal with that alone."

She stared at him.

He smiled.

"Besides, I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"Would you go on a date with me?"

Sky's mouth fell open.

I nearly screamed.

She looked at me.

I mouthed, SAY YES.

She rolled her eyes.

Then looked back at Josh.

"Maybe."

Josh grinned.

"I'll take that."

He walked away.

Sky immediately turned to me.

"Don't."

I smiled.

"You like him!"

"Shut up."

I laughed.

For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Until Theo found me after detention.

He wasn't smiling.

"Dianne, we need to talk."

"About?"

"Jason."

I groaned.

"Not you too."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

He lowered his voice.

"Stay away from him."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because he's not your friend."

"I know that."

"No, you don't."

His expression was unusually serious.

"Something is happening tomorrow."

"What something?"

"I don't know exactly."

"Then how do you know something is happening?"

"Because I know Jason."

I crossed my arms.

"You two are friends."

"Not anymore."

I froze.

"What?"

"I said we're not friends anymore."

Theo looked away.

"He's planning something huge for the audition. Maybe even before it."

"What kind of something?"

"I don't know."

"Then you're not making sense."

He sighed.

"Just promise me you'll stay away from him."

I shook my head.

"I can't promise that."

"Dianne."

"He's auditioning. I'm auditioning. We're going to be in the same room."

"You know what I mean."

I didn't answer.

Theo looked disappointed.

"Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

I watched him walk away.

I wanted to believe him.

I really did.

But maybe he was just being protective or jealous that I'd steal his bestie.

Maybe Jason wasn't planning anything.

Maybe tomorrow would be completely normal.

Spoiler alert:

It wasn't.

After school, I went to the library.

I told myself I'd only stay for thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes became an hour.

An hour became two. I even ended up dozing, mum's calls woke me up.

By the time I packed my books, the school corridors were practically empty.

"Great."

I hurried outside.

The sun was already beginning to set, and the road home suddenly felt much quieter than usual.

I adjusted my backpack.

Then I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned.

My heart stopped.

Jason.

He was walking toward me.

"Jason?"

He stopped.

"Dianne."

I swallowed.

"What are you doing here?"

"Walking home."

"Me too."

There was an awkward silence.

Then he stepped closer.

"I owe you an apology."

I blinked.

"For what?"

"For earlier."

I didn't know what to say.

He looked genuinely sorry.

"I'm sorry."

I nodded slowly.

"Okay."

He smiled.

"Okay?"

"Yes."

I turned to leave.

"Dianne."

I stopped.

He came closer.

My heart began pounding.

"Jason..."

Before I could finish, he leaned down and kissed me, passionately. He lifted my hands above my head, grabbed my waist and intensified the kiss. He didn't even give me space to breathe. And no, this was not in my head! It was real! After four minutes of being breathless, I quietly gasped "Jason...", he groaned with his deep voice, gently put my hands down and smiled while gently stepping back.

I froze.

For one second, my brain completely stopped working.

Jason.

Kissed

Me!!!

The boy I'd had a crush on for three years.

The boy I'd dreamed about.

The boy who had just mocked me that afternoon.

He looked at me one last time...

And smiled!

"See you tomorrow, Princess."

Then he walked away.

I stood there, speechless.

I touched my lips.

What had just happened?

I didn't know.

I didn't know that somewhere behind me, hidden from view, someone had been watching.

I didn't know Jason had a plan.

And I definitely didn't know that tomorrow's audition wasn't really about acting.

It was about me.

And I had just walked straight into the trap.