DANIEL CAME HOME in the middle of the night last night, he looks so frustrated and exhausted. He had his guitar with him so I guess they were just playing instruments and jamming all night. I haven't seen Luke for the last two weeks and it's making me so anxious, I feel like he's watching me everyday.
We have been practicing all day for the play and it's been a wild ride, like, some days we don't stop and some days we do. Today, we're rehearsing for when Mal gives the anti-love spell cupcake on their way to the coronation. And no, this isn't the first time we rehearsed this.
I look down at the blue small box that contains the anti-love spell then suddenly Zach holds my other hand. "Don't be nervous. All you have to do is sit there and look beautiful. No problem there." Zach said as I look at him as I smile, "Thank you."
"Mal, would you wear my ring?" He said as I look at him and remove my hand from his. He's holding the silver ring that he usually wears, he never takes that off. "Um... not now. I think it would probably just fall right off of me." I quickly look away and look at him again, "I have something for you." I said as he smiles.
God, that damn smile. Every fucking time.
"For me?" He said, "Yeah. It's just for later, you know, when you need strength. Some carbs to keep up your energy." I look away, hoping he wouldn't open it.
"Always thinking. But I can't wait." I look back at him in shock as he takes the first bite. "No!"
No, there's no cookie or cupcake inside, we'll have the real one on the actual show.
"Mm. Mm... Mm! This is really good." He said as I look scared, "Uh, do you..."
"Mal?"
"D-do you feel okay?"
"You bet." He said and smiles at me as he looks me in the eye.
"Would you say that you're still in... that..." I said as he takes the second last bite of the cupcake."That you have very strong feelings for me?" I quickly give him a small nervous laugh.
He shrugs and puts down the box. "I'm not sure. I mean, let's give the anti-love potion a few minutes to take effect." I sighed. "Yeah... Okay." I said as I realized what he just said."What? You knew?" I said as he laughs.
"That you spelled me? Yeah. Yeah, I knew." He giggles as I almost forgot what to say, for a second I felt like it was real. Like I was confessing my love for him...
Do I?
I don't like him that way... I think.
"I'm... I can explain myself." I worriedly said
"No, look, It's fine. I mean, you had a crush on me. I was with Audrey. You didn't trust that it could happen on its own. Am I right?"
"Yes. You're so right. So, then, how long have you known?" I sigh in relief and chuckle a little.
"Since our first date. Your spell washed away in the Enchanted Lake."
I wish I can wash away my feelings in the Enchanted Lake.
I frown and play with my fingers, "So then what? You've just been... Faking it since then?" I shrug as he grabs my hands and puts his ring on my finger and kisses my hand.
"I haven't been faking anything."
¤ - ¤ - ¤ - ¤
We're taking a break right now, I'm just at the stage looking at the script for the next scene. Zach and I were never this close unless it's for this play. I always have this weird feeling whenever he's around, I don't know what it is... but.. ugh. I can't tell.
"So... What's going on with you and Prince Ben lately?" I look up to see Thomas holding the headless Prince Chad doll.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I said as he sits down next to me.
"I don't know, you tell me. You guys have been close, it's like you both are inseparable." He said as I laugh. "It's called knowing who you're working with." Of course, we're both together all the time, we're never tired of each other.
"Lav!" Someone called me as I turn around to see Zach coming this way.
"What's up? Did you failed Science again?" I giggle as he sits next to me and holds my hand. "No, but! Christina's hosting a party tomorrow night, are you down to come with me?" He said.
Party?
Come to Christina's party with him?
Should I?
"Yeah, sure! Does Daniel know?" He nods as I sigh in relief. "He said that it's fine as long as you're with one of us."
Of course. He would say that.
"I see. That's fine. I just gotta stick with you all night til we leave the party then." I said as our names are called by Mrs. Mendoza. Zach looks at me as he stands up and helps me get up.
I remove my hands from him before any of the guys or my brother sees it, "Come on now, Mal. Shall we go to your Cotillion?" I laugh as I grab my bag and put it backstage as he follows.
"Zach, go outside! Mrs. Mendoza's waiting, I'll be out in a second." I chuckle as he stops. "Nah, what if a ghost comes to get you? Then who am I going to be engaged to?"
My heart stopped.
I couldn't move, I'm frozen. My heartbeat starts to get fast, am I hearing him correctly? Was it just all in my head?
"I-I..." I couldn't speak, what the fuck is wrong with me? I turn around to see him looking through his phone, as he looks at me.
"T-There's no such thing as a ghost, Avery. Now let's go outside, I don't wanna get scolded by Mrs. Mendoza." I said as we leave backstage.
The setup is different, the decorations for coronation are gone. Then that's when I realized what scene we're gonna make this time.
The Royal Cotillion.