Page 5

Normally, Sadie wouldn’t care—or at least try not to care. However, her senior prom was only a few weeks away, and Sadie desperately wanted to go with someone. A friend or a date—she wasn’t picky. But with neither on the horizon, Sadie sighed and opened up Instagram again.

This time, Trevor Mariano’s newest post popped up. It was of him at the pep rally earlier that day. He was on the hockey team with Brayden, and Sadie had seen him around school. Trevor was cute, sure. Sadie wasn’t blind and could see that. He had that good boy smile and wavy hair that any girl would love to run their hands through. And as far as Sadie knew, he was single.

Not that it mattered. Trevor Mariano would never be interested in her. She liked his post and closed the app.

Ugh.

Time was running out to buy tickets to the prom. Sadie would have to decide sooner rather than later if she wanted to suck it up and go alone or miss out on another experience because she was afraid to go alone. Neither option appealed to her. Setting her phone down beside her, Sadie took in a deep breath, hoping to ground herself.

But her phone dinging pulled her from any refocusing she was trying to do.

Picking up her phone, she saw it was an Instagram message from Trevor.

What the fuck?

Sadie quickly opened it.

Hey. Saw you liked my post. ;)

Her heart was pounding in her chest. Trevor Mariano had messaged her. Did she message him back? Should she wait? Why would he text her? Sadie had more questions than answers.

Before she could chicken out, Sadie typed back,what can I say? It was a good picture.

Trevor read it almost instantly, but no message ever came back. Dejected, Sadie stuffed her phone into her pocket.

“Flirting sucks.”

Chapter 3

Ellie

There was no way Elliewasn’tgoing to get the lead in the spring play. There was no doubt in her mind. It was more than just her normal confidence. She had done her absolute best at the audition and was eagerly awaiting the results to be posted on the theater door. Ellie had already memorized all the lines for the part she wanted and was ready to start practice at the drop of a hat.

“What time is it?”

“Thirty seconds after the last time you asked,” Dylan snarked. They were sitting outside the gym across from the theater. Or, well, Dylan was sitting and Ellie was pacing. “You need to chill out before you have a heart attack.”

“I’m not going to have a heart attack.”

“I don’t know why you’re so nervous. You’re a given for Ariel.”

Ellie had been aiming to play Ariel in her high school’s performance since the play was announced in August. She loved the fact that it was a female lead with little kissing from a boy.

“What time is it?”

“Ellie,” Dylan groaned. “Stop it.”

Just as Ellie was about to protest, the theater door opened. Their teacher, Alice Bowan, stepped out and tacked a piece of paper to the bulletin board by the door. She smiled over at Ellie and winked before disappearing back into the theater. Ellie darted over to the list and didn’t have to look far for her name.

“Yes,” Ellie squealed as she saw her name by Ariel’s. “And look,” she pointed at Dylan’s name on the list too, “you got Flounder.”

“Hell yeah. I’m a fish.” They high-fived, excited over their roles. “This is gonna be great.”

“I’m going to go practice. You want to join?”

Dylan hesitated, and Ellie knew the answer without her saying anything. “I would, but I’m meeting Courtney after school.”

Courtney Huntsman was Dylan’s unofficial girlfriend. The two were together often yet never committed to anything. Ellie didn’t understand it, but whatever worked for them worked for her. She waved Dylan off.