Page 131 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“That’s fine, but the story still needs to line up. Tony and Maria—or in our case Tina and Marco—aren’t set on revenge. They’re the only ones who want peace. That’s why you should at least see the movie. I bought the VHS if you want to watch it together.”

Diego grimaced. “I can barely stand listening to these songs as it is. If they’re in the movie too, I’ll lose my freaking mind.”

“Oh. I also have the novelization.”

Diego laughed. “Why?”

Mindy shrugged. “Like I said, it’s important to understand the story. I do that for each of our plays. Like forBeauty and the Beast, I went back to the original fairytale and learned all sorts of interesting things. Sometimes that helps inspire the costumes I put together.”

She expected Diego to scoff. Instead he looked impressed. “This is why you should be the star instead of Whitney.”

Mindy shook her head. “She’s great.”

“Yeah, but you’re something special.”

She managed to resist a blush, due to the strength of her convictions. “So will you?” she asked.

“What?”

“Read the book.”

Diego sighed. “Do you have it on tape?”

“No. But I guess I could read it to you.”

“I know how,” he said defensively. Then his tone softened. “But that does sound nice.”

“Really? I’ll go get it!” She darted into the house and up the stairs to her room. Diego was sprawled out in one of the patio chairs when she returned, so she pulled another close to sit across from him. “It’s not very long,” she said. “If we read a little each day, we’ll be done in a week or two. Ready?”

“Yeah,” Diego said. “I think you’re gonna get your wish, by the way.”

She glanced up from the book. “What wish?”

“You’re going to be loved by someone. Sooner rather than later.”

She stared at him while the blood drained from her face. “I thought you were sleeping!”

“Maybe I was,” he said with an easy shrug. “Could’ve just been a dream.”

“Diego!” Mindy scolded. But she was smiling, a pleasant warmth on her cheeks.

His face remained impassive and unreadable, but she thought she saw a light dancing in his eyes before he nodded at the novel.

“Go ahead,” Diego said.

She stared a second longer before taking a deep breath. “Chapter one…”

— — —

Ricky’s knee was bouncing of its own volition. He couldn’t seem to make it stop as he watched Dr. Sharma begin unpacking a box across from him. He had been dreading this therapy session, fearing that if the axe was going to drop, this would be the moment. So far his parents hadn’t forbidden him to see Diego, but he did notice his mother tense whenever he asked to hang out with him. And she tended to page him twice as often when he did.

Part of him worried that she wanted Dr. Sharma to be the bearer of bad news. Diego’s disdain for his therapist’s occupation hadn’t helped.

“Don’t trust her,”his boyfriend had warned.“As soon as you do, she’ll make you regret it.”

But he knew that wasn’t true, because Ricky already trusted Dr. Sharma. He knew from experience that she wouldn’t betray his confidence. Otherwise, he probably would’ve been grounded an entire year instead of just a month. She was cool. And for some reason, she was setting up a chess board on the table between them.

“What are you doing?” he asked.