Page 6 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

EvanAnn

“This is the part I’ve been waiting for,” Mia whispers as we settle into the chairs in the black box of our theater department.

The chairs are off to the side like they would be if someone was performing.

The room is painted black from the floors to the walls to the ceiling.

The curtains in the back are black. It’s perfect.

This is where everything starts.

No costumes. No stage. No props. Only actors and their raw talent to make us believe.

It never fails to send tingles down my spine.

Chase sits on my other side with his arm over my shoulders. I resist the urge to lean forward, away from his touch. I should want to lean into him. Shouldn’t I? We’ve been together for months. This should be comfortable. He should be comfortable. Instead, it’s like pinpricks where we make contact.

I don’t know what’s changed since this spring.

I would never say we were hot and heavy.

But his touch gave me goosebumps, and the first time we kissed was better than I could have imagined.

His attention was flattering at first, but when he asked me out, I was shocked.

Of course, I said yes. A hot guy asked me out.

The first guy to ask me out since Billy in kindergarten. What girl wouldn’t want Chase Chadwick?

“Good afternoon.” Mr. Watson walks in, sets his things on a chair in the front row, before grabbing a different chair and walking it to center stage. He turns it so the back is to us and straddles it, lowering himself to sit. “Are we ready for our senior year?”

“Yes,” we all say back to him.

“We’re not actors because we want to be in the audience. Grab a chair and bring it out to our stage for the year.” Mr. Watson gestures around him.

“He’s hot,” Mia murmurs as she grabs her chair and walks out to the floor with me.

“He’s almost thirty.” I really look at him, but yeah, he looks like an adult to me. He’s handsome, but I wouldn’t call him hot. Not when you have guys like Hawk, Damon, and Cam walking around school.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s time to give an older man a try.” She grins and winks before setting her chair close to Mr. Watson’s.

“Great!” Mr. Watson looks around the circle and zeroes in on Mia. “We have a new student this year. You must be Mia Lewis.”

“Hi.” She smiles at everyone and gives a little wave.

“Why don’t you perform your monologue for us?” Mr. Watson leans back to study her.

“Now?” It’s a fake shyness that doesn’t suit her, but she pulls it off well.

“All of us have spent years together.” Mr. Watson gestures to the rest of us. “We’ve seen what the others can do. Picked it apart and broke it down into pieces, only to rebuild it again. So, show us how you got into our school. You’re an actor. Act.”

She nods and stands.

We settle in to watch her perform. It’s a simple monologue. One I’ve seen a couple students butcher before they grasped the concept that, in performances, sometimes less is more.

Mia acts with a simple beauty. She captures the pain of the character perfectly. I can’t help watching her and thinking about Othello , the play I’ve been tasked with directing for the season. She would make a beautiful Desdemona.

She’d capture the subtleness that defines the character in my mind.

Chase has been after me all summer to cast him as Iago. It’s practically the lead role. It’s Iago’s machinations that drive the whole story. I don’t know though. Iago is evil and petty. He causes the deaths of multiple people because of jealousy when he didn’t get the promotion he wanted.

Chase assured me he’s up for the task.

Honestly, he can act and takes direction well. It would make sense to cast him because we can spend even more time together. Maybe being together more often will help our sparks a little. Mia wasn’t wrong about people falling in love on sets.

When Mia finishes, everyone claps.

“Well done, Mia. You’ve earned your place at the table.” Mr. Watson doesn’t give praise easily, but I can tell she impressed him.

She bows dramatically. “Thank you.”

When she sits next to me, she squeezes my hand.

“You were really good,” I whisper.

“Thanks!” She crosses her legs. “It took years of pleading with my parents to even allow me to audition. I’m living with my aunt while I’m here.”

“You definitely belong here.” I squeeze her hand back and release it as Mr. Watson continues with the expectations for this course.

By the end of class, I’m feeling even more energized for this year.

“Don’t forget, auditions are Thursday for the plays.

Everyone in this class is required to audition unless you’re directing.

” Mr. Watson stands and clearly delivers his statement.

“It will count as part of your grade. There are two directors and two plays. Anyone in the school can audition. If you don’t get an onstage role, you’ll be expected to help backstage to participate for your grade. Any questions? Good. See you tomorrow!”

Everyone stands.

“Oh my god, I hope I get a part.” Mia grabs her things and turns to me. “You’re directing?”

I nod and smile. “ Othello .”

“Shakespeare, sweet.” She looks around at the emptying classroom as people take advantage of the fifteen-minute break before intensives. “You probably already have a full cast in your head. I mean, these actors are amazing.”

She’s not wrong. I’ve been eyeing Mark Green as my Othello, though there are a few others that impress me if he ends up taking a different role. It’s tricky to start casting when you’re vying for the same pool of applicants.

The audition process has the actors perform in front of both directors.

Afterwards, we pick our ideal cast, and the teacher checks against their preferred parts.

Meaning if I cast Mark for Othello , but then Brandt casts him in his play and Mark’s preference is Brandt’s character, I’ll get my second choice.

My problem is I have to have a strong cast for Othello to work. Meaning my actors must be able to handle Shakespearean dialogue without tripping over their tongues.

“Hey.”

I lift my head at Brandt’s confident voice.

We rarely talk outside our directing classes, but it’s not me he’s talking to.

He’s a good-looking guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Average height, not really built for sports.

He’s always well put together with his hair perfectly styled.

He glances at me in acknowledgement before turning to Mia.

His smile oozes charm. “Mia, right?”

She takes him in. “Yes.”

I’m curious what her initial thoughts are of Brandt. It would help me understand her character better. In my opinion, he leans too heavily on his famous parents. He’s talented enough, but sometimes he comes off a little too smarmy.

“I’m Brandt Stanwell.” He pauses, waiting for her to recognize the last name. When she doesn’t immediately start gushing about his famous dad, he smirks. “I’m Alexander Stanwell’s son and the other director this year.”

“That’s cool.” She’s not gushing over him, which puts me at ease. She’s being polite, which is a good way to play this meeting. No one wants to be seen as too eager to get in with someone. “What play are you doing?”

“ The Crucible .”

It has some amazing female roles. Will Mia prefer to do his play? It means we wouldn’t spend as much time together. She’ll probably make friends with that cast and I’ll be back to the status quo.

“You’d make an amazing Abigail. I hope you’ll try out for me.” Brandt gives her another smile.

Mia nods. “Of course. The Crucible is one of my favorites.”

Brandt holds his smile and turns to me. “EvanAnn.”

“Brandt.”

When he turns and walks away, Mia steps closer to me and watches until he’s out the door.

“What’s his deal?” Mia asks.

“Rich, famous parents. He’s talented too. Great at getting people to do what he wants.” I shrug. “ The Crucible will be good.”

Chase wraps his arm across my shoulders above my breasts and pulls me back into him. “He’s not as good as you, babe.”

“Thanks.” I blow out a breath. Should I tell Chase I’m not comfortable with how much he’s touching me at school? I don’t remember him being like this in the spring, or even all summer.

“I’ll make sure to wow you at auditions tomorrow, so I get chosen for a part in Othello .” Mia smiles and my heart warms. “After all, us girls gotta stick together.”

“I have to get to class.” I gesture toward the door. “You two are in here next period?”

“I think so.” Mia looks down at her schedule while Chase releases me and steps in close.

“Are we going to get together after practice today?” He brushes his knuckles against my jawline and smiles. “I’d love some alone time.”

Warmth floods my face but it’s not the same anticipation that welled in me when Hawk touched me. Maybe it’s just because Hawk is unpredictable while I know Chase. His touch is familiar, comfortable.

“I’ll text you when I know.” I turn around to escape. At the door, I look back. Mia is still looking at her paper but her lips are moving. Chase smiles and turns away from me.

A weird feeling writhes in the pit of my stomach, but I push it away.

My classes go well in the afternoon. There are ten of us on the director path this year. Only two of us were chosen as student directors, which means both Brandt and I have to choose an assistant director from the remaining eight.

My stomach churns. The decisions I make must be for the best of the play.

My assistant director has to be able to help me make those crucial decisions.

What if Chase isn’t the best for Iago? What if I’m only putting him in that role because he wants it so badly, and I want to make him happy because he’s my boyfriend?