Competing With the Star (Star #2) (4 page)

Chapter Six

On Friday, Asia said her dad could pick Char and me up for the movie. I wasn’t sure what to wear because it was a girls’ night out, but since Nick would be there I wanted to look cute, but not like I was trying too hard. I tried on every top I owned and then called Asia for advice.

“What are you wearing?” I asked.

“I’m PMSing, so my Pink VS sweatshirt and my PMS jeans. Why?”

“Well, Nick is going to be there, but I also have a kinda sorta date with him tomorrow, so not sure what to put on.”

“A kinda sorta date? What’s that about?”

“I’m going to watch a movie with him at his grandpa’s nursing home,” I said.

“That’s different, but sweet. Well, tomorrow I’d wear something a little nicer. Maybe your long blue sweater and beige jeans, and today I’d wear regular jeans, those cute black ankle boots you have, and your black CK top. It’s casual, but put together, so cute, but not like you’re trying to impress him.”

“Great, thanks.”

“We’re going to be leaving in, like, a minute to pick you guys up. I’ll text you when we’re in the driveway. Bye.”

I changed my clothes and put on some lip stain and a touch of blush. I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs when Asia texted me that they were just leaving Charlotte’s and heading to my house next. Mom stopped me before I walked outside.

“Have a good time. Don’t do anything that would give me a heart attack,” she said.

***

We got to the theater and Nick was already there outside waiting for us with his friends, Lucas and Connor. Connor and Simone used to date. Actually, Connor also dated Morgan and Pilar, but for some reason none of the girls ever got mad at him for that, but they sure did get mad at each other for it. As I got out of the car, I wondered how to approach Nick. I mean, we were official as he said, and we had kissed, but did we hug when we saw each other? Would it look desperate if I ran up to him? Why wasn’t there an instructional booklet for this kind of thing? My mom bought a toaster and it came with a huge manual on how to work it, but when it came to the workings of the heart—nothing? Nada? Zilch? That made no sense.

I took my time getting out of Mr. Milanowski’s car to buy myself some time. When I slammed the door, I looked up and Nick was right in front of me.

“Hi, Hadley, you look great,” he said.

I found it difficult to swallow as I looked into his light brown eyes.

“Yeah, you too,” I said, and then wanted to kick myself. Who said that to a guy? I mean, to his face anyway? Dumb, dumb, dumb. Why couldn’t I ever be cool?

“Here, I got your ticket,” he said.

“Oh wow, thanks.”

We waited for Charlotte and Asia to buy their tickets. Simone and Pilar were off to the side with Reagan and Morgan, drinking sodas and staring at us. I waved to them, but Simone just nodded at me.

“You guys, let’s go sit up in the balcony,” Reagan said, clutching Lucas’ arm.

Were they a thing now? That would be a load off my mind if Nick’s ex had a new guy. We followed them up the steps and they walked to the first row of the balcony that overlooked the theater. I felt like throwing up the second I looked over the balcony edge.

“You okay?” Charlotte asked.

“No, I hate heights,” I said in her ear so no one would hear me.

“Tell Nick you want to move back a row.”

“I’ll look like a stupid kid,” I said.

“Hadley? Are you all right?” Nick asked.

“Yeah, fine.”

“You sure? Because you’re kind of hanging onto the seat like it’s a life preserver. Are you afraid of heights?”

“Seriously? You’re afraid of heights?” Morgan said loudly. “Are you joking?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“I hate heights. This whole ledge thing is making me feel dizzy, maybe I should move back,” Charlotte said.

“Oh, do you want us to move back a row with you?” I asked, relieved she’d pretend for me.

“I don’t want to ruin anyone’s night, but yes, yes, please,” she said.

Nick smiled. “How noble of you to change your seat for your friend. I better move too.”

The three of us moved behind them, but then it was like stadium seating and I felt like if I got up for anything I could trip and fly over the railing to my death.

“Char, if I fell from here, would I die or just get really, really hurt?” I asked, leaning over.

“Really, really hurt,” she said. “You might wish you were dead though.”

“You hate this more, don’t you?” Nick said, leaning over.

“How did you know?”

“I can tell from your face. You’re biting the side of your mouth. You always do that when you’re upset,” he said. “It’s no big deal. We can move downstairs. I prefer sitting down there anyway.”

“You don’t mind sitting away from them?”

“Not a problem.”

He got up. “You guys, we’re going to move downstairs. I’m not feeling this stadium seating thing up here.”

I saw Reagan and Morgan exchange a look with their eyebrows raised and Reagan smirked. What was that about?

“Whatever. See you after the movie,” Pilar said.

The three of us walked down the steps and found seats toward the back. As we sat down, Charlotte leaned over to ask if she was being a third wheel on our date.

I shook my head and she said she was going to make a snack run.

“Want anything?” she asked.

I reached in my purse for some cash. “Gummi bears and a Coke. Do I want popcorn?”

Nick reached past me and handed Char some money. “She wants popcorn. Butter?”

I smiled. “Butter.”

“Okay, so are you two sharing the popcorn or what?” Charlotte asked.

“If that’s okay,” Nick said, raising his eyebrows.

I nodded. He was willing to risk sharing germs with me. That meant he must like me…or he had no respect for his immune system. One of the two. But now with Char gone, what would we talk about? I racked my brain for something to say when all of a sudden the whole crew was around us. Reagan and Lucas sat directly in front of us and Morgan was next to Nick.

“I thought you guys were happy up there,” Nick said.

Reagan turned around to smile at Morgan. “The show is better up close,” Morgan said.

Charlotte returned with the snacks just as the previews started.

I was opening up my gummi bears and then it hit me—were these a kid snack? Did I look like an immature child in front of him with my tiny bears?

“Hey, can I have a bear?” Nick asked. “Red, not the clear ones. Those disgust me. I can only eat clear gummi if it’s part of a gummi cola bottle.”

I smiled. “I hate those too. Here,” I said, handing him the bag.

“Thanks.”

The movie started and I was beginning to relax when Lucas’ arm went up in front of me and around Reagan’s shoulders. I didn’t think anything of it, even though her head was kind of blocking my view when she moved it to lean on his shoulder. But then she turned her head and she and Lucas began making out—right in front of me and right in front of Nick. So awkward on so many levels. I mean, yay for her dating a guy other than Nick to show he was out of her system, but it was also super cringe-worthy because it made me wonder if that was the kind of thing all of them did on group dates to the movies. Did Nick expect me to do that?

I elbowed Charlotte and whispered to her how uncomfortable I was.

“Huh?” And then I realized she was actually watching the movie and was oblivious to everything going on around her. I started to feel nervous, and when I got nervous I got clammy and gross. I excused myself to go to the bathroom. As soon as I walked into the restroom I noticed my forehead was already shiny. Great, not even an hour into the date and my oil-absorbing mattifying gel had failed me and I was becoming a sweaty, greasy mess of anxiety. Awesome.

“You okay?” Asia asked, coming into the restroom.

“Yeah, just need to use the bathroom.”

“So how obvious is Reagan?”

“What do you mean?”

“Putting herself right in Nick’s line of sight and then making out with one of his friends?
Hello?
Way to make him jealous,” she said as she finger combed her long dark hair.

It hadn’t even occurred to me how that was exactly the type of thing that made someone jealous. I was so naïve sometimes. But
was
he jealous?

“Do you think he noticed?” I asked.

“Well, I didn’t see him walk in with a seeing eye dog, so I’m gonna guess, yeah.”

My stomach flip-flopped.

“But I’m sure it’s just like a fleeting feeling. After all, he did break up with her.”

“Yeah, he said she was kind of shallow,” I said, biting my lip.

“Exactly. He told me she was so obsessed with how pretty she was and everything was all about her looks. See? I’m sure he’s much happier with you.”

I knew she was trying to reassure me, but all I heard was, “His ex was too pretty and her hotness made it difficult for him, so he decided to find a much plainer girl he could focus on to have conversations with. Once again, his former girlfriend’s beauty proved much too distracting.”

We walked back into the theater and Char asked if I was okay.

I whispered back, “Not really, given the circumstances.”

“Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure the FBI will stop the terrorist before they can get the suitcase.”

I stared at her, wondering how she could focus solely on the movie and miss the real show right in front of her seat.

“You okay?” Nick asked, holding out the popcorn bag. I nodded as I took a handful.

I tried to watch the movie, but all I could see were Lucas’ hands in Reagan’s wavy brown hair while simultaneously trying to sneak glances at Nick to see if his eyes were on the screen or his girlfriend. This night sucked.

As soon as the movie was over, Morgan leaned over to Nick. “How did you like the show?” she asked with her hand on his upper arm.

“It was okay, I guess,” he said. “A little predictable.”

“Oh, were you bored? I bet you get bored easily,” she said, looking straight at me.

“Let’s hit the pizza place before it fills up,” Simone said.

We all walked out and I noticed Connor was flirting with Simone like crazy. He put his arm around her and kept playing with her hair. Meanwhile, Nick was walking so fast, he was in front of me instead of walking next to me. He got to the pizza parlor door first and went in and asked for a table.

They seated us and Pilar ended up sitting across from me, next to Reagan.

“You didn’t get ice in your water,” Pilar said to me. “Would you mind trading with me? I always get a sore throat if I drink super cold water.”

I passed her my glass and heard a loud sigh.

“You are so paranoid, Pilar. You can’t get sick from cold water. This girl, she must have room temperature water or she acts like she’s going to die.”

Pilar looked embarrassed.

“Maybe she hates cold water. What the eff?” Lucas said.

Morgan narrowed her eyes at him, but she shut up. Lucas had just become my new hero.

“So are we getting one big pizza to share or what? What toppings does everyone like?” Asia asked. “Or should I ask what does everyone hate?”

“No pineapple,” Charlotte said, making a face.

“I’m with Charlotte,” Nick said.

“And no green pepper,” Asia said, nodding at me. “I hate onion too.”

“You guys hate everything good. How about we get three mediums with different toppings?” Simone said. “One with just pepperoni, one Hawaiian lover’s with pineapple and ham, and another with whatever crap you losers like.”

Nick laughed. “I’m good with just pepperoni. What do you want, Hadley?”

“That’s fine,” I said, even though I loved olives and mushrooms.

“Nick, do you like olives?” Asia asked.

He nodded and she went up to order the pizzas with Simone. They came back with four pitchers.

“Okay, this one has diet cola,” Simone said, placing it between her and Morgan. “One iced tea pitcher for Reagan and Lucas, a regular cola for Char, Asia, and Hadley, and root beer for Nick and Connor. Did I get everybody’s favorite?”

“Yeah. How did you remember I liked root beer?” Nick asked.

“I’m just observant,” she said with a smile.

My stomach felt queasy as she held his gaze. What was her problem? My thoughts were interrupted as Pilar got up and scraped the floor loudly with her chair. She returned with an insulated to-go cup.

“Been friends for years and can’t remember I like hot tea with my pizza, but whatever,” she said under her breath.