“Kelsey saw you wearing that outfit?”

I never showed Elijah what I was going to wear, just told him about it. “Afraid so.”

“Shit,” he says. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“I don’t want to think about it, really. Matter of fact, I need another drink. Want to head to the kitchen?”

Elijah finds the beat. “Get your drink, my boy.” His dancing gets bigger. “The dance floor’s calling my name.”

I do the rounds and make sure to talk to everyone from the cast and crew. I hug them like it’s the last one. Give them compliments like I’ll never see them again. And say goodbye like it might be forever.

Meena is having the time of her life—dancing with some band people. “Hey,” I say to her, trying to dance beside her. “I think you’re the coolest person in the room.”

She stops dancing. “How drunk are you?”

I shake my head. “I just wanted you to know.”

“Drink some water,” she says, then gets back to dancing.

Justin and Tess are holding court with people circling them. What would it be like to be Justin, even for a day, and live in this place with a famous dad? He must have it so easy. Not a worry in the world.

When I get to the kitchen, there’s a black-tie girl tending bar. I ask for a beer—too nervous to order a drink. I twist off the bottle top and hear, “Hey.” I turn around to find Yazmin holding a pink water gun. She squirts me a couple of times in the chest. “Got you.”

Assassins. Of course. Yazmin drew my name. “You got me,” I say, putting my hands up.

“Do I?”

“Not anymore,” I say, earning another squirt from her water gun. She’s wearing a shiny black dress with her hair in a tight bun. “You look incredible.”

“Who, me?” She spins around. “Auggie, no joke, your Rizzo was amazing. They were right to cast you. You blew me away.”

I lean against the counter. “I’m sorry I didn’t go for Kenickie,” I say. After everything that happened tonight, maybe I should have.

Yaz waves me off. “No, you do you. This whole thing made me realize I want to focus on TV and movies.”

I nod. “I could see that.”

“My boyfriend thinks that will be the best move.”

I wait for jealousy to wash over me, but it doesn’t. Maybe because my parents will be taking me back tomorrow. Or maybe I’m over my crush. “I’m glad we are friends,” I say, smiling.

She nods. “Me too, Auggie. You’re a cool guy.”

“And you’re really special. I know you’ll buy that house for your family someday.”

“You’re so sweet,” she says, then hugs me.

Elijah appears behind us. “There you are,” he says, out of breath. “Come dance with me. I demand it!”