This is loaded. Is she talking about me? Or another person? I take a drag of my imaginary cigarette and let out an imaginary puff. “Danger is my middle name.”

She takes my imaginary cigarette and drops it on the floor. “I don’t like smokers. And I don’t trust actors,” she says, stepping on my nonexistent cigarette.

“Both are bad for your health,” I agree.

“I should probably head up and see my friends.”

“Me too,” I say—though I’d rather stay here with her.

We walk up the stairs together, and when we get to the top, Maggie turns to me and says, “Want to come with?”

I can tell she’s a little nervous asking. Like how she was nervous before playing music. I’m about to say yes when I hear, “Hey, August.”

I know that voice. It’s Yazmin. “Hey,” I say.

She looks around, bored. “Didn’t know you were here.”

“Same,” I say.

“I’m going to head over to my friends,” Maggie says.

Shit, I forgot about Maggie.

“Okay,” I say, feeling torn between her and Yaz. “Nice to meet you.”

“Having fun?” Yaz asks, texting on her phone.

I shrug but she doesn’t see. “It’s cool, I guess,” I say.

“Look.” She points back at the stage. Elijah walks on and adjusts the mic stand.

“Hello, New York!” he screams, too loudly. I would cheer, but Yazmin has rested her head on my shoulder and I’m not moving an inch. Thankfully, Elijah forgot about our duet. Instead, he’s decided to tackle “Rose’s Turn” from Gypsy. There are laughs among the audience as he sings, “Here she is, boys” while high kicking. Everyone is on their feet by the time he goes full tilt into the ending. “Everything’s coming up roses!”

Yaz bites her lip. “Did you talk to Anna? About not saying anything?”

“Sure,” I lie. “All good.”

“Thank you,” she says, then hugs me, like a reward. “I got back with my boyfriend. I didn’t want any drama. I got to jet. See you around?”

“Absolutely,” I say, but in a super casual way.

Once she’s left, I head in the direction of Elijah.

Nine

Nine

Wednesday, September 25

11:21 A.M.

My audition is tomorrow. Twenty-eight hours until I’m standing in front of SPA’s theater and music teachers. I should be more excited? Scared? Panicked? All those things. Instead, I’m focused on my unexpected lunch invitation from Yazmin.

I close my locker and nearly run over Juliet. “Hey,” I say with a crack in my voice from the surprise.

“Hello, August. We miss you at lunch. Did our camp stories drive you away?”

“Just taking some me time,” I say. It didn’t feel right to sit at the table with Anna and her friends after what happened on Saturday. I didn’t want to make it weird. Or weirder.