I don’t know what the school committee’s verdict is going to do to us.

I do know, though, that when I don’t waste so much energy convincing myself I hate Reid—I like him. A lot.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Reid’s Albany Institute fate is in my hands.

I am holding a large envelope addressed to Reid, sealed with a fancy embossed sticker. Inside is the answer to whether Reid has been accepted to audition in person. He asked me to be on the lookout for the letter, since his parents don’t even know he applied and the Albany Institute is archaic in their devotion to sending news via the mail.

Reid has been so hyped for Melted, he hasn’t mentioned the Albany Institute much. Every time I bring it up, he shrugs it off. Then he kisses me and I forget what we were even talking about. It’s getting more… normal, us dating. Last week, high on a great rehearsal, I posted on Instagram a candid Fitz took of Reid and me laughing between scenes and Molly lost her shit. So regarding of the status of us, I guess we’re Post-Pictures-Together-on-Instagram official. Also, there are rules now when Reid comes over. The main one? No more closed doors.

I told my dad it only happened because we thought no one was home but he just covered his ears, all la la la. Reid told me that my dad tried to have the talk with him before their Monday morning lesson and it was by far the worst five minutes of his life.

“He asked me what my intentions are. Then asked if I needed condoms. And I died.”

“He did not,” I said. We were watching a movie in my basement, like actually watching it because, you know, open door policy and all.

Reid arched one eyebrow. “Because we’re apparently having, you know, so much sex.”

I threw popcorn at him. “Obviously.”

Reid laughed and kissed the tip of my nose. And that’s when I found out we’re both virgins—which is somehow surprising, but not. I don’t know, it’s not like I thought much about Reid’s sex life until I factored into it. But after we kissed for the first time, I assumed he was more experienced. Band camp and all. He laughed, loud, when I asked him straight up.