“I can name five other people who can do exactly what I do.”

“But they don’t look nearly as good when they do it.” The line was delivered so smoothly, it nearly rolled straight past me. “Between you and Piper we’ve probably got the best-looking stage crew in the state.”

I stopped, my eyebrows scrunching. A nervous, way-too-loud laugh shot from my mouth, startling us both.

Was this flirting? A day ago, this would’ve hit me in a much different way. Before I’d been hit with the Dare Effect. Now, this just felt cute and nice, not erupting-volcano overwhelming.

Turning too quickly, I banged my hip against the console and fumbled to the other side, ripping off an extra strip of tape and smoothing down the cables to within an inch of their lives.

Had someone put out flyers or was there a bet going on to see who could get me to go on a date with them? I peered over my shoulder at the auditorium of people. The stage crew roamed around with set pieces, electronics, and microphone packs. The actors walked through lines and blocking. No one was looking my way. No furtive glances. I checked the ceiling for a bucket of pig’s blood.

I grabbed Piper and headed into the booth with her, closing the door. “Something weird is going on.”

“I told them to stick with the hair mics instead of the cheek mics, but you know how Ted can be.” She shook her head and stared out the large window in front of us.

“Not that, although yes, we have more hair mics for when something goes wrong and we won’t need a full swap out if there’s a break down.” I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant.” Tugging on her arm, I leaned in. “I think Jon was flirting with me.”

“What?” Her sharp scream turned heads our way even in the soundproof box I’d locked us in.

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“Are you serious?” She craned her neck searching the rows of seats for an unsuspecting Jon. “Did he ask you on a date? Why didn’t you tell me? What exactly did he say?” Her hands wrapped around my arms and she shook me.

The other half of my weird morning has been on the tip of my tongue, but her head would probably explode. I’d be covered in brain matter if I told her Dare had flirted with me. If that was even what he was trying to do, and not playing his part of a school-wide conspiracy to prank The New Girl.

“He said I looked cute at the sound mixing board.”

She gasped and clutched her hands to her chest. “What else?”

“That was it.”

With her back pressed against the wall in her best Scarlett O’Hara impression, she rested her hand against her forehead. “Why couldn’t I be a sound board whiz like you?” She continued to stare at him through the large window separating us from the hustle of the show.