Bad Romeo (Starcrossed #1)(8)
Author: Leisa Rayven

“So is that why you have all”—I point at his shoulders and arms—“that?”

He smiles and shakes his head. “Yeah. That’s why I have all this. And enough money to pay for at least two years if I get in here.”

“When you get in,” I clarify.

He stares at me for a second, as if someone having faith in him is incomprehensible. “If you say so, Taylor.”

I give up asking him to use my first name. It’s probably better that we’re on a last-name basis, considering we’re not going to be friends or anything.

Except it kind of feels like we already are.

We sit there in silence for a while. Then the door opens and everyone jumps to their feet as Erika emerges with a piece of paper.

We all go silent, and expectation hums around us.

“For those of you on this list, congratulations. You’ll be back tomorrow for the second round of auditions. Those who aren’t, I’m afraid you’ve been unsuccessful. You may reapply next year. Thank you for your time.”

She sticks the paper to the back of the door before disappearing back inside.

There’s a huge rush of bodies as we all try to see the list. I push forward, my heart pounding, braced for disappointment.

When I finally get to the front, I hold my breath.

There are only three names.

Ethan Holt.

Zoe Stevens.

And … Cassandra Taylor.

The rest of our group is cut.

I’m in shock.

I made it.

Fluff, yes!

Holt reads over my shoulder and sighs in relief. “Thank fuck.”

I turn as he drops his head and exhales. He looks like a death-row prisoner who’s been granted a reprieve.

“Aw, it’s sweet you’re so happy for me,” I say. “Did you really have any doubt?”

“About you? None at all. Congratulations.”

“Congrats to you, too. I guess the medical world is safe from your scintillating bedside manner, for another day at least.”

“I guess so.” When he looks at me, the pit of my stomach tingles and flips.

I feel like I should say something else, but my brain is strange and clouded, so I just stand there.

He doesn’t speak, either. He just stares. His face is fascinating in an annoyingly good-looking kind of way.

“Well,” I say after an embarrassingly long pause, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nods. “Yeah. Sure. Later, Taylor.”

He grabs his bag and walks away, but I know we’ll see each other in the morning. I’m looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time.

I’ve never had this sort of reaction to a boy before.

I’m pretty sure it’s not a good thing.

THREE

BACK TO BEFORE

Present Day
New York City
The Diary of Cassandra Taylor

Dear Diary,

The final round of auditions for The Grove was grueling

The interviews were the worst. A panel of Grove lecturers sat at a long table and grilled everyone about life, family, likes and dislikes.

The panel expected me to just be myself. That was tough.

In the end, Erika turned to me and said, “Cassandra, you’re a smart girl. You could have your pick of careers. Why do you want be an actress?”

I knew I should’ve said something about my passion for theater, or the importance of a vibrant, evolving culture in a world of disposable ideals and reality television. But as she stared at me, I wasn’t able to think of anything clever enough to fool her, so I spoke without thinking.

“I want to act because I don’t really know who I am. I find relief in being other people.”

She held my gaze for a moment then nodded before writing something in her notes. Probably crazy, emotionally dysfunctional teen with self-esteem issues. Don’t make any sudden movements.

I walked out feeling like I’d left pieces of myself all over the floor.

Still, I must have done something right, because two months later, I received my acceptance letter.

The day I got it, I screamed so loudly, I scared the neighbor’s dog.

I knew Mom and Dad weren’t thrilled about the prospect of me moving to the other side of the country, but they also knew that acting was my passion, and being accepted at The Grove was a pretty big deal. It also helped that I was awarded a partial scholarship that covered half my tuition and on-campus accommodation. Considering that we weren’t the Vanderbilts, that was a huge bonus.

In the back of my mind was the vague hope that Holt had gotten in.

I figured if he had, at least I’d know one person. One kind of annoying, strangely intriguing person.

Six Years Earlier
Westchester, New York
The Grove
First week of classes

I walk through the apartment with a huge smile on my face.

There are two bedrooms separated by a poky bathroom, a combined living/dining area, and a small kitchen. The furniture is worn and dated, the carpet is hideous and stained with stuff I don’t even want to think about, and I think the upstairs neighbor dances naked in the moonlight while he sacrifices small animals, because seriously, the dude is weird. But despite all this, it’s perfect and beautiful and mine.

Well, I’m sharing it with a theater tech major named Ruby, but still …

I can do what I want. Eat what I want. Go to bed when I want. No parents cataloguing my every move.

I’m almost giddy with the possibilities.

“You owe me thirty bucks for groceries,” Ruby says as she studies the receipt. “Oh, wait, make that thirty-four. The tampons are yours.”

It’s weird moving in with a stranger, but Ruby and I have been getting along great, considering she’s my polar opposite. I’m mousy brown, she’s fiery red. I’m average looking, she’s spectacular. I’m a people pleaser, she’s brutally honest.

She flops down in our ugly brown vinyl couch and lights up a cigarette. She holds the pack out to me, and I take one.

Oh, yeah, I’m a smoker now.

Well, I’m not, but when Ruby said she was, I just went with it. It was something for us to bond over. Plus, I knew most of the people at the auditions smoked, so it seemed like the thing to do. Also, my mother would have hated it.

All good reasons to take it up.

She lights me up, and I inhale shallowly, then cough. Ruby shakes her head.

I’m the worst apprentice smoker ever.

“So,” she says as she blows out a stream of smoke, “it’s your turn to cook, unfortunately.”

“Hey. I thought what I made the other night was good, considering I’ve never cooked before.”