Behind the Scenes

Chapter 7

Rosa

Kissing Gavin has turned out to be my favorite distraction. Nervous about the film? Make out with Gavin. Don't want to deal with precalc homework? Make out with Gavin. Thinking way too much about the weirdness that's transpired with Ryan since we went grocery shopping? Ignore my lunch and kiss my boyfriend in the middle of the school cafeteria.

"I am very aware of how counterintuitive this sounds," he says after a minute or two, "but we need to not get detention for PDA."

"Party pooper." I breathe in his ear, but he's right, and I sit back in my chair.

"I mean, we could continue tonight." He puts his hand on my knee. "Do you have to cook dinner? I could come pick you up, and we could go... wherever."

I grin and take his hand in mine.

"Pick me up from Mugshot after I meet up with Kate and Sarah?"

"I can do that." He looks at me in a way I haven't seen before. It's soft and intense and makes my stomach flip like crazy.

When I get to Mugshot later, the barista motions for me to come over. I wave to Kate and Sarah before walking over to the counter.

"Hey, can I get one of those cubano latte things again?" I ask. He hands me a cup.

"Already done." He says with a smile. "Also," he grabs a pile of papers from behind the counter and hands them to me. "You're our next artist showcase."

"No way." A huge grin spreads across my face. "Thank you so much!" My heart bangs in my chest. I look over the page on top, and see that the start date is in two weeks.

"They picked me." I put the pages down on the table in front of Kate and Sarah. Kate jumps up and squeals, hugging me around the neck. Sarah picks up the papers and inspects them.

"That's amazing, Rosa!" She says.

"I only have two weeks. And I have to have like twenty pieces to display." I say, sliding into a chair.

"You can do it." Kate says. "I'll help however I can."

"Same." Sarah straightens the papers and hands them to me.

I quickly snap a picture of the front page and text Caleb and Ryan to let them know I got in. I take a sip of my coffee and relax into my chair.

"How are you two doing?" I ask them.

"Good." Kate says. "We're doing open mic together tonight."

"No way! That's awesome!"

"Yeah. I even brushed off my ukulele." Sarah plays an invisible instrument. "You should stick around."

"I will!" I say. "I'm hanging out with Gavin in a little bit. We were supposed to make out, but I'll talk him into staying here."

Kate laughs loudly, and Sarah shrugs.

"I mean, there's a booth over there that you could probably do both in." She says, and points across the cafe. "Maybe speaking from personal experience."