Once Upon a Cliché

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 ~

"So, what's the real reason you said no?"

I snapped out of my reverie, blinking confusedly as I looked up from the monologue I was busy memorizing. "Huh?"

Audrey's eyes did a 360, and she caught me off guard by snatching the paper from my hands. "Stop it. You got this down. Did you even hear me ask my question?"

I smiled at her sheepishly. "Um, no?"

I could just imagine her groaning in her head. "What's the real reason you said you didn't want to go to the party?"

My mouth made a small "o" as I finally took it in. "I don't know. I don't really want another rehash of the conversation, honestly. I still haven't memorized the last two or so lines of my monologue."

"Oh, two lines, boo hoo." Frustratingly, she still held the monologue out of my reach. "Worse comes to worse, you know the gist of it. Make up stuff. She wouldn't have to know."

I frowned. "I'm reciting lines from Romeo and Juliet. I think she'd notice if I started bellowing 'O Romeo, Romeo! What the heck, Romeo? Why can't you change your name, dude? This family feud thing sucks!'"

She sighed. "You should've chosen something contemporary."

"I'm sorry," I pretended to apologize, "but I didn't have time to find one, thanks to a certain someone who warned me yesterday."

"Hey. That's your fault you didn't remember. I could've gone without reminding you, but because I'm such an angel—"

I had to interrupt her. Just had to. "Nuh-uh. I have to agree with your brother on this. You're the epitome of falsely angelic."

She flipped her hair, batting her eyelashes with a joking grin. "Don't I know it." When we approached the door to the drama room, she held it open for me with an expectant stare.

I shot her a confused look in return. "What?"

"I know you," she told me. "You're like an open book. You said no to Hale about the party for a reason."

I tried to shrug it off, but it was true, as much as I didn't want to admit it. I was an open book. "Honestly? It's already awkward being the third wheel. And I know what kind of party it would be. My sister goes to these every year. Besides, it's mostly only the popular upperclassmen that go."

"And?"

"And..." I tried not to look embarrassed. "I don't have a costume this year."

"Seriously?" Audrey laughed. "You can't buy one?"

My eyes traveled down to the floor. "I don't have enough money..."

There was a moment of silence before Audrey snorted. "Pish posh. I make mine practically every year. I can come up with one for you in a breeze."

My eyes widened this time. "Seriously?"

"Of course," she replied, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "And if you still don't have any plans, we can go trick-or-treating together."

I raised an eyebrow. "Trick-or-treating? In high school?"

I sensed the eye roll even before it came. "Please. You're never too old for trick-or-treating." Once we'd taken a seat to wait for the drama teacher, Audrey reclined in her chair lazily. "Besides, Nolan dragged me into helping him babysit his sister for Halloween. Apparently his parents are going out of town, and they want him to take her trick-or-treating." She nodded at me after she'd finished. "Wanna come with?"