Photo Booth Queen And The Not So Cinderella Not So Story

Parked Dates

"Are you sure." I question.

"Well I still know all of the lines and there's no Kole."

"Perfect." Ms. B quickly accepts. The warm ups last until everyone is comfortable. We go through the play's last few scenes at least 5 times before Mrs. B decided, "I want to add a kiss to the last scene. Don't hate me, but at least 10 seconds."

"What!!" I should've seen that coming. Things seem to be going good.  It's like her to throw in a curveball.

"I don't mind. " James says normally.

"You don't? " I ask confused and tilting my head to the left.

"Yeah, I have worked with both drama teachers for years. I was kinda expecting it. " James half smiles

"Thank you James. From the top of the last scene. " Ms. B smiles and sits back in her chair.

"It won't be bad, " James smirks,  " I'm a great kisser,  or so I've been told."

"Fine." I roll my eyes at Mrs.B and then we run through the scene once more. Finally we come to the kiss.  Everyone else dances around us while he and I inch closer together. He grabs my hand- which isn't in the script- and runs a hand through my hair-again not in the script- then he looks at me in a hard hazel-green gaze. Then I look down, which isn't going by the script but he's clearly not either and I can't look at him like that.

"Jasmine,  I'm in love with you." He says with so much emotion that I actually believed my name was Jasmine for a minute and then he lifted my head to meet his gaze.  We both came closer and kissed for what felt like forever. After the 10 seconds,  we all smiled until Ms. B called cut.

It wasn't better than Kole's kiss, though. I didn't know that James was such a good actor because he was the understudy and I never worked with him. I never even worked with his brother.

"Thanks." I state before turning to the dressing room. A few minutes later I was into my ordinary outfit and walking towards the student parking lot,  where James is waiting for me.

"Was I that good? " He asks flexing.

"No,  they didn't want to hurt your feelings,  so they waited until you left to 'boo' you. " I shrug my shoulders smiling.

We get into the car at the same time.  I sit in the passenger seat.

"So why can't you do the play? " I ask,  "You seemed so realistic.  I can tell you are really passionate about it. "

"Well I could,  my mom said Braden couldn't. I just thought it'd be unfair if I still went along with it. Don't tell Braden."

"My lips are kissed, " I blurt out, "uh- I mean sealed." I correct nervously.

"And you said they 'booed' me." He smiles. 

"They did. I was trying not to rub it in. " I smile.

"What were you doing at my party? I wouldn't think you're the party type." He asks looking over to me.

"I was there with my best friends. " The guilt began to wash over me. Some friend I am.  What best friend does what I've done to them.  What friend at all,  embarrasses someone they love in front of the entire school, tells an enemy before the person they love their business,  kisses the boyfriend of someone they love. 

"Are you ok? " He says making me snap out of it.

"Yeah,  sorry. " I say finally breathing. 

"If you want to talk about anything,  you can tell me. You remind me of an old friend." He smiles. 

"Thank you, I really needed to hear that." I hug him. He pulls away slowly looking me in my eyes,  it's the same gaze from the scene. This time I brave the intensity.

"Oh,  No you don't! " There's a loud gut churning thump on the window behind me. It was a pouting Braden.

"You scared me. " I say rolling down the window. 

"Not outta my seat. Move!  I ride shotgun. " He whines. I roll the window up.

"How are you two related? " I ask,  unbuckling my seatbelt. 

A few minutes and thousands of Braden's complaints later,  we pull into their driveway. His mom pulls up at the same time. James looks at me in a panicked expression.

"I'm so sorry for whatever is about to happen. " He says nervously.  We get out the car and she begins to walk towards me.

"Hi," We exchange smiles, before turning to the boys,  " How was your day? "

"Good,  until she came along. " Braden snaps grabbing his wrestling equipment and scurrying into the house. 

"He doesn't like me very much." I admit smiling.

"He has to warm up to his brothers girlfriends- or friend girls. " She pokes around.

"Oh, no I'm-" I was cut off by James.

"My girlfriend, Adrianna. I wanted you to meet her because that's her car. " He points to my Prius and quickly looks at me intensely. 

"Oh." His mother sounds delighted.

"Yeah,  my car was overheating last time I visited.  It was terrible,  the police came to make sure I was ok. I called a few of my friends to come pick me up,  so my cars just been sitting. " I lied.

"Well, I'm Darcy, it's nice to meet you. I owe you boys an apology. Are you staying for dinner?" She smiles hopefully.

"No, I should get going. Take my car to a shop." I say.

"Nonsense, my brother, Max, is in the house. He's a mechanic." She leads me to the front door and into the door. 

"Make yourself at home." James offers. 

"Thanks, boyfriend." I say dryly as his mom goes into a different room. 

"I'm so sorry. I feel really bad about pulling to u into this mess." James whispers.

"I've done worse at this house. " I whisper dully. 

"Do I wanna know?" He asks concerned.

"Probably not. " I smile innocently.

"It's the Prius out there. " Darcy walks back into the room with her brother.

"Alright,  I'll take a good look at it. " Max offers a smile. He was clearly younger with sparkly brown eyes and short curly brown hair.

"Thank you so much, sir. " I say looking at James.

"Why don't you stay for dinner? " Darcy offers. 

"No,  mom. " James practically screams. 

"Ok." She replies throwing her hands up in surrender. 

"Maybe another time,  I have a late rehearsal for the school play. " I make up.

"Well, if this is the reason your brother wants to be in the play so bad,  then I think you both should.  It's great opportunity for him to make some friends. " Darcy smiles before turning to me,  "And for you,  Adrianna, we'll rain check on dinner. "

"Alright,  I can't wait. " I smile looking directly at James. 

A little later,  James enters with news that the car is perfectly fine.  James gets up and walks me out. 

"I'm so sorry. " He frantically apologizes.

"It's fine,  probably the highlight of my week. " I get to the driver side.

"I hope we can actually hang out sometime, girlfriend." He side smirks.

"Well I owe your mom a dinner,  boyfriend. " I hug him before getting in the car. 

"Drive safe. " He says watching me drive off.