CHAPTER XIII

Amber lowers her head, looking at the notes she made. The girl is thinking about the drama club play for Mr. Conor’s class project. Next to her is Patty, one of Amber's friends since elementary school who is playing with her cellphone. She actually joined the drama club because of her friendship with Amber. It would have been easier for her to join another club where there are people she knows well.

"Do you think Aidan can play Patrick?"

Patty looks away from the phone screen and stares at Amber in disbelief. “Were you asking him to play Patrick because of his acting skill? You just wanted to get close to him, didn't you? "

"Not really," says Amber, sullen. "I do think he is perfect for the role of Patrick."

"Why didn't you pick Noah? Which is clearly a drama club member, instead you chose Aidan who joined only because it is of Mr. Connor’s social project? "

"It's not like that," Amber argues. "This social project is meant to get people to try new things. If I chose Noah, what would be different with the drama club we normally run?”

"So there is no shady intention of you choosing Aidan?" Patty teases Amber.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Amber replies, embarrassedly.

“Come on, I know you’ve got feelings for the boy. Yesterday I saw him in a fairly close distance, it turns out he's quite handsome, huh?" Patty giggles.

"Why are you like this?"

“Listen, Amber, don't waste this opportunity. It's time for you to get his attention, while he's not with his weird friend.”

Amber is stunned. Indeed, she have been interested in Aidan for a long time, his calm and difficult-to-approach demeanor drove Amber curious. However, for some reason, the young man who makes her heart beat a little faster is the one who is always seen together with Aidan. The feeling came suddenly without Amber knowing, Amber herself was surprised on what’s going on in her mind. She felt it yesterday when greeting Aidan, the face of his friend who suddenly appeared from behind made her heart immediately beat chaotically. His grinning face just won’t get away from her mind. “Do you think his friend is really weird? What do you mean weird? "

“Really, haven't you heard the gossip about Joshua Dawson? I heard that his parents left him to join a cult and the old man raising him is practicing wizardry. That's why, after getting to know Aidan closer yesterday, I'm confused why he chose to be friends with Joshua Dawson."

Amber becomes silent. She thinks that Joshua does not look like a person with a dark background. His face doesn't look scary. It's not as handsome as Aidan, though, but... somehow interesting. D’oh, why is that face creeping in her mind again? Amber puts her head on the table with a sigh.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" asks Patty, confused.

Amber turns her face still on the table towards Patty. "I have no idea," she replies miserably.

"Shush, come on, wake up. The boy has come." Patty shakes Amber's shoulder, forcing the girl to sit up straight.

Amber straightens her seat and looks back. It looks like the drama club members are starting to arrive. Behind them,

Aidan walks cautiously, visibly not knowing what to do.

Patty smiles at Amber.

"Shut up," whispers Amber with a warning look.

"I didn't say anything," Patty whispers back. She waves at Aidan. "Hi, Aidan!"

Aidan nods at Patty and takes a seat beside Amber. It makes Patty smile even wider. Meanwhile, Amber gives Patty a fierce look. Then, she gets up with holding the notes she had been scrawling from earlier.

“All right, welcome to the drama club. Especially those of Mr. Connor’s social project. For this first meeting, I would like to tell you that for the next art festival, we from the drama club will stage a play based on a popular film. This year, we are going to do "10 Things I Hate About You." Considering that the art festival will be held in less than a month from now, the practice schedule for this show is quite packed. I've made schedules for our practice." Amber begins handing out the notes she was holding.

"For the casts of this drama, I will give the opportunity to our friends from Mr. Connor’s social project." Amber smiles encouragingly to some students who are there because of the social project. "And, for all drama club members, please help them so this drama can be performed well. Thank you."