Chapter 21: Love Confession

Celeste should have been focusing on her lines.

She should have been thinking about the upcoming performance.

But all she could think about was him.

Ryan Cruz.

And the way he made every scene feel too real.

It wasn't fair.

How was she supposed to pretend she wasn't falling for him when he looked at her like that?

Like she was the only girl in the world.

Like he meant every word of his lines.

Like he wasn't just acting.

Celeste shook her head, gripping her script tighter. Focus, Celeste. You're Ariel. He's Eric. That's it.

But deep down, she knew—

That was never just it.

Not anymore.

The Dance That Changed Everything

The next day, the rehearsal for The Little Mermaid continued.

Celeste tried to push the growing tension aside, but with each passing moment, it only became harder to ignore.

She was Ariel. Ryan was Eric. That was it. They were just two actors pretending to be something they weren't.

But the closer they got to the final scenes, the more it felt like they were something else.

Mr. Alonzo clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, Ryan and Celeste—let's get that dance right this time! Full emotion, let's see it."

Celeste could feel the pressure building in her chest.

Ryan smiled, offering his hand. "Shall we?"

She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. The moment their fingers touched, a shiver ran down her spine.

"Just remember the chemistry, Celeste," Ryan whispered.

She nodded quickly, trying to ignore the way her heart raced.

They started dancing, moving in sync, gliding across the stage as the soft music played. But with each step, it became more and more difficult to stay in character.

Her thoughts were all over the place—

Is this really just acting? Or am I starting to fall for him?

Ryan spun her and pulled her back into his arms, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared. It was just them, the music, and the feeling of his hand at the small of her back.

Celeste had to stop herself from closing her eyes.

It was like they were floating.

And then, just as the song reached its crescendo, Mr. Alonzo's voice broke the spell.

"Perfect! That's exactly what I wanted to see!"

Celeste pulled away from Ryan a little too quickly, her face flushed.

Ryan just looked at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. "What's wrong, Ariel? Did you get too lost in the moment?"

Celeste couldn't find the words. Instead, she just grabbed her script and walked off the stage.

Natalie's Plan Unfolds

Later that afternoon, Celeste was walking out of the school when she saw Natalie talking to Jared in the courtyard.

They were too far away for Celeste to hear their conversation, but there was no mistaking the way Natalie was smiling. It was the kind of smile that made Celeste's stomach twist.

Something was up.

And it made her nervous.

Natalie had always been confident, but Celeste could see the way she was looking at Ryan. It wasn't just admiration.

It was intense desire.

And now, it seemed like she wasn't going to stop until she got him.

Celeste couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Why was it that whenever Natalie was around, Celeste felt like she was competing for Ryan's attention?

"Celeste!"

She turned quickly to see Ryan walking toward her.

She tried to push the anxiety out of her mind, forcing a smile. "Hey."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "What's with the long face?"

Celeste shook her head. "I'm fine. Just tired."

He grinned. "You sure? You don't look fine. You look like someone's got you all riled up."

Celeste's heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"

Ryan crossed his arms. "You know. You've been off for a while now. What's going on?"

Celeste opened her mouth to answer, but she couldn't find the right words.

How could she explain that everything was messed up? That every time he looked at her, she could feel her emotions getting harder to control?

Ryan stepped closer, his voice soft. "Celeste…"

She held up a hand, stepping back. "Please, Ryan. I just need some space, okay?"

He frowned. "Okay…"

But as he walked away, Celeste felt a sharp pain in her chest.

The Storm is Brewing

The next day at school, everything started to shift.

Ryan and Celeste were still partners in the play, but their interactions felt different. More distant.

Mr. Alonzo continued to push them to be better, but Celeste could feel herself pulling away more and more. Every time Ryan tried to get close, every time he smiled or joked around, it made her feel even more confused.

And then there was Natalie.

She was always watching.

Always waiting for the perfect moment to make her move.

Celeste tried not to notice, but it was getting harder to ignore her.

One afternoon, after school, Celeste was heading home when she saw Natalie standing by the gate, talking to Jared.

She knew something was off the moment she saw their exchange. There was something about the way Jared was standing close to Natalie, his hand resting on her arm, his voice too soft for Celeste to hear.

Something was going on.

Celeste felt a knot form in her stomach.

She turned quickly, but as she started walking away, she overheard Jared's voice.

"She's just trying to get close to him, you know."

Natalie laughed. "I don't think Celeste knows what she's getting into. She can't compete with me."

Celeste stopped, her heart racing.

The pieces clicked into place.

This wasn't just a game to Natalie anymore.

It was a battle.

And Celeste was the one being targeted.

A Message from Ryan

The next day, Celeste arrived early for rehearsal, trying to get a head start before the others showed up. She didn't want to deal with anyone—not yet, anyway.

But as she walked into the classroom, she saw Ryan standing by the stage. He was looking at her with a serious expression.

"Celeste."

She froze. "Ryan… hey."

He was quiet for a moment, then said, "We need to talk."

Celeste's heart pounded. "About what?"

Ryan looked down at the ground, running a hand through his hair. "Everything. I can't keep pretending I don't feel something for you."

Celeste's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

He stepped closer, his voice softer. "I mean I like you, Celeste. I'm sorry if I've made things confusing, but I do. I care about you."

For a moment, Celeste couldn't speak.

Her mind raced, trying to process his words.

And before she could respond, he leaned in slightly, his eyes full of intent.

But just as he was about to say something more—

Natalie's voice rang out.

"Ryan."

Celeste turned around to see Natalie standing in the doorway, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

"Don't forget who he belongs to."

Ryan's expression shifted. He glanced between Natalie and Celeste, his shoulders tense.

Celeste couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Ryan, you don't have to explain yourself," Natalie said sweetly, her eyes locked on him. "We both know where your heart lies."

Ryan's face darkened. "Natalie, stop."

But it was too late.

The game had already begun.

To Be Continued…