Dare You to Chase the Soccer Player (Rock Valley High 5)

My hand shook as I scrolled back up and stared at his photo. Sirens went off inside my head. It wasn’t a joke. Not even close.

That was what I got for not cyber-stalking a boy. Of course, he was the son of a movie star. And well on his way to becoming his own star. A guy didn’t have the right to be that gorgeous without being in the same line of business as Brad Pitt and K.J. Apa. The masterful curve of his jawline should’ve clued me in. Or the way he acted when I didn’t react to his name.

He’d left some very specific information out of his introduction...

“I’m guessing he didn’t mention anything about it.” Charlotte gently took the phone from my hand and tucked it in her pocket. She and Beth both watched me carefully. Hunter must’ve smelled the girl drama in the air and booked it for his own locker down the hall. Smart man.

“Do you really think I’d be able to keep something like that a secret?”

My gaze darted between their stricken faces. They both shook their heads, not a moment of hesitation between them. Everyone knew I was horrible at keeping secrets. This would’ve been especially impossible to keep on the down low.

“Maybe he didn’t tell you because he didn’t want that to influence you.” Beth took her massive purple Bose headphones from a pocket in her backpack and strung them around her neck with a shrug. “It can’t be easy, with girls falling at your feet all the time.”

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I closed my locker door with a sour expression. “Yeah, right.”

No guy I’d ever met had a problem with girls falling at their feet. Most of them would’ve taken advantage of it. But then again, Zane was unlike any other guy I’d met in my life. Maybe he was different. And maybe, he deserved the benefit of the doubt.

“You know what, no. I’m sure you’re right.” I set my jaw and gave them both a steady look. They were still watching me with puppy dog eyes, as if they were afraid I was going to burst into tears or have a massive melt-down at any minute. But that wasn’t me. “I’ll just go on set today and after I secure my job on the makeup crew, I’ll find Zane and let him explain.”

“Exactly.” Relief washed over Charlotte’s face. She looped her arm around mine and Beth’s and pulled us toward English lit. “And until then, you can tell us again just what it was like kissing a movie star.”

I laughed. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase don’t kiss and tell?”

She brushed me off with a shake of her head. “That doesn’t apply to girls. Spill, woman, or I might just have to ban you from using my Lit notes this year. I need the deets.”

Outwardly, I laughed, but inwardly my gut twisted. Any girl would’ve rejoiced at the experience of kissing a movie star in the rain. It was romantic. It was the perfect meet-cute. But this was real life and real life had complications.

The image of Zane’s dad came to mind, as he stood in that doorway looking very much like one of those meathead club bouncers I saw on TV shows. And now, with the realization that Zane was so much more than he let on...it was starting to feel complicated.

And I was pretty sure I hated complications. After a terrible two years which included my parents’ awful divorce and my father’s remarriage, simple seemed the better way to go. It was the way I’d kept all of my relationships up until now.

Of all the things Zane had neglected to tell me since we’d met, he was truthful about one fact: things had changed the moment I got to school. But that didn’t make me any less anxious to see those blue eyes again. Or, to feel the electrifying sensation of his lips brushing up against mine.

Maybe complicated wouldn’t be so bad...

Chapter Three

Rock Valley High had never looked so exciting. We’d gone from a dinky little town to the hottest locale for a brand-new movie shoot. The film crew had taken over the soccer field in back, with cameras and stage pieces set up everywhere. According to my dad, they were going to shoot some scenes inside the school as well and maybe even use some of the kids as extras.

It was all the buzz during the school day and still was as I made my way to the makeshift entrance to the alleyway behind the football stadium. A few trailers littered the concrete drive and there were a bunch of metal storage containers that had been placed there over the summer. People darted back and forth beyond the entrance, all with purpose and places to be. I joined the line of kids who’d come to catch a peek after the last bell.

“Think we’ll get to be in the movie?” a freshman girl asked on my right.

Her friend giggled into her hands. “I hope so. I heard it’s going to be the biggest film of the year.”

My lips pulled into a smug smile. Yep, this movie was going to rock and I was getting more excited about it with every passing hour.

I’d survived English lit this morning with Mr. Garret, and then all of my other classes. If the homework load didn’t kill me by the end of the semester, boredom would. So now, I was more than keyed up to go and find a way to sneak onto set. Joining that makeup crew was the only bright shining star in this dull night sky of a year.

That, and possibly one boy by the name of Zane.

First, I needed to find Alanis Nori. When I’d done some online stalking and found out she was the top makeup artist for this film, I about fainted. She’d been in charge of the makeup for some of my favorite movies over the last decade. And even better—she’d gone to the L Makeup Institute in Los Angeles. That was where I had my heart set on attending after graduation. One good word from her and they’d let me in—no problem. All I had to do was impress her with my infinite charm and skills, and I was set. Easy!

The only thing that stood in my way was a bald six-foot-five bouncer with arms the size of tree trunks and a neck bigger than my thigh.

“Get back,” he grunted at the kids pushing forward to get a look at some of the actors.