Chapter 50 Social Climber
Mia's POV
“I'm glad you finally decided to audition for Juliet, Mia," Dina said as we walked side by side toward the theater room.
I tightened my grip on my script, my heart already pounding too fast. "Well... it was Liam's idea," I admitted softly. "He wanted me to be his Juliet." I tried to sound calm, even though my chest felt like it might burst.
Dina's eyes widened. "Oh! That is so romantic," she said with a grin. "Have you seen Chloe and the rest of the girls? They look completely powerless now. Ever since Liam chose you as his girlfriend, everyone's been talking. I can tell people are jealous. You're really lucky, Mia."
I let out a small, nervous laugh. "Yeah. I know. And honestly, it still feels surreal. Sometimes I can't believe Liam is really my boyfriend."
She bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. "Come on. I've been rooting for you and Liam from the start. You look good together. And honestly," she added, lowering her voice, "there's no one here more deserving of being Liam's girlfriend than you."
Her words warmed something inside my chest. "Thank you," I said, then hesitated. "Are you sure you want to be seen with me, Dina? They'll hate you for it."
She shrugged without slowing her steps. "I don't care. Out of everyone in this academy, aside from my cousins, you're the only person I actually wanted to be friends with. You're real, Mia. And if I want a real friendship, I'd rather have it with you than with people who only pretend to be nice because they want something in return... or more followers."
I smiled, touched by her honesty.
"Good luck," she added. "I'm auditioning too, but I know I won't stand a chance against you."
I shook my head quickly. "I'm really not that good, Dina. Liam was probably just trying to boost my confidence."
She stopped for a moment and looked at me seriously. "I watched you during our Literature activity," she said. "You were natural. You didn't even try, and you were already amazing. You're going to do great. I'm just here to support you."
Gratitude filled my chest. I was thankful I wasn't alone.
"Wow. Look who's here," Chloe's voice sliced through the hallway, loud and deliberate.
I didn't turn around. I didn't have to. I already knew the Golden Four were behind us. I could feel them there, like a shadow pressing into my back.
"She should just go home," Belle said, not bothering to lower her voice as they walked past us. "Everyone already knows who's getting Juliet. Right, Chloe?"
Chloe laughed, slow and mocking. "Obviously. I'm Juliet in everything. On stage, in school, even in real life." She paused, then added with false curiosity, "But seriously, look at her."
Her gaze dragged over me, from my shoes to my uniform, like she was inspecting something cheap.
"New uniform. New shoes," she continued. "Must be nice when you suddenly get a rich boyfriend." She scoffed. "Typical social climber. The moment she gets close to Liam, she starts dressing like she belongs here."
The words hit harder than a slap.
Kim giggled beside her. "Yeah, it's embarrassing. She really thinks being Liam's girlfriend makes her one of us now."
"And the confidence," Belle added with a laugh. "Auditioning for Juliet? Please. Someone should remind her where she came from."
Chloe smiled sweetly, the kind of smile meant to humiliate. "Girls like her don't become Juliets. They just borrow someone else's spotlight until it runs out."
Their laughter echoed down the hall as they cut straight to the front of the line, pushing past students who had been waiting long before them. No one said a word. No one stopped them. People just moved aside, like it was expected.
I stood frozen, my throat tight, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. I forced myself to breathe, even though my chest felt heavy, like something was pressing down on it.
"Don't mind them, Mia," Dina whispered beside me. Her voice was gentle, steady. "They're just bitter."
I nodded, even though my eyes burned.
Dina kept talking, pointing out the audition schedule, saying something about the stage and the judges, and slowly, her voice pulled me back. The cruel laughter faded into noise. The hallway stopped spinning.
I focused on the theater doors ahead of me. On the stage waiting inside. On the courage it took just to stand here. And on the quiet promise I made to myself.
I wouldn't let them send me home again.
The line for auditions was long, winding down the hallway outside the theater room. I stood quietly with my script in hand, rereading my lines and trying not to overthink.
Fifteen minutes passed. Then twenty. I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, biting the inside of my cheek.
I needed to pee. Badly.
I glanced around nervously before turning to Dina behind me.
"Hey, Dina, could you hold my spot? I need to run to the restroom."
"Of course," she said with a quick smile and a nod.
I mouthed a thank you and hurried down the hall.
The restroom was blissfully empty. I exhaled as I stepped inside, already feeling relief wash over me. After finishing, I washed my hands, adjusted my skirt, and turned toward the door.
I grabbed the handle. It did not budge. I blinked and tried again, harder. Still nothing.
I jiggled the handle. Twisted the lock. Pushed, pulled, nothing worked.
The door was not just stuck. It was locked from the outside. Panic surged in my chest.
I reached into my pocket for my phone, only to remember that it had died that morning and I had not had time to charge it.
"Hello?" I called, knocking on the door. "Is anyone out there?"
Silence.
The school was already quiet. Most students were either in auditions or had gone home for the day. And the janitor, the only adult who regularly checked this part of the building, would not be back until the next morning.
I banged harder. "Help! Please! I'm stuck!"
No answer. My throat tightened. My hands began to shake.
I had no idea how long I had been inside, but it felt like a lifetime. My name would be called soon. Maybe it already had. I imagined the casting panel waiting, my number echoing in the theater, and my absence hanging in the air like a silent apology.
All my effort and rehearsals felt wasted. A darker thought followed.
What if someone had locked the door on purpose?
I thought of the girls in glittering skirts and glossy lips, the ones who had not looked at me since Liam chose me. I remembered Chloe's cutting stares, Belle's forced smiles. The way they whispered and stopped when I walked by.
I did not want to believe it. But the knot in my stomach said otherwise. I slumped down against the cool tile wall, breath shaky, legs weak. The worst part was not even missing the audition.
It was knowing that unless someone came looking, no one would even realize I was gone.
Unless Liam noticed. And I had to believe he would. Because if there was one person in this school who really saw me, it was him.