THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 5 Episode 7

After we each reviewed our individual scripts for a few minutes, we began to have our first rehearsal. We didn’t have a stage yet. The actors in the scene just stood in the center of the ballroom with everyone else gathered around in front.

We did a dry run through the entire play with Nathan doing his best to direct everyone if Bridget was busy with her scene. She was in most scenes, as the lead. Nicholas was in several as well, though he seemed much less happy about that.

He wore a frown most of the time, even when Bridget told him, “Your character isn’t supposed to be this glum, Nicholas.”

Julian as the main antagonist, also had quite a few scenes. Between line reads, he would try to start conversations with Bridget, usually by lavishing her with compliments.

“You did so well in that last scene, Bridget. I almost believed you were your character,” he said once.

Each time, she had a different short reply. This time, she said, “Almost?’ Seems like I need to try harder then.” Then she turned her back to him to talk to Nicholas instead.

Julian’s smirk wavered. “That’s not what I meant,” he said, though she was no longer paying attention to him. With his shoulders slightly slumped, he exited the fake-stage area and came to stand beside me. “You didn’t see that, did you?”

“Sorry,” I told him. “We can pretend I didn’t if it makes feel better.’

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I still don’t know the full story between what happened with these three. I’m starting to wonder if Julian was only ever so drawn to Bridget because she was the only girl to turn him down.

But, no, that seemed unfair. Julian harbored this crush of his for a long time. He might not hear no very often, but I doubted he would have held on this long from a simple rejection.

There had to be something else.

Maybe they actually did have a love triangle. Would Bridget date two men at once? But if Nicholas knew about it, he never would have gone along with it.

As I mulled over the possibilities, I didn’t notice Julian move until his arm was already slung over my shoulders. He tugged me closer to him, until the side of my body slotted against his.

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1 looked at him with a lone lifted brow.

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He turned into me. Nudging his nose against my cheek, he whispered, “We’re dating, remember?”

“Yeah, but…” Usually our moments of closeness were talked about beforehand. This sudden closeness was decidedly not discussed previously.

“Please, Piper,” Julian said into my car. “I want to make her jealous.”

I really, really doubted that was going to work, but I didn’t want to hurt Julian more than he was already hurting. Who knew what would happen? Maybe it would work?

We were supposed to be dating anyway, so it didn’t hurt to try. At the very least, it would further convince the other candidates that I was Julian’s favorite.

“Fine,” I said. I leaned into him. Then, I turned toward him too. Our faces were close. “But if this backfires, it’s on you.”

“I’ll take that chance,” Julian said. His gaze dropped to my mouth. I licked my lips.

There was movement from the stage. Surprise struck me. Was this actually working?

When I glanced over, yes, Bridget was on her way toward us, but that was only because she was hanging onto Nicholas’s arm. He was the one storming over.

I had to stop myself from physically flinching backwards away from Julian. Nicholas, after all, was the one I truly wanted. But we were playing a game, and if I moved, Bridget would know right away it was fake.

If she didn’t already know. My acting skills truly were atrocious.

“Piper,” Nicholas said as he came to stand before us. My name was spoken quickly, clipped. As were the following words, “I think I heard Susie calling you.”

I glanced over to where Susie stood. She was talking to Veronica, not paying attention to me at all.

I wasn’t the only atrocious liar here. Nicholas just wanted to get me away from Julian.

I didn’t know what to say in response. Julian needed me here, and I wasn’t about to abandon him just to avoid Nicholas’s jealousy. Nicholas should know where my heart truly lied. Although… with how jealous I routinely felt about Bridget, perhaps we had more to clear up after all.

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“Bridget,” Julian said. “Did you know Piper and I are dating?”

Bridget looked at Julian then, and his entire body tensed at my side. Now, if Bridget were jealous, she might give us a tight smile and a backhanded compliment.

Instead, she smiled brightly and said, “That’s wonderful, Julian. I’m so happy you finally found someone.”

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Julian’s hand on my shoulder suddenly clutches me tighter.

Go d, she seemed genuine. That must have been like a dagger to Julian’s heart.

Although, she was an actress, so maybe it was an act? That seemed doubtful though, because as soon as she was done talking, she turned her full attention back on Nicholas, who was still looking at me. Nicholas’s entire face was blank of emotion.

I would need to talk to him later, to remind him of who truly belonged to who.

At least for now.

“Bridget, Nathan called. “We need you and Prince Nicholas back on stage.”

Bridget tugged on Nicholas’s arm. “Come on, Nicholas. We need to get back to work.”

Nicholas nodded, though he continued to stare at me as long as he could, even when he started turning. He stopped only when he physically couldn’t anymore.

Slowly, Julian let his arm around me drop. He didn’t say a word. Neither did I, not wanting to hurt him further.

By the time rehearsal was over, I was so exhausted of all the mind games and jealousy and everything else. I lingered around the ballroom for a bit, not wanting to have to walk back with anyone and maintain my half of a conversation.

My mind was tired, and I honestly just wanted to hide.

When the room had finally mostly cleared out, I left too. I made it almost the entire way back to my room, when two familiar arms closed around me and dragged me into a closet.

At once, the door slammed shut behind me, I was shoved against it, and Nichola s’s mouth was on my mine. He licked his way into my mouth, and I gave him easy access.

His arms were at my sides, his hands pressed flat against the door on either side

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of me, boxing me in.

I dragged my hands up his chest to his shoulders, where I then wrapped them around the back of his neck to drag him closer.

He complied immediately, giving me more. His body moved closer, fully pining me to the door.

A growl escaped the back of my throat. From being so near Bridget for all those scenes, he still smelled like her. Though I supposed I couldn’t complain too hard. I knew I had to smell like Julian for similar reasons.

His hands moved to my hips and then traced up my sides in an intimate caress.

I broke the kiss to breathe. “Nick…”

He kissed me once more, soft and sweet. Then he physically moved me from the door. He opened and left me standing there, watching after him in confusion as he walked away.