Chapter 36: I Have a Boyfriend
Chapter 36: I Have a Boyfriend
When the drawing result was announced, the classroom exploded.
"Emma Roberts? Snow White? Are you kidding!"
"Class president, what are you doing! What kind of draw is this?"
The class president, exasperated, faced the girls' accusations, "It wasn't me!"
How was it his fault? Aiden drew the slip!
"No way! Aiden can't partner with her! It's like putting a wolf in a sheep's pen!"
"This important performance with Emma will make our class a joke!"
On the podium, Lisa Liang's face darkened.
Emma Roberts! Again?
But she had promised no objections to the draw. She couldn't change it now.
Lisa reluctantly looked at Aiden, "Aiden, your thoughts? She's your partner."
Aiden still held the slip, unable to believe he drew it.
He had never faced such a horrible choice.
After a long pause, he forced out, "Whatever."
He drew the slip. Could he back out now?
Hearing Aiden's response, the girls panicked, begging Lisa to redraw.
Lisa glanced at Emma's messy appearance, hesitated, then said, "Quiet down. I said the draw result is final. Aiden has no objections, so the female lead is decided. No more arguments!"
Not afraid of Emma causing trouble, but fearing she wouldn't.
"Don't mess up this important performance, or I can't protect you!" Lisa warned Emma.
Emma finally realized. How did she become Snow White, the girls' enemy, just by dozing off?
In her previous life, she was caught by Logan Black because of the love letter, so this didn't happen.
If she had known, she'd have stopped it!
Logan's possessiveness and jealousy would explode if he knew she played Snow White with another boy, especially with a kiss scene...
This was a nightmare!
"Why do I keep getting dragged into this!" Emma ruffled her hair, almost breaking down.
Aiden, seeing her reaction, darkened further.
Who was the real victim here?
She looked like she drew the short straw?
"Wait... Teacher! Can I drop out?" Emma raised her hand urgently.
The girls, already furious, exploded.
Emma, the ugly freak! Aiden didn't mind, and she wanted to drop out?
Lisa's face darkened, "Emma Roberts, do you think this school is your playground? You can't do whatever you want! You're still under observation!"
Hearing Lisa's threat, Emma cursed silently, "Damn it!"
Aiden finally lost his patience, "Emma Roberts! Who is cursing who?"
Emma glanced at her annoyed deskmate, resting her chin in frustration, "I have a boyfriend. What if he gets jealous? It's stressful!"
Aiden stared at her face, shocked, "She has a boyfriend..."
Her boyfriend... must be blind...
The class buzzed with disbelief and gossip. The idea of Emma having a boyfriend seemed far-fetched to most of them.
"Emma Roberts has a boyfriend? Who would date her?"
"I bet she's making it up to get out of the play."
"Yeah, she's just scared to perform."
Lisa Liang clapped her hands to regain control. "Enough! The decision is final. Emma, you will play Snow White. Aiden, you are the prince. That's settled."
Emma sighed inwardly. She hoped Logan wouldn't find out about the play. If he did, it would only make things more complicated.
Rehearsals began the next day. Emma found herself in the uncomfortable position of working closely with Aiden. Despite their awkward interactions, they both managed to perform their parts well, surprising their classmates with their growing chemistry on stage.
During a break, Samantha Green approached Emma with a curious expression. "Emma, is it true? You have a boyfriend?"
Emma hesitated before nodding. "Yes, Sam. His name is Logan."
Samantha's eyes widened. "Logan Black? The Logan Black? Your boyfriend is Logan Black?"
Emma nodded again, bracing herself for more questions.
"Why didn't you tell me? That's amazing!"
"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it," Emma replied. "Plus, I didn't think it was relevant."
Samantha looked thoughtful. "Well, if Logan knows about this play, I hope he's okay with it."
Emma sighed. "Yeah, me too."
The rehearsals continued, and Emma found herself gradually improving in her role as Snow White. She threw herself into the part, determined not to let the naysayers get to her. Despite the awkwardness between her and Aiden, they both managed to perform their parts well, surprising their classmates with their growing chemistry on stage.
One day, after a particularly intense rehearsal, Aiden noticed Emma's distraction. "Emma, are you okay? You seem off."
Emma shook her head, trying to dismiss his concern. "I'm fine, Aiden. Just a lot on my mind."
Aiden studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, but if you need to talk, I'm here."
Emma appreciated his offer, but she knew that talking about Logan would only complicate things further. "Thanks, Aiden."
As the performance day approached, Emma's anxiety grew. She had to ensure everything went smoothly to avoid any backlash from Logan. She also had to keep up her façade in front of her classmates and teachers.
The night before the performance, Emma received a message from Logan. Her heart skipped a beat as she read it.
"Good luck with your performance tomorrow. I'll be watching."
Emma felt a mix of relief and apprehension. Logan knew about the play, but his message didn't seem angry. Maybe things would be okay after all.
The night of the performance arrived. The auditorium was filled with students, teachers, and visiting school leaders. Backstage, Emma felt a mix of nerves and excitement. She glanced around, half-expecting to see Logan lurking in the shadows.
Aiden approached her, sensing her nervousness. "You ready?"
Emma took a deep breath and nodded. "Ready."
The curtain rose, and Emma stepped onto the stage, channeling all her energy into her role. The performance was flawless, and the audience was captivated. As the final scene approached, Emma's heart raced, knowing Logan was likely watching.
Aiden leaned in for the kiss, and Emma closed her eyes, hoping it would be over quickly. But just as their lips were about to touch, one of the stage props—a large, decorative tree—suddenly began to tip over.
Emma's eyes flew open, and she instinctively pushed Aiden away, moving to catch the falling prop. The audience gasped, and the play ground to a halt as the tree crashed to the ground with a loud thud.
In the ensuing chaos, Emma's mind raced. She could feel all eyes on her, including Logan's piercing gaze from somewhere in the audience. The director and several students rushed onto the stage to fix the mess, but the mood was already shattered.
Trying to salvage the situation, Emma took a deep breath and stepped forward, improvising a line to fit the scene. "Oh, what a dreadful storm! It seems even the forest trembles in fear!"
Aiden quickly caught on and followed her lead, adapting his lines to continue the performance. The audience, sensing the quick thinking and resilience, slowly started to applaud, and the play resumed with newfound energy.
Emma's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm, to stay in character. She could feel Logan's eyes burning into her, but she didn't dare look in his direction. She had to focus, had to finish the performance strong.
As the final scene approached once more, Emma steeled herself for the kiss. This time, as Aiden leaned in, she met his lips with confidence, her mind resolute. The audience erupted into applause as the curtain fell, and Emma felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Backstage, Samantha rushed over, hugging Emma tightly. "You were amazing, Emma! I'm so proud of you!"
Emma smiled, grateful for her friend's support. "Thanks, Sam. I couldn't have done it without all of you."
Aiden approached, a rare smile on his face. "Good job, Emma. You really pulled it off."
Emma grinned. "Thanks, Aiden. You weren't so bad yourself."
As the night came to a close, Emma felt a sense of accomplishment and joy. She had faced her fears, overcome the challenges, and emerged victorious. Emma Roberts was no longer just a student at Clearwater High. She was a star in her own right, ready to take on whatever the future held.
Later that night, Emma returned to her dorm, exhausted but happy. She couldn't help but think about Logan and what his reaction would be. She hoped he would understand and trust her.
As she lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up and saw Logan's name on the screen. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened the message.