Free Competing With the Star (Star #2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager Page A

were as a couple compared to what she was used to.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    The merry-go-round ride ended and Charlotte told Nick she needed him to help her win her stuffed animal.
    “I hate to ask for help, but I have to be realistic,” she said. “It’s never gonna happen if I don’t call in a ringer.”
    He laughed. “Do you mind if I go help her?” he asked me.
    “Have fun,” I said.
    The rest of the group had gone over to a fun house. Asia asked me to join them, but I figured I was way too claustrophobic for something like that. Pilar said she wasn’t into it either so we sat on a bench and waited.
    “I am so over Lucas’ crap,” she said, fixing her dark hair.
    Lucas? What about Morgan using her as a hat rack? “Oh?”
    “He’s flirting with me whenever Reagan is out of sight. So lame. Does he think he’s so hot that I won’t care he’s got a girlfriend?”
    “Does she know he does that?” I asked.
    Her dark eyes widened. “You’re not going to say anything, are you?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Do you swear?” Her brown eyes narrowed at me. “Promise?”
    “I promise. Plus, it’s kind of in my favor if Reagan and Lucas stay together. I mean, otherwise she’s sniffing around my boyfriend like a dog at a hydrant.” I realized how that came out and slapped my hand over my mouth.
    Pilar burst out laughing. “That. Was. Awesome. And yeah, I couldn’t believe how she was talking in front of you at the pizza place. That was so messed up.”
    “I don’t want to talk behind her back—I hate how Morgan does that—but it hurt my feelings that Reagan did that in front of me,” I said. I wondered if Pilar would see me as weak now for admitting that and not just bad mouthing Reagan.
    “I felt bad for you and it was obvious you were upset. It didn’t help your man poured a truckload of soda on you after he got so flustered over it.”
    I nodded. What I really wanted to talk to her about was Simone, but she was friends with her, and Pilar was used to the backstabbing stuff. Why would she be loyal to me and keep my feelings to herself when all her friends talked behind each other’s backs.
    “I don’t trust Reagan at all,” she said. “She knew I was into Lucas and then said, ‘Oh, but you’re cool with it, right?’ Like, what am I going to say? ‘No, die, you stupid jerk’? So I went along with it. Like I always do.”
    “I saw Lucas winking at you before he got on the carousel.”
    She stared at me, surprised. “Did you tell anyone?”
    “No. I felt bad they made you hold all the bags though.”
    “That sucked. I still like him though. I can’t help it, but thanks for not saying anything. They’d blame me for encouraging him even though I didn’t do anything,” she said.
    “I know you didn’t. I saw you look away.”
    All of a sudden I heard someone yelling and people rushing over.
    “It’s okay, she’s just having a panic attack,” Asia said. “She’s going to be fine.”
    Pilar and I exchanged a nervous look and went over to where we saw Simone sitting on a milk crate all sweaty and gasping.
    “You’re going to be okay,” Asia said, rubbing her back. “You got out just fine and you’re safe.”
    Simone looked up at me with her face glowing from sweat. One of the workers handed her a bottle of water.
    “Is everything okay?” Nick asked, running over. “Simone, are you all right?”
    She nodded. “I felt so trapped in there. I thought I knew where I was going and all of a sudden there was this wall and what I thought was the way out wasn’t and I-I totally freaked out. Sorry everybody.”
    Nick knelt down next to her. “You’re safe now. No worries.”
    She stared at him with her round blue eyes and nodded. “Yeah, safe.”
    “Do you want me to take you home?” he asked.
    “No, I don’t want to ruin everyone’s night. And I want to stay for the fireworks,” she said. “I’ve always loved fireworks.”
    She got up and