Starlet's Web (The Starlet Series, #1) by Carla Hanna Page B

match-maker, but no. Alan has it all set up.”
    â€œWell, okay. Tell me how it goes.”
    â€œI will. I hope I like her. She’s cute and smart and there sure aren’t many girls like that. I figured I’d ask her to prom if we click. I’m running out of time.”
    â€œIt’d be a bummer to miss prom,” I confirmed. It was early, at the end of March, because of all the budget cuts in the public schools. The administration had to cut off several weeks of school. Every senior had to do two independent study projects to make up for the lack of education. I was worried that I’d miss prom if Byron kept messing up and delaying the schedule.
    Manuel sounded shocked. “Are you going?”
    â€œYeah, my mom said I’d regret not going. Don’t tell anyone, but I paid for renting out the Getty Mansion off the PCH for the school so we could go there—my donation this year. Alan asked me to go with him, but I figured I’d ask someone once I knew for sure that we’d wrap by then. Otherwise, I told Alan that I’ll drive down that afternoon and go with his group and then come back to the set the next morning.”
    Byron interrupted, “I want you to ask me to your prom, babe.”
    I laughed. “I guess I already have a taker.”
    Manuel interrupted, “I’m mad. You should’ve told me. We could have gone together. I’ve been wasting all this time looking for a girl to ask to prom and could have gone with you? Damn, Marie.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I just figured you wanted a real date since you have to go. If I said I go with you and then couldn’t and you get crowned then what, you’d go to prom by yourself? I mean, what prom king does that?”
    â€œMarie, I’m not going to be prom king. Sam will be. Kate will be queen. We broke up. Sure I was nominated, but I’m a geek. Kate’s the popular girl. Sam’s a dude.” Manuel paused. “Listen, I like Trish. I’ll ask her to prom if we click. If we don’t, will you be my date? If you can’t go, I’ll go by myself in Alan’s group. Deal?”
    â€œSure, yeah. But don’t you want a romantic prom or something?”
    â€œYeah, but... So we have a plan?” Manuel grumbled.
    I agreed, “Yeah. Cool. Will we be doubling with Beth and Mitch?”
    â€œNo. I…I kissed Beth today. She’s beyond angry with me.”
    â€œWhat?!”
    â€œYeah, I’m gonna deal with this one myself. So, let’s not talk about it.”
    I didn’t know what to say. I swallowed. My insides ached as I lost another piece of ‘me’.
    At that moment, Marie Michael determined that she was not going to give loving Manuel another thought. Mom said the key to happiness was acceptance of what you cannot change. Marie had to stop wishing for something impossible and deal with life as it was, not as she wanted it to be. She or me—whoever—had to accept that Manuel loved me as his sister and make the most out of the fact that Marie Michael was, and would continue to be, an actor.
    â€œAnyway, I should go. I love you, Marie. You rock.”
    The-Artist-Formerly-Known-as-I ended abruptly, “Okay. Bye.”
    Â 
~    OSCAR TRAPPINGS    ~
    Marie Michael did it. After a week of anxiety it was over. Sage had my Oscar. Whoever I was did not feel the pride appropriate for the honor. I felt the relief from the pressure. I just desperately wanted to get out of my dress and put the whole experience behind me.
    â€œByron, don’t get any ideas but please unzip me. I’ve got to get out of this dress before it suffocates me.”
    â€œSure, but I always have ideas. Your lips, just…wow, and your body…mmm.”
    â€œByron. Just treat me like your little sister and don’t try anything. I warn you, my driver will kick your ass. Please?”
    I turned my back to him and lifted my hair off my