Chapter 10
Emmitt’s brow furrowed slightly as he felt his arm being tugged, but he didn’t pull away. “What’s up?”
Summer’s eyes sparkled with a playful cuteness on her meticulously made–up face. “I’ve been filming a show for a while now and haven’t visited Mom and Dad in ages. I feel kinda bad about it. Plus, Mira just got back from the countryside, and she’s probably feeling a bit out of her element. I was thinking of staying at home for a few days. spend some time with the folks, and help Mira get settled in.”
Emmitt mulled over her words for a few seconds before nodding. “Sounds good. We’ll all feel better knowing you’re there to show Mira the ropes.”
Summer let out a chirpy “yeah” and tilted her head slightly towards Mirabella with a playful jerk of her chin. Then she let go of Emmitt and hopped into the passenger seat, assuming the air of someone quite at home.
Mirabella raised an eyebrow, a wry smile hidden beneath her mask, but said nothing. She calmly opened the back door of the car and slipped in.
During the drive home, Summer chattered away to Emmitt about all the behind–the–scenes action from her time on a reality TV show, glancing in the rearview mirror at Mirabella, who had now removed her mask, seemingly trying to catch a glimpse of envy on her face. But Mirabella seemed to be in her own world, absorbed in her phone, indifferent to the conversation.
It was a monumental blow to Summer’s sense of superiority. She consoled herself with the thought that maybe this country girl, unfamiliar with the world of showbiz, simply couldn’t grasp the significance of her stories, hence her nonchalant demeanor.
Switching gears, Summer turned her attention back to Mirabella and asked, “By the way, Mira, we’re the same age, so you must be starting your senior year of high school, right?”
Mirabella’s slender fingers paused on her phone screen before she slowly lifted her head. Her face was bathed in the soft glow of the car’s interior lights, softening the sharpness of her features. She responded with a soft “mm–hmm.”
Summer’s eyes flickered with intrigue, finding Mirabella’s husky voice and laid–back demeanor oddly captivating. Gathering her composure, Summer forced a smile and said. “I heard from my Mom that you’d sorted out your transfer when you left Grandma’s.”
She emphasized the words ‘Mom‘ and ‘Grandma‘ just a tad, though it would take a keen ear to notice.
Mirabella’s lips curled into a half–smile as she glanced at Summer. Her breath hitched, and she averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact and losing the casual tone of her voice. “Have you picked out a school yet? Do you need my dad’s help? I remember Mom mentioning your grades weren’t exactly…”
“No need, I’ve already chosen a school” Mirabella interjected casually, cutting her off.*
Summer was taken aback, the word “okay” sticking in her throat. After a moment, she forced–a stiff smile and asked, “Really? Which school?”
Emmitt, who was driving, glanced at the rearview mirror, surprised by the exchange. He wasn’t home often due to work but was aware that his parents had been fretting over which high school to transfer their mistakenly switched daughter to, as she had been raised in a small town. They were concerned about her poor academic performance and were reluctant to send her to an average public school. Yet, if they pulled strings to get her into a prestigious high school, they feared she might struggle to keep up and feel inferior.
