Prom Queen, The (Life at Kingston High Book #3) by Melody Carlson

everyone’s been nagging me. And this is my last year, so I suppose I should.” He set a napkin on his tray. “How about you?”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” Megan hadn’t been in a musical since her sophomore year.
    “Oh, come on,” he urged her. “You’d look great in a babushka.”
    She laughed. “So it’s decided then? They’re really doing Fiddler on the Roof ?”
    He rubbed his chin. “Yeah, already I’m starting to itch.”
    “Huh?”
    “You know, the glue for sticking on the beards. I’ll bet it’s itchy.”
    “Does that mean you’d play the father? I can’t remember the name.”
    “Tevye,” he offered. “Yeah, that’s probably the role I’d go for. He gets some great songs. But I think most of the guys will have to wear beards.”
    It was almost her turn at the register. “Well, I’m sure you’d be a good Tevye,” she said over her shoulder.
    “Hey, why don’t you try out for Golde?” He leaned forward and spoke quietly in her ear as she dug out her cash. “That’s Tevye’s wife.”
    She felt a warm rush of delight as she looked into his darkbrown eyes. “Is that a come-on line?” she asked in a slightly teasing tone.
    He chuckled. “Maybe so.”
    She giggled as she handed the cashier a five.
    “So you’ll think about it?”
    She looked back at him and smiled. “Golde, eh?”
    His eyes twinkled. “Tryouts start after school on Thursday.”
    She moved away from the register so he could pay for his lunch but lingered nearby to finish the conversation.
    “So, whaddya think?” he asked as he joined her.
    “I think I might do it,” she said shyly. “But only if you promise to try out with me.”
    He nodded eagerly. “Okay then, it’s a deal.”
    He walked with her to the table where her friends were already seated, and she asked him if he wanted to join them. To her surprise, he actually seemed to consider it, but then he nodded over to where some of his music friends were waiting. “Not this time, but I’m serious about tryouts. Let’s do it together—like a package deal. It’ll be fun.”
    She felt herself being swept away by his charm as she agreed.
    “Great! I’ll catch you after lunch and we can put together a plan,” he told her.
    “Sounds good.” She sat down with her friends, trying not to giggle.
    “What is going on between you and Jack Speers?” Lishia asked with wide-eyed interest.
    “I’m not totally sure,” Megan quietly confessed, “but I think he’s coming on to me.” She told them about Jack’s suggestion that they try out for the musical together. “I told him I’d do it!” Now she did break out into giggles. “Canyou believe that? Jack and me playing husband and wife in Fiddler ?”
    “You don’t have time to be in a musical this year,” Janelle told her. “You’ve already got the fundraiser and your book club, not to mention your campaign—that is, unless you plan to give up running for prom queen.”
    “She can’t give that up,” Chelsea said quickly. “She’s already ordered her posters and flyers and candy and stuff.”
    “Don’t worry,” Megan assured them. “I’m not giving anything up. I’ll just humor Jack and see where it goes. Besides, if I can get Jack’s support, that could mean a lot of votes from his friends too.”
    “And everyone knows Jack Speers has lots of friends.” Lishia nodded over to the table where Jack was surrounded by a small crowd of girls and fellow music kids.
    “Hey, does Jack have a girlfriend?” Chelsea asked. “If not, maybe he could be Megan’s date for the prom.”
    Janelle and Lishia found this highly amusing. Megan knew this was because despite being constantly surrounded by admiring girls, Jack Speers never seemed to have a girlfriend.
    “Rumor has it that Jack isn’t into girls,” Janelle told Chelsea. “I mean, as far as dating, if you know what I mean.” She chuckled like this was really funny.
    “You shouldn’t repeat things you don’t know for sure,” Megan