James immediately turned to Mia, his eyebrows raised in a knowing arch. "Ouch. Poor Leo. The artist gets rejected for the businessman. The plot thickens." He elbowed her gently. "So, you're officially rejecting the nice guy for the complicated, arrogant one who kissed you under the stars?"
Mia flushed, swatting at him. "Shut up, James! It's not like that! I just... I can't. Not when my head is such a mess."
As if on cue, Kris's voice cut through the background chatter. "Princess!"
Mia's head snapped up. Kris was across the hall, now talking to Ms. Dubois, but his eyes were on her. He'd somehow managed to see Leo walk away, and a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touched his lips. He then walked purposefully towards them, his usual confident stride now carrying a subtle, undeniable swagger.
"Rehearsal in five, Princess," he announced, stopping right beside Mia, completely ignoring James. His gaze, however, flickered to James for a fraction of a second, a silent, triumphant challenge passing between them. Then, his eyes locked onto Mia, a spark igniting in their depths. "And after rehearsal, we need to talk about the final stage blocking. Just us." His voice dropped on the last two words, possessiveness dripping from every syllable. It was a statement, not a question, and his hand, casually, almost imperceptibly, brushed against her arm as he turned to walk away.
Mia watched him go, a shiver running down her spine. The spark, the shift in dynamic – it wasn't just evident to her anymore. It was blazing, a visible tension that everyone in the drama hall could feel. James whistled softly beside her. "Well," he muttered, "I guess 'complicated' is definitely the word. He's not even trying to hide it anymore."
Mia could only nod, her mind a dizzying mix of apprehension and a strange, exhilarating excitement. The bet was over, but the game, it seemed, had just truly begun.