Mia walked into the deserted hallway where Jared leaned casually against the wall, engrossed in his phone.
She felt a lump form in her throat as her mind spun, searching for the right way to bring up what Sara had told her. She paused for a brief moment, then gathered her courage and approached him.
“Hey, Jared,” she murmured softly.
Jared glanced up, a brief smile crossing his face. “Oh, hey, Mia. How’s it going?”
Mia shifted nervously, her heart thudding against her chest. “I’m okay, I guess. Just… thinking about this beauty pageant. It’s coming up fast.”
Jared nodded, visibly relieved that the conversation hadn’t taken a serious turn yet. “Yeah, it’s crazy how fast time flies. Are you ready for it? I know you’ve been working hard.”
Mia fiddled with her bag’s strap, still unsure ho
