Find the Girl

by Lucy Connell

  ‘Nope, but school projects are ALWAYS fascinating.’

  ‘This one actually is,’ I say. ‘I’ve launched a website with a couple of my friends and if we win the competition for the best new site, we get to spend the Easter holidays backstage at the Disney Channel, learning the ropes from the creative director.’

  ‘OK, that’s awesome. What school is this? I want to go there.’

  ‘Anyway, I’m the music editor of All That Glitters – that’s the name of the website – and I need some content for my section.’

  ‘Hang on,’ he says, his eyes brightening. ‘Please tell me you have launched another Chasing Chords fan-fiction site.’

  I roll my eyes. ‘No, that’s not what this is.’

  ‘I actually have several bones to pick with you about your old one. How come Chase got to play the lead in all the stories? I was always the sidekick. Except for that one where I bumped into the girl on the beach and we fell in love while surfing and swimming with turtles. That one was good. I didn’t like the one where I was attacked by a swarm of bees, but I checked the date of that story and you wrote it just after we first met, which is encouraging.’

  ‘Argh.’ I bury my head in my hands, feeling the heat rising through my face. ‘Please stop! It’s so embarrassing! You told me you hadn’t read them.’

  ‘Hey, they were really good, no kidding!’ He laughs, pulling my hands from my face. ‘Tell me about this new website.’

  ‘We need more hits, otherwise we don’t have a chance of winning,’ I explain. ‘I thought maybe tonight I could get some music news to put up.’

  He nods thoughtfully and then spots someone, turning to me to say, ‘Hang on,’ before launching himself at them. I can’t see who it is as Miles’s big head is right in the way. After chatting to them quickly, he makes his way back to me with the person in tow.

  I almost choke on my elderflower drink when I realize it’s Tyler Hill, one of my favourite singers. I was listening to her music on the train on the way here.

  ‘Tyler, this is the journalist I was telling you about.’

  ‘Nancy, it’s nice to meet you,’ she says, kissing me on the cheek while I try to remain calm. ‘I’m a big fan of your sister. Chase introduced me to her a moment ago; they’re a lovely couple.’

  ‘Hurugh,’ I say, nodding. The corners of Miles’s mouth twitch as he tries not to laugh at how starstruck I am.

  ‘Miles says you’re looking for content for your new website? Well, I am launching a fashion line this summer and it hasn’t been announced yet. I was going to leak the story tonight to that guy from PopRock, but then he asked me why I keep trying to bring back blue eyeshadow and now I don’t think he deserves the story.’ She smiles at me. ‘Would you like the exclusive?’

  ‘YES,’ I cry, before composing myself and clearing my throat, much to Miles’s amusement. ‘I mean, yeah, sure, that would be great.’

  ‘I’ll email you the details now. What’s your address?’

  She sends me the information, gives me some quotes and lets me take a picture with her to accompany the piece, before kissing me on the cheek again and emphasizing how nice it was to meet me.

  ‘Thanks so much, Tyler,’ I gush. ‘I don’t know why you’re giving me this amazing exclusive, but I can’t thank you enough.’

  ‘Not at all. I look forward to seeing the story – and good luck with your new website. It’s nice to support up-and-coming music journalists. Besides,’ she says, glancing at Miles and then back to me, ‘Miles couldn’t stop going on about you.’

  And, with that, she glides off into the crowd.

  ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe that just happened,’ I squeal.

  ‘Yeah,’ Miles says, looking bashful.

  ‘Thank you so much, Miles. I owe you big time! People are going to go crazy at school when they see this story.’

  ‘So, you’re happy?’ he asks hopefully.

  ‘Very,’ I say. ‘Our website might have a chance of winning with content like this! You’re the best.’

  ‘No worries.’ He beams at me. ‘As long as you don’t go writing stories about me on that website, I’m happy to help. I don’t want to see any of my many secrets splashed about for your school pals.’

  I give him a look. ‘And what many secrets might you have, Miles?’

  ‘Oh, I have a few.’ He holds his glass up. ‘Cheers. To having a good night.’

  ‘To having the best night,’ I say, clinking my glass against his. ‘Thanks to you.’

  He smiles at me and suddenly I don’t care about everything else going on. I don’t care that I felt so down earlier in the night that I wanted to go home and cry. I forget that my dad doesn’t seem to be interested in me. I forget that I’ve felt really lost lately.

  With Miles standing here, smiling at me in that way he does, everything feels like it’s going to be OK after all.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Nina

  ‘Just one more,’ the photographer promises, moving a step to the right and crouching slightly, before clicking the button. ‘Got it. Perfect, thank you.’

  He then spins round and taps the shoulder of Tyler Hill, the pop star Chase introduced me to earlier in the evening, asking her for some photos.

  ‘I can’t pose for any more pictures,’ I tell Chase, rubbing my jaw. ‘My face is aching from all this smiling. How do you do it?’

  ‘You may not have noticed, but I don’t really smile in pictures,’ he says. ‘I go for a sexy, smouldering vibe.’ I burst out laughing as he pretends to pose for another picture. ‘You see?’

  ‘Yes, very sexy,’ I say, rolling my eyes.

  ‘Don’t laugh, Miss Palmer! It’s taken me a couple of years to perfect that look.’

  ‘Time well spent.’

  He smiles, brushing a stray lock of hair off my face and tucking it behind my ear.

  ‘Actually, it’s nice to see you laugh,’ he says. ‘I was worried you’d be in a bad mood all night. You barely said a word to Rachel.’

  ‘Rachel? So you’re on first-name terms now with the CEO of Emerald Entertainment,’ I tease.

  ‘She specifically said to call her Rachel; you were there. She was impressive, wasn’t she? Imagine being in charge of all this,’ he says, gesturing around the room. ‘Some of the most successful musicians in the world are signed to Emerald Entertainment.’

  ‘Maybe you’ll be next.’

  He runs a hand through his hair. ‘Maybe. I think the rest of the band know something is up. Miles was asking me loads of questions earlier. You didn’t say anything to Nancy, did you?’

  ‘Of course not,’ I say, slightly hurt at the accusation but he doesn’t notice. ‘You asked me to keep it secret. What sort of thing was Miles asking?’

  ‘He was saying how we didn’t get an invitation to the last Emerald Entertainment party and was it weird that we have to this one. I told him that we must officially be on the map. But they obviously invited us because Uncle Mark has been putting feelers out to see if they’d be interested in me as a solo artist. I can’t believe they’re even considering it. The fact that I’m on Rachel’s radar means a lot to me. Signing to Emerald would be incredible. It sounds like she’d let me have a lot more control over things, you know? Which has always been the problem with Chasing Chords. I have to stick to that sound. But here I’d be able to try something new.’

  ‘When are you planning on telling the band?’ I ask, bringing him back to the point. ‘It’s silly for it to be so secretive.’

  ‘Isn’t that the guy from the Armani adverts behind you?’ Chase asks, completely ignoring me. ‘He seems shorter in person.’

  ‘Chase, I know it’s difficult, but you have to tell them some time. If Mark is talking to lots of people in the industry about it, then it might get back to the band before you’ve mentioned it. And that would be even worse. What happens if someone brings it up tonight?’ I say, spotting Mark talking to Rachel again before they both look over at Chase with smug expressions
. ‘Your uncle seems to be on a mission to get you signed to Emerald before the clock strikes midnight. Maybe you should tell the band sooner rather than later? Don’t you think?’

  ‘I’ll tell them when it’s the right time, Nina,’ he says, brushing the question aside.

  ‘It’s never going to feel like the right time. You have to –’

  ‘I got it, Nina,’ he snaps.

  I recoil, stung by his tone. ‘Don’t get angry, Chase. I’m only trying to help you to do the right thing.’

  ‘And what about the right thing with your dad and Nancy?’ he asks, irritated.

  ‘What has that got to do with anything?’

  ‘I just think it’s a bit strange that you’re telling me to do the right thing, when you didn’t even call or text Nancy to let her know that you were having a hot chocolate with your dad this afternoon.’

  ‘I told you,’ I say, lowering my voice, worried that people around us might be able to hear, ‘when he showed up, Nancy was getting on the train. She never would have made it in time and it would have made things complicated.’

  ‘Sounds like a convenient excuse to me.’

  ‘You’re being unfair.’

  ‘And you’re getting angry because you know I’m right. You took the easy path. You didn’t let her know because then you could go enjoy your hot chocolate with him, without feeling guilty. You should have at least texted her to let her know or checked that she was OK with it,’ he says in frustration, before letting out a long sigh. ‘Just like I shouldn’t be so cowardly about talking to the rest of the band about trying a solo career, right?’

  We stand in silence as the party continues around us. I don’t want to admit it to myself but he’s speaking the truth. I should have let Nancy know earlier. I feel terrible about it now. Her face dropped when I told her where I was, as though she’d been punched in the stomach. She tried to act calm and collected, but I knew she was hurting. I can’t regret going for a hot chocolate with Dad, though. Nancy doesn’t want him around, I know that. She’s said so. I just have to learn how to handle it better. Be honest with her about meeting him and invite her along, even when I know that she’ll turn it down.

  ‘Sorry,’ Chase says eventually.

  ‘Me too,’ I say, hating that we’ve argued. ‘I know you’ll find the right time to tell the band. It’s a difficult situation. I shouldn’t be pressuring you to rush something so delicate.’

  He nods. ‘I guess I’m so excited about the solo side of things that reminding me that I need to let down my closest friends just bums me out and I don’t want to think about it.’

  ‘I understand.’ I check my watch and see that it’s getting late. ‘I need to leave soon and get back to Guildhall.’

  Chase frowns. ‘What? You can’t leave. You only got here half an hour ago.’

  ‘I know,’ I say apologetically. ‘But I have to get back to a party that they’re having in our halls at the moment. I promised.’

  ‘Hang on, you want to leave this party where you are with me, to get back to a party full of people like that Jordan loser and all the others who you spend the whole weekend with? Nina,’ Chase says, grabbing my hand, ‘we’ve hardly spent any time together.’

  ‘When I told them that this party is why I couldn’t be at their party, they weren’t exactly impressed. I bet they’ve seen all the pictures already of me walking in on that stupid red carpet and are all making fun of me with popcorn or something.’

  Chase lets go of my hand. ‘So, you’re embarrassed to be here with me in front of all your serious music friends?’

  ‘No, of course not. That’s not what I meant,’ I say, placing my hand on his arm. ‘Chase, the music course is really important to me. I don’t want to feel like an outsider, that’s all. I want to make the most of it. I want them to know that I’ve earned a place on that course, just like they have.’

  ‘All right,’ Chase says, nodding slowly. ‘I shouldn’t be selfish and keep you to myself. I’ve missed you, that’s all. I thought we’d be spending tonight together.’

  ‘I know, I’m sorry. I have to let them know that I’m as committed to working as a team as they are. I feel like I’m letting them down. And anyway,’ I say, glancing to where Mark is now standing with an important-looking man in a sharp suit with an impressive beard, ‘I think your uncle has plenty of people for you to talk to while I’m gone.’

  Mark catches Chase’s eye and eagerly gestures for him to join their conversation.

  ‘Yeah, you were complaining about smiling a lot – think how I feel.’ He grimaces. ‘Let me know when you’re back there safe, OK?’

  ‘I will,’ I promise, giving him a peck on the cheek. The photographer is still lurking and neither of us are keen to be captured again in what one gossip column coined a ‘Passionate Chase Embrace’!

  ‘Nina, one more thing,’ Chase says, before I attempt to make my way to the door through the crowd. ‘You shouldn’t have to prove to anyone that you’ve earned a place to be a musician and to develop your craft. That’s why you’re there on the course, isn’t it? You’re there for you, no one else. That’s all that matters.’

  I smile up at him. ‘Thanks, Chase.’

  Mark arrives at his side and Chase turns to introduce himself to the bearded man in the suit. I realize that I’m getting in everyone’s way, so I start walking towards the door, trying not to knock over everyone’s drinks as I squeeze through the gaps. I need to find Nancy to let her know that I have to leave, a conversation I’m not exactly looking forward to having. If she’s already angry at me for having a drink with Dad without her, she’s going to be even more upset that I can’t stick around at the party.

  I’m only halfway to the door when I bump into Miles.

  ‘Hey, do you know where Nancy is?’ I ask.

  ‘I’m looking for her, too.’ He smiles, scanning the crowd. ‘Last time I saw her she was going to upload her feature, but she should be back in the party somewhere now.’

  ‘What feature?’

  ‘A little exclusive that we got from Tyler Hill. She called one of the girls in your class, Layla, I think it was, and told her about her chat with Tyler and the story she’d given her for the website. I think people in Australia may have been able to hear the screams that came down the phone.’

  ‘That sounds about right.’ I smile, pleased that Nancy has had a good time and I hadn’t ruined her night.

  ‘Anyway, that Layla person made her go and upload the story straight away. She said she’d come and find me afterwards, but I haven’t seen her.’ His eyes suddenly light up as he looks back in the direction I’d just come from. ‘There she is! She’s standing near Chase.’ He holds out his hand for me to take. ‘I’ll lead the way.’

  I groan, wishing I didn’t have to make my way back into the centre of the crowd, but I take his hand as I can’t leave without saying goodbye to Nancy. Luckily, it is much quicker with Miles leading the way.

  ‘There she is,’ Miles says, only a few clusters of people away from Chase.

  Their group has now been joined by Rachel, the CEO of Emerald Entertainment, and Miles looks impressed when he sees who Chase is surrounded by.

  ‘Whoa, Chase is doing well at this whole mingling thing,’ he says, looking over his shoulder to smile at me. ‘Let me say hi quickly and then we can barge our way through to Nancy. She’s just there.’

  Chase and Mark are too engrossed in their conversation with Rachel and the bearded man to notice us standing right behind them, and it suddenly hits me what they might be talking about.

  ‘Miles,’ I say hurriedly, tugging on his hand and at the same time trying to catch Chase’s eye to let him know that we’re nearby, ‘let’s get to Nancy. You can say hi to Chase in a bit.’

  But I’m too late. As we get closer, Rachel is talking and we can just about hear her conversation over the music.

  ‘I think there’s a lot of potential in your solo career, Chase,’ she’s saying.

  Mile
s tenses next to me.

  Oh no.

  ‘And I’m pleased you’re interested in branching out from your label. I look forward to more talks with you both,’ she continues.

  ‘Yes, I’ve always been a fan,’ the bearded man joins in. ‘Rachel, Mark and Chase have some brilliant ideas for his album. We’ve just been talking through them.’

  Before I can stop him, Miles has spun round and is making his way back through the crowd.

  ‘Miles! Wait!’ I call out after him, but he ignores me. I’m about to go after him when I feel a hand on my arm and turn back to see Nancy next to me.

  ‘There you are!’ she says, her eyes wide with excitement as she holds her phone up for me to see. ‘Have you heard about what Miles did for me? Look at my piece on our website. See how many comments it’s got all ready!’

  ‘That’s great, Nancy,’ I say, my heart dropping as I see Miles storming out of the door.

  ‘I think that’s more than Jimmy had on his recent piece,’ she squeals. ‘And it’s only been up a few minutes. Maybe I can get some more stories from tonight – let me know if you hear of anything newsworthy. There’s got to be some more secrets in this room.’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Hey, isn’t that Chase? What’s going on?’

  She points towards the front of the room where there’s a raised level space, set up for a band to play and a microphone stand at the front. Rachel is at the microphone with Chase standing at the side of the stage. Rachel clears her throat into the microphone and nods pointedly at someone at the back of the room. The music is turned off and the room descends into a hush.

  ‘Good evening and welcome to Emerald Entertainment,’ she says, prompting applause and waiting for it to die down before she continues. ‘As you know, our very own Tyler Hill will be performing her latest single for you later tonight!’

  The crowd cheers and Tyler graciously waves from where she is standing with a group of friends.

  ‘Oh my god, I’m going to live-stream that,’ Nancy whispers to me. ‘The website hits are going to be off the charts.’