Reality Check

by Jen Calonita

  “You girls are going to be on all day today,” Hank tells us. “Boss's orders.”

  “Where is the boss anyway?” Hallie asks, casually, tugging on one of her curls.

  Hank shrugs. “She was flipping out when we got here and she's been on the phone ever since. I'm sure she's around someplace.”

  “Charlotte?” A thirty-something woman with wire-rimmed glasses and a chic fitted blazer and jeans stands beside me. “I'm Grace from TV Guide. I'll be writing the profile on you and the girls.”

  Smile. Make nice. “Hi, Grace.” I shake her hand. “Nice to meet you. This is Hallie and Keiran.” Everyone says hello.

  “We're so glad you girls were available to do this,” Grace tells us. “I'm a huge fan of the show already. Everyone in the office is talking about it.”

  “That's good to hear,” Hallie says.

  Grace nods. “It sounds like you have a lot of killer story lines coming up and some great new additions to the cast.

  Marleyna was just telling me about her first taping. Speaking of which, I was wondering if one of you would want to get an interview done now before…”

  But I'm no longer paying attention. At the word Marleyna, my blood boils. Marleyna is part of this photo shoot? Even if this is her boat and she is joining the cast, which we already know, she's not one of the principals. Addision never mentioned she'd be here.

  “Marleyna is here?” Hallie questions darkly. “Who approved that?”

  Grace looks confused. “Well, I thought you guys did?” She poses it as a question, which only leads me to believe she's right. This came from our side. “We saw her in a promo, but she's not in the press material. Addison was—”

  “Where is Addison?” I want to know and I want to knownow.

  Grace points to the double doors. “She's inside with the other girls, who are picking wardrobe. I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet because she's been on the phone, but—”

  I don't need to hear more. I storm through the double doors with Hallie and Keiran hot on my heels. My slip-on sneakers are perfect for hurrying along. We may be contracted to do press and shoot the show, but they can't treat us like this.

  I look at the spacious living room. It's been transformed into a wardrobe area. Racks of bathing suits and cover-ups surround the room. Rows of cute heels line the floor. In one corner, a makeup artist is laying out her equipment in front of a traveling mirror. Next to her is a guy with styling tools. Both of them smile at us. I try to smile back, but I have a one-track mind: Find Addison.

  “Where is everyone?” Keiran asks and Hallie shushes her.

  “I hear someone talking,” she says.

  The three of us take a step into the room, but stop. The voices are coming from another room. We tiptoe across the living room, aware that we're being watched by the stylists, and move closer to what I assume is the kitchen. A bright light shines through the doorway. I know that type of light well. It can only be one thing: a video camera light.

  “Are you sure it's okay I'm here today?” I hear someone say in a small voice.

  “Leyna! Of course it's okay.” I recognize Brooke's voice.

  “It's just, after the way the girls treated me at your party…” Marleyna's voice trails off.

  “They're just jealous,” Brooke says dismissively. “They can't handle the fact that I'm moving on. We don't have the same interests anymore and I'm not the type to be friends just for the sake of being friends. You and I have much more in common.”

  “True,” Marleyna admits. “They have no taste in shopping. Especially Hallie. What was she thinking wearing that dress to the party? I guess that's what you wear when you're gunning for the Slutty Playmate crown.” The two of them giggle.

  I grab Hallie's arm to keep her from diving through the door and tackling Marleyna to the floor.

  “What about Charlie?” Brooke's voice drips with disdain. “‘Hey! Look at me. This is my party and I'm not leaving. I want to stay with my people. I can't go on that boat.’ Please. She just put on a show for the cameras. She loves coming off as little Miss Goody-Two Shoes. Always in charge. Always the center of things. And you know what? When you and I showed up on your yacht and people were all over us, she couldn't handle it. She can't stand when someone else gets the spotlight.”

  I grab Hallie's hand and squeeze tightly. She actually yelps, but thankfully not loudly.

  “Well, she better get used to sharing,” Marleyna tells her. “You and I are the new act in town and we're not going anywhere. The only one being voted off around here is Keiran. She's such a wet blanket.”

  Brooke giggles. “That girl is a ghost both in school and out. Charlie and Hallie are the only people who actually pay attention to her.”

  I glance at Keiran. Her face falls. Hearing Brooke be so evil toward one of my best friends—one that was her best friend too only weeks ago—is more than I can take. Even though I'm still holding Hallie's hand, I push into the kitchen and she stumbles in behind me.

  Brooke and Marleyna are at the kitchen island munching on a vegetable platter. Both girls are wearing bikinis, their mics, and heels. Marleyna has a tiny pink wrap tied sideways around her matching bikini. Brooke is wearing a black one that leaves nothing to the imagination. If TV Guide thinks I'm putting on anything that looks like that, they've got another think coming. Phil and Hank are taping them.

  When Marleyna sees me, she drops her celery mid-bite. Phil whispers something into his headpiece and turns one camera my way.

  “Hi, girls!” I say cheerfully, and shaking, I make my way over to the island. I grab a carrot, swipe some dip, and take a munch. “What are we talking about?” I rest my elbows on the cool marble countertop.

  Brooke looks momentarily stunned.

  “Wait a minute. Brooke, you weren't just bashing your best friends, were you?” I tsk. “Oh, that's right, we're not your BFs anymore. You dumped us for the Paris Hilton wannabe over here.” I nod toward Marleyna. “Smart move. She does have a lot more money than us. She's thinner. And this boat rocks. Which kind of makes me wonder, what does she see in you, Brooke? After all, you're a farmer's daughter who shops at the Tanger Outlets.”

  Hallie is behind me and she gasps. I don't care if I sound mean. I can't stop now. Brooke's jaw is on the floor. I look at Marleyna and smile sweetly. “Makes me kind of wonder about you too, Marleyna. What do you need Brooke for? You have tons of friends from your private school, I'm sure.”

  “Why do you have to be so mean, Charlie?” Marleyna sniffs.

  I laugh. “Don't pretend to be so innocent. It's amazing how different you act when you have an audience. When you don't have one, you can barely give us a simple ‘hi.’ Could it be you're only interested in Brooke for the publicity? She does have a pretty sweet deal going here.”

  “CUT!” Phil yells. “Um, Charlie, you know you can't refer to the show when you're on the show,” he reminds me.

  “Why not?” I demand. “Isn't that what this whole episode is about? Us shooting a photo shoot for our show? You can't contradict yourselves all the time! You twist everything,” I shout.

  Phil turns to Hank and mumbles what I think is: “Find Addison.”

  Marleyna pulls her mic off. “How dare you say that stuff about me! And while we're taping!”

  “If it's true, why not?” Hallie retorts and moves into Marleyna's personal space.

  “You may be through with us, Brooke, but I never thought you would stoop this low,” Keiran says quietly.

  Brooke turns away and doesn't say anything. I hear footsteps and the next thing I know, Addison is standing at the table.

  “Girls, what's going on here?” Addison is out of breath. Her cell phone is clutched tightly in her hand. “There's a reporter here. You're going to make things look very bad for yourselves.”

  I glare at her. “I think you've done a good enough job of that yourself.”

  It's as if Addison just realized who she was talking to. “Charlie. I didn't know you were—I wa
nted to talk to you. All of you.” She looks at Hallie and Keiran. “I didn't know we were shooting here today. I didn't—”

  “Save it,” I tell her bitterly. “I'm done listening to your lies. We all are.” I storm out of the room and bump right into Grace, who is furiously taking notes in the doorway. I look at her tiny tape recorder. The wheels are moving on the cassette. She's heard our whole conversation.

  “Hi, Charlie,” Grace says, trying to sound upbeat. “I was hoping you might have time to answer a few questions.”

  Addison is right behind me. “Not right now, Grace. I need to talk to Charlie privately for a second.”

  She ushers me into the bathroom and tries to close the door, but I won't let her shut it. “We don't have anything to say to each other.”

  “If you would just hear me out,” Addison pleads. “I didn't know Marleyna was going to be here.”

  “Of course you didn't! You're on our side. How could I forget?” I say and try not to cry. I feel so beaten down and I haven't taken a single picture yet. How am I supposed to smile when I feel this way? Heidi Klum has a much tougher job than I thought she did. “I don't want to talk to you right now,” I seethe.

  “Oh, Charlie,” Addison says, sounding forlorn. “You've got to hear me out. Please. This isn't what I signed up for either. If you would just listen—”

  “I'll stay and do the shoot; you can tape whatever you like, but I am not posing with Marleyna,” I cut her off. “She is not part of the main cast. If she wants to take some shots with Brooke, then fine, but not with us. I'm not talking about her to Grace. Hallie and Keiran won't want to either and you better back us up. It's the least you can do.”

  Addison puts her hand out to stop me. “I took care of that. She's not in the cast photos.”

  Wow. Really? “Good.” I stare at Addison and Addison stares back in silence. “Can I go now?”

  Addison looks like she wants to say more, but she fights against it. “Yes.” She holds the door open and I slide past her. “But, Charlie?” she questions. “You can't avoid me forever. There is so much I want to say. We have to talk.”

  I don't quite understand what Addison is getting at, but I know one thing. “I'm tired of talking,” I say wearily. “On camera and off.”

  fifteen

  A Spoonful of Sugar Doesn't Help the Medicine Go Down

  Keiran, Hallie, and I sit glumly in Milk and Sugar, aimlessly stirring our iced coffees. I'm supposed to be waitressing, but Ryan took one look at my puffy face and said to take the afternoon off—and eat and drink anything I wanted on the house. None of us have said anything for almost an hour.

  “I don't think I want to do this anymore.” Keiran's voice cracks as she says the words.

  I instantly feel a wave of relief come over me. “Neither do I.” I look at Hallie's sad face.

  “I'm out too,” Hallie chimes in quickly. After the TV Guide shoot ended, she got a call from Brandon. He confessed that he was only dating her to get on TV.

  “But we signed a contract,” Keiran says glumly as she pulls apart her cranberry muffin. “I don't think we have a choice.”

  “Maybe if we tell Susan how miserable we are she'll listen,” Hallie suggests and takes a bite of her second glazed donut of the afternoon. “Charlie, you said she's been supportive every time you call her.”

  “Supportive, yes, but we're still making the network money,” I point out glumly. “Why would she let us leave? It will never happen. We're going to have to finish out our episodes with Brooke and Marleyna.”

  “I can't believe she's a regular cast member,” Keiran says and rolls her eyes. “Just the thought of having to see her all the time makes me want to throw up.”

  “A lot of things make me want to throw up,” Hallie seconds. “Like Brandon.”

  Hallie just spoke to Brandon, and her day went from bad to worse. Turns out he's as into getting his fifteen minutes of fame as Brooke is. He dated Hallie only because of the show.

  “How did I miss the signs?” Hallie looks terrible. “I mean, sure he had no problem with the show and some guys wouldn't have been so willing, but I thought he really cared about me.”

  “Maybe he did,” Keiran points out. “Fame does strange things to people. Maybe he fell for you and then fell harder for the cameras.”

  Hallie shakes her head. “No, Brandon knew what he was doing. And he probably would have kept doing it if that thing with Danny hadn't happened.” She looks at me. “I was so angry about what he did to you that I wouldn't shut up about it. I guess I freaked Brandon out because he finally felt the need to tell me the truth.” She sips her iced coffee. “Maybe Zac had the right idea after all.”

  “He tried calling me last night,” I tell them and they both look at me with piqued interest. “I didn't pick up.”

  “Why?” Hallie is shocked.

  I stare into my drink. “I feel like a fool. I've been mad at Zac for so long, and I finally realized something: Maybe the reason I was so mad is because part of me didn't want to be on the show either.”

  “And now we're trapped,” Hallie says, and buries her face in her hands. “This really sucks.”

  The tiny bell on the Milk and Sugar front door jingles and the three of us look up. Addison. She looks miserable. Her dirty-blond hair is frizzy, her gray tank is wrinkled, and she has a stain on her dark jeans.

  “Well, if it isn't the she-devil,” I say bitterly. “Ryan?” I yell. “Can you tell our guest she's not welcome here anymore?”

  Ryan knows the whole sordid story and he's not happy about it. He moves around the counter and tries to speak, but Addison holds up her hands in surrender.

  “Please? This is really important. I need to talk to the girls for two minutes and then I'll leave.”

  Ryan looks at us and I look at Hallie and Keiran. Fine. I nod to him and he makes room for Addison to walk past. She stops a few inches from our table.

  “Can I take a seat?” she asks quietly. She has dark rings under her eyes.

  “We'd prefer if you stand,” Hallie tells her.

  “I understand,” Addison says and places her hands in her jeans pockets. “I came to apologize.”

  “For what exactly?” I want to know. “For setting me up with Danny? For caring more about the show than our feelings? For letting Marleyna be a cast member and claiming the decision wasn't yours?”

  Addison shakes her head and shifts uneasily. I can tell she's uncomfortable. She has all the trademark signs. Not looking me in the eye. Shifting from foot to foot. Running her hand through her hair. Classic Peyton Schmidt, my friend in fifth grade who used to lie all the time. “I know this looks bad, but—”

  “No buts.” I cut her off. “You don't care about any of us. You're just doing your job and part of your job is to be a liar.”

  “Charlie, please, if you would just have taken my call, I could have explained,” Addison begs, looking upset.

  “Did you get Brandon to ask me out as well?” Hallie asks angrily.

  “What are you talking about?” Addison asks.

  “Brandon only dated me because I was on this ridiculous show.” Hallie's hands are flying, and her bracelets clank angrily too. “He just told me.”

  Addison looks miserable. “I'm so sorry, Halllie. I had nothing to do with that one, but still. I'm sorry about a lot of things. You know, you three aren't the only ones who've been lied to. If you would just give me a minute to explain—”

  “Why would we believe anything you have to say?” I spit. “I don't want to hear any more. If we're stuck doing this show then we want you off it. I should have done this sooner. I'm calling Susan.” Addison's eyes widen. “She needs to know the truth.” I pull out my phone, find Susan's number, and hit send.

  “Charlie!” Keiran wigs out. “Wait. Don't call her.”

  “Why?” Hallie asks. “We have every right to call her. She's the one who hired us, not Addison.”

  “Charlie, listen, Susan isn't who you think she is,” Keiran say
s.

  “Kiki, enough with the cryptic messages. What are you talking about?” Hallie demands.

  “Charlie, hang up, please,” Addison begs.

  I ignore them both. “I've been talking to Susan the whole time,” I tell Addison. “She's been sympathetic. She told me you were the one who hired Marleyna full time even though she didn't want her on the show.”

  “Susan said that?” Addison asks, her mouth hanging open.

  I nod. “She said she wanted to give you the reins to the show and that making big decisions was part of the process. Why couldn't you have just told us that, Addison?”

  “Charlie, you don't know everything,” Addison says. “If you would just hang up, I'll tell you everything. I promise.”

  “Hang up, Charlie,” Keiran tries again.

  “Kiki, whose side are you on?” Hallie is upset too.

  The receptionist picks up. “Susan Strom's office, please. Yes, I need to speak to her. It's urgent. Tell her this is Charlotte Reed. I'm on hold,” I tell the others.

  “Charlie, you don't want to do this,” Addison tells me worriedly. “Susan hasn't been truthful with you either.”

  “Charlie! How are you?” Susan's pleasant voice comes over the line. “Is something wrong? I thought you were supposed to be at the TV Guide photo shoot. It's a big day for you girls. I can't believe you're shooting your first cover.”

  I cut her off. “Susan, we did the shoot, but we ended early. I need to talk to you seriously about Addison.” I stare at her coldy. “I don't think she's working out as our producer.”

  There is silence on the other end. “Oh? Why is that?”

  “A number of reasons, but mostly because she's a fake,” I explain. Keiran is motioning wildly for me to stop. “Did you know she set me up on a date with a guy to get good soundbites? This guy Danny, who was a waiter at the premiere party, didn't actually like me. He asked me out for the publicity—