by Annie Bryant
It was David. And even though his glove was wooly red instead of crisp white … I couldn’t have asked for a nicer, nobler escort. He opened the car and held out his arm. “After you, me lady,” he said with a bow.
I curtsied. “Why, thank you, fine sir.”
David put his hand on his hip, and I looped my arm into his. In perfect step, we walked to the grand front door of the mansion. It was so nice to have a drama buddy.
Then on the steps, I started feeling a little queasy again. I was afraid that Maddie would open the door and slam it right back in my face. “Wait …” I begged. But it was too late. The wooly red finger was already pressing on the bell. “Oh no …” I groaned. Of course, I should have known better than to assume Maddie would actually open the door of her house herself.
“Miss Maeve!” It was that handsome Kenneth! “What a pleasure it is to see you again.” He took my hand and properly shook it. “And who is this dashing young man?”
I beamed proudly at David. His glasses made him look particularly intelligent today, I thought. “This is David Dell. He played Grego, the romantic lead in our movie.”
“Very nice to meet you, David. I’m Kenneth, Mr. Von Krupcake’s personal assistant.” David looked at me and I curtsied again. (True confession—I was loving the whole curtseying thing!) “And Maeve, welcome back. It’s a rare treat for me to see such a delightful friend of Maddie’s return to the house. Actually …” Kenneth said, scratching his chin, “it’s a rare treat for any of Maddie’s friends to return to the house ever. Oh well. Enjoy the party.”
David and I locked eyes. “Now why doesn’t that surprise me …” David whispered.
I giggled. “Shh!” I guess I wasn’t the only victim. Suddenly, I felt a little better. There was a whole group of us out there who had been Maddie-slammed. Maybe I should start a support group. I could call it Victims of Maddie United.
The mansion was swarming with kids and parents. Everyone was all dressed up—the girls in pretty dresses and the boys in suits and ties. What is it about wearing suits that always makes boys look ten times handsomer than usual? I wondered. I smoothed down my own rose velvet dress with the satin trim. I had been so proud of that dress when my mom and I first bought it. But after I’d seen Maddie’s closet full of designer duds, I wondered if maybe the dress was a little babyish or something. Just as I was about to lose my courage again, David whispered, “Your dress is pretty.” Thank goodness there were still knights in shining armor left in this world.
David and I walked down a long hallway filled with photographs of the Von Krupcakes posing with celebrities. “Look, there’s Maddie with the Queen of England!” David gasped, pointing at one. “She’s riding through the streets of London … wow.”
“If you think this is something, you should see her bedroom,” I told David.
David raised his eyebrows. “Whoa! You’ve seen Maddie’s bedroom?”
I made an embarrassed face. “Um … Maddie and I kinda sorta used to be friends, in the beginning of camp … remember?”
David covered his mouth. “Whoa … I almost forgot about the famous M&M. It seems so long ago.”
I thought about that. It did seem like ages ago since my brain had been hijacked by the super-fabulous Maddie Von Krupcake express.
When we reached the end of the hallway, David stopped at the very last picture. It was a tiny one with a worn-out gold frame. “Maeve … is it just my imagination, or is that … Apollo?”
I leaned in to get a closer look. It sure looks like little Apollo Aaron, I thought. In fact, if I had to guess …
“Hey, that is me!” Apollo was standing behind us holding a cup of fruit punch. In his black suit and purple tie, he looked like a real, live movie star. I started to feel a little shaky and hoped I wasn’t coming down with another Maeve-crush. Talk about bad timing! “That was taken at the premiere of Home Unsupervised. Boy, am I glad that’s over with!” Apollo laughed.
“Boy, do I wish I were you.” I sighed. “I mean me, but my own age, and starring in a real Hollywood movie. I mean … oh …” I knew I was blushing.
“It’s cool, Maeve. You’ll get there someday.” Apollo’s eyes twinkled. “Maybe even sooner than you think!”
“I have a question. Who’s that girl standing next to you, Apollo?” asked David Dell. The three of us leaned in to get a closer look at girl in the photo. She looked sort of familiar. There was something about that frizzy brown hair and those leopard tights …
“Hey, I know who that is!” I announced, suddenly remembering. “That’s Maddie’s cousin. She didn’t tell me her name.”
“Cousin?” Apollo choked. “Cousin? Who told you that’s Maddie’s cousin?”
I shrugged. “Maddie did …”
Apollo started to laugh so hard fruit punch shot right out of his nose. (So much for my crush … that was a close call.) “That’s not Maddie’s cousin! That’s MADDIE!”
David and I gasped. “NO WAY!”
Apollo nodded. “Way. That was before the Maddiecake commercials. She looked a lot different back then, huh?”
I blinked. Could it be true? “But … but … she said …”
“I told you Maddie wasn’t totally honest.”
David rubbed his eyes. “But how is that even possible?” He seemed absolutely astonished.
I knew it was my job to explain this one. I gently rested my hand on his shoulder. “David, never underestimate the power of a makeover.” I examined the picture again. “And the power of braces and a straightening iron.”
“Want to hear the weirdest part of all?” Apollo asked. “Back then, Maddie and I were friends. Good friends. Seriously, we had a lot of fun together. We went surfing and …” he paused. “She liked to collect bugs.” My eyes almost popped out of my head. Maddiecakes liked to collect bugs? That made no sense at all.
“But,” Apollo continued, “when she changed on the outside, something changed on the inside too. She was still nice enough to me and all … but it was just kind of … fake.”
“She turned into an ice princess,” David observed.
“Exactly!” exclaimed Apollo.
“No, seriously, she turned into an ice princess. Look!” David pointed to the center of the ballroom in front of us. My mouth hung open in shock as we watched Kenneth and Mr. Von Krupcake wheel in an enormous ice sculpture of Maddie dressed as Princess Sophia. A sparkling icy crown adorned her head. In one of her hands was a shimmering parasol, and in the other—a Maddiecake. The three of us couldn’t contain it anymore and burst into laughter.
“Come on,” I motioned to the boys. “Let’s get this party started.”
Just as we entered the ballroom, the lights went dim and Mr. Von Krupcake, in a white suit with thin red stripes, huffed into the middle of the room and clinked his fork against a glass. “Welcome, one and all, to the Von Krupcakes’ humble abode. Everyone here today deserves a round of applause.” A ripple of clapping erupted around me. I scanned the room and saw all my friends cheering and smiling. Rebeccah Fullerton, in a vibrant red dress, was leading Mickey Snyder in a funny little waltz. Sam was holding hands with Mom and Dad at the same time … which made me smile on the outside and inside.
“I know that each person in this room worked very hard to make Boston Holiday. And if there’s one thing we believe at Krupcake Pies and Cakes Incorporated, it’s that people should be rewarded for hard work. That’s why I’ve decided, as the grand finale for this film camp experience …”
I glanced over at Madeline. I had to say, she looked lovely in her diamond tiara and a purple taffeta ball gown as she stroked Fitzy in her arms. Suddenly she burst, “That’s the surprise! We’re going to HOLLYWOOD!”
The room started bubbling with whispers. Was this some kind of joke?
Artemia darted to Mr. Von Krupcake with a look of panic on her face. “Walter … are you sure about this?”
“Of course, Artemia, darling. In exactly three weeks, the New York Film Academy is having a
film festival in Los Angeles. And your wonderful film, Boston Holiday, is going to be screened at the festival, and …” Mr. Von Krupcake paused. It was so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat. “I am personally chartering a jet from Boston to L.A. You and your families will all get the chance to attend a Hollywood red carpet premiere!”
It wasn’t a joke! Everyone cheered at the top of their lungs. You would think we’d all just won an Oscar or something. Every person in the ballroom was going crazy, jumping up and down and hugging each other. Well, except Maddie. I mean she wasn’t hugging a person … she was hugging her precious little Fitzy instead.
Meanwhile, I thought that I was literally dreaming. Stuff like this—celebrity directors, being friends with cute, sort of grownup child stars, and RED CARPET PREMIERES—happened to other people … really rich and famous people … people who were NOT Maeve Kaplan-Taylor. And yet here I was, with one of my biggest fantasies actually coming true! I had to remind myself to breathe, but it was hard. I could practically feel the red carpet beneath my feet already!
Mr. Von Krupcake barked, “But this movie, this Boston Holiday, would not have been so magical, so wonderful, so MAGNIFICO, without the talent and inspiration of someone very, very special. Someone close to my heart.” Maddie started to strut into the center as he continued, “I am pleased to introduce you to—”
“Jerry Sherlock, president and founder of the New York Film Academy,” Artemia interrupted, rushing to Mr. Von Krupcake’s side. “Jerry is a well-known Hollywood and Broadway producer, and without his generosity and support, this Boston chapter of the New York Film Academy Camp never would have happened …”
“Artemia, what in the name of Maddiecakes do you think you’re doing?” Mr. Von Krupcake snarled under his breath. “This is my Maddie’s big moment.”
“Uh-oh …” I murmured. Madeline Von Krupcake looked very upset. I don’t know why, but I started feeling a teensy bit bad for Maddie. I wondered if she knew that being the center of attention all the time wasn’t such an awesome thing. I wouldn’t have traded places with Maddie right then for all the diamond tiaras in the world.
Artemia pointedly ignored the Krupcake King and gestured a kind-looking bearded man to the middle of the room. Mr. Sherlock acknowledged the claps and cheers of the campers and cleared his throat.
“Thank you, Artemia. Thank you, everyone. I’m honored to have been a part of this amazing project—and I want to thank ALL the talented members of our wonderful camp.”
“I was in the middle of making an important party toast,” Mr. Von Krupcake hissed at Artemia and Jerry. His voice was getting louder. “And I am the party host. It is most rude to interrupt the party host in the middle of a party toast.”
“Don’t worry,” Apollo assured me. “My mom knows how to handle this type of thing.” Apollo and I squeezed around people to get a little closer to the middle. (Like I could BEAR missing a single drop of real-live drama?)
Artemia gently put her arm on Mr. Von Krupcake’s shoulder. “This might be your toast, and you might be the host, but I am the director of this film camp. And, Walter … everyone here worked very hard.”
He turned red as a beet. “True, but my Maddie—”
“Worked just as hard as everyone else,” Artemia pronounced. “Now on with the party!”
The room went back to loud, excited chatter, but Artemia and Mr. Von Krupcake weren’t done yet. Apollo motioned at me and we found a space next to the ice sculpture. Good thing too, because now Mr. Von Krupcake was whispering in an angry voice.
“Artemia, I think all the kids in this room would be very disappointed if I had to cancel the trip to Hollywood …”
She smiled. “They certainly would. Which brings me to my next point …” Artemia reached into the crowd and took the hand of a dashing man in a black tux. “Walter, have you met my husband? This is Ansel Aaron, Esquire, Attorney at Law.”
Ansel Aaron, Esq., grabbed Mr. Von Krupcake’s hand. “Wow, it’s an honor to meet you, sir. Your public promise to take everyone to Hollywood was just lovely. Why, you’ve just entered into a verbal contract! And it seems you have about … well let’s see … at least a hundred witnesses. Ha … ha … You are truly a generous man, Mr. Von Krupcake.”
“That’s my lawyer,” Artemia said, looked fondly at Ansel. Except for his silver hair, he looked just like Apollo.
Apollo nodded at me. “That’s my pops.”
Mr. Von Krupcake tried to clink his glass again, but it was clear the moment had passed. Artemia and Ansel left the Krupcake King trying to console a very annoyed Pastry Princess in the ballroom. No one was really paying attention to the Von Krupcakes though … we were too busy discussing our trip to Hollywood.
“Maeve, David, Apollo!” Lizzie Kwan called. She and Rebeccah ran over to us panting. Lizzie looked positively adorable in a green skirt with matching pumps.
“Maeve-a-licious, brace yourself,” warned Rebeccah. “This surprise just might be system-overload for you.”
I glanced at the ice sculpture. “Lizzie, at this point nothing about the Von Krupcakes surprises me.”
“But this has nothing to do with the Von Krupcakes,” Rebeccah protested. “Okay, so check it out. My best friend from school, Piper, has a cousin, Zoe, who’s in … brace yourselves, people … GIRL AUTHORITY is here … at OUR PARTY!”
“No way!” David cried.
My hand flew to my heart. “I love Girl Authority! Their song ‘Girl Authority Theme’ is, like, my favorite jam right now!” I raved.
“Well then you are going to love this news,” Lizzie said.
“Wait, wait! I want to tell!” interjected Rebeccah. “Piper told Zoe about this party and Girl Authority wanted to come. You guys, they’re here now. They’re going to perform in,” she looked at her watch, “well, any second now!”
“You’re kidding me!” I shrieked.
Lizzie shook her head, rattling her two pigtails. “Nope. They’re really here. When we asked Mr. Von Krupcake if it would be okay, he was more than happy to, um, what did he call it? Oh yeah, make a few minor adjustments.”
Rebeccah giggled and confided, “He had a rising stage installed in the middle of the ballroom, and a—”
Lizzie poked her. “Rebeccah! Don’t ruin all the surprises!”
Rebeccah clasped her hand over her mouth.
“I just can’t believe this,” I confessed.
Lizzie looked exasperated. “Maeve, how many times do I have to tell you? Girl Authority really is here.”
I shook my head. “No, I just can’t believe that something this HUGE is about to happen and the Von Krupcake clan has nothing to do with it.”
David pretended to tremble. “Creeeeeepy …”
“You guys are too much.” Rebeccah gave me a hug. “Okay, kids, I gotta run. It’s time for my big announcement!”
Rebeccah ran in front of the grandiose ice princess, her dress swishing and swooshing all the way. “Ladies and Gentlemen!” she shouted. I was so proud of her—loving the spotlight, she was a gal after my own heart. “I am pleased to introduce the ultimate authority on girl power, coolness, and unbelievable singing. Like you and me, they come from Boston, but they’re known all over the country. Let’s give it up for … Girl Authority!”
A large disco ball descended from the ceiling and the music blasted. Neon lights of every color whirled around the ceiling, as a circular, spinning stage began rising right out of the floor. On the stage were the nine girls of Girl Authority—looking very stylish and hip-a-licious. Then, just when I thought the scene had reached its peak of awesomeness, fog began to stream out from under the stage. I gripped David and Rebeccah’s arms to steady myself. “You gotta love show biz!” I remarked to my friends. “You never know what’s going to happen next!”
No one could keep still as Girl Authority rocked out with their jamming cover of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”
“I love this song!” Lizzie squealed.
“Who doesn’t?” I
agreed. “Oh my goodness! Look!” I pointed at Sam, who was involved in some very serious boogying. His whole body wiggled in some kind of earthworm imitation as he sang along to each word. “No fair! Why isn’t anyone taping Sam?” I laughed.
Mickey and Rebeccah broke into one of their dances from the movie. David gallantly held out his hand. “What do you say, Sufoo? Let’s teach Nanny and Assistant a thing or two about dancing.”
I grinned and started freestyle dancing with David. There was only one person in the room who wasn’t lost in the incredible beat of Girl Authority’s music. Maddie Von Krupcake stood in the corner of the large ballroom, uncomfortably fiddling with her hands. The ice sculpture of Maddie was smiling, but the real Maddie was not. At the cast party, usually the romantic leads would share a dance. But Maddie’s romantic lead was dancing with me.
“David, wait,” I stopped him. “This isn’t right.”
“Why? You and I are the craziest dancers here, Maeve!” David objected.
I shrugged. “Yeah, but Grego doesn’t end up with Sufoo … he ends up with Princess Sophia.” I glanced at Maddie, standing in the shadows by herself. “Don’t you think you should ask her to dance?”
David groaned. “Maeve, are you kidding me?”
“Just for a little teensy bit!” I pleaded. “She looks so sad and I just can’t stand seeing anyone look sad. It’s just a thing I have.”
“NO WAY.” David shook his head. “That girl was so cruel to me throughout the entire camp. Even if I asked her to dance, she’d probably say no.”
I sighed. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.” I sadly let go of David’s hand and started to walk away. “I’ll be back,” I told him in my best Terminator voice.
“Maeve, what are you doing?” David called.
“The right thing,” I replied and muttered to myself, “Geez, I really must be crazy.”
I made a beeline right over to Maddie. Even though we were on the same team in the film, we hadn’t really talked since the day she stole my idea for Boston Holiday.