“Why not?” Chloe was amazed.
“Well, you had a horrible time yesterday, didn’t you? And we stopped being friends for a bit. It must be so difficult being famous. Besides, I don’t think I’d want to go to school away from home. Mom would be lonely all on her own. Anyway. . .” She grinned at Chloe. “We’ll be in Bugsy together now, if you haven’t gotten into Rockley Park, and that’ll be a real laugh!”
“S’pose.”
“Come on,” Jess urged, going over to Chloe’s closet and opening it. “Let’s have a fashion show!”
Jess and Chloe’s fashion shows were almost as much fun as pretending to be pop stars. They roped Ben in as usual, and dressed him up in scarves, hats, and so many bangles he rattled. He loved it, especially when they let him put some sparkly makeup on his nose.
But Chloe’s mind was only half on their game. She was trying to remember everything Mrs. Sharkey had said about her Diamond Days. She wouldn’t forget to walk with a sparkle in her eye. And no way was she ready to give up on her ambition yet. In spite of everything that had happened she was just as ambitious as she had always been.
It was hard, terribly hard waiting to hear that there was no place for her. Because, until Chloe heard one way or the other, a tiny part of her still insisted on hoping. She knew it was stupid after the mess she’d made of the interview and audition, but she couldn’t settle until she knew for certain.
So every day Chloe pounced on the mail before leaving for school, only to be disappointed. Every day, that is, until one morning, a week after the interview, when she was running late.
She was shoveling down her cereal as quickly as she could. Jess would be dawdling at the end of the road, wondering if she was sick. Chloe hoped she’d wait, or come and knock at the door. She hated walking to school on her own. Besides, this morning she wanted to ask Jess about their history homework.
She still had to finish her breakfast, brush her teeth, put on her shoes and coat, and walk up the road. So, when she heard the mail slide through the slot, she groaned. There was no time to look at it this morning. Ben toddled off to pick up the letters instead. He liked to pretend he was a mailman and insisted on giving everyone, including his teddy, a letter. This morning, Chloe got a double-glazing ad perched on the edge of her bowl.
“For oo.”
“Ben!” Chloe complained as the corner slid into her milk. “I don’t have time for this.”
She shoved her bowl into the sink and raced off to brush her teeth. While she was sitting on the bottom of the stairs tying her shoes, he dumped another one on her laces.
“For oo.”
Chloe brushed it off impatiently and it slid with a crisp, expensive whisper to the floor. She looked at it. She could hear Ben chattering away, back in the kitchen, but it was quiet in the hall. She picked up the letter and held it. She could tell where it had come from.
She told herself it wouldn’t be so bad not getting in to Rockley Park. Bugsy was fun. And Mr. Watkins had told her she could sing as loudly as she wanted. He really loved her voice.
She’d have a different Big Chance some other time, maybe when she was grown up. It was most likely all for the best.
She finished tying her laces and put on her coat. If she hurried, she’d probably still catch Jess.
“Chloe?” Her mom and dad were peering out of the kitchen at her. Goodness knows how long they’d been there. “Well?” her mom said.
“Oh!” said Chloe in a rush, scrambling to her feet and handing her mom the letter. “I must go. Don’t worry. It’s all right. I don’t mind too much. I’ll be all right, really.” Her heart was suddenly pumping away, beating so loudly she was sure her parents must be able to hear it.
“But you haven’t opened it!” her mom said to Chloe, holding the letter out.
“I know!” she said, sniffing. “I know what it says. I have to go.” Tears were sliding down her cheeks. She did mind. Of course she did. She minded terribly. She’d been telling herself all week that it didn’t matter, but it did. It mattered more than anything else in the world.
“Chloe!” Mom called after her. “Open it, won’t you?” Chloe was crying too hard to answer, so she just shook her head and opened the front door. Jess was coming up the front path.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, seeing Chloe’s blotchy face.
“Chloe!” Dad was calling her back. She must have forgotten her bag, she was in such a state. But it wasn’t her bag.
“Chloe.” He shoved the opened letter at her. “You got in, you silly girl!”
Chloe looked at Jess, but her eyes were all fogged up with tears and she couldn’t see.
“I got in!” she cried.
14. Well Done
Chloe Tompkins seemed to be doing a lot of crying.
She’d always thought it was stupid that people cried when they were happy. Now she realized you couldn’t always help it. She should have been able to stop her tears when she heard the news, but they just kept flowing! Her dad put his arms around her and lifted her off the ground in a big bear hug, but instead of giggling as usual when he did that, she cried even more. She was really annoyed at herself for doing it, but she still couldn’t stop.
They all went back into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Chloe was a jumbled mess of tangled thoughts. She just couldn’t get herself together. She kept laughing and crying at the same time. In the end she just gave up trying to control herself. She let all the tears shoot down her cheeks and drip onto the table. It was amazing how big the puddles got.
Everyone else was talking. Jess had come in as well, and the kettle was starting to boil. It felt to Chloe as if she were somewhere else, listening to them from a long way off.
After leaving her to cry in peace for a few minutes, Chloe’s mom wiped the tears off the table and put a mug of tea in front of her. Then she quietly wrapped her arms around her daughter. Chloe leaned against her mom. She sniffed, her dad handed her a tissue, and her mom loosened her hug a little while she wiped her nose. And then she hugged her again.
“It’s the shock,” she said calmly. “Don’t worry. It’ll pass in a moment.” It was passing, but Chloe felt exhausted, even though it was morning and she hadn’t been up for long.
“We are so proud of you,” Dad said. “Here, try sipping some tea. It’ll help.” Chloe looked around, but Jess wasn’t there.
“Where’s Jess?” she asked in a wobbly voice.
“She had to go,” Mom said. “She said she’d see you at recess.”
“I’ll be late for school.”
“I’ll be late for work!” said Dad. “I must go, love. But we’ll celebrate properly tonight. I can’t wait to tell my friends. What a daughter I’ve got!”
Once Dad had gone, Chloe noticed Ben standing by the door, staring at her with his thumb in his mouth. She patted her lap. “Come on,” she said. “It’s all right.”
“He wonders what’s going on,” Mom said as Ben clambered up. He busied himself trying to fit the letter back in its envelope while Chloe gave him a cuddle.
“I’m going to be a pop star,” she told him in a small voice. When she said it, it sounded true for the very first time. Somehow, saying it made it real.
She couldn’t sit still any longer. She put Ben down and stood up. It was impossible to sit around now that the truth was sinking in. She walked up and down the kitchen, letting the excitement flood through her. She had gotten in! Thank goodness Judge Jim Henson had calmed her down. She would never have been able to approach Mr. Player again if Judge Jim hadn’t helped. She owed him a huge thank you.
She was really going to Rockley Park! She would learn how to be a real singer. If she did really well, she would sing on television and at concerts. She would be famous! A huge smile was stretching over her face. She couldn’t help it. She picked up the letter and read it for herself.
I have pleasure in offering a full scholarship at Rockley Park School to Chloe Tompkins. Please reply immediately if you wish
your daughter to accept her place. Full details of term dates and items needed are enclosed. If you have any problems, or questions, please don’t hesitate to phone Mrs. O’Flannery, who will do her utmost to help.
“You are going to let me go, aren’t you?” she asked, suddenly worried. Her mom nodded.
“I can’t imagine what would happen if we tried to stop you!” she said. “Having had a look at the school, and met some of the teachers, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity. Of course you can go.”
Chloe set out for school once she’d washed her face. Afterward, she couldn’t remember walking. She thought she must have floated there. She’d missed assembly and half of English, but Mr. Morgan wasn’t at all upset.
“Come in and sit down, Chloe,” he said. “Jess explained why you would be late. Congratulations, by the way!”
After class, lots of people wanted to know all about it. It was nice feeling like a celebrity, but Chloe wanted to talk to Jess. She didn’t want to risk her best friend becoming upset again. Judge Jim Henson had been right when he’d told her how important old friends were.
“It’s okay,” Jess said, once everyone had left them in peace at last. She swung her book bag at Chloe to make her point. “Just make sure you don’t forget me! And make sure you come and see me during vacations,” she added. “I want you to remember us and what it was like before you were famous!”
“Of course I will,” Chloe promised. Judge Jim Henson had said that, too.
The next thing Chloe had to do was find Danny James. As she’d gotten her letter this morning, maybe he’d received his, too. No one seemed to know, but then Danny James didn’t talk much, as Chloe and her parents had discovered on the journey to Rockley Park.
Chloe didn’t consider herself Danny’s friend, but she found herself hoping that he’d been accepted as well. It would be comforting to have one face she knew, even if he was a boy, and a drummer rather than a singer.
Eventually she caught up with him just before the bell rang after lunch. He was ambling along the corridor by the hall, tapping out a rhythm on the wall.
“Hey!” Chloe called as he was about to disappear around the corner. “Danny!” He stopped and waited for her to catch up.
“What?”
“Have you gotten your letter yet?” she asked.
“Heard you did,” he replied. It was impossible to tell how he felt about that.
“But have you?” Chloe asked again. She really wanted him to have gotten a place now. They might even be in the same class for some subjects.
“Yeah,” he said. “I got a letter.”
“Well?” She held her breath.
“Reckon I’ll see you there,” he said, a slow smile spreading over his face.
15. Nearly There
There was a lot to think about. Chloe wouldn’t need a uniform, but there was a list of suggested clothes she might like to take with her. For sports and dance classes, Rockley Park recommended their own jogging pants and shirts, and an order form was enclosed.
“That’s good!” Chloe’s mom said in relief after worrying about the prices. “Mrs. O’Flannery has put a note in to say not to buy the sports clothes new. Look! She says there’s a thriving secondhand shop at the school and she’s sure they’ll have your size.” Chloe wasn’t too sure about that. She didn’t want everyone to think she was from a poor family, but she knew that there wasn’t much money for extra clothes, especially since her parents had only recently bought her uniform for Beacon Comp.
There were forms to fill in and her room to arrange and clean up before she left. Jess sat on the bed and went through all the things Chloe had decided to throw out.
“Can I have this pencil case?” she asked. “And are you sure you don’t want that blue Indian scarf?”
“Nah. It’s got a hole in it.”
“I don’t mind. I like it.” Jess sat with the scarf in her lap, looking rather sad. That was unlike her, she was usually so upbeat. “I’m going to really miss you, Chloe,” she said, scrumpling the scarf into a ball. “You won’t forget me, will you?”
Chloe gave Jess a big hug. “I’ll miss you, too. And I’ll always want to see you, Jess. I promise.”
These were definitely Chloe’s Diamond Days. She walked around with a sparkle in her eye; even when she was being told she had to do her homework, though it would never be marked, because soon she’d be at a different school!
She knew she still had a long, long way to go before she achieved her ambition, to sing to the thousands of fans in her imagination. But she’d had a Big Chance, she’d taken it, and now she was walking in the right direction.
She knew that there would be lots of difficult times ahead. And sometimes it was scary, the thought of changing her life so much. Some nights she lay in bed worrying about what was to come. Would anyone like her? Had Tara gotten a place, and if so would she make Chloe’s life a misery? Sometimes Chloe wondered if she would be homesick, and wish she’d never heard of Rockley Park School.
She wouldn’t be able to go home every weekend. So while Jess was out shopping with friends, what would Chloe be doing? Would she be stuck there in the country, working every hour of every day? And what about her voice? Would she be good enough? And if she couldn’t fit in at Rockley Park, what then? How could she ever go back to Beacon Comprehensive? It would be awful to have to go back as a failure. But most of the time, Chloe felt nothing but excitement. She stuck to her determination to stay a good friend to Jess.
“We can text each other once Dad buys a cell phone for me,” Chloe told Jess a couple of days before she was due to leave.
“Yeah!” agreed Jess. “You can tell me all your news, and I’ll do the same. You must give me all the gossip, too, so I can let the others know at school. Everyone will want to hear how you’re doing.
“I’m going to be so popular!” she added with a grin. “It’ll be as good as being a famous pop star without all the hard work!”
Chloe giggled. “I hope Dad gets me a phone that can take pictures, too. If he does, I’ll send you a shot of me in my school bedroom.”
The night before Chloe left for Rockley Park, Jess came over for dinner. After dinner they went up to Chloe’s room, where two large suitcases stood waiting by the door.
“This is for you,” Chloe said, pulling a small package out from under her pillow.
“What is it?”
“Open it and see!”
Jess pulled at the wrapping while Chloe stood waiting, suddenly feeling shy.
Inside was a framed photograph of them both. Chloe’s dad had taken it last Christmas, when the girls had been dressed up, pretending to be their favorite pop stars.
“Do you like it?”
Jess threw her arms around Chloe and hugged her. “I love it!”
“I’ve got one just the same, to take with me,” Chloe explained. “I wanted to give you something to say thank you for being my best friend.”
“I can’t believe you’re going away tomorrow,” said Jess, looking at the picture.
Chloe nodded. “I know! But, look, I’ll be back before you know it. My term is shorter than yours because I’ll have classes on Saturdays. And I’ll get one weekend at home before Christmas vacation. We’ll have lots of fun this Christmas. For a start, I should be home in time to see you in Bugsy! We’ll have so much to talk about!”
It was really hard saying good-bye. Chloe and her dad took Jess back home in the car because it was late. Chloe and Jess didn’t know what to say, so they just hugged. Then Jess simply waved briefly and vanished inside. Chloe was very quiet on the way home, but her dad understood and left her to her own thoughts.
Back in her room, Chloe sat at her dressing table, staring into the mirror. For some reason, the crowd of fans she could usually conjure up in her mind refused to appear. It was as if she were just offstage, waiting for the signal to go on. The fans were there, would be there when the time was right, but for now she was content to wait. She had a lot of work to d
o, a lot of things to learn.
So many people had helped her get this far. Jess, and Mr. Watkins, even her mom and dad were being helpful now. And Judge Jim Henson must have helped the most of all, for her to get her place at Rockley Park.
“But now,” she told her reflection firmly, “now it’s up to me!”
So you want
to be a pop star?
Turn the page to read some top tips on how to make your dreams come true. . . .
Making it in the music biz
Think you’ve got tons of talent? Well, music maestro Judge Jim Henson, Head of Rock at talent academy Rockley Park, has put together his top tips to help you become a superstar. . . .
Number One Rule: Be positive!
You’ve got to believe in yourself.
Be active! Join your school choir or form your own band.
Be different! Don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Be determined! Work hard and stay focused.
Be creative! Try writing your own material—it will say something unique about you.
Be patient! Don’t give up if things don’t happen overnight.
Be ready to seize opportunities when they come along.
Be versatile! Don’t have a one-track mind—try out new things and gain as many skills as you can.
Be passionate! Don’t be afraid to show some emotion in your performance.
Be sure to watch, listen, and learn all the time.
Be willing to help others.
You’ll learn more that way.
Be smart! Don’t neglect your schoolwork.
Reach for the Stars Page 6