Dancing to a wild beat, Kallista bobbed over to the two of them and said, “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Kallista, I’m just, um . . . oh my God,” Tori said, staring past Kallista.
Her parents were there! And they were staring right at her!
“Oops, you’re busted big-time,” Kallista said. “Me, not so much, probably, because my parents would have been cool with the party. So if you die, can I have all your shoes?”
“Shut up,” Tori said faintly.
Michael said, “I’m here, Tori. Which is probably the main problem.” He frowned. “How did they know where you were?’
“No clue,” Tori muttered. Then she licked her lips as her father and mother approached. They were both dressed casually, as if they’d planned to settle in for an evening home alone.
“Tori Ann!” her father began, stomping toward her. Then she knew she was in major trouble, because he never used her middle name.
“Easy, honey,” her mother said to him.
“Hi, um, Daddy—” Tori began.
But she was interrupted by Michael’s father as he and Michael’s mother walked up.
“James, so glad you could make it,” Cameron Stevenson said jovially to Tori’s father. Tori couldn’t tell if Mr. Stevenson realized that her father was mad. But the two men shook hands, and the moms smiled at each other. It was like a commercial in the middle of the movie of her tragic demise.
“Dad, you called Tori’s parents?” Michael asked, his eyes wide.
It was obvious that his father didn’t get that this was a problem. “Yeah. I saw Tori and that reminded me to ask about putting a clause in my contract about travel for the family. So I asked myself why they weren’t here at this great party. I called them and told them how much fun we were all having. And here they are.”
He smiled brightly at Tori’s father. “I think you mentioned you wanted to get to know Al Durgan. He’s got some great new data about residuals on cell phone downloads.”
“Oh?” her father said. He pursed his lips. “I do want to talk to him. But first . . .” He looked hard at Tori.
Tori swallowed. “Um . . .”
Her dad said, “Let’s walk.” He took Tori’s mom’s hand. “Just the three of us.”
“Okay,” Tori said in a small voice. She tried to smile at Michael, but she couldn’t. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces. She knew her dad was going to ground her for life and tell her that she could never even look in Michael’s direction again.
They walked down a path to a marble fountain of an angel pouring water out of a jar. Then the family of three stopped, and Tori’s parents both gave her the bug eye.
“You lied to us,” her father said. “You snuck out to see that boy. After I told you that you couldn’t see him outside of school!”
“Oh, dear, why not?” Tori’s mother asked, looking extremely worried. “He seems like such nice boy.”
“He is,” Tori got in. “But his dad is Cameron Stevenson, and he’s a client. And it’s the industry, and what if he gets interviewed and we don’t have any family secrets, Daddy!” She could hear herself babbling, but she was so upset and nervous that she couldn’t stop herself.
“Honey,” Tori’s mom said.
Both her husband and her daughter said, “Yes?”
And that broke the ice, somehow, that both of them were “honey.” All three of them smiled at each other.
Tori decided to try again. “Look, you know that I bunked with Natalie Goode last summer.”
Her parents both nodded.
“Well, she told me this story about this girl who pretended to be Natalie’s friend, so her mom could get a part in her dad’s next movie.”
“O . . . kay,” her dad said slowly.
“But her mom didn’t get the part, and she got revenge by going to the tabloids and sharing confidential stuff Natalie had told her daughter.”
“Oh, how awful,” Tori’s mother breathed. “I hate that kind of thing.”
“That’s my point,” her dad said. “It’s so hard to have normal relationships in this town.”
“Natalie was just here for the summer,” Tori pointed out. “She isn’t around the industry 24/7, like me. And that happened when Natalie was a little kid. I’m in middle school!”
“Still, throw in the whole boy-girl thing, and it could be a huge fiasco.”
Her mother said, “Tori sounds like she’s aware that there may be pitfalls.” She looked thoughtful and said, “This is what you were talking about when you asked me about movie people dating each other.”
Tori nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t come right out and talk to you guys about it. I know it was wrong to sneak behind your back.”
Her father scratched his head, the way he did when he was thinking hard about something. Tori stopped herself from babbling again, and gave him a chance to process their discussion so far. He was a lawyer; he thought things through.
“I didn’t realize you felt so strongly about Michael,” he began. “I was trying to warn you away before anything started.”
“Well, it did already start,” Tori confessed. “He’s really nice, Daddy, and he even got a FREE ALYSSA T-shirt.”
Her father smiled faintly. “Yes, he’s nice. But you’re also a warm-hearted girl who could get hurt.”
“I promise never to get hurt,” she said.
Her father gazed at her. “If only I could guarantee that in writing. It’s so hard to let you grow up.”
“But I am growing up,” she reminded him.
“We sent you to Pennsylvania for sleepaway camp partly so you could make friends outside of Hollywood,” he said. “Expand your horizons a little. Like Natalie Goode has done.”
“What, so I can talk to them on the internet?” Tori said. She could hear her voice rising, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from sounding upset. She was upset.
“Daddy, Natalie lives in Manhattan, not Malibu!”
“Well, we could have her come visit,” her dad said. “You said there was going to be a reunion. Maybe we could plan something, too.”
“We’re talking about Michael,” Tori said. “A boy who lives here.”
“James,” her mother said, laying a hand on her father’s arm. “Let’s walk.”
As Tori watched, her mother slipped her arm through her father’s and they strolled off together.
Just then, someone whispered her name from the bushes.
It was Michael! She darted behind the bush.
“I’m sorry I got you in trouble,” Michael said.
“No, I got me in trouble,” she said.
She was watching her parents. They were obviously deep in conversation. Then they stopped and faced each other.
Michael said, “I don’t know if this is a good time to tell you this, but I felt bad that I asked you to sneak out. But I couldn’t figure out what else to do so I could hang out with you.”
As rattled as she was, she couldn’t help but smile at him. She looked up at him through her sparkly lashes and said, “Ditto here. Exactly.”
“Do you want me to talk to your parents for you?” Michael asked.
Tori giggled. “That’s sweet, but I’m not sure what good it would do.”
“Yeah. You’re right. He’s the Hollywood lawyer. There’s no way I could beat him at the negotiation game.” He sighed. Then he shyly slipped his hand around Tori’s. Chills shot up and down her spine. She was holding hands with Michael!
With her fingers laced through his, she stepped out of the bushes and into plain sight. She didn’t want there to be any more sneaking around.
Her parents were deep in conversation. Tori could tell her mom was wearing down her dad. Then her dad turned his head and saw her with Michael. She gave him the most imploring look she could muster.
Please, please, please, can I keep him?
Her dad smiled and shook his head.
“He’s giving us the ‘green light,’ as they say in the biz.” Tori b
ounced up and down.
“But he’s shaking his head,” Michael said cautiously.
“I know!” Tori cried. “That just means he’s giving up. Which isn’t something he’s used to doing.” Then, as if to prove her point, her father waved them away.
“I guess that’s our signal!” Tori exclaimed. And then for the very first time, she wrapped her arms around Michael’s torso and gave him a gigantic hug.
EPILOGUE
Posted by: Alyssa
Subject: T’giving!
Hello, campers!
It’s me, your official Double-Bunk-Blog T’giving Hostess! We have had a lot of excitement since Halloween. Priya, rock on with your bad self. It’s so cool that they are doing an article about your science fair exhibit with Jordan in the school paper.
And I’m sure that everyone’s also thrilled to hear that Priya has helped Jordan solve his dilemma about what to buy Miss Brynn, and that she will be receiving it next week, for her b’day! Be sure to tell us what it is, Brynn!
Val, your pix of the recital were awesome! You killed, grrl! And Tori, way to go with Michael. Sweet pix of you, M, & Kallista at Malibu.
Here’s a T’giving contest. Write down how many things you are most grateful for in your life today. Longest list wins!
One thing I am grateful for is my artistic talent. Ode to a Woman is now hanging in a small gallery downtown—and Natalie’s mom is talking to her art gallery about commissioning some work from me! (Check it out! Commissioning! I know the lingo!)
And I am extra grateful for all my wonderful, supportive CLFs, who have stood by me and believed in me! I’m sure I speak for every one of us who has had “exciting challenges” this month! When it comes to looking out for one another, CLFs are the best!
Keep in touch and keep us all up to date on what’s going on with you!
TTFN,
Lyss
To: MichaelS
From: Tori
Subject: President’s Day Ski Weekend
Dear Michael,
Great news! My dad is totally on board with inviting some of my Camp Lakeview friends out to spend President’s Day Weekend skiing with us in Tahoe. But I can only invite five. FIVE! And I have, like TWENTY-five camp girlfriends. I don’t know what to do.
XO, Tori
To: Tori
From: MichaelS
Subject: Re: President’s Day Ski Weekend
Dear Tori,
I totally get that. I got to invite THREE guys to my dad’s location shoot at the Indianapolis 500. It was tough. I’ll tell you what worked for me if you think that would help. IM at 8:30?
Tori smiled as she typed back, YES!
It was so cool to have a boyfriend in the industry! And to realize that she had made good friends at Camp Lakeview. Lots of them! So many, in fact, that she was going to have a very hard time deciding whom to invite on the trip.
But whichever five I pick, she thought, I know we’ll have a blast.
And that was definitely something to put on her list of things she was thankful for.
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Title Page
chapter ONE
chapter TWO
chapter THREE
chapter FOUR
chapter FIVE
chapter SIX
chapter SEVEN
chapter EIGHT
chapter NINE
chapter TEN
EPILOGUE
Falling in Like #11 Page 12