Double Trouble

by Tina Wells

  Zee knew Kathi was right. “I’ll wait for my dad outside,” she said. She got up and left as Kathi counted off for the next song.

  When Zee arrived at the audition, she was surprised to see so many other girls around the same age and height as Zee in the lobby. A lot of them even had red hair and freckles.

  “I thought they wanted me for the part,” Zee whispered to her father.

  “They’re considering a few girls,” Mr. Carmichael told her. “Obviously, they like your look. Pretend that they don’t exist and that you’re the only one here.”

  How could Zee pretend they weren’t there? The way they were practicing their lines, warming up their voices, and stretching gave Zee the impression they had been to auditions before. Zee tried to do exactly what they were doing, but while they seemed professional and polished, she felt like she was a clown trying out for the circus.

  Zee watched as girls left to go into the audition room then came out a few minutes later. Some smiled. A few cried. But Zee wasn’t sure if that was all an act, too.

  “Just remember that what isn’t in the script is as important as what is,” Zee’s dad said. “Let’s practice your introduction.”

  “How could I mess that up?” Zee asked.

  “You’ll be nervous,” Mr. Carmichael reminded her. “The more you practice, the better.”

  Zee took a deep breath. “I’m Mackenzie Blue Carmichael.”

  “And?” her dad prompted her.

  “And . . .”

  “Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”

  “Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.”

  “Nice ad lib!” Mr. Carmichael said, winking.

  Zee grinned. “Thanks!”

  “I’d give you the part just for that!”

  “I wish you were the one making the decision.”

  “I do, too, but I know they’ll see how special you are.”

  “You may go in, Ms. Carmichael,” the receptionist called out.

  It took Zee a couple of beats before she realized she was “Ms. Carmichael.” No one had ever called her that.

  Zee stood up and looked down at her father. “Are you coming with me?” she asked.

  Mr. Carmichael shook his head. “I wish I could, but I’ll be stuck out here—with my fingers crossed for you.”

  As Zee walked toward the room where the auditions were being held, the script that she was holding in her right hand shook. She grabbed it with her left hand, too, but then it just made twice as much noise. So she tucked it under her arm and pressed her arm tight against her body.

  Zee surveyed the room. There was an older man with a gray-and-black beard, a woman with dark-framed glasses, a man her father’s age in a black stocking cap sitting behind a camera, and a guy in the corner eating a sandwich. Besides the cameraman, Zee wasn’t sure who anyone was.

  At first, no one said anything. Once Zee figured out that they were waiting for her to do something, she smiled and said, “Hi, I’m Mackenzie Blue Carmichael.” Then she handed out copies of her headshot and résumé to everyone in the room, including the man with the sandwich, who pushed the photo out of the way.

  “Hi, Mackenzie, I’m Marco Basile, the casting director,” the bearded man told Zee. Then he pointed to the woman in the glasses. “This is Lola Monroe, Rock On’s director.” Zee hoped he would tell her who the man eating the sandwich was, but he didn’t.

  “Rock On?” Zee asked.

  “That’s the working title for the pilot,” Lola Monroe explained.

  Duh, Zee told herself, then she remembered what she and her father had rehearsed.

  “Thanks so much for this great opportunity,” Zee said. Whew! She got the entire sentence out without stammering. And so far, she hadn’t tripped and fallen down.

  “Have you ever acted before?” Marco Basile asked Zee.

  “No. Umm . . . I mean, yes . . . but not professionally.” Ohmylanta! Here we go. Zee wasn’t sure how many questions she would be able to make it through.

  “How old are you?” the director asked.

  Yay—an easy question! “I’m twelve.”

  “Do you play an instrument?”

  “What other experience do you have?”

  “What are your goals as a musician?”

  The questions came quickly, like fireworks bursting one after another into the sky, but Zee had no problem answering each one.

  “Do you need any time to study the sides?” Marco Basile asked.

  Was that a trick question? “The sides?” Zee asked.

  “The part of the script you’ll be reading from,” he said.

  Zee shook her head. Taking more time to study the script meant more time to get nervous, and Zee didn’t want that. “I’m OK. I read through it while I was waiting.”

  “Great! My assistant, Clark, will be reading with you,” Marco said.

  The sandwich eater stood up and walked toward Zee. When he was in place, Mr. Basile said, “Go.”

  Zee started reading from the script. Clark read the part of Zee’s character’s best friend, Maddy, delivering his lines as if he were sleepwalking, but Zee got into character completely. When they were finished, she was sure it went really well.

  Until the casting director told her to try it again.

  “This time, don’t get quite so upset when Maddy gives you the news. Remember, she’s still your best friend.”

  Zee started over, keeping his comments in mind as she read. And when he told her to be more forceful at the end of the scene, she read it again. And again, with more anger in the beginning. And then with more forcefulness throughout.

  After all of the readings, Zee was surprised to look up and see the smiles on everyone’s faces. “Very impressive,” Mr. Basile said as Ms. Monroe nodded her approval. “We are looking for a real girl that viewers can relate to,” he continued. “You may not have a lot of acting experience, but you have a genuineness about you.”

  “I do?” Zee asked, surprised that they weren’t rushing her out the door.

  “And you take direction very well,” the casting director added.

  Lola Monroe pointed to Zee’s clothes. “Which stylist did you use?”

  Zee was wearing a skirt she had patched together from pieces of old dresses she had bought at the thrift shop. On top, she wore a loose peach sweater. Zee had hand-sewn tiny sequins across the front of the sweater to create a flower. Her purple Converse high-tops with the shimmering silver laces went nearly up to her knees. “Oh, I picked this out myself. It was kind of last minute, though, because—”

  “This is exactly what we imagine your character wearing,” Mr. Basile said, cutting her off. “Thanks for coming in, Mackenzie. We’ll be in touch.”

  Zee thanked everyone, then hurried out of the room before they could change their minds. We’ll be in touch, she repeated in her head over and over.

  * * *

  Hi, Diary.

  Mom always says life is full of ups and down. I think I got a lifetime’s worth in one day.

  I don’t know what the rest of the ride looks like, but I hope that there are more highs than lows. (That would be a horrible roller coaster ride, but it would be a great year!) If that’s impossible, I guess I won’t care . . . as long as the ride is exciting!

  Wheee!,

  Zee

  * * *

  12

  Do-over

  * * *

  Sorry, Diary!

  I know it’s been a week since I wrote. It’s definitely NOT on purpose. It’s been CRAZY!

  Luckily, no one was mad at me about what I said at the rehearsal at Chloe’s house. Except maybe Kathi, but I’m used to that. ☺

  I spent almost ALL of this week in acting and singing lessons (when I wasn’t in school or doing homework). I’ve also been working on writing and performing original songs for the next audition, so when I didn’t have lessons, I practiced after school with Mr. P. He’s had a ton of great suggestions!

  I’m exhausted.
Still, I appreciate all of the extra help I’ve been getting, thanks to Dad.

  Sleepy Zee

  * * *

  Adam stood over his sister’s bed. “Wake up!” he said loudly.

  Zee rolled over and opened one eye. Adam was already dressed. “Uh! Don’t you know how to knock?”

  “Yes, I do. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past five minutes, but since I don’t have all day, I decided to try this.”

  “Why?”

  “Dad wants me to drop you off at your voice lesson on my way to meet my AP literature study group.”

  “What day is it?” Zee asked.

  “Saturday.”

  “Don’t I get a day off?” Zee asked, pulling the covers over her head.

  “Ask your manager.”

  “My manager?”

  “The one in the kitchen eating breakfast and working on your schedule,” Adam said. “Now hurry up. I have to be at the library in thirty minutes.”

  Pushing the covers down, Zee sat up and sighed. As happy as she had been after her audition, she knew she was up against some really tough competition. She wanted to be ready when she got called back for the next audition.

  Zee headed to the kitchen and met her father on the stairs. “There she is!” Mr. Carmichael said, beaming. “America’s next musical sensation.”

  “What do I have besides my voice lesson today?” Zee asked.

  Zee’s father shrugged. “Nothing—the day is all yours.”

  “Mine?” Zee asked. “No other lessons?”

  “No other lessons. No auditions. No meetings.”

  “Cool beans!” Zee cried.

  She knew just what she wanted to do. Juggling all of her school and TV obligations meant that Zee hadn’t gotten to see her friends as much as she wanted to. Unless another Hollywood emergency came up, Zee would finally have a chance to hang out with her friends like she used to. She texted Chloe and Missy.

  >Can you come for a sleepover tonight?

  Within a minute, the responses came back.

  >Yes!

  >Definitely!

  * * *

  Hiya, Diary.

  I am in such a good mood!

  I’ve already been putting a lot of work into being a great actress. Tonight I want to focus on being a great daughter (by FINALLY working on my mother’s shower) and a great friend (by hanging with Chloe and Missy).

  I can’t wait!

  Zee

  * * *

  “Let’s work on Baby Blast decorations!” Zee suggested as she opened her bedroom door later that evening. “I know my mom would really love it if we made the decorations ourselves.”

  Three different kinds of paper in a rainbow of colors, a few pairs of scissors, glue sticks, tubes of glitter and sequins, and fabric surrounded the girls.

  “Good gosh, Zee,” Chloe said. “It looks as though an arts and crafts store exploded in your room.”

  Missy surveyed the contents of the floor. “Is your mother planning on having any more babies? I think there’s enough here for three Baby Blasts.”

  Zee laughed and picked up a ribbon from one of the piles. “I wanted to give us some options—you know, so that we could all suggest ideas.”

  “Well . . . I do have one that I think would be really cool,” Chloe said, then looked at Zee. “And different.”

  “Whatever you think would be good is fine with me,” Zee told her. She was going to be super-careful not to be bossy tonight. She was determined to make Chloe and Missy feel like their ideas were important and appreciated.

  “How about if we make giant pom-poms out of crepe paper and hang them from the ceiling?” Chloe suggested.

  “Cool beans!” Zee said.

  Missy grabbed a bunch of fabric. “And we could make fabric tassels out of this material,” she added. “Instead of doing everything blue and pink, we could match the pom-poms to the colors in the fabrics.”

  Zee knew her friends were making an extra effort to come up with ideas that she would like. Luckily, Zee didn’t have to fake her enthusiasm since Chloe and Missy really had come up with great ideas.

  The three girls began to fold and twist and cut.

  “So give us the dirt, Zee,” Chloe said. “Is Hollywood as cutthroat and nasty as the magazines say?”

  “Actually, everyone I have met has been really nice,” Zee answered with a shrug.

  “That’s so cool,” Missy said. “You must be so excited all the time.”

  “It’s fun, but I really miss seeing all my friends too,” Zee said honestly.

  “Can we come to the set of the show?” Chloe asked.

  Zee giggled. “I’ll make sure my agent puts it in my contract!”

  “Will you get to go to the Oscars and the Emmys?” Missy asked.

  Chloe held a tube of glue up to her mouth as if it were a microphone. “Excuse me, Ms. Carmichael. Who are you wearing on the red carpet today?”

  Zee gave her hair an exaggerated flip. “Well . . . the blouse is Brookdale Thrift Shop. I made the skirt out of a pair of my mother’s old blue jeans. And of course, the shoes are by the unmistakable designer Conversé.” She said the brand name with a heavy French accent.

  “Oh la la!” Chloe said in a fake snobby voice as she pretended to look into a camera. “Dakota Morning, eat your heart out!”

  Missy laughed. “So many celebrities are so fake. I can’t imagine Zee ever becoming like that.”

  “Ohmylanta!” Zee said. “If I ever do, please tell me.”

  “Oh, we will,” Chloe said, nodding her head.

  Zee opened up the sections of the pom-pom she was working on. “This is so much fun. I really miss being with you guys—and The Beans.”

  “Yeah, it’s kind of weird rehearsing without you,” Chloe said.

  “I’m really sorry about abandoning the band,” Zee said. “It must be awful being led by Kathi.”

  “Kathi’s not so bad,” Missy said as she evened out the bottom off her fabric tassel with scissors.

  “Really?” Zee was shocked.

  “Uh-huh,” Chloe told Zee.

  “Isn’t she acting bossy?” Zee asked.

  “She’s supposed to be. Mr. P put her in charge,” Missy pointed out.

  “She’s actually got really good ideas,” Chloe added. “And she’s an awesome singer.”

  “Now that you’re busy with the TV show, it’s good that there’s someone who can take your place,” Missy said matter-of-factly.

  Zee waited, hoping one of her friends would say something like “Not that anyone could take your place,” but neither girl did. The silence was almost as hurtful as Missy’s actual words had been. Did she know how much her comment stung?

  As she watched Chloe and Missy work on Baby Blast decorations, Zee was certain she was being too sensitive. But there was one more thing that was bothering her.

  “Poor Jasper,” Zee said, trying to sound casual.

  “Why?” Missy asked.

  Zee shrugged. “It’s just . . . Kathi is always hanging around with him now. Don’t you think that’s kind of weird since she’s always been kind of nasty to him?”

  “Maybe Kathi figured out that he’s actually really cool and that she should be nicer to him,” Chloe said.

  Zee focused on the pom-pom in her hands. “It seems like she’s flirting with him. Do you think he likes her like that?”

  “I doubt it, but it’s cool that he’s getting more attention,” Chloe answered. “And it’s awesome that she clearly likes him.”

  What did Chloe mean by stressing clearly like that? Was she accusing Zee of sending Jasper confusing messages? It was like she had taken a giant rubber stamp and stamped the word guilty across Zee’s forehead! Somehow Kathi had managed to spoil her sleepover, and she wasn’t even there!

  Zee had a great time with Chloe and Missy—even though Chloe’s comment nagged at her until she fell asleep. When they woke up the next morning, the uncomfortable feeling hadn’t gone away. After the girls left, Zee
knew she needed Ally more than ever. She grabbed her laptop, got comfortable on her bed, and Skyped her BFF. She was relieved when Ally’s face appeared on the screen.

  “Hey, Zee!” Ally called through the screen.

  “Happy Sunday!” Zee called back. “Wait—is it still Sunday in Paris? Wait—are you in Paris right now?” Ally’s parents were journalists who traveled a lot, and Ally sometimes traveled with them.

  “I am in Paris, and the last time I checked, it was still Sunday.” Ally laughed.

  “I can hardly keep track anymore,” Zee said. “Every day seems crazier than the one before.”

  “You better get used to it,” Ally warned. “That’s how it’s going to be when you’re famous.”

  “I don’t know if I really want to be famous,” Zee answered, throwing her head back on the pillow.

  Ally looked hard at Zee through the screen. Zee knew that Ally could tell something wasn’t right.

  “Why are you upset?” Ally asked.

  Zee spilled. “My sleepover with Missy and Chloe wasn’t like it used to be. And when I hang out with The Beans, it’s not the same.”

  “But they’re good changes for the most part, right?”

  “Everything is changing so fast. I don’t know.” Zee paused, then went on. “And I never even get to hang out with Jasper anymore.”

  “Are you still friends?” Ally asked.

  “Of course, we’re still friends!”

  “Does he know that?”

  “We’re working on a science pro—” Zee stopped. “Uh-oh.”

  “What?”

  Zee covered her face in her hands, then peeked out at Ally. “I haven’t been the best science partner in the world,” she confessed.

  “How come? Is it just because you’ve been so busy?”

  How did Ally always figure out everything so fast? “It might be because I’m avoiding him. And I can’t stand the thought of him having a crush on Kathi,” Zee admitted.