There was a stony silence from the audience.
‘Loser fans are the very worst part of being a mega-star.’ Jessica tossed her hair and sat back down in the booth.
The real-life Jessica whirled around, mouth hanging open. ‘I . . . I . . . I . . .’ For once she seemed unable to speak.
Olivia remembered overhearing how mean Jessica was to Charlotte in the Meat and Greet the last time she saw the two of them together. Jessica might be one of the most famous, talented and powerful young actresses in Hollywood, but that didn’t mean she could cross Charlotte Brown and not suffer some cheerleader revenge.
Olivia looked at Jackson. He nodded towards the wings. ‘Go on, get out of here,’ he whispered. ‘You shouldn’t have to be part of this.’ Olivia hurried offstage, just as the massive boos started to ring out from the crowd . . .
In front of a set of monitors in the green room, with Mr Vega on one side and Lillian on the other, Ivy did a happy dance.
‘I will be nice to Charlotte Brown for the rest of my life!’ Ivy declared, but then she realised what she had just said. ‘Correction: I will try to be nice to Charlotte Brown.’
Olivia peeked through the green-room door and lit up when she saw her family there. ‘What was that?’ she asked, but Ivy didn’t want to dish the dirt about how Jessica went all out to swap Olivia’s video. It was enough that justice had been done and Jessica had exposed herself.
‘Let’s just say that we might owe Charlotte a few Beauty Boosting Blueberry smoothies when we get back to Franklin Grove,’ Ivy replied. ‘As long as I don’t have to drink them with her.’
Mr Vega gave Olivia a hug. ‘I’m so proud of you, Olivia. First winning the award and then being so mature in the face of all that silliness.’
Lillian smiled. ‘And you looked beautiful.’
Jackson burst into the room. ‘Olivia!’ he cried, rushing over. ‘Wow!’ He gave Olivia a big hug. ‘You were amazing!’
‘Thanks,’ Olivia whispered.
Harker appeared behind them. ‘Dude,’ he said to Olivia, shaking his head. ‘That was rough, but you really pulled it off. True star quality. How about doing it all over again next year?’
Ivy held her breath. This was Harker asking if Olivia was going to stick with being an actress.
Olivia smiled. ‘If we can do it without all the drama, I would love to be back here again next year.’
Lillian clapped and Mr Vega beamed and Jackson whooped so loud that the other guests in the green room stared. Even Ivy had to admit she was happy for her sister, but there was something that worried her. Did that mean Olivia was going to leave Franklin Grove?
Harker grabbed Olivia’s hand to shake it. ‘I will definitely be calling your dad tomorrow and we’ll make you a Beverly Hills local in no time.’ Then he turned to Ivy. ‘Are you sure you don’t want a shiny award like your sister?’ Harker asked. ‘We could come up with a new category. The Darkest Star award . . .’
‘Tempting,’ Ivy replied. ‘But this town doesn’t exactly go with my colour scheme. And I’m desperate to get back to a certain someone in Franklin Grove.’ Ivy wasn’t used to being without Brendan this much and she didn’t want to be.
Harker shrugged. ‘I might have known; there is always some boy. Check you later, then,’ he said and sauntered off.
‘So,’ Ivy said to Olivia, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer. ‘What are you thinking? Are you going to move out here to Beverly Hills?’
If her sister wanted to follow her dream, Ivy wouldn’t stop her.
Olivia shook her head. ‘No way. I’ve only just moved to Franklin Grove.’
‘Me, too!’ Jackson put in. ‘And I don’t want to pack up all those boxes again.’
‘Like Jackson’s already said, we’ll make Hollywood come to us,’ Olivia declared. ‘Or we can travel for shoots.’
Ivy hugged Olivia again. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard tonight.’
Two hours later, the show had been over for ages and Olivia had been stuffing her face. The green room had been rearranged into a buffet area with sit-down tables and while most of the celebs had gone off to after-show parties, there were still some people hanging around to enjoy the hospitality – and avoid the crowds waiting outside.
‘Live television makes me hungry,’ Olivia said, with a mouthful of fruit salad.
‘Me too,’ said Jackson, who had gobbled down two veggie burgers heaped with ketchup. There were plenty of carnivorous options for the fanged members of her family.
Olivia couldn’t believe how it had all turned out: a part in a huge movie next to her boyfriend, the approval of fans about her relationship, and her dad had a new potential love in his life.
She looked at Lillian and her bio-dad fighting over the last bite of chocolate cake. He seemed so happy and Olivia knew that Lillian was great.
Olivia shared a look with Ivy. Her sister was clearly thinking the same thing.
‘OK, love birds,’ Ivy said. ‘Can’t we go back to our over-the-top suite for a good night’s sleep now?’
Mr Vega stood up. ‘You won’t hear me arguing. This father-of-the-star act is exhausting.’
Olivia nudged him with her elbow. ‘Stop it.’ She picked up her award off the table and smiled at it. It felt good to have something to hold on to.
‘Thanks!’ Olivia called to the production assistant who was helping clear up the buffet table. ‘Bye!’
Ivy waved goodbye as well.
‘I think there’s a side entrance over this way.’ Lillian led them out of the green room and past props people breaking down the awards show set.
‘After a night like tonight, I’m glad we can just sneak away,’ Olivia said. ‘I have a feeling things are going to get a little crazier for a while.’
‘Not too crazy,’ Ivy said, as they approached the side exit. ‘There will be no paparazzi stalkers, or they will have me to deal with.’
‘Well, if you’re my bodyguard –’ but Olivia didn’t get the chance to finish her sentence.
Lillian had pushed open the door and Olivia’s ears were filled with the screaming of a hoard of fans.
‘Uh oh,’ said Jackson. ‘Looks like people didn’t want to go home.’
Olivia grinned. ‘They must have been waiting for their host!’
‘Let’s go somewhere else,’ Ivy said. Jackson shook his head.
‘It’s not a red carpet,’ he said to Olivia. ‘But I’ve been waiting so long just to walk somewhere with you. Can this be it?’
Olivia beamed. She looked at her dad and Lillian, who smiled encouragingly. ‘We’ll wait here,’ said Mr Vega.
‘How can I say no?’ Olivia replied. She let Jackson lead her out into the crowd. The noise was overwhelming.
Jackson waved and Olivia followed his lead, raising her hand above her head.
‘I don’t think they are here for me,’ he shouted.
Olivia listened and heard, ‘O-liv-i-a! O-livi-a!’ chanted over and over again. She couldn’t believe it.
A young girl holding her mom’s hand was waving an autograph book. ‘I love your hair!’ she shouted.
Olivia stepped over and knelt down as much as her evening dress would let her. ‘Me?’
‘Ohmigosh, yes!’ the girl squealed. As Olivia scribbled her name, the little girl said, ‘I’m going to be just like you when I grow up.’
Olivia smiled and wrote, ‘Be true to yourself,’ below her signature.
She and Jackson started signing autographs together and talking to the fans who had waited so long to see them.
Suddenly, the crowd went silent. Jessica had appeared at the exit. Someone booed and then the rest of the crowd joined in.
‘Whatever!’ Jessica declared and waved her hand dismissively. She clicked away and ducked into the back of a limo.
Olivia couldn’t help feeling relieved to see the back of Jessica.
‘I hope that’s the last we see of her,’ Ivy said, linking her arm through Olivia’s.
&
nbsp; With her sister on one side and her boyfriend on the other – and crowds screaming her name – Olivia couldn’t keep the grin off her face. She twirled round on the spot, taking it all in. Remembering the poses that Spencer had taught her, she allowed the photographers to snap her with her new hairstyle.
Everything was going to work out. She could just feel it. With Ivy encouraging her and Jackson on her arm, Olivia knew she could do more and more as an actress. It wasn’t just about the dresses or the hype, the crowds of fans or the glamorous hotels. It was about being true to herself.
I did it. I really did it, she thought.
‘Happy?’ Jackson asked, as she rested her head on his shoulder.
‘I couldn’t be happier,’ she murmured. ‘I’m with you, aren’t I?’
Jackson leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. The crowd exploded into cheers and applause. Jackson brought one arm around Olivia’s waist and dipped at the knees to scoop his other arm beneath her legs. Before she knew it, he’d picked her up and was swirling her around and around. She threw her arms around his neck and burst out laughing. She could see the blurry outlines of Ivy, her dad and Lillian all grinning as they watched.
‘This is the best moment of my life!’ she cried. And she knew this was only the beginning.
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