by Paige Toon
At least Agnes has been lucky in love. Brett is moving to America permanently next week after getting a job here, and Agnes has been practically bouncing off the walls in her excitement. I am so, so happy for her. I like Brett, and it’s going to be fun hanging out as a foursome this summer.
Sienna and I have stayed in touch by email and we’re catching up for a coffee when she returns from Italy where she’s shooting the next CiaoCiao campaign. She seems to be in a good place. We haven’t really talked about Dana or what happened, but I think her wounds are beginning to heal.
As for Margarita, Gina and co, I haven’t heard a peep from them for months. Maybe our teen girl squad will reform once I’m back at school, but I’ll be taking it all with an enormous pinch of salt. I still like them – they were nice to me, after all – but I’m not confusing what we had for genuine friendship. Agnes, on the other hand, I love to bits.
‘Hey,’ I hear a deep voice say, turning to see my dad hop up onto the stage to join me. A frisson of excitement passes over the extras and, out of the corner of my eye, I see the director do a double take. Johnny has stayed out of sight until now.
‘Good luck, chick. You look the part.’
‘Thanks, Dad,’ I say warmly.
He flew over from Stockholm to be with me for this – he’s right in the middle of his European dates, but he had a few days off, and I’m so grateful he used them to catch up with me.
Meg told me on the phone a couple of days ago that she’s had it up to her ears with touring. She and the boys are coming back at the end of the summer for Barney to start the next school year, and Johnny is going to carry on with his US dates alone. Meg is hiring a nanny to take care of the boys – and me, I guess – so she can fly out to support her husband whenever she wants to. She must be feeling more secure; that he’s not going to spiral downhill without her around to take care of him. I’m so glad they’re back to their best after what I put them through.
‘Any tips about miming?’ I ask my dad.
‘Nope.’ He smirks. ‘I’ve always played live.’
‘Damn,’ I mutter.
He chuckles and squeezes my shoulder. ‘You know this song like the back of your hand, Jess. Just sing it like you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine.’
I take a deep breath and exhale in a rush of air. I notice we still have the director’s attention.
‘Do you fancy doing a cameo?’ I ask with a cheeky grin. The director’s ears prick up. He is so eavesdropping on our conversation.
Johnny chuckles and shrugs, but he doesn’t say an outright no. Wait, is he considering it?
‘Oh my God, go on, that would be so cool!’ I erupt. I would love to see him out the front!
‘Shhh!’ he warns, frowning at me in alarm before looking round to clock the director. The man’s jaw has just hit the floor. He hurries over to us.
‘Kevin Mansini,’ he introduces himself, shaking Johnny’s hand. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing. Are you serious?’ he asks eagerly.
Johnny gazes at him calmly, then at me, before looking back at him. ‘Yeah, what the hell,’ he says finally with a shrug.
I actually squeal.
‘But you’re not putting that shit on me!’ Johnny warns, stopping the make-up artist in her tracks.
She gives him a puppy dog look. ‘Just a little powder, I promise. You don’t wanna look shiny under the lights,’ she beseeches.
Johnny sighs. ‘Go on, then.’
I try to stifle my giggles as she gets to work.
Stu didn’t come to the studio today, but he’s looking forward to hearing all about the filming tonight. He’s in LA for the summer, acting as my chaperone. I know he’s missing Caroline – they’re well and truly an item now and I’m at peace with it. I’ve always liked her and I want Stu to be happy – Caroline, too. I feel guilty that I’m the reason they’re currently apart, but Caroline is coming to California on holiday soon, so they’ll be spending lots of time together then.
Tom is also coming, and his sister Becky, but they’re staying with their dad. It’ll be Becky’s first time meeting Riley, and Tom tells me they’re both nervous. Fingers crossed it will go well. Apparently Becky’s really missed having a relationship with her dad. I can relate.
And yes, it has occurred to Tom and I that, if Caroline and Stu get married, we’ll be stepsiblings. That would be so weird… He and I are good friends now – and it’s completely platonic. He was my rock when I went back to school. I found it hard at first, being ogled like I was some sort of celebrity, but after a while, everything settled down and people got over it. Everyone except Nina. For some reason – jealousy, probably – she really had it in for me, but when Tom overheard her telling me that I thought I was ‘it’, he gave her hell. She’s had a crush on him for ages, so his rant must’ve stung, but it did the trick: she was saccharine-sweet to me after that.
Not that her good behaviour got her anywhere with the object of her affection. Tom now has a new girlfriend – a lovely girl called Ava who, funnily enough, was in his class all along. Together with Libby, Lou, Chris and me, we had a great little gang when I was back at school in the UK. We hung out most lunchtimes and some evenings, when Nat and our college pals would join us. I’m going to miss everyone now that I’m back in LA, but no doubt we’ll see each other again soon. I guess I’ll always be jumping back and forth between two different countries and two sets of friends, but that’s OK. I’ve learnt that I’m pretty adaptable. And of course, I also have two dads, now, too.
I’ve promised Stu that I won’t give him any trouble this summer – not with him forgoing his Caroline-time to be with me. I will absolutely one hundred per cent behave myself.
Well, maybe one hundred per cent is pushing it. Let’s say ninety per cent. Or eighty… On second thoughts, perhaps I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep. This is Jessie Jefferson we’re talking about, after all.
Yes, Jessie Jefferson. I’ve come round to it, to the idea of who I am, who I want to be, and I believe in my heart of hearts that if Mum could see the journey I’ve been on, she’d understand me taking my dad’s name at last. This is the way it should be, and Johnny is my dad – the best dad I could hope for. It only took him sixteen years to get there…
‘OK, everyone into position!’ Kevin, the director, shouts.
A powerful thrum of nerves pulses through me as I step up to the microphone, trying not to be fazed by the enormous camera pointed at my bandmates and me. My dad is standing front and centre of all the extras on the dance floor, looking up at the stage. From what I overheard being discussed, he’s playing himself, here to watch his daughter – that’s me, folks – and her band. Lottie, to his left, is going to spot him and have a fangirl moment, and later, she and her friends will ask for his autograph. Oh God, this is going to be so brilliant!
Little Miss Mulholland has had celebrity cameos before, but I don’t recall any at the level of Johnny’s fame. A sudden surge of exhilaration replaces my nerves – when it airs, this episode will be a really big deal.
The press attention surrounding me went completely crazy after I sang with my dad at Wembley – he called me back onstage over the next two nights, too, and at all of the weekend gigs I was able to attend: Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin, to name but a few.
But that press was about Johnny and me, not All Hype. This exposure is going to send us rocketing into the stratosphere…
I flash Jack a sideways grin, excitement bubbling through me.
He blows me a cool, sweet kiss and my heart melts.
‘Let’s go!’ Kevin shouts. ‘Take one and cue the music! One, two, three, and…’
Miles syncs in with the opening drum beats of ‘Blue Tuesday’ and suddenly it’s happening, we’re doing this. It’s as easy as breathing, I remind myself. As easy as breathing…
The song is over before I know it, but our work has only just begun. We’re going to have to film more takes and capture different camera angles. Johnny grins up at me
as the crew get the next shot ready.
‘OK?’ I mouth.
‘Brilliant,’ he mouths back, his eyes shining with pride.
Not only do I have a dad now, but I’m making him proud…
The thought makes me feel suddenly emotional. I really need to get my act together before I incur the make-up artist’s wrath again. Mascara running down my cheeks would so not be a good look…
I can’t believe it’s only been just over a year since I first set foot in LA, beginning my journey from ordinary girl to rock star’s daughter. I still think of my mum every day and I know I’ll miss her for the rest of my life, but I like to think of her up in heaven, smiling down at me with a big, cheesy grin on her face. I hope I’ve made her proud, too.
No, I know I have. I love you, Mum…
I blink back tears and take a deep, shaky breath. It’s almost time for our next take.
I feel like I’ve come full circle, but now I’m back in the glittering City of Angels, and this time, I’m hoping – just hoping – that I’m here to stay.
But anything could happen.
And I’m starting to realise that that’s just the way I like it.
‘Take two!’
Acknowledgements
Thank you, above all, to my readers. I love hearing from everyone who messages me on twitter @PaigeToonAuthor and Facebook.com/PaigeToonAuthor, so please say hi if you haven’t already! This may be the third and final book in the Jessie Jefferson series, but I’m sure you will hear from Jessie and co again, so please sign up (for free!) to my book club, The Hidden Paige, at www.paigetoon.com to receive my emails, which sometimes include mini sequels about your favourite characters…
Thank you to the whole team at Simon & Schuster – my brilliant publisher for a whopping ten years now – but in particular, thanks to my lovely editor, Rachel Mann; my editor on the adult team, Suzanne Baboneau; my young adult agent, Veronique Baxter, and everyone else at David Higham – it is such a pleasure to work with you all and I’m truly grateful for everything that you do.
Thank you to the following people, who helped me suss out the ways in which America does things differently, not least with their school system: Kendall Reid, Kimberly Floyd, Susan Rains, Jen Hayes and Michelle McGill. Thank you also to my old English teacher, Chris England, for his help with the British side of school life.
Huge thanks to all of my friends who so sweetly continue to let me natter on about my characters and book ideas, especially my fellow author, Ali Harris, whose suggestions and advice without a doubt made this book better.
Finally, thank you to my family: my parents, Jen and Vern Schuppan; my husband, Greg, who helps me in so many ways, and my gorgeous little children, Indy and Idha. I love you all very, very much indeed.
