Diamonds are Forever

by Michelle Madow

  “You couldn’t be more wrong.” He draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “Yes, I tried to be interested in other girls, but none of them held my interest for long because they couldn’t compare to you. You’re the one constant in my life, Mads. No matter what stupid thing I do, you stick by me, and you think the best of me. No one else believes in me like you do—not even my family. And I think you’re absolutely amazing. You go for what you want no matter who tries to stop you. You’re smarter than anyone else in our grade. You speak your mind, you can always make me smile and you’re beautiful. For me, there’s never been anyone else. It’s always been you.”

  His words left her breathless, and without thinking about what she was doing, she crushed her lips against his. His hand cupped her cheek, and he kissed her back hungrily, as if he couldn’t get enough. She never wanted this moment to end.

  But like he’d said, they had a year and a half until college. That was a long time. And she didn’t want to rush one moment of it. So she broke the kiss and forced her eyes open, the intensity of his gaze taking her breath away.

  “You’re the only one for me, too.” She felt like she was in a daze, like this was too perfect to be real. “But I never let myself think about the possibilities between us, because I was afraid that if I did, you would break my heart. I just wish it hadn’t taken you landing yourself in the hospital for me to realize how much I needed you.”

  “You knew before then.” He smiled and captured her hand with his. “Remember Thanksgiving? You were the one who kissed me...”

  “Hey.” She gave him a playful shove. “What about on Halloween? Before Larissa interrupted us, you were totally about to kiss me.”

  “You think so?” he challenged. Then his lips were on hers again, silencing her so she couldn’t answer. This kiss was sweeter than before, and she felt so happy that she wanted to melt into him. “I was pretty bummed when you left on Halloween,” he said. “The rest of the night sucked without you.”

  “Last semester was rough.” She traced patterns on his arm, loving being able to touch him whenever she wanted. “You got me through it.”

  “I hated seeing you so upset.” His forehead rested against hers, his eyes shining. “But I have an important question for you.”

  “Oh, yeah?” she asked. “What’s that?”

  “How would you like to be my date to Adrian and Rebecca’s wedding?”

  “Wouldn’t you technically be my date?” she teased. “Since I’m the daughter of the groom.”

  “Come on.” He held her hand tighter. “Don’t leave me hanging here.”

  “Yes,” she said, and he brightened the moment she’d said it. “I would love to be your date to Adrian and Rebecca’s wedding.”

  He kissed her again, and for that moment, everything was perfect.

  www.campusbuzz.com

  High Schools > Nevada > Las Vegas > The Goodman School

  Adrian and Rebecca’s Wedding Weekend!

  Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 5:12 PM

  Who else has been following the TV specials about Adrian and Rebecca’s wedding this weekend? It’s so so so romantic—­high school sweethearts reunited. My mom keeps saying that it’s just like William and Kate, only in America <3

  1: Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 5:24 PM

  I heard they were keeping it small? like, only the family and close friends?

  2: Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 5:47 PM

  The ceremony will be small, but the reception is going all out!

  3: Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 6:15 PM

  why are you all even talking about this on here? the only people from school who are going are Peyton, Courtney, Savannah, Madison, Brett, Damien, and Oliver...

  4: Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 6:45 PM

  I get why most people on that list are going (the girls and Brett are obvious, and Oliver’s family is close friends with the Diamonds) but why Damien?

  5: Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 7:00 PM

  Damien is Savannah’s date! The two of them have been together since spring break!

  6: Posted on Wednesday 4/1 at 7:23 PM

  Speaking of Savannah, I heard she went to LA a few days ago to audition for American StarMaker, and that she got a callback. I always knew that girl had talent—can’t wait to watch her on the show this summer!

  chapter 29:

  We’ll be there in ten minutes! See you soon!

  Savannah paced around the lobby of the Diamond, rereading the message on her phone. Finally, a limo pulled around the front, and a flash of red hair reflected through the window. Before the bellman even had a chance to reach for the door, Savannah ran outside to greet her friend.

  “Evie!” she said, wrapping her in a hug the moment she stepped out of the limo. “I’m so glad you made it.”

  “You know I couldn’t miss the big wedding weekend,” Evie said, smiling brighter than Savannah had ever seen. “I’m seriously so excited. And thank you again for giving me a plus one.”

  “Of course,” Savannah said. She glanced back at the limo, watching as a guy stepped out wearing dark sunglasses, a baseball hat, and a hoodie pulled over his head. No one would have been able to tell it was Noel from One Connection unless they specifically knew to be looking for him.

  “Hey, Savannah,” he said, his hand sliding easily into Evie’s. “Thanks for letting me come so last-minute.”

  “Anytime,” she said. “Just don’t break her heart, okay? I don’t want to have to kick you out of the hotel...”

  “Don’t worry.” He smiled. “She’s in safe hands with me.”

  “I know,” she said. “When I heard you were flying here for the two nights this week you have off from tour, I knew it meant you weren’t playing around.”

  “Very true.” He nodded, and then yawned. “Speaking of which, I have massive jet lag. Do you mind if I lie down so I’m ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight?”

  “Not at all,” Savannah said. “This weekend is going to be crazy—I’ll have so much family stuff—so this might be one of the only times Evie and I have to catch up.”

  Which was how she and Evie ended up at the Diamond Café, at Savannah’s favorite table in the back corner, talking over mugs of Signature Hot Chocolate.

  “So, what’s been going on with you and Damien?” Evie asked, her eyes shining. “I saw that you’re Facebook official.”

  “Everything’s amazing with me and Damien.” Savannah smiled. “We’ve even been double-dating with Oliver and Madison.”

  “Really?” Evie raised an eyebrow. “Is that...weird?”

  “Sometimes.” She shrugged. “But Damien, Oliver and Madison have known each other for so long, and they’re all really comfortable around each other, so it’s not as awkward as it could be. It’s actually pretty fun. We go to dinner, and the movies, and bowling.”

  “Bowling?” Evie crinkled her nose. “That sounds boring for Vegas.”

  “Oliver’s trying to tone down his partying,” Savannah explained. “And between keeping up with school, recording new videos, managing my YouTube channel and working with my new songwriting coach, I don’t have the time to stay out late at parties, anyway.”

  “Speaking of YouTube, I can’t believe you got that callback last weekend for American StarMaker,” Evie said. “Well, I can believe it, because you’re an amazing singer, but I remember us watching that show together at my house every summer. And now you might be on it!”

  “It was just a callback,” Savannah said. “It doesn’t mean I’m on the show.”

  “I know,” she said. “But it’s one step closer.”

  “True.” Savannah couldn’t help from smiling. “I don’t want to get my hopes up, because I might not get through this round of auditions, but it is pretty awesome.”

&nbs
p; She wasn’t the only one who thought so, because later, when she was at lunch at the Grande Café with her sisters, Mom and Grandma, it was one of the first things that came up. They’d all gone with her to LA for the auditions and hadn’t stopped talking about it since.

  “I have to admit, I was worried for you before you stepped onto that stage,” Mom said as she used her small lobster fork to scoop out the claw.

  “I was so nervous, too,” Savannah said. “I could barely eat toast and jelly that morning, my stomach was such a mess. But then when I stepped out on the stage and started singing, being up there felt so right.”

  “You should have seen the group of us jumping up and down backstage when the first two judges pressed the button that they wanted you to continue on to the next round of auditions,” Courtney said. “Well, you will see it when they air it. It was a pretty incredible moment.”

  “Remind me what comes next?” Grandma asked.

  “I’ll go out to LA at the beginning of the summer for the next round of auditions,” Savannah said. “It’s the American StarMaker boot camp week. It’s at a hotel, and from what I’ve seen on the show, it’s intense. There’s usually about thirty people there, and half of us won’t make the cut. Based on that week, the judges will decide which half of us will move into the house and be on the show, and which ones of us will go home.”

  “And you did it without Perry Myles’s help,” Peyton said.

  “I’m glad I did it on my own,” Savannah agreed. “Although I felt bad that Emily Nicole didn’t make it past the first round of auditions.”

  “Whatever.” Peyton rolled her eyes. “She may have an established fan base from being on YouTube for years, but you’re way more talented than her.”

  “At least when we were in LA, we got past what happened in Aspen and are friends again,” Savannah said.

  “What happened in Aspen?” Mom asked.

  “Oh...nothing,” Savannah said, sharing a knowing look with her sisters. “Just girl drama. We’re over it now.”

  “Well, I’m sorry your friend didn’t make it through the tryouts, but you deserve this,” Grandma said. “You’ve got a real shot at making it onto the show, and maybe even at winning.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I still have to get through boot camp week.”

  “We know.” Grandma smiled. “But you were the best. You’ll make it. And even if you don’t, you’re still a star to us.”

  “You have to say that,” Savannah said, laughing. “You’re my family.”

  “We believe in you,” Mom said. “But with all the contestants living in a house together and being filmed all the time, we’re also worried about you.”

  Savannah stopped twirling her pasta, dreading what was coming next. “What are you worried about?” she asked, sitting up straighter. “You’re not going to keep me from doing the show, right?”

  “We just want you to really think this through,” Grandma said. “We know how stressed you were during the filming for My Fabulous Sweet Sixteen, and you’ll be on camera even more for American StarMaker.”

  “I know.” Savannah stabbed her pasta with her fork. “Which is why after the wedding, I’ll be working with that publicist Adrian hired, to make sure I’m ready. I can handle this.”

  “I’m sure you can,” Grandma said. “But if you decide you want to have a normal summer here with your sisters and friends, none of us will think less of you for it.”

  “And turn down this opportunity?” Savannah’s eyes widened. “No way. I’m going to LA this summer. I’m going to be great on camera, and I’m going to do everything I can to win that competition. Plus, since Courtney and Brett are doing that summer program at UCLA, they’ll be there to support me through all the live performances.”

  “We know you can’t turn this down,” Mom said, and Savannah could finally breathe again. “We’re excited for you, too, but we just worry about you sometimes. I’ve seen that show before—you need to remember to stay out of the drama, and focus on the competitions.”

  “I watch the show, too, Mom,” Savannah said. “I know what to do. And I’m going to rock it.”

  “We’ll be rooting for you the entire time,” Grandma said.

  “Thanks.” Savannah took a big bite of her pasta, not wanting it to get cold.

  “Let’s not have this be all about Savannah, since we’re celebrating Peyton’s eighteenth birthday today, even if we are a week late,” Mom said. “So, Peyton, what are your plans for the summer? Are you spending time in LA, too? At the rate your sisters are going, perhaps your grandma and I should move out there as well.”

  “It’s just for the summer,” Savannah said, although her stomach fluttered at the thought that LA could be something more permanent in her future.

  “I’m not going to LA,” Peyton said.

  “You’re doing the Summer at Sea program, right?” Courtney asked.

  “Yeah.” Peyton shrugged, as if the program were no big deal.

  “I thought you didn’t want to go away for the summer?” asked Grandma. “That you were going to enjoy your summer until your fall gap-semester program started?”

  “Well, I’m not allowed to live in the American StarMaker house with Savannah, or the UCLA dorms with Courtney, and staying here by myself would suck,” Peyton said, picking at her chicken with her fork. “So I did some more research and found something called Summer at Sea. Apparently it’s like living on a cruise ship for the summer, and you learn from ‘real-life experiences’ while traveling. It doesn’t sound too bad.”

  “It actually sounds amazing,” Courtney said. “You get to cruise through Europe—and get academic credits for doing it. I definitely want to go the summer before I go to college.”

  “It sounds nice,” Grandma said, smiling. “And speaking of the next few months, your mom and I have something important we’d like to tell you.”

  “Okay.” Savannah fidgeted and sipped her water. “What’s going on?”

  “Since the funeral, we’ve done some talking,” she started. “When Sophie was in such a fragile condition, we didn’t want to uproot her, since we worried that the stress of moving to another state would have been too much. But now that...” She choked on her words, and Savannah and her sisters looked down in respect for Aunt Sophie. Grandma took a few sips of water, composed herself, and continued, “Now that we have more freedom about where we can live, your mom and I have decided to move to Las Vegas. We’ll be in the suburbs, away from the Strip, but we’ve chosen a house in a community close to your school.”

  “So we won’t have to choose between California and Las Vegas?” Savannah asked. “We’ll all be living in the same city?”

  “Yes, we will, but you still have a decision to make,” Mom said. “Peyton will be traveling for her gap year, but you and Courtney will need to decide if you want to continue living in the penthouse at the Diamond, or move in with me and Grandma. The house has enough bedrooms for each of you to have one of your own.” She took a deep breath, and continued, “I would really like for you to come live with us.”

  Savannah opened her mouth to say yes, because she wanted to make her mom happy. But was leaving the Diamond what she wanted? She loved living here—the feeling of being in an enchanted wonderland forest every time she walked through the lobby, the incredible food at the restaurants like the Grand Café, the Diamond Café, Adagio and the Diamond Steakhouse, and the easy walk to the gym and the pool. There were also the room-service breakfasts with Rebecca and Adrian, and the spa days she’d had with Rebecca—who she was enjoying spending time with. The Sundays she and her sisters had been spending with Adrian had helped them get to know him, too.

  And, of course, she loved having Damien a few doors down. Since UNLV was so close by, Damien was going to keep living in the Diamond next y
ear while going to school. Then there was Madison. While they’d gotten off on a bad start, they’d had that breakthrough in Aspen. Savannah liked this “new” Madison much better than the one she’d first met over the summer. She wanted to live near her, and get to know her.

  “I don’t know right now,” Savannah finally said. “I’m glad that both of you will be living in Vegas, and no matter what, I’ll be spending a lot of time at your house. But I love the Diamond, too.” Her stomach dropped at the thought of how disappointed Grandma and Mom must be that she wasn’t jumping at the opportunity to move back with them, so she looked to Courtney. Courtney always had answers. “What do you want to do?” she asked. “I want to be wherever you are.”

  Courtney took a deep breath and looked at Mom and Grandma. “I’m glad that you both are moving to Vegas, too,” she said. “It makes this decision easier. Because as much as I never thought this would have been possible, I love the Diamond. I’m happy here.”

  Mom ran her fingers over her hair, smoothing it down. “Does that mean you want to keep living in the condo instead of moving in with me and Grandma?”

  “I would like to,” Courtney said, unable to meet Mom’s eyes. “Especially since like you said, you’ll be living so close by. We’ll still see each other a lot. What about you, Savannah?”

  “I want to live in the condo, too,” Savannah agreed. Mom sank back in her seat and frowned, so she added, “I’m so happy you’re both moving here, and I’ll see you all the time and stay at the house with you over some weekends. But if it’s okay with you, I want to stay at the Diamond.”

  Nobody said anything for a few seconds. Savannah played with her napkin. Maybe she should take it back and say she would move in with Mom and Grandma?

  But she didn’t want to promise anything she would regret.

  “It’s your decision,” Grandma finally said. “If you want to stay in the condo, then we understand.”

  “And you’re welcome to stay at the new house with us whenever you want,” Mom added, although she did look disappointed.