Double Trouble

by Tina Wells

  Zee finished her text to Chloe:

  >Maybe I can meet you later, after I finally get out of here.

  Chloe messaged back:

  >I’ve got soccer and Missy has a violin lesson l8ter. Next time.

  Zee peeked out from under her red bangs and saw Dakota Morning walking into the reception area.

  Dakota’s face lit up in recognition. “Hey! I know you! You’re the girl from the elevator the other day.”

  Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Zee panicked in her head. Dakota Morning actually remembered me! “Uh-huh!” was all she could get out.

  “I knew I recognized that uniform—and the way you make it look like a fashion statement.” She stuck out her hand and said cheerfully, “I’m Dakota Morning. What’s your name?”

  “Zee. I’m . . . Zee.” She didn’t know what else to say. Zee had read practically everything that had ever been written about her favorite actress, so she felt like there wasn’t anything she could ask Dakota about herself.

  Thankfully, Zee’s father went in for the assist. “I’m J. P. Carmichael and this is my daughter, Mackenzie Blue.”

  “Is Mackenzie Blue your real name?” Dakota asked her.

  Zee nodded.

  “Well, then you were born to be a star.” Dakota leaned closer. “For most people, acting is ten percent style and ninety percent faking it. You’ve got one hundred percent style, and you don’t look like a fake to me. You’re the real deal.”

  Zee kept waiting to wake up from this daydream, but this was reality. She was talking to Dakota Morning!

  “You may go right in to see Mr. Sloan,” Zee heard the receptionist say. But the receptionist wasn’t talking to her—she was talking to Dakota.

  Zee watched as Dakota Morning walked toward Jamie Sloan’s office door. But she didn’t mind waiting a little while longer. After all, one of the most famous actresses in the world was actually talking to her—and making her feel like a star. If she was going to have to wait, she might as well work on her new song.

  * * *

  The earth started spinning

  When you started grinning.

  It all came together

  Let’s call this forever

  For us.

  * * *

  When Zee got home that night, she immediately logged onto Bluetopia to see what she had missed after she’d left early that day. An invitation to a Baby Blast rehearsal at Chloe’s house was waiting for her.

  * * *

  Saturday—Baby Blast Rehearsal

  Refreshments and fun after practice.

  * * *

  Chloe had actually invited Zee to a Beans rehearsal even though she wouldn’t be performing with them at the Baby Blast! Zee clicked on “Yes.”

  Figuring Chloe was probably home from soccer practice by now, Zee called her to video chat.

  “How did you get your parents to agree to let you have a party?” Zee asked.

  “Shhhh!” Chloe put her finger up to her mouth. “It’s a rehearsal, just like the invitation said.”

  “But the invitation said there will be refreshments and fun. That sounds like a party, too.”

  “You know how serious my parents are,” Chloe explained. “I finally figured out that they don’t care if I have a party—as long as I don’t call it a party.”

  “So this way, everyone is happy,” Zee translated.

  “Besides, we do need to rehearse.”

  “That was really nice of you to invite me to the . . . rehearsal . . . even though I’m not going to play at the Baby Blast.”

  “You’re still one of The Beans. And my mom and I want to help you and your mom out as much as possible.”

  “This is going to be so much fun!” Zee squealed at the screen.

  “I know, right?” Chloe beamed, then looked away, nervously. “Oh! I’ve gotta go. Landon is IM’ing me about the science project.”

  “Is that working out OK?” Zee asked.

  “What?”

  “Working with Landon?”

  “Oh . . . yeah. I mean . . . yeah.” Chloe shrugged. “But . . . um . . . I’ve got to go.”

  “Talk to ya later!” Zee said, ending the call. Then she looked at the blank computer screen.

  Was there something Chloe wasn’t telling her?

  * * *

  Yo, Diary.

  Something strange is going on with Chloe. I have a funny feeling (funny weird, not funny ha-ha) that she’s not telling me something. Kathi’s ignoring Landon so she can flirt with Jasper. Marcus and Conrad are always goofing around together and chose each other as science project partners. And now I’m focusing so much of my attention on the TV show. Who’s paying attention to Landon? He used to be the most popular boy in seventh grade. Now he seems kind of alone.

  Zee ya later!

  * * *

  11

  The Big (Screen) Test

  Zee sat in front of the TV on Saturday morning and scooped a spoonful of yogurt with fresh strawberries into her mouth. She barely noticed what was happening on the giant screen, though. All she could think about was the fact that today was the first day she didn’t have to think about TV—or her TV show, at least. The week had been filled with appointments, and now she wasn’t used to having a day to do nothing. But this day was even better than that. This was the day she was going to hang out with The Beans again.

  Out of nowhere, Mr. Carmichael appeared in front of the screen.

  “What’s up?” Zee asked, surprised.

  “Guess who is going to be Jamie Sloan’s newest client?” Mr. Carmichael asked, grinning.

  “Me?” Zee nearly dropped her bowl. “I can’t believe it!”

  “I can,” Zee’s father said. “He knows talent when he sees it. That’s why he’s the best in the business.”

  “I thought you said he was one of the best,” Zee joked.

  “Choosing you as a client made him the best.”

  Zee gave her father a hug.

  “He’ll contact the show’s casting director to find out the audition schedule, but he thinks they’ll begin soon.” Mr. Carmichael headed to the door. “I better call your grandmother . . . and your aunt Lyn . . . and my assistant will want to know . . .” His voice trailed off as he headed down the hall.

  As soon as her father was gone, Zee ran to get her diary.

  * * *

  It’s me again, Diary.

  Chloe’s party rehearsal is today, and I don’t want to ruin it by making the day all about me. But getting a talent agent is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me—besides becoming best friends with Ally, Chloe, and Jasper. And becoming part of The Beans. And finding out I’m going to have two more siblings.

  You know what I mean.

  It just seems as though everything is going right. I don’t want that to end. People say, “You can’t have it all,” but I think you can. I’ve got the greatest family (even Adam—shhh!), the most amazing band, the best Hollywood agent, and the best friends. Which is why I’m not going to mess things up today by talking about me. Today is about The Beans—and Chloe’s party (shhh! again). And I feel like nothing can go wrong.

  Zee

  * * *

  Zee arrived at the Lawrence-Johnsons’ house early so she could help Chloe set up for The Beans’ rehearsal.

  Chloe’s mother answered the front door. “Oh, hello, Zee,” Mrs. Lawrence-Johnson greeted her. In her simple orange shift dress, she looked as though she was ready for anything from a picnic in the park to a fancy dinner. A strand of glass beads hung around her neck and she wore a matching bracelet. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it to the rehearsal. Chloe told me about all of the good things that are happening for you lately. She says you’ve been very busy.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Lawrence-Johnson. I have been busy—but I’m definitely not too busy for my friends.”

  “Well, Chloe and I are certainly pleased to help out as much as we can with the Baby Blast. Your parents have always been so kind to us.”

  Ze
e wondered if it would be OK to tell Mrs. Lawrence-Johnson her good news about getting a talent agent. She wouldn’t be taking the attention away from Chloe since no one was there yet. And she was desperate to tell someone.

  “I just found out—”

  “Awesome! You’re here.” Chloe rushed into the foyer, grabbed Zee’s arm, and started to drag her into the kitchen and down the basement steps. “We have so much to do to set up for the rehearsal. We need to make sure everyone has enough to eat and drink while they rehearse.”

  Zee practically stumbled down the stairs behind Chloe, trying to keep up with her friend. “I think it’s nice that your parents are letting The Beans rehearse here,” she said once they were downstairs.

  “Thank you so much for coming early,” Chloe said. “You’re like the honorary cohost.”

  “Really?” Zee smiled. “That’s so nice.”

  Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to tell Chloe about Jamie Sloan. Technically, the party hasn’t really started, Zee thought. “I got some really great n—”

  “I can’t believe I’m actually going to have a sort-of party,” Chloe bubbled. “My parents have never even let me have a sleepover.” Then she paused. “I’m sorry, Zee. I’m just so excited. What were you going to say?”

  Looking at Chloe’s bright face, Zee knew that this rehearsal was as big a deal for her best friend as her news about having a talent agent was to her. Zee didn’t want to distract from Chloe’s big day.

  “It was nothing,” Zee said. Then she helped Chloe get the drinks and snacks ready.

  Soon the other Beans began to arrive with their instruments. At first, Zee felt like a part of the group—just like old times. She talked and laughed right along with her friends. It was so much fun to be back with the band and to see everyone having a good time. Even Kathi was being completely normal. Zee noticed that Jasper and Landon were hanging out as though they were good friends. They weren’t acting competitive at all.

  Then Marcus held up a bread stick. “Hey! Who am I?” he shouted. His mouth formed a large O. Then he said, “Uh-oh, I think I broke a string.”

  “Marcus!” Missy said in an exasperated voice. “It was serious!” She started laughing. Everyone else laughed, too, except for Zee.

  “What?” Zee looked from one friend to the next, confused. “I don’t get it.”

  “It was something that happened when we were practicing the other day after school,” Chloe explained between giggles.

  “How about when Jen’s mallet went flying up in the air and got stuck on the ceiling tiles?” Conrad said.

  “It nearly hit me on the head,” Landon said.

  Jen rolled her eyes as she laughed. “Oh, it did not.”

  Zee was beginning to feel left out of the fun. “How did you get it back?” she asked.

  “Chloe went to fetch the caretaker,” Jasper explained. “He brought a ladder.”

  “The caretaker?” Zee asked.

  The laughter began to die down.

  “He means the custodian,” Kathi said. She gave Jasper a playful swat on the arm. “I keep telling you that, Jasper.”

  Jasper blushed. “I know. I guess I still need a translator.”

  Zee felt weird that all of the conversation seemed to be about everything she had missed that week. As the party went on, she felt left out of almost every conversation she tried to join.

  “Do you think you should start practicing?” Zee said to Chloe a few minutes later. “You know, so your parents don’t get suspicious.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Chloe said. “I almost forgot! Can you help me tell everyone to get their instruments ready?”

  Happy to be a part of the rehearsal again, Zee started on one side of the room while Chloe told the people on the other.

  Zee’s first stop was Kathi and Jen. “Chloe wants to start rehearsing now,” Zee told them. “Can you get your instruments out?”

  “Thanks, Zee,” Kathi said, then gave Zee a pitying look. “I just think it is so nice that even though it’s not your band anymore, you are willing to be like a sort of . . . what’s the word?”

  “Assistant?” Jen chimed in.

  “Yes, that’s it!” Kathi said enthusiastically.

  Zee decided to move on to Jasper, who was at the snack table, scooping a mound of dip onto a chip.

  “I thought I’d find you by the food,” Zee teased. When she realized how much she sounded like Kathi, she immediately turned a deep shade of red. Ohmylanta! She thought. Why am I talking to Jasper this way?

  Although Zee hoped Jasper wouldn’t pick up on the flirty tone, when his face started turning the same shade of red and he looked at his feet, she knew he had. “Mmmfffwwmmff,” he mumbled, his mouth still stuffed with food.

  “Chloe says everyone should get instruments out,” Zee speed-said, then found Landon alone, gulping down a soda. Chloe reached him at exactly the same time.

  “Hey, Landon!” both girls said together.

  Chloe giggled nervously. Landon looked from one girl to the other, and Zee looked at Chloe.

  “You can tell him.” Both girls spoke at the same time again. “You can tell him.” Then Chloe let out more nervous laughter.

  Landon looked around. “If you want to tell me that we’re starting to rehearse, I got it,” he said.

  “Cool!” Chloe said, hurrying off to join the others.

  Zee’s eyes followed her best friend suspiciously. That was interesting.

  The first song that The Beans played was one that Zee had never even heard before.

  “Oooo, baby!” Kathi sang brightly. “When you smile, baby, you make me smile, too.” The other band members rocked and played their instruments until the chorus, when they all chimed in for the refrain.

  “It’s you, baby. It’s true, baby. You make the sun shine, baby. You make the flowers grow, baby. You make me know, baby, everything will be all right.”

  “That was awesome!” Chloe yelled when the song was over.

  “You were perfect, Kathi,” Missy said, lowering her violin from her chin.

  “I think we were all kind of perfect,” Conrad said.

  Suddenly, everyone turned to Zee. She felt as though a bright spotlight was shining down on her.

  “Well, Zee, what did you think?” Kathi asked.

  Zee forced a smile across her face. “It’s a really fun song,” she said. “Did you write it, Kathi?”

  Kathi nodded and smiled proudly. “I thought that since you aren’t writing any new songs for your mother’s shower, I would.”

  Zee wanted to be polite, but Kathi was actually trying to embarrass her in front of The Beans! She bit her tongue and asked, “So, the ‘baby’ is an actual baby?”

  Kathi rolled her eyes and looked at the other band members. “Obviously.”

  “It’s just kind of obvious to sing about a baby at a baby shower,” Zee shot back. Immediately, she regretted it.

  Kathi planted her hand on her hip. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “A lot of songwriters work really hard to get simile and metaphor into their songs,” Zee explained, trying to backpedal. “It just doesn’t seem like . . . that’s what you were going for?”

  “You don’t like our song?” Chloe asked.

  “It’s not that I don’t like it,” Zee said. “You guys sound fantabsome.”

  “Then what’s your problem?” Kathi said.

  Zee looked from one band member to the next. Kathi looked angry, but the others just looked curious—and confused. Even though Zee didn’t like the way Kathi insinuated that she had to step in to write songs for Zee’s mom’s shower, she hadn’t meant to offend anyone else.

  “It’s definitely a really cool song. But I’m not sure it’s right for the Baby Blast.” Zee spoke slowly so she could choose each word carefully. “You know—it’s not supposed to be a typical baby shower.”

  “I don’t think most baby showers have a live band,” Jen said.

  “With songs written just for the event,” Co
nrad added.

  “Maybe you could be a little more appreciative, Zee,” Kathi said.

  Zee looked at the floor. Why had she let Kathi provoke her? Her friends were doing something nice for her.

  Kathi’s voice pulled Zee out of her thoughts. “I said, ‘Are you going to get that, Zee?’”

  “Huh?” Zee asked.

  “Your phone keeps vibrating, Zee,” Chloe told her. “We can hear it making noise.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Zee glanced at the iPhone screen. It was a text from her father.

  >Urgent: You have an audition in an hour.

  Zee typed:

  >2day? I thought I would get more coaching before the audition.

  >They just want to meet you and a get a sense of what you can do.

  >I’m @ Beans rehearsal. It’s Saturday!

  >Hollywood never sleeps. LOL.

  Zee groaned. She had told her parents she didn’t really like it when they used “LOL” or “OMG” in their texts. Clearly, her father wasn’t getting the message. Zee texted her dad:

  >I need 2 change. Can u come get me now and take me home?

  As Zee typed her messages, she looked up to see that the band had forgotten about her and was discussing the next song. Everyone was getting along—and going along—with Kathi.

  Zee wondered if it would have been better if she hadn’t come to the rehearsal. It seemed as though no one wanted her there. She was relieved when Chloe came over to her.

  “Is everything OK?” Chloe asked. “You look upset.”

  “My dad needs to take me to an audition for the show,” Zee explained.

  “That’s awesome!” Chloe cried.

  “I guess,” Zee said. “I wish I didn’t have to leave.”

  “But that is so exciting for you—your first real audition,” Chloe said. “And we’re just going to be practicing. Since you’re not going to be playing with us . . .”

  “Yeah, it’s really no prob if you go,” said Kathi, who had been listening to their conversation. “We’ve got everything under control here.”