Dork Diaries Book 7: Tales From a Not-So-Glam TV Star

by Rachel Renée Russell

  “Yeah, MacKenzie strikes again! She ruined our first kiss, and now our listening party!” I fumed.

  OMG! Did I just say that out loud?

  Yes, I think I DID.

  I cringed and stared at the floor in embarrassment.

  Brandon looked a little surprised and grinned. “Why are you thinking about THAT at a time like this?!” he teased.

  Of course I blushed and rolled my eyes. And he blushed and gave me a big warm smile. The way we were flirting, you wouldn’t have believed a riot was going to be breaking out any minute now!

  “Sixty seconds to airtime!” our director announced. “Nikki, you’ll be addressing the fans right after the band is introduced, just like we discussed. The mic right in front of you will be on. Good luck! Places, please.”

  Chloe, Zoey, and I did a group hug.

  That’s when Zoey squeezed my hand and said, “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.—George Bernard Shaw.”

  “Well, whatever happens, we’ve got your back, girlfriend! Unless, of course, the crowd gets mad and decides to tar and feather us. Then I’ll be leaving you in the dust!” Chloe joked, and gave me jazz hands.

  While we were being introduced by the mayor, I completely zoned out and didn’t hear a word he was saying. I was busy trying to figure out what I was going to say to over a thousand people who had turned out to support our band and the charity Kidz Rockin’!

  Well, one thing was for sure—we could KISS our music careers good-bye!

  UGH! There was that four-letter word again!

  That’s when the craziest idea popped into my head!

  We didn’t have any CDs to sell for charity. But maybe we had something else. And if our fans really, really liked us, they might be willing to buy THAT instead.

  I quickly jotted my idea down and passed the note to Chloe and Zoey!

  They both looked mortified at first. But after talking it over together, they finally agreed.

  Then they passed the note on to everyone else.

  Violet gave me a big smile and a thumbs-up.

  Theo and Marcus both blushed profusely and then nodded.

  And Brandon just laughed and shook his head.

  Then he made a circular motion with his finger at the side of his head, which meant that I was KA-RAY-ZEE!

  Hey, people!

  Desperate times call for desperate measures!

  By that time, the mayor was just finishing up his welcome speech.

  “It is with great pride that I introduce a talented future pop star and TV star, Nikki Maxwell, with her band, um . . . Actually, I’m Not Really Sure Yet?!”

  The crowd went wild! They clapped and screamed in excitement for, like, two whole minutes.

  I guess they really DID like us!

  When they finally quieted down, I started by thanking everyone for coming to our listening party and for supporting our fund-raiser for Kidz Rockin’. . . .

  Then I took a deep breath and continued. “But before we get started with our meet and greet, I have a special announcement I’d like to make. We had originally planned to sell our CDs and donate the proceeds to Kidz Rockin’! But soon you’ll be able to get the CD everywhere. This is our hometown, and we think you all deserve something even more exciting and special! What do you guys think?”

  The crowd went wild again.

  “So to help raise funds for Kidz Rockin’, tonight we’re accepting donations for HUGS and KISSES from your favorite band member. How does that sound?!”

  The crowd loved the idea! They cheered more excitedly than ever. So for the next three hours, we met with fans, signed autographs, and posed for photos.

  And YES! We sold hugs for $3.00 and kisses (on the cheek) for $5.00 from your favorite band member.

  All for a great cause—the Kidz Rockin’ charity. And OMG! It was a BLAST!

  And a lot of fans came back for seconds! And even thirds!

  By the end of the night, we had raised over $8,000 for some VERY deserving kids. . . .

  MY BAND, POSING WITH THE CUTE LITTLE KIDS FROM KIDZ ROCKIN’!!

  I was SO happy !

  SQUEEEE!

  But more than anything, I was really proud of my friends Chloe, Zoey, Violet, Theo, Marcus, and Brandon for agreeing to do all of this after our CDs went missing.

  Just as we were finishing up, I noticed Brandon kind of staring at me. Then he left his seat and got in line at the table!

  MY line! I just rolled my eyes at him. That guy was such a PRANKSTER!

  “Nice to meet you. Would YOU like my autograph? And how about a photo, too?” I teased.

  “Actually, I’d personally like to make a donation to Kidz Rockin’!” he said, and handed me $5.00.

  At first I just kind of stared at him, confused. Then suddenly everything made perfect sense.

  I realized that Brandon was paying $5.00 because he wanted to buy a KISS!! From ME?!!!!!!

  I was like, OMG! OMG! OMG!

  Was he actually SERIOUS?!

  I thought I was going to PEE my PANTS right there on the spot!

  He just stood there, holding the $5.00, waiting for me to take it. So finally I took it from him.

  And you’d NEVER believe what happened next . . . !!!

  OMG! I can’t believe it’s almost 1:00 a.m.!! I’ve been writing this entry, like, FOREVER! Sorry, but I’m SO exhausted, I can barely keep my eyes open. I’ll finish this entry later. Maybe . . . !!

  I know! I’m SUCH a DORK! GOOD NIGHT!

  !!

  SUNDAY, MARCH 30

  Okay. This is LATER. . . .

  NIKKI MAXWELL: THE MAKING OF A POP PRINCESS! EPISODE #8

  MONDAY, MARCH 31

  MacKenzie is still supermad at me because I beat her in the Extreme Ski Competition on Saturday.

  And get this! She totally ignored me at my locker this morning when I tried to congratulate her on her second-place finish.

  Hey, I was just trying to be friendly and show good sportsmanship.

  NOT! !

  Actually, I was trying to RUB HER NOSE in the fact that I’d given her a good BEATDOWN on the ski slopes at Swanky Hill Ski Resort!

  Anyway, I’m supposed to be sitting here in class conjugating French verbs.

  But HOW in the world am I supposed to concentrate on something as boringly mundane as conjugating French verbs when Brandon kissed me?!

  OMG! BRANDON ACTUALLY KISSED ME!

  YES!! He. Kissed. ME!

  SQUEEEEEEE!

  He is such a sweetheart to do that for charity !!

  Wait a minute! Oh, CRUD!! NOOOOO!!!!

  IF it was for charity, maybe he didn’t mean for it to be a REAL kiss?! !! But only a kiss to, like, help needy children?!

  Which is GOOD for them. But BAD for ME!! Because that means we’re just two very good friends helping to make the world a better place. Which is wonderful! And horrible at the same time!

  JUST GREAT!! !

  Now I’m REALLY confused!!

  WHICH kind of kiss was it?!

  A just-a-friend kiss?

  A let’s-save-the-world kiss?

  Or a you’re-my-girlfriend kiss?

  I could just ask him. But then he’d think that I thought it was a really big deal.

  And I DO! But I don’t want HIM to know that!

  SORRY!

  I can’t help it.

  I’m SUCH a DORK!!

  !!

  Rachel Renée Russell is an attorney who prefers writing tween books to legal briefs. (Mainly because books are a lot more fun and pajamas and bunny slippers aren’t allowed in court.)

  She has raised two daughters and lived to tell about it. Her hobbies include growing purple flowers and doing totally useless crafts (like, for example, making a microwave oven out of Popsicle sticks, glue, and glitter). Rachel lives in northern Virginia with a spoiled pet Yorkie who terrorizes her daily by climbing on top of a computer cabinet and pelting her with stuffed animals
while she writes. And, yes, Rachel considers herself a total Dork.

  Meet the author,

  watch videos, and get extras at

  KIDS.SimonandSchuster.com

  authors.simonandschuster.com/Rachel-Renee-Russell

  ALSO BY

  Rachel Renée Russell

  Dork Diaries:

  Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

  Dork Diaries 2:

  Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl

  Dork Diaries 3:

  Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star

  Dork Diaries 31/2:

  How to Dork Your Diary

  Dork Diaries 4:

  Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess

  Dork Diaries 5:

  Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss-Know-It-All

  Dork Diaries 6:

  Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker

  Dork Diaries OMG!:

  All About Me Diary!

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ALADDIN * An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division * 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 * www.SimonandSchuster.com * First Aladdin hardcover edition June 2014 * Copyright © 2014 by Rachel Renée Russell * Series design by Lisa Vega * Book design by Karin Paprocki * All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. * ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. * The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com. * The text of this book was set in Skippy Sharp. * Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data * Russell, Rachel Renée. * Tales from a not-so-glam TV star / by Rachel Renée Russell. — First Aladdin hardcover edition. * p. cm. — (Dork diaries ; 7) * Summary: Nikki is in the spotlight. A reality TV crew will follow her and her friends for the whole month of March as they record their hit song together. But will the excitement also cause unexpected problems, now that cameras are everywhere Nikki and her friends go? * [1. Reality television programs—Fiction. 2. Sound recordings—Production and direction—Fiction. 3. Bands (Music)—Fiction. 4. Friendship—Fiction. 5. Diaries—Fiction.] I. Title. * PZ7.R915935Taf 2014 * [Fic]—dc23 * 2014002146 * ISBN 978-1-4424-8767-3 * ISBN 978-1-4424-8768-0 (eBook)

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Saturday, March 1

  Sunday, March 2

  Monday, March 3

  Tuesday, March 4

  Wednesday, March 5

  Thursday, March 6

  Friday, March 7

  Saturday, March 8

  Sunday, March 9

  Monday, March 10

  Tuesday, March 11

  Wednesday, March 12

  Thursday, March 13

  Friday, March 14

  Saturday, March 15

  Sunday, March 16

  Monday, March 17

  Tuesday, March 18

  Wednesday, March 19

  Thursday, March 20

  Friday, March 21

  Saturday, March 22

  Sunday, March 23

  Monday, March 24

  Tuesday, March 25

  Wednesday, March 26

  Thursday, March 27

  Friday, March 28

  Saturday, March 29

  Sunday, March 30

  Monday, March 31

  About Rachel Renée Russell