Rumor Central (6 page)

M
y stomach was in knots. Today was the premiere of my show and I had an exclusive interview with Sylk, who was having a concert in town this weekend. I was still tripping that on my very first show I was actually going to be kickin' it with Sylk!

“Here you go,” Valerie said, handing me a bottle of Fiji water and my notes for the show. I actually was grateful for Valerie's help. She'd shown up thirty minutes early, jumped right in, and already been a big help. “Do you need anything else?”

I shook my head. Oh, I could so get with this personal assistant thing. I needed to make sure Tamara would let me keep Valerie around, even after school ended. “I'm good. But if you can go look over my chemistry homework, that would be great,” I said, flashing a smile her way. “It's in the purple folder in my messenger bag over there.” I pointed in the corner. “If you see any blanks, can you be a doll and just fill it in, please?”

She nodded eagerly, then raced out. I hated to tell her, the whole thing would be blank because I hadn't so much as written my name. But that shouldn't be a problem. Schoolwork was Valerie's thing. Being fabulous was mine.

“All right. Let's get this party started,” Tamara said, peeking her head into the small room they'd converted into my private dressing room (another one of my requests since I didn't want a whole bunch of people up in my personal space). “Do you have any questions?” she asked.

“Nope. Is Sylk here?” I knew rule number one of dealing with celebrities—don't act excited. So, I made a mental note to make sure I played it completely cool.

Tamara nodded. “She's in the Green Room.” I tried to appear unfazed. I couldn't very well put Oprah out of her job if I was getting all excited over some celebrity.

Tamara came and stood in front of me. “Maya, I want you to know this is unprecedented,” she began. “We're breaking new territory here. As you know, our station serves a young demographic. We may not be one of the big three, but we are definitely giving CW and Fox a run for their money.”

I guess I looked confused because she smiled at me and said, “Our viewers are young. That's why we tapped you for this show. So we want you to be your young, vibrant self, but you've got to bring it.”

“Oh, I have no trouble bringing it.” I gave myself a once-over in the dressing room mirror. Then, satisfied, I turned back to face Tamara. “This is Maya Morgan's destiny. I was meant to be a star. Believe that.” That was the truth because if I ever had any doubt, all I had to think about was the joy Bali and that whole crew would get in seeing me fail. Nope, failure wasn't an option.

“Okay, that's what I wanted to hear.” She motioned for the door. “Let's do this!”

They just didn't know how ready I was to get started. I thought about this corny commercial I'd seen once. It said,
Today is the first day of the rest of your life
. That's how I felt today. I was about to go into a whole new stratosphere and I couldn't wait!

I
was still floating high as I glided down the hallway toward Tamara's corner office. She had sent me a text to come see her as soon as I got in today. She probably wanted to tell me what a fabulous job I'd done on the taping yesterday.“Tell me something I don't know,” I mumbled to myself as I floated confidently down the hall. I had clicked like Sylk and I were best friends. I'd even gotten her to share some details about her new movie, which was supposed to be under wraps until next month, plus, I'd gotten her to address the rumors of her messing around with one of her co-stars. I was pretty proud of the first show and was sure that's what Tamara wanted to talk about.

Outside Tamara's office, I tapped on the door. “Hey there. You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, come on in,” Tamara said, waving me in.

I glanced over at Dexter, the senior producer on my show, who sat in front of Tamara's desk. “Hi, Dexter.”

“Hey.”

I felt an uneasy feeling in my stomach when he didn't really smile back at me.

“Please have a seat,” Tamara said. The look on her face and the businesslike tone of her voice wiped the smile off my face as well.

Oh, no, I hoped she wasn't about to tell me they were having second thoughts. I eased into the chair in front of her desk, trying to figure out what in the world was going on.

“As you know, we thought you were a shoo-in for this job,” Tamara began.

I felt my heartbeat speed up.
Thought? As in past tense?
“Oh my God. You think I suck?”

Both Dexter and Tamara let out small laughs. “No, we don't think you suck,” Tamara said. “In fact, you're very good, a natural. And we think you have a very bright future ahead of you.”

I relaxed a bit. Of course I didn't suck. Why in the world was I getting worked up?

Before I could say anything else, Tamara added, “The show, however, may suck just a little.”

That shocked me. I thought the show was pretty good. I mean, it was Sylk after all.

Tamara paused like she was thinking. Finally she said, “The show is . . . how do I say this?”

“Boring,” Dexter said, interrupting her.

“Not that we think
you're
boring,” Tamara said, quickly jumping in. “We've just been assessing the first show all morning and it just lacks that umph. The Sylk interview was great, but we're not trying to be another
Entertainment Tonight
. We need to spice this thing up. We're hoping you can help bring some of that umph to the table.”

Bring some umph?
I didn't know what they expected me to do.

Dexter and Tamara exchanged uneasy glances before Tamara said, “You run in—” She paused. “I'm sorry, you
used
to run in some pretty well-known circles. I mean, not many teens can say they're friends with the Kardashians. There aren't many that get up close and personal with some of the hottest young celebrities.”

“Yeah,” I said, not sure where she was going. “That was part of what made us so popular. My clique was the real deal. But what does that have to do with anything? You want me to find some dirt on Miami celebrities?”

“Basically, and we thought you should start with your closest circle of friends. I mean, they are Miami's elite, so I'm sure you know some serious secrets.”

I frowned. “Yeah, but those are my friends.”

“Were,” Tamara reminded me.

“And therefore, you shouldn't have any problem dishing dirt on them,” Dexter added.

Tamara smiled knowingly. “I mean, that is what our show introduction says . . . that you'll be dishing dirt.”

“So you really want me to dish dirt
on my friends
?”

Tamara didn't blink as she replied. “Which friend would you be referring to? Sheridan, the one that stole your boyfriend, or Shay, the one that jumped you in the hall?”

That definitely shut me up. I couldn't believe she was using information I'd shared with her in confidence.

“Look, this isn't personal,” Tamara said, drumming her fingers on her desk. “This is business and if we want this show to be a success, we've got to come out of the box hard.”

“Okay, well, what do you want me to do?” For the first time since I took this job, I was worried about it succeeding. The way they were talking, we were doomed before we even really started.

“I'm sure there are some salacious rumors or some celebrity gossip that you can dig up, something that you can give us about your in crowd,” Tamara continued.

“I can't do that,” I slowly said. It's not that I cared two cents about those busters, but the last thing I wanted to be was some kind of snitch. I'd thought about it. I mean, they'd made me so mad, that I couldn't believe I was even second-guessing selling them out.

“Are you in the in crowd anymore?” Tamara asked bluntly.

“Don't get it twisted. First of all, the Miami Divas weren't my only friends. I still roll with the in crowd. In fact, I
am
the in crowd.”

“No, you're on the outside looking in,” Tamara said. “At least at Miami High. Here's a way for you to have the last laugh.”

I hesitated, then finally said, “I just don't . . .”

“I'm sorry. If you can't do it . . .” Tamara paused and looked at Dexter, who finished her sentence.

“Maybe Sheridan won't have any problems dishing dirt. Isn't she the daughter of that superstar singer? Maybe she'd do it,” Dexter said, like he was dismissing me or something.

I was dumbfounded by his comment. “You'd give my job to Sheridan?”

“Of course we wouldn't
want
to do that, but I bet Sheridan would have no shame in dishing dirt,” Tamara said. I couldn't believe she was playing me like that. I thought we were cool.

“I'm sure she wouldn't,” Dexter threw in for good measure. “Especially your dirt.”

I'm sure they were trying to punk me, but honestly, it was working. I'd never live it down if they fired me and gave my job to Sheridan.

Tamara continued talking. “So, the question is do you want Sheridan to get the guy
and
your job?” Tamara asked. I know she could tell they were getting to me.

Of course not,
I thought. Even though I didn't say anything, she must've read the look on my face because she said, “Then I suggest you go home and get to digging in the back of your memory and come up with some juicy gossip.”

I stood for a moment, trying to figure out my next move. I know we were the who's who of Miami, but did people really want to know our dirt like that? I thought about shows like TMZ and blogs like MediaTakeout and Bossip. Of course they did.

“I got it. You want dirt, I'll give you dirt.” I sighed. “Do I need to work today?” I finally asked.

“No, because unless you come up with something, there's no work to be done,” Dexter spoke matter-of-factly.

I felt sick in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't believe this. I was really going to be a snitch? Could I really sell out my friends? Images of this last month flashed before my eyes. I pictured my fight with Shay, all the hate I was getting at school. Then I thought about Sheridan and Bryce at the homecoming dance and I had my answer. Not only could I do this, I would take great pleasure in doing it.

I
couldn't believe I was hanging out with Valerie Elgin. On the misfit scale, she was definitely nearing a ten. Honestly, I wondered how she even could stand to look at herself in the mirror. From her drab, stringy hair, which she always wore pulled back into a raggedy ponytail to her too-big clothes hanging from her body, she was so far from fab, it made my skin crawl. But then, when I thought about the other geeks she hung out with—another nerdy girl named Jennifer and this guy named Eugene who needed to star in his own
Extreme Dork
show.

Looking at Valerie now, she probably would be pretty if she got rid of those Coke-bottle glasses, colored her hair, and got a decent wardrobe.

“So, do you get it?” Valerie asked. She had been spending the last hour at my house trying to help me get ready for yet another stupid calculus test. Like, who would ever use calculus again in life?

“I guess,” I said.“Although I can't for the life of me understand why I have to know this stupid stuff.”

Valerie shrugged. “It's not that bad if you give it a chance. I really like it. Sometimes I do calculus just for fun.”

Calculus for fun
? Nerd strike number two.

“So, just review the notecards I made.” She pointed to the stack of cards that I knew I wasn't about to pick up. I didn't say anything else as we gathered up our stuff and headed downstairs.

“You want something to drink?” I asked when we made it into our theater room.

“If you don't mind,” Valerie replied.

I yelled for Sui, our maid, who came running into the room. “Yes, Miss Morgan?” she said.

“Hey, Sui, can you make me and my friend some lemonade and bring it to the theater room?”

Sui nodded and disappeared back in the kitchen. I turned to see Valerie with a stupid grin on her face.

“What's your problem?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said, still smiling, “
friend
.”

Oh, good grief, she was really cheesing over me calling her a friend. Truthfully, it had just slipped out, but I shrugged it off. Between that and me inviting her to hang out a minute—don't ask me why I'd done that—Valerie was probably ready to get matching BFF necklaces made.

“So, do you mind if I ask why you don't hang with your old friends from the show anymore?” Valerie asked once we were settled in the den and I'd turned on the TV.

I knew Valerie had been dying to ask me that since I'd let her into my world. At first, I thought about telling her some elaborate lie, but I was about to blow up and I didn't really care if she knew. Besides, it was all over school that we were no longer friends, and most people knew it was because of my show. I just hadn't told anyone the details.

“Their true colors showed after I got my own show. I couldn't take the hate,” I said.

She shook her head. “That's so lame. These privileged kids don't know how good they have it. It's not even necessary to hate on other people.”

“Yeah, you're right,” I said, telling myself that she obviously couldn't be talking about me. Sui brought our lemonade and Valerie and I sat and talked about one of the rap videos on TV, as well as a bunch of other stuff. I was trippin' over how mad cool Valerie had turned out to be when she was talking about something other than school.

“Well, it's getting late,” Valerie said after about an hour. “I'd better get going.”

We stood and I walked her to the back, where I'd had her park. My mom would've had a stroke if she had come home and seen Valerie's raggedy Toyota Prius parked in front of our house.

“Dang, where are my keys?” Valerie said, patting her pockets.

I looked around and spotted them on a table by the door. “Is this them?” I asked, picking up the set of keys.

“Yep,” she said, holding her hands out.

A picture dangling on the end caught my eye. It was a photo of a gray-haired couple in the wackest clothes I'd ever seen. They wore matching flowered shirts with gigantic collars. “Who is this?” I asked. “Are these your grandparents?” Talk about lame. I loved my grandparents, but I wouldn't be caught dead carrying a picture of them around on my key-chain.

She quickly snatched the keys. “No, those are my parents,” she said defensively.

“Dang, they're old,” I frowned. “What, did they have you when they were like in their fifties or something?”

“No.” She looked down at the picture, then back up at me. Her eyes looked all sad as she added, “My parents are good people. They're just old, but they mean the world to me.”

Dang, I thought. Talk about bringing somebody down. I started to say something else, but then decided I didn't really want to know. I needed to go get my beauty rest for tomorrow, plus I had to do research for tomorrow's show, so Valerie's sob story about her parents would have to wait for another day.