Secrets of My Hollywood Life (15 page)

PRINCESSLEIA25: Not true. A gave everyone fliers. The whole team dressed up! I think dressing up as a ghoul or a villain is cool.

POWERGRL28: Cooler than being a celeb? That's the "Night of a Thousand Stars" theme.

PRINCESSLEIA25: I live that life already, remember? No thx.

POWERGRL28: They're getting my vote. I'd rather dress as Angelina Jolie than Jabba the Hutt.

PRINCESSLEIA25: :(

POWERGRL28: U just don't want to vote for them bc it's Lori and Jessie's idea.

PRINCESSLEIA25: NO, I think it was wrong to sway the male vote by dressing up as Britney and J.Lo to hand out free lemonade.

POWERGRL28: Get over it. They're going to win so start planning your costume. Drool = votes.

After a week of campaign craziness, we voted for our favorite theme last Friday. Now we're all sitting in Mr. Klein's class waiting for Principal Pearson to come over the PA system and announce the winner. I swear, things are super intense in here. Everyone is sitting quietly and it's not because we're paying attention to Mr. Klein's lecture on the Native American agriculture system.

"Attention Clark Hall students, this is your principal, Mrs. Pearson," we hear over the loudspeaker. Jessie squeals.

"I know how hard you all worked last week," Mrs. P says, "and it pleases me to see how much you care about your school...."

"Just tell us who won," Rob Murray groans.

"... so I'm happy to announce that we have a winner. With nearly four hundred votes, the winner is 'A Night of a Thousand Stars.'"

Lori jumps up and down screaming. Jessie actually breaks down in tears. The other queen bees sitting around me knock over their chairs and clamor to hug each other. But all is not well in Mr. Klein's third period social studies. A dark cloud has formed over the other half of the class.

"The race was fixed!" Rob yells, and slams his textbook shut. Mr. Klein and the Mathletes in attendance look devastated.

"Now that we have a theme for the dance, we should talk about creating a committee," Mr. Klein finally calls over the commotion. The class grows quiet.

"You all did a tremendous job on your campaigns." Mr. Klein looks straight at the members of the Shakespearian Club. "That's why I'm hoping you'll do an equally good job of planning the dance."

Mr. Klein looks over at Lori. She's talking animatedly to Jessie about costumes. "Lori, I assume you'll want to help chair the committee?"

Lori stops chatting with Jessie and stares at Mr. Klein. "Me?" she responds blankly. "Why me?"

Mr. Klein looks flustered. "Well, you girls were the ones who picked this idea, weren't you?"

"Yeah, but we don't actually have
time
to put a whole dance together." Her friends sitting beside her nod in agreement. "We just wanted our theme to
win.
Now that it's happened, we have to concentrate on more important stuff -- like our costumes."

"Do any of you girls plan on working on the committee?" He asks wearily. None of the girls around Lori raise their hands. He sighs. "Does anyone in this class want to work on the committee?"

Liz's hand shoots up. "I want to run it," she volunteers confidently.

"Doesn't she always?" Jessie whispers loudly. Liz gives her the evil eye.

"That's wonderful, Liz," he says happily. "Anyone here willing to join her?" Beth and Allison raise their hands. I keep mine down. I don't know if I can stretch myself any thinner than I already am. I have to miss school Thursday and Friday as it is so that Laney and I can do a forty-eight-hour trip to New York for the morning news shows and
Live with Regis and Kelly.

Liz turns around and widens her long-lashed brown eyes at me. "It will be fun," she mouths.

Oh ... fine. I slowly raise my hand.

Mr. Klein looks at me sternly. "Will you have time to do this and your other work, Rachel?" I know he means my next paper, which is due at the end of the week.

"Not a problem, Mr. Klein." I look at Austin and smile. He winks at me. I'm glad he was cool with me canceling last Saturday. I'm really going to need his help now.

"The committee will meet tomorrow morning before first period," Mr. Klein announces. "Please come with ideas, including what charity you think the proceeds should go to. With the dance just two weeks away, we really have to move."

While I'm writing myself a reminder on my Sidekick, I hear Lori and her friends discussing their costumes.

"So Lori, are you going to go as Jessica Simpson?" A chirpy redheaded girl pips.

"Nah, I'm over her," Lori scoffs. "Maybe I'll go as Kaitlin Burke from
Family Affair."

What I wouldn't give to reveal myself right now and see the shocked look on her smug know-it-all face....

"Cool," Jessie gushes. "Who should I be?"

"You can go as Sky Mackenzie," Lori says. "Then I can spend all night pretending to be jealous of you!" The others giggle.

Sigh. Does Sky's wrath have to follow me everywhere?

When the bell rings a few minutes later, I meet Beth, Allison, and Liz to walk over to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Can you believe Lori didn't want to work on the committee?" Beth shakes her head. "I, like, totally need time to work on my tan!" she mimics.

Allison laughs. "Her loss is our gain. I have to admit I love this theme."

Liz nods in agreement. "I know it's a lot of work, but it'll be fun to work on this together, especially since it's Rachel's first Clark Hall function." While I appreciate the idea, I think Liz forgets how much I have going on at the moment.

"You're going to love it!" Beth claps her hands. "We throw the best parties."

Liz looks at me slyly. "Who are you going to go as, Rachel?"

"I haven't thought about it yet." Zip it, Liz.

"Have you thought about a date?" Beth asks coyly. "Austin Meyers is back on the market." I feel my cheeks get red.

"You guys have been spending a lot of time together," Allison seconds.

"At the library," I say dismissively. "Studying. Remember?" There's no way Austin likes "Rachel," I know it. He even said we're just friends.

"All I'm saying is that a dance is a magical place to make a connection," Allison teases.

"I know who I'm going with," Liz offers. We all stop and look at her.

"Who?" I ask. She hasn't mentioned anybody before.

"Josh Hawkin. He's in my Saturday morning kickboxing class, and he's
so
cute."

"Does he know you like him?" Beth wonders.

"I don't know for sure," Liz admits. "But he did ask me to go to Rotten Tomatoes after class for lunch. And he paid. That means something, right?" We all nod. I can't believe Liz didn't tell me about this. I guess I have been pretty busy.

"We're going out again this Friday night. I think I'm going to ask him then." Liz has a far-off look in her eye.

"I wish I had your confidence," Allison says wistfully. "I could never ask a guy to go with me."

"What about one of the hip-hop guys in the dance company?" I ask.

"They're questionable." Allison grins. "Unlike the guys in Liz's kickboxing class."

"I'm sorry I haven't told you guys about him." Liz looks right at me.

"It's okay. We've all been busy," I say, feeling a little sad. "I'm really happy for you."

"That's great," Beth moans, running a hand through her tight black curls. "Lizzie has someone, Rachel will wind up with Austin." I start to protest, but she cuts me off. "Ali and I will be alone."

"You could ask Rob Murray," Allison suggests. "You guys seemed to hit it off at Lori's party."

Beth ignores her and looks around the crowded patio for a place to sit. Lori's gang has claimed their place at the shady table. Some drama students carrying scripts for
Bye Bye Birdie
are getting up. "I see one!" Beth yells, hiking up her low-rise Levi's jeans. She runs to put her books down.

"Enough about dates," Allison retorts. "Let's talk about how we're going to raise money for charity." She sits down at the table. "Mr. Klein said we needed to make over a thousand dollars for Child of Hope charity, and the only way we're going to do that is if we sell a ton of tickets."

I nod, trying to look knowing. Whenever I volunteer at a charity event, all the details are taken care of. Like last week's Celebrity Cares Carnival. All I did was show up and man the water-gun booth. How they raised the money for tickets or transported the games to carnival chair Samuel L. Jackson's mammoth backyard, I have no idea.

"What we need," Beth says after we've bought lunch and brought it back to the table, "is a celebrity host."

"What do you mean?" Liz asks, and takes an enormous bite of her club sandwich.

"Well, the way we make money is to sell tickets to the dance, right?" Beth explains. "If we have a celebrity host the event, then more people are likely to buy tickets."

"If only we could think of a celebrity willing to come to a cheesy high school dance." Allison frowns.

We sit there in silence for a few minutes. I could think of a bunch of stars that would do it for the publicity, but how would I explain to Beth and Allison why I know them? Or explain to whatever star I ask why I'm not actually going to the dance myself, since I'll be going as Rachel going as ... oh, forget it.

Beth and Allison stare at Liz. "Please don't ask me," she groans.

I reach for my Vitamin Water and take a swig.

"Come on, Liz," Allison coaxes. "Can't you ask Kaitlin Burke?"

The water in my mouth sprays onto the table.

"Oh my God!" Allison exclaims. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I whisper hoarsely. I guess I forgot that Allison and Beth know Liz is friends with me.

"I can't ask her that." Liz glances at me sideways. "That would be trading on our friendship."

"Friends ask friends for favors," Beth pleads.

"Can't we think of somebody else?" Liz says. "Kaitlin is getting ready to film a movie and she's swamped with
Family Affair
stuff."

"Don't you mean she's busy cat-fighting with her costars?" Allison mumbles.

"Be nice," Liz cautions.

"Well, if you feel uncomfortable asking her, then maybe you can have your dad get us someone else," Beth suggests. I look from Beth to Liz.

"I don't know what's worse," Liz groans. "Asking Kaitlin or asking my dad to find me a host. When we got White Bandits to play the Winter Carnival last year, it took me three months of begging. He never lets me forget it either. No, we've got to get someone on our own this time." Liz shrugs apologetically, adjusting the pink- and silver-beaded necklace that dangles over her lavender crewneck sweater.

"Kaitlin's just so perfect for this," Beth coos. Liz purses her lips.

"Maybe there's a way to get her without you asking," Beth suggests. "My uncle's golf partner is Tom Pullman, the producer
of Family Affair,"
she explains. "Maybe he could ask her for us." Oh God.

"I don't know," Liz says nervously. "I don't want Kaitlin to think I put her up to this. Maybe we should think of someone else."

"Yeah," I second a bit too loudly. Everyone looks at me. The problem is I can't come up with anyone else myself.

"She won't think you had anything to do with this," Allison assures her. "Beth, ask your uncle to try to get her." She turns to Liz. "Unless you want to call her yourself...."

Liz shakes her head. "No, but..."

"Then it's settled," Beth declares. "I'll ask my uncle to ask Tom Pullman to ask her." She spears a forkful of Caesar salad and munches happily.

Liz and I look at our plates. I am so screwed. How am I going to explain this to Tom? He doesn't even know I'm at school. I've got to call Laney. I'm about to excuse myself when I hear the theme music to
The O.C.
It's Liz's cell phone ring tone.

"Who would be calling me during school?" Liz wonders. "Hello?" She jumps. "Sorry
Dad.
We don't usually keep our phones on during the day. Uh-huh. Well, you can ask her yourself if you want. Hold on." Liz hands me her phone. "It's my dad. He says you left your, uh, iPod at my house."

I take the phone from Liz. What the .. . "Hello?"

"IT'S ME." I recognize Laney's voice right away. "RODNEY IS PICKING YOU UP TO TAKE YOU TO THE BEAUTY BUFFET IN TWENTY MINUTES."

I quickly walk away from the table. I don't want anyone to hear Laney screaming. "Twenty minutes? I thought I was going at five," I whisper.

"NO, CHANGE OF PLANS.
ACCESS HOLLYWOOD
IS THERE NOW SO YOU NEED TO GO. I ALREADY TOLD PRINCIPAL PEARSON." I hear glasses clinking in the background and the low roar of a busy restaurant. "HOLD ON. HI, NICOLE! HOW ARE THE KIDS?"

"Has anyone heard from Hutch Adams?" I mumble. "Has he breathed in Sky's aura?"

"I don't know," Laney says more quietly. "I'm sure we'll hear something soon. NOW GO MEET RODNEY. WE'LL TALK LATER." She hangs up.

I walk back to the table. Maybe they didn't hear Laney yell....

"Was Liz's dad yelling at you?" Beth asks, her round face creased with concern.

"No, not at all," I say quickly.

"My dad can be hard of hearing sometimes," Liz explains. "He doesn't realize he's yelling." We both giggle nervously.

"I have to go," I announce to the table. "I forgot I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. My Uncle Rodney is waiting downstairs to pick me up." I look Liz in the eye. She nods knowingly.

"But we were just going to discuss decorations," Allison protests. "I can't meet later. I have dance practice at three."

"I'll think of some ideas and call you tonight," I promise, hurriedly gathering my things. Then I run -- as usual -- to find Rodney.

HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER FOURTEEN: Celebrity events like the Beauty Buffet rock, but they come at a price. The companies who sponsor the event will give manicures, pedis, facials, Mystic Tanning, a massage, and a bulging bag of products. But in exchange for the loot, you become a walking advertisement for the brands. More than once I've opened
Us Weekly
and seen my name and picture next to a product I supposedly love ( "Kaitlin Burke never leaves home without her Trendwatch messenger bag!"). Want free concealer? Then be prepared for the company to say you endorse their product, even though you got it for free, used it once, and maybe didn't even like it.