Star Power (19 page)

“Sounds like we should go today,” Ethan offered.

“Dude, she's
grounded
,” Jenner said.

“Jenner worries about everything!” Mac teased, hoping that reverse psychology might subdue her brother. Jenner opened his mouth like he was about to protest, but then he shrugged, probably remembering that he didn't actually care, and went back to his volleyball.

Mac looked at Ethan. “Look, I really can't stay long in Venice, but if you wanted to meet them I could swing it today.”

Ethan glanced at Jenner, as if waiting for his permission, and then Mac. He took a deep breath. “Okay. I drive you to Venice. You introduce me to the Dixie Gals. Deal?”

“Deal.” Mac smiled. It was almost too easy.

becks

Becks trudged through Venice Beach, her Reef flip-flops sinking into the hot sand. Bulky men lifted weights on the boardwalk and joggers shuffled by in neon bikinis and orange-glow tans.

Becks adjusted her floral-print LeSportsac duffel bag over her left shoulder and headed toward a royal blue Dixie tarp where people were setting up lights and tripods. Her bag overflowed with everything she could possibly need—her black Dixie swimsuit, waterproof watches, and plenty of extra towels and sunscreen. Still, something was missing: Mac.
Not
Mac the agent—but the girl who could always make her feel better about anything. Ever since Xochi had dropped off the package yesterday, she'd felt like Mac was outsourcing their friendship to a professional.

Tully, Darby, and Lei were sitting cross-legged in the center of the Dixie tarp. Lei was French-braiding Darby's hair, while Darby ate a banana PowerBar. Tully was smothering sunscreen all over her freckled face. All the girls wore solid black Dixie bikinis, and Becks was relieved to match the group.

“Little sis!” Tully grinned when she spotted Becks. Her blond hair was in two French braids down the sides of her head. “Show us what you chose!”

Lei looked up from braiding Darby's hair and smiled brightly. “Yes! I need to know what color ribbons to use in your hair.”

Clearly the other Dixie Gals had assumed choosing
authentic
accessories was a fun decision, like selecting what flavor milk shake to order from Sloopy's. And clearly being a stress bomb was not the way to win points with this group. Becks peered down into her duffel bag and stared at her options. She was afraid that whatever she chose would make her look like a tool but took a deep breath and pulled out her favorite bracelets. They were mahogany-colored wooden beads, about one inch thick in circumference. They were like the bracelets Mac always wore, but sportier. More importantly, they were
authentically
Becks.

“I'm going with these,” Becks said fake-confidently, holding up the bracelets for the girls to see. “With these earrings.” She pointed to the diamond studs already in her ears. They had belonged to her mother.

She waited for everyone to tease her.

“Niiiice,” Tully said.

“That rocks!” Lei smiled warmly, and Darby nodded. “It's like . . . earthy glam!”

And that was it.

Becks felt a flood of pride: She had just made a style choice for herself. Why had she spent the past decade thinking she couldn't function unless she ran everything by Mac?

“Way cuter than what Tiana would have worn.” Tully snorted.

Becks felt reassured every time she learned a little more about the mysterious Tiana. But before she could ask another question to be totally sure, Chad yelled to the group, interrupting her analysis.

“All righty, girls,” Chad hollered. “Come meet your photographer, Blake.” He pointed to a small skinny man who reminded Becks of a monkey because he was very short and had a lot of hair everywhere—on his neck, chin, and arms. Even his fingers were furry. He wore black pants and sipped from a ceramic espresso cup. “Hey there!” he called out warmly.

“Blake is the best surf photographer in the world,” Chad explained.

“Oh, please.” Blake seemed to wave away Chad's bragging. “Go on!”

“Girls, you ready?” Chad asked the DGs.

Becks expected more instructions to follow, but the Dixies leapt up. Blake swiveled across the sand, with an espresso cup in his left hand and a professional-looking camera in his right. Becks gulped, realizing they had run out of time to do her hair. She was the only one who didn't have French braids! The shoot hadn't even begun, and already she didn't match.

Becks followed the group to the sand and watched as Tully, Darby, and Lei leaned their arms on their boards, jutted their hips and smiled as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I love it!” Blake cooed. “The board is your best friend!”

Tully bear-hugged her board. “It's my BFF,” she said. Darby and Lei giggled like they always did at Tully's antics. Becks laughed from the side as she observed her fun-loving friends.

Blake pointed at Becks with his espresso cup. “This one, too!” Becks had been hoping no one would notice that she wasn't actually modeling. That way there was nothing to mess up. Maybe she could sit this one out and jump in next time?

“Get in there, Becksy!” Chad called from Blake's side. He waved her on with his sandwich.

Becks walked over to the fourth board, which was already plopped in the sand. She pretended to lean on it like the Dixie Gals had done, but she felt very silly and awkward.

“Is she always like this?” Blake asked Chad, looking a little peeved, like Becks was refusing to work with
him
. Becks wondered if this was how Tiana had behaved.

“She's shy,” Chad explained to Blake. “Show us some teeth, Becks!” Chad encouraged.

Becks mustered her facial muscles into the shape of a grin. She felt like a freak, realizing that everyone was hoping she would just
get on with it
.

“Aw, come on, Becks, smile like you're happy! Not like someone's pelting you with food!” Chad commanded.

“But maybe they should!” Blake called out ominously.

Then, much to everyone's surprise, Chad picked a tomato out of his sandwich and threw it at Becks.

She was so startled to feel a slimy vegetable land on her that she couldn't speak. Then she burst into giggles.

“Wonderful!” Blake said, circling Becks like a sand crab and snapping away. “Throw more food at her!”

“More!” the Dixie Girls cheered in unison.

“No! Don't!” Becks protested, lifting her arms to shield herself.

“I love this job!” Chad gleefully tossed another tomato at Becks. It landed on her left shoulder. “I get paid to chuck food at people!”

When it came to roughhousing, Becks's brain turned off and she just did whatever came to her. She picked up the sand-covered tomato and threw it back at Chad.

“Yes! That's it!” Blake cooed. “I love it!” He had climbed atop a ladder and was now clicking frenetically above Becks. “Look at me!” he commanded, pointing at himself.

Becks glanced up and saw bulbs flashing. So this was modeling? Having a food fight while a monkey man climbed ladders and cheered? Maybe modeling was like surfing—maybe she did better when she just focused on the next step and not the whole picture. She decided to only worry about having fun. Modeling would take care of itself.

“Suh-weet, Becksie!” yelled Chad.

“Beautiful!” Blake yelled.

The Dixie Gals laughed and ran over to Becks, who had unleashed her inner goofball. Blake put on a Bob Marley CD and Becks danced happily to the music like she was at an Inner Circle sleepover, doing moves that had nothing to do with the reggae beats. She pretended to walk like an Egyptian. She did the Twist. She waved her arms like she was grocery shopping, or like she was a human sprinkler. She did the Superman dance. Tully, Darby, and Dixie copied everything and Becks felt like she was finally worthy of their group.

Two hours passed. Finally, Chad clapped his hands. “Thank you, ladies, we are done.”

“We rock!” Lei cried. The Dixie Gals hugged, and Tully pulled Becks into the huddle. “It was so much more fun with you!”

“Yaaaay, Becks!” the girls cried in unison.

“Hey Becks,” Tully said as they untangled. “We're going to hang out at the pier tonight. You should come with us.”

Becks paused for a second while she considered it. She
did
want to, but she had promised Mac she would attend the Star Power party. “I kind of promised my agent—I mean
friend
”—Becks corrected herself—“that I'd go to a party she's throwing. But I'd love to come some other time?”

“All righty,” Tully sighed. “It's too bad, because afterward we're all crashing at Lei's and then going surfing in the morning.” She shook her head fake-sadly.

“Next time,” Becks promised, and then the Dixie Gals turned and headed up the beach.

And that's when Becks spotted a familiar silhouette approaching. That long blond hair. The bright white sweaterdress. The stacks of wooden bangles lining her arms. Mac was walking with her brother, Jenner, and a tall boy who Becks was pretty sure was Jenner 's volleyball teammate. She watched curiously from the beach while Mac came toward her, leaving the boys to talk to the Dixie Gals.

Becks glanced down at her G-Shock watch: She was three hours late. She put her hands on her hips and waited alone on the sand beside Blake, who was packing up his camera equipment.

“Babe!” Mac reached out her arms for a hug. Reluctantly, Becks hugged her back.

When they untangled, Mac stopped and stared at Becks. “Um, B?” Mac giggled, eyeing Becks's black bikini. “What's going on with
this
?”

“What do you mean?” Becks tried to keep her voice steady.

“Um, hello? This was not in the instruction manual,” Mac spoke in her joke-bossy tone, which somehow still managed to be far more bossy than jokey. “What happened to the suits I sent you?”

“You mean the ones I couldn't even get
wet
.” Becks had to clench her teeth to stop herself from yelling. “And anyway, I needed
accessories
. We
had
to wear this suit.”

“Babe, I'm your agent, right?” Mac replied. “You're supposed to trust me. Xochi's suits were cuter. But don't worry, maybe we can get a reshoot on the books.”

Becks had passed the point of patience. She had listened to Mac for years, always wondering what she thought. She was sick of Mac only being in her life to tell her what to do—it used to feel like
guidance
, but now it was starting to feel like something else.

Becks looked at Mac, her lips pursed. “In case you forgot, you used to be more than my agent. You used to be my best friend.”