Rock Royalty Read Online Free

said. “It just means you’ll be helping with the set and decorations. And just in case we get any foot traffic, Dee has been put in charge of sprucing up the place.”
    His announcement done, Brown walked off, leaving a noisy—and excited—roomful of campers behind.
    W ith only one day until the concert, all of Camp Rock was mobilized to prepare. Dee La Duke, the camp music director, organized a campwide trash pickup. Every cabin had to bring her as many candy wrappers, soda cans, and pieces of litter as they could find. Discarded guitar picks counted double. The cabin that collected the most trash would win an ice-cream party in B-Note.
    A select group of campers was placed on decoration duty and headed into town. They followed the directions of the School Rocks event design coordinator to transform Lincoln High’s theater into an A-list concert-worthy auditorium. Red carpets were laid down along the aisles. Streamers were strung from the rafters, and Barron James and Sander Loya were in charge of rigging a balloon-and-confetti drop from the ceiling.
    Amidst it all, Tess reigned, acting as the pop princess she knew she was destined to be. “Barron!” Tess shouted from the stage. Barron and Sander were balancing on the scaffolding above her. “Are those red balloons?”
    â€œSure are,” Sander affirmed.
    â€œBut my outfit’s pink,” Tess said.
    â€œAnd your point . . . ?” Barron asked.
    â€œRed clashes with pink,” Tess said with an exaggerated sigh.
    â€œYou can wear the turquoise, strappy dress from my costume trunk instead,” offered Lorraine, who was, as always, standing close by Tess.
    â€œIsn’t that the dress you were going to wear, Lorraine?” Peggy asked.
    â€œWell, yeah,” Lorraine said, shrugging. “But I’m happy to let Tess wear it if she wants.”
    Mac had also pulled decorating duty and was standing nearby. “No need!” he said. “Red and pink is actually the color combo of the moment, according to Celeb Beat magazine.”
    â€œReally?” Ella asked.
    Mac nodded.
    â€œOh, yeah,” Tess said thoughtfully. “I think I remember reading that, now that you mention it. Red balloons are fine, Sander. Proceed!” Tess shouted up to the guys rigging the balloons.
    â€œWhat?” Barron yelled back down. As he did, a cascade of red balloons tumbled from the rafters and landed on top of Tess.
    Ella, Lorraine, and Mac laughed, but Tess scowled.
    â€œOh, come on, Tess,” Mac said gently. “You have to admit, that was kinda funny.”
    Not immune to Mac’s Southern charm, Tess’s lips cracked into a smile and she finally started laughing. Their giggles were interrupted by Caitlyn and a School Rocks stagehand approaching Mac.
    â€œHey,” said Caitlyn. “Bob here needs help leading the wires from the sound booth to the stage. You think you could help?”
    â€œSure!” Mac cried.
    â€œAnd we need one more person,” said Caitlyn, looking at the others who were standing around.
    â€œElla’s really good at that stuff, too,” Mac said.
    Ella blushed at the compliment. “Sure, I can help,” she offered.
    â€œGreat,” replied Caitlyn. “Let’s follow Bob.”
    The three followed the stagehand, who was dressed all in black even though the show wasn’t for another day, down the stage stairs and to the back of the theater.
    As Caitlyn helped Bob with a jumble of wires and checked the sound using the various buttons and levers on the soundboard, Mac looked on in wonder.
    â€œYou really know your stuff,” Mac said as Caitlyn fiddled with the equipment.
    â€œIt’s not all that different from my computer,” Caitlyn said.
    â€œI’m not so good with computers,” Mac replied.
    â€œHow can you not be good with computers?” Caitlyn asked, sounding genuinely confused. “You are aware that you live