Star Crossed (Starlight #3) Read Online Free Page B

her eye. ‘We didn’t bring you up to come second.’
    Wow. I can see where Deven gets his competitive spirit from.
    I send up a silent prayer of thanks that my parents aren’t like that. They wouldn’t mind if I came last, so long as I did my best.
    The TV blacks out, and the word ‘Scandelous’ flashes up.
    But instead of a loving mum and dad, Scandelous’s pep talk comes from a gaggle of five highly-preened girls.
    They look like carbon copies of Scandelous before the RnB make-over – blonde highlights, caked-on make-up and long fingernails.
    The text at the bottom of the screen reads: ‘Scandelous’s friends’.
    Huh. So I guess mum and dad didn’t show up to encourage their little darlings.
    Scandelous’s girlfriends giggle and deliver a loud message of support in unison. Then the screen cuts again and my name flashes up: Summer Evans.
    It always gives me goose bumps to see my name on screen.
    Suddenly my mum, dad, sister and nephew appear on the TV.
    My smile threatens to split my face.
    I gaze adoringly as my mum stutters a few shy words, blushing furiously. My nephew bounces up and down shouting how much he likes to see Auntie Summer sing. And my dad surprises me by looking straight at the camera and saying how talented I am.
    When the screen fades again there are tears in my eyes.
    I am so lucky.
    I feel a little sorry for Scandelous and Deven. I don’t know their family circumstances, but compared to my support message, theirs seemed stifled and false.
    I wonder if Scandelous’s parents are ashamed of their skimpy outfits, or if there’s some other reason for them not appearing.
    Maybe it’s just an image thing – perhaps it was decided that Scandelous would come over better as a young girl band with lots of fun friends.
    Susie is finishing up my make-up now, and I notice she’s give n me a different look to when I was performing with She’s All That.
    It’s as though someone has finally explained my punk-pop style. Susie has made me up perfectly, with turquoise eye-shadow, which makes my brown eyes pop.
    ‘ Thanks,’ I say gratefully. Susie waves away the compliment.
    Jenny Grogan sweeps in, as the make-up artist brushes a final sweep of powder over me, and nods approvingly.
    ‘It’s only a short filming session today,’ she says, her brightly lipsticked mouth twisting a little as she eyes me. I get the impression that Jenny is not sure what to make of me anymore.
    Since She’s All That had an all -out catfight with Scandelous, and now we’ve split, I guess Jenny must see me as a loose cannon. But her professional instincts mean she won’t let herself treat me any differently.
    ‘ You’ll be finding out who your mentor is,’ Jenny adds, with a little nod of her head. Her lacquered blonde chignon doesn’t move an inch.
    I smile at her, hoping to channel that I’m not planning to make her life difficult.
    ‘I guess it doesn’t matter if I get Lisa, Adam, or Martin,’ I say. ‘They’re all so experienced.’
    The truth is , I’d hate to get Martin Clarke as a mentor. Since She’s All That refused his tacky costumes, he’s made it clear he doesn’t like me. But I’d rather take the risk, than let Adam manipulate the show unfairly.
    Jenny looks surprised.
    ‘It won’t be Martin,’ she says. ‘Haven’t you heard? He left when the show was signed over to Adam.’
    My eyes widen in shock.
    ‘It’s been all over the papers this morning,’ adds Jenny. ‘I thought you kids were always up to date on music news.’
    What can I tell her? ‘I was in bed all morning with Adam Morgan, and the news slipped me by.’
    ‘ I… I didn’t know that,’ I say, privately resolving to kill Adam for letting me find out this way.
    ‘ Well that’s what’s happened,’ says Jenny, eyeing me strangely. ‘I’m shocked you didn’t know.’
    Me too.
    ‘So who is his replacement?’ I ask.
    Jenny’s neat eyebrows make a little motion of displeasure.
    ‘ We don’t know yet,’ she says.