Going Platinum, by Helen Perelman Read Free Book Online

others in on what had happened earlier with Faye. As they got closer to the theater, Mitchie felt more and more confused.
    â€œSo what are you going to do?” Lola asked when Caitlyn was finished.
    Shrugging her shoulders, Mitchie sighed. She still had no answers.
    Finally, they reached the theater. Opening the door, they saw Faye in the middle of the room practicing one of her trademark dance routines. The beat of the music was familiar. It sounded similar to “Bubbling Sunshine” and other Faye Hart songs. The melody was familiar, too. Mitchie’s eyes grew wide as Faye opened her mouth to sing—her lyrics!
    â€œWow,” Barron whispered. “That didn’t take long.”
    Mitchie walked in with her friends trailing behind her. Steve held up his hand to make sure they were all quiet as Faye continued to sing and dance in a circle, unaware that anyone had entered the theater.
    â€œThis is worse than I thought,” Sander mumbled.
    â€œIs she for real?” Barron asked as he watched Faye twirl around.
    Mitchie pushed forward. “Unfortunately, I think she is,” she said.
    When the music ended, Faye’s posse quickly surrounded her, giving her adoring compliments. She tossed her head and took all the comments in. Finally, Faye noticed Mitchie standing off to the side.
    â€œHey, there,” she called. “So, what do you think? We changed it a little, made the tempo a little faster.” Faye winked. “And you know, added some ‘Faye.’”
    â€œThat’s what you call it?” Mitchie asked. Her heart was beginning to race, and her face felt hot. “That doesn’t even sound like the song I wrote anymore!”
    Faye walked up to Mitchie and looked her straight in the eye. “Well, no,” she said calmly, “because now it’s my song.” She turned on her pointy sling backs and headed over to take a sip of bottled water.
    â€œNow just wait a minute,” Mitchie said.
    Caitlyn saw the look in Mitchie’s eyes and intercepted, pulling her over to the side. “Wait until you hear the offer,” she whispered. “Remember? Be professional.”
    Mitchie took a deep breath. Caitlyn was right, she realized. But if this was what the music business was all about, she was beginning to think she didn’t want any part of it.
    Turning around, she faced her friends. She saw how Barron and Sander were looking at her, the concern in Caitlyn’s face, and that Peggy and Lola were speechless. Suddenly, she felt a wave of sadness rush over her. It was too late.
    Mitchie let her head hang down. “I can’t sing it. Not at the jam, not ever.” And with that she took off, running out the door before any of her friends could stop her.

C HAPTER
E IGHT

    M itchie couldn’t stop running. She headed toward the path that circled the lake. Her feet beat the ground in a steady motion, taking her farther and farther away from Faye. Eventually Mitchie felt her breath even out. She settled into a jog, and then sounds and scents began to filter through her sadness.
    How could things have changed so quickly? she thought. Just a day ago, she had been so happy that she had been one of the finalists for B’s Jam. But now Faye had ruined everything. Her interpretation of the song had poisoned it—and made Mitchie question herself.
    â€œWait up!” Caitlyn shouted, interrupting Mitchie’s thoughts. Mitchie stopped and turned to see Caitlyn, Barron, Sander, Lola, and Peggy jogging down the path. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”
    Mitchie lowered her head, unwilling to make eye contact.
    â€œYou have to sing tonight,” Peggy said when they caught up to her. “The competition won’t be the same without you.”
    â€œCome on,” Lola added. “This jam was made for you. It’s your thing. Just you and the guitar. Don’t let Faye get to you.”
    â€œIt’s your