Going Platinum, by Helen Perelman Read Free Book Online Page B

the first time all day, Mitchie felt better.
    â€œYou know, it would be a pretty amazing opportunity for you,” Shane said. He focused his brown eyes and looked directly at Mitchie. “Your song would be heard by millions of people.”
    â€œBut that’s the thing,” Mitchie said. “It wouldn’t be my song. It wouldn’t be the song I wrote.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what to do.”
    â€œI think you just answered the question,” Shane replied. “Now, do you have the guts to stand by your decision?”
    Mitchie wished she could be as confident in herself as Shane appeared to be. “I don’t know,” she said, shrugging. “Maybe I’m not as talented as some people. Maybe this is the only way.” Looking off into the water, she sighed, before adding, “It’s just that that song means a lot to me. And so did singing it at the jam.”
    Shane reached over and held her hand.
    â€œThen you need to perform the song tonight,” he said gently. “You are very talented, Mitchie Torres.”
    Mitchie looked into Shane’s eyes. He made everything seem so simple!
    â€œAnd,” he went on, “Faye is Faye. She’s one of a kind. She doesn’t like to be told no, so you’ll have to be strong.”
    â€œYou’re right,” she mumbled. “I’ll go talk to her.”
    â€œOf course I’m right,” Shane boasted.
    Mitchie reached over the side of the boat and splashed him.
    â€œOh, you don’t want to start that!” he said. “It’s a long swim back to shore.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t dare,” Mitchie countered playfully. “One of those photographers would love to get a shot like that.”
    Shane ran a hand through his dark hair. “Ugh! Don’t mention the shutterbugs! They are worse than the mosquitoes. I can’t do anything around here without one of those long lenses zooming in on me. Believe me, I’m all for the party. But this press-conference stuff here at camp is starting to annoy me.”
    â€œYou aren’t prepared for them here the way you are at home,” Mitchie observed.
    Picking up the oars, Shane nodded. “Exactly. All summer I’ve been able to let my guard down. And now . . .”
    Mitchie watched as the oars cut the water, pulling them back to shore. “You can’t let that get in the way of celebrating going platinum,” she said. “Selling all those albums is a really big deal. . . .”
    â€œYou’re right,” Shane said, taking in the good advice.
    â€œOf course I’m right!” Mitchie said, repeating Shane’s earlier boast smugly.
    â€œNow don’t get all full of yourself,” Shane warned. Winking, he guided the boat back into the open slip at the dock.
    The sun had sunk below the horizon, and the bright light of day was fading. A cool purple filled the sky and made the light hazy.
    â€œWe should probably get going,” he said.
    â€œGood luck with Faye. I’m sure you’ll find the right things to say to her.”
    â€œAnd good luck with everything tonight,” Mitchie told him. She stood up and jumped up on the dock. “Thanks for the ride and the pep talk.”
    Shane blushed. “Sure,” he answered. He placed the oars down in the boat and stood up. “Now I gotta go play rock star.”
    Just as he said that, the boat started to sway. Shane lost his balance and then . . .
    SPLASH!
    Mitchie laughed as she watched Shane tumble into the water. “Yeah,” she said, giggling. “You’re a rock star all right!”
    Leaving a sputtering and soaked Shane behind, she ran up the path to her cabin. Her talk with Shane had helped. She knew what she had to do. Now she just had to find a way to tell Faye.

C HAPTER
N INE

    M itchie walked up the path to the theater, her heart racing. Even in the privacy of her own cabin, Mitchie