Snow Queen by Emma Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

nicer.
    “Then the talent competition,” Fabrizia continued.
    “What?” Aubrey blurted, sitting up straight.
    Everyone laughed at her sudden outburst, including Grayson, who was now sitting behind her.
    “Apparently someone has no talent,” Rebecca said loudly, earning another round of giggles.
    “Rebecca!” Layla scolded, glancing back at Grayson.
    Aubrey bit her tongue to keep from snapping at the girl. Now she was certain that Layla was putting on a nice-girl act for her brother. There was no doubt in her mind that if Grayson had still been up on stage and out of earshot, Layla would have said the same thing as Rebecca had, or worse. But instead, she was acting as if Rebecca was being immature—and making sure that Grayson noticed.
    Did Grayson know that his sister had two faces?
    “Ladies, please! Let’s settle down,” Fabrizia said, holding her clipboard up. “And finally the interview portion.”
    “What am I supposed to do for talent?”Aubrey whispered to Christie, glancing at Grayson out of the corner of her eye.
    “You can sing. You’re in the choir,” Christie replied.
    “Yeah, but there are a hundred other people in the choir, too. I just blend,” Aubrey said through her teeth. “I’ve never done a solo.”
    “We’ll figure it out. I promise,” Christie said, keeping her eyes trained on Fabrizia, who was still talking. Something about etiquette and being a good sport, all of which was lost on Aubrey. She sat back in her seat, fuming. What had Christie gotten her into here? She had thought this was a beauty pageant. A lot of walking and posing and smiling. Not dancing and performing talents that she did not possess.
    What I wouldn’t give to be playing hockey right now , Aubrey thought, as the girls around her whispered and giggled and fixed their makeup.
    For the rest of the meeting, Aubrey sat and stared at the vaulted roof over the stage, trying to imagine herself singing in front of hundreds of people. She couldn’t think of a single songto which she knew all the words—other than “Jingle Bells” and “Happy Birthday.” There was no way she could do this. Just no way.
    Maybe Grayson had been right to laugh at her this morning. Clearly, she was not pageant-worthy.
    “Okay, then, my little princesses! I will see you tomorrow for the first rehearsal!” Fabrizia said finally.
    “Why is she calling us ‘princesses’?” Aubrey asked.
    “We’re all snow princesses until one of us is named Snow Queen. That’s how it works,” Christie replied.
    Great. Just what Aubrey had always wanted to be—a princess. Ugh.
    “Make sure to give your measurements to my assistant director on the way out!” Fabrizia added.
    Aubrey looked down at her crumpled piece of paper. She had to give this to Grayson? Grayson was going to know her measurements? Could this get any worse?
    Everyone stood up. Aubrey and Christieturned around to face Grayson.
    “Hi, Gray!” Christie said with a smile. “How was your year?”
    “Can’t complain,” Grayson replied. “I decided not to go to college this year, which of course made my father’s head explode,” he said. “That’s actually why I’m emceeing the event. The guilt trip my mother laid on me was massive. Somehow my taking such an active role in her pet project is supposedly going to make up for my utter failure as a son.”
    Christie blinked, as if she was having trouble seeing the logic there. Which was, of course, the point. There was no logic there. “Well, it’s going to be cool to have you around every day,” Christie said finally. She glanced at Aubrey. “So I guess you’ve met my friend.”
    “Ah, yes. I’ve had the extreme pleasure,” he said, looking at Aubrey in a way that made her heart flutter. “So. Measurements?” he said, holding out his hand. Suddenly there was a wicked smile on his face. Aubrey could only imagine how a hot guy like him enjoyed this part of his job. A couple dozen beautiful girls handing over the