Star Power by Kelli London Read Free Book Online

again.
    â€œYes,” Nia said, from the doorway seconds later.
    Charly shook her head. “I’m afraid I can’t use any of this stuff.” She turned to look at Nia, and tried to focus on her eyes. Between the jagged scar and awful bonnet on her head, Charly had a hard time zeroing in where she was supposed to. She didn’t want to offend her, sure many stared at the mark on her face, so she concentrated on the space between her eyebrows.
    Nia barely stretched her eyes in wonder, but Charly could tell she’d piqued her interest. “Mya may have what you need. We’re identical by DNA only, but that’s where it stops. She may have other brands or types.”
    Charly grimaced, then shrugged. “I don’t think so. Unless she gets a prescription, I don’t think anything she has will work. My body and skin are hypersensitive, so I’m limited to what my dermatologist prescribes. I don’t know what I was thinking . . . I guess I wasn’t. Sorry to waste your time.” Charly whipped out her cell, then started swiping the screen. She smiled. She was the actress of the year, she told herself. She didn’t know how she came up with such believable tales, but was glad. “Ah-ha! We’re in business.” She pretended to read an e-mail. “My doctor called in a prescription to the pharmacy. Can you take me to CVS, the one by the mall? That’s the one I told them about.”
    Nia shook her head, and her eyes seemed to brighten. “There’s no CVS by the mall.”
    â€œWalgreens, then?” Charly said, correcting her lie. She’d been so focused on the mall, she’d forgotten what she’d just read. She’d traveled a lot with the show, and no matter where the cast was she’d spotted one of the two pharmacies, if not both.
    Nia’s face changed back into defeat. She nodded. “Yes, Walgreens . I don’t know, Charly. I’m working on a big research project . . . If I go anywhere, I’m going to the library.”
    Charly wasn’t going to let Nia get away so easily. It was summertime, so whatever project she was working on, if she was really working on anything, could wait. It had to. She had a mission to accomplish, and she wasn’t going to let Nia or anyone else stop her. “Please, Nia. I’ll owe you one. It’s just that . . .” She shrugged, then made herself look sad. “No one gets me. The studio dresses me up, and I’m on TV, and I get to do a lot of great things. From the outside I know it looks like I’ve got it made, but it’s been a trying journey,” she said truthfully. “But, honestly, no one’s ever understood me.” She fluffed her lie again, hoping she could make Nia empathize. “I don’t know if you understand what that’s like—to not have anyone really get you.”
    Nia pressed her lips together and blinked really slowly. Her inhale and exhale were audible and almost seemed deliberate. Yes, everyone had to breathe, Charly knew, but no one had to do it so loudly. Nia cleared her throat.
    â€œDo you know what that’s like, Nia?” Charly pushed, hoping for a sign, any slight change on Nia’s face that would be a telltale sign that she was biting.
    Nia pursed her lips, then looked to the ceiling like she was searching for an answer. Or remembering, Charly thought. She’d once read somewhere that people looked up and to the left or right, depending if they were recalling or making up something. She hoped Nia was in memory mode.
    â€œI don’t know . . .” Nia said. “Maybe you can talk to Mya.”
    Charly stopped herself from shrugging. At this point she didn’t care what Nia thought she didn’t know. If she was going to remake this girl, she had to find a way to make Nia help her do so. She looked at her, seeing that Nia was really into working and studying. Her whole look said nerd, but it