“Why does he hate me so much, Em? Why?” I wish Dr. Ryan could see me now; I’d be guaranteed the part. My voice cracks and everything.
“He doesn’t … oh, Sophie. I’m so sorry that you’re upset. Let me see what I can do.”
“You know that I’m eternally grateful to you, right, Em? I’m going to entitle my first album Emme is my BFF and I owe her everything.”
I go on and on about how amazing and wonderful she is and pretend that talking to her has made everything better. I hang up the phone and see Amanda staring at me. “Oh, Emme!” She exaggerates her words. “You are the best thing ever, thank you for getting off your high horse for two seconds to help li’l ol’ me.”
I bust out laughing. I can’t believe how needy I sounded.
“Enough about Emme.” I pick up my outfit to try it on. “I’ve got a role to win.”
Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth with Emme. You’d think she’d want to help her best friend land a role that could change her life, but she keeps saying things like she’ll “get in trouble” or Ethan will “kill” her.
Does she not realize that this is how show business works? It’s a tough place and you have to take whatever advantages you can. For me, that’s knowing as much about the audition as possible. And the person who can give me that is Emme.
Although, if I have to keep forcing tears with her, I’m going to have nothing left for the actual audition. Not with the constant role I play in Who Loves Emme More? I’ve even been wearing the bracelet she bought me for Christmas or my birthday or something a few years ago. I know how much it means to her that I wear it. It’s not really my style, it’s cutesy — like Emme. My style is more fashion-forward, modern chic.
Anyway, I decide to sit it out. She’ll crack if I give her the silent treatment.
She just sits there and studies on her bed. She isn’t even looking at me. Or noticing that I’m mad at her.
Different strategy. “Ahem!” I say loudly.
She looks up. Bingo.
“So sorry, Em. I’m just thinking about the Senior Showcase and hoping that I have enough major parts coming up to be considered for the audition.”
We aren’t even allowed to audition for the showcase; we are asked. And even then, your spot isn’t guaranteed.
“But it won’t matter, I guess. I’m singing one of your songs after all. No one can say no to an Emme Connelly song.”
Flattery, my dears, gets you everywhere.
She smiles at me … then starts reading from her history book.
“Have you decided what songs you’re going to put on your CD for your senior thesis?”
She looks up. “Um, not really. I know a few. I’m starting to work on a new song for the showcase, plus I need a couple more for the college auditions.”
Then something hits me.
“You know what’s awesome. Your senior project is perfect. It helps you with your college applications and we can use it as my demo.”
Emme bites her lip. Her and her stupid lip biting. Just flippin’ spit it out if you have something to say!
“Is there a problem?” I try to say sweetly.
She shakes her head. “No, it’s just that I didn’t think you were going to sing on it. You haven’t …”
I know we didn’t talk about it, but I just assumed. Plus …
“Well, if I don’t sing on it, who will?” Does she not realize I’ve been doing her a favor all these years? Giving my voice to her songs.
“I am.” She says it so softly.
Obviously this is some sick joke she’s playing.
I give a light laugh. “Oh, Emme, you almost had me. You know that I’d be more than happy to help you out. Plus, when I send out my demos, it will put your songs out there as well. It’s what friends do.”
I can’t believe Emme would forget that she’s always been a huge part of my Plan. Yes, my demo will get me recognition with managers and labels, but this is how she’ll get her break as a songwriter and producer as well. It’s how the business works. I’ve done my research, so a little appreciation would be nice.
Emme shakes her head. “I know, but it’s just … we’re recording in Ethan’s studio and it’s sort of a condition of his….”
“Oh. I get it. His condition is to ruin my life. Is that it? First, he refuses to let me see the song for the audition tomorrow and now he wants to prevent me from getting a record contract?”
Emme looks upset, like she’s about to cry. I don’t see what she has to cry about. It isn’t her life that’s being sabotaged, it’s mine.
“Sophie, he thinks it would be good for the college recruiters to hear me sing it, that’s all. We can record your vocals as well and do a demo for you.”
Well, that’s better. But there’s still something she’s not giving me.
“I’m sorry, Em. I know you’d never betray me. I’m just so worked up about tomorrow’s audition. If I just had some idea of the other song, just a little, teeny, tiny clue, I’d feel so much better.”
Oh, what a surprise, she’s biting her lip. She walks over to the full-size keyboard in her room.
“Okay. I don’t know it that well since I’m not playing on it. I’m just going to sit here and play what I remember. This is between you and me.”
I get up to give her a hug. “Oh, Emme! You have no idea how much I appreciate this. You’re the best!”
I sit back down on her bed and close my eyes and she starts playing a melody. I begin to hum along to it and play it in my head for the rest of the night.
I totally nail the audition. I know my “Send in the Clowns” is killer, but when Dr. Ryan hands me the sheet music for the sight-reading portion, I bite my lip (in honor of Emme!) and pretend to study it. I sing the first half of the song exactly as written, but then, for the last verse, I close my eyes and put my Sophie touch on it.
When I open my eyes, Dr. Ryan clearly looks impressed. Ethan looks pissed. Like I care.
“How’d it go?” Carter greets me at my locker.
“Incredible!”
He gives me a hug. “That’s great!”
“Listen, I’ve got my bag to get ready for tonight, so I figured we can go to your place so I can change.”
Carter and I are going to some art opening tonight. Totally not my thing, but it’s the first social thing he’s been up for in a while. I got this black cocktail dress and funky red shoes to go with the SoHo crowd. At least, I hope it’s in SoHo, or at the Met or MoMA. Somewhere with fabulously trendy people and an awesome swag bag.
“I thought we’d just have dinner down the street, since the exhibit is here.”
“What?”
Carter shakes his head. “I told you it was Trevor’s exhibit of his impressionist era–influenced paintings.”
I’m sure he did, but I have no idea what any of that really means. “I didn’t realize it was a CPA thing, plus I don’t know who Trevor is.”
“Trevor Parsons. He’s only the best art student in school.”
He says this like being the best art student is a big thing in this school. The stage is what matters.
“I thought we were going to some fabulous opening. We haven’t done that in forever. Can’t you call Sheila Marie and see if there’s anything going on tonight that’s fun?”
“But I want to go to this. And we can’t call Sheila Marie. She’s no longer my publicist. I don’t really want to deal with the press anymore.”
Here I had the most amazing audition, and Carter has to ruin it by taking me to some lame school event and firing his publicist.