Plastic Polly (22 page)

I put a hand over my microphone and whisper to Kelsey, “On my count. One, two, three . . . now!”

Kelsey and I both strut to the edge of the stage and launch into our favorite karaoke song, “Celebration.”

“Celebrate good times, come on!”

The auditorium isn't darkened. And I really,
really
wish it was. Rows and rows of shocked faces stare back at us. My dad looks ready to cry. One woman on Winston's side actually has a hand clamped over her mouth. Another woman on American River's side comforts her howling toddler and glares at Kelsey and me, like it's our fault her kid is screaming. Which, maybe it is. Have I ever mentioned Kelsey and I have truly terrible voices?

There's a big difference between karaoke-ing in a friend's house and karaoke-ing in a packed auditorium. At Alyssa's house Kelsey and I had a habit of falling down in hysterics, but there's nothing funny about two girls screeching in front of hundreds of people.

Kelsey and I are trying our hardest, but our act is a
disaster. We try to move and shake, but neither of us is a great dancer, and we don't know how to be funny like the Soccer Shakers. I glance over and see Montana peeking out from American River's side of the curtain, an evil grin on her face. On Winston's side Alyssa is wincing as Kelsey and I butcher one note after another.

No one in the audience looks like they're having a good time. A few people from Winston's side stand up and leave. A couple boys on American River's side start booing.

Then suddenly Alyssa runs out onto the stage. At first I think she's come to rescue us and sing the song the way it deserves to be sung, so I hold my microphone out to her. But instead, Alyssa starts making funny faces, doing her crazy chicken hokey pokey dance, and clapping in time to the music. (Which is great, since Kelsey and I were a beat behind.)

In that moment something in the atmosphere changes. The shock seems to fade, and members of the audience, on both sides of the auditorium, start to smile. Someone starts clapping, and soon the whole auditorium joins in. Kelsey and I shrug at each other, and keep singing.

Alyssa is grabbing people by the hand and leading them out onto the stage. First Tasha and Dominique. Then Kai and Aidan. Alyssa jumps down into the audience and leads
Principal Allen to the stage, which makes everyone laugh. Then Kristy and the cheerleaders run out and start dancing.

And that's when I stop thinking about the audience and the humiliation that's sure to follow after this. All I see are my two best friends and that when I really needed them, they've come through for me.

Zack's voice booms over the loudspeakers,
“It would appear that we're ending tonight's show with a dance party! Come on, everyone, and celebrate!”

I hand my microphone to Tasha. Then I join in with everyone and dance. And I realize I've done it. As many mistakes as I've made these past few weeks, Groove It Up is over, and somehow we've managed to put on a good show. It's taken a while, but I've found my own voice. It may be totally off-key, but at least it's real.

My cell vibrates in my pocket, and I wonder who could possibly be calling me now. I can't help it. I pull out my phone. It's a text from Mom:

I'm so proud of you!

And for the first time in a really long time, I'm proud of myself too.

True Confession: I hate nicknames. They never tell you anything about who a person really is.

I'
M SITTING IN THE CAFETERIA WITH MY TWO BEST
friends, Alyssa Grace and Kelsey Taylor, at our usual table in the corner. They don't notice me staring at them. They're too busy arguing over which movie to watch later. Tonight, after Alyssa is finished with rehearsal for the spring play, we're going over to her house for a sleepover.

Winston Academy lost Groove It Up. Once everyone finally stopped dancing, Zack asked Justin and me to stand center stage. When the judges announced that American River won, I shook Justin's hand and quietly slipped off the stage. Kelsey and Alyssa were waiting in the wings for me,
armed with brownies and cheesecake. That next Monday, Kelsey's first day back at school, Melinda and Jenna went out of their way to let everyone know they thought it was my fault Winston lost.

When Kelsey and I entered the cafeteria, we saw Melinda and Jenna sitting at the Court. Melinda was still sitting in Kelsey's seat.

“You know what's going to happen if I go over there,” I said to Kelsey. “But you can go without me. I'll be okay, really.”

Kelsey stared at the Court for a moment. “No,” she said finally, “I think we're both done there.”

Kelsey found us a corner table, and when Alyssa came to get her lunch, she sat with us. Now Alyssa eats with us a couple days a week. Sometimes Kelsey and I hang out with her in the Dungeon. And sometimes—when the door to the practice room is locked, and no one else is around—Kelsey and I rap with Tasha and Dominique. We're terrible, but they don't seem to mind.

It was pretty rough that first week after the competition, especially the night when Shattered Stars performed at American River. But after the first couple of weeks, most people left me and Kelsey alone about Groove It Up. And the ones who didn't figured out pretty fast that, whether
she's queen of the Court or not, it's a bad idea to mess with Kelsey. Not unless you want a very long and very public tongue-lashing.

I joined the Academic Smackdown team. Bethany Perkins says I'm the trendiest AcaSmacker she's ever seen. Last week we went to a meet against American River and we slaughtered them. It was awesome. Especially since I beat Justin every time the two of us faced off on a question.

I never signed up for Camp Colonial, but I am going to Boston in the summer. I convinced Mom and Dad to take a week off work so we could go on a family vacation, the first one we've taken in a long time. And if we're feeling really crazy, we may even leave our cell phones at home.

“We need a plan for high school,” Kelsey is saying to Alyssa now that they've finally decided on a movie.

“Not this again.” Alyssa groans.

Kelsey has been busy plotting her entrance into high school. Besides making the varsity soccer team as a freshman, she's decided she needs to become the president of the student council. Kelsey figures if she wants everyone to know her name, she should go into politics.

“It's only March,” Alyssa points out. “We still have a few months left in middle school.”

Kelsey waves her hand dismissively. “Middle school is old news.”

While Kelsey and Alyssa bicker, I glance over to the Court. Melinda sits at the head of the table, nodding regally as Derek offers her a soda. Word around campus is that Melinda and Jenna are requiring the Court girls to wear hats on Fridays. But no one except Kate Newport seems to have listened. The three of them are wearing matching weird pink-and-silver hats that, in my opinion, make them look like court jesters. Kristy catches my eye. She glances at Melinda and Jenna, rolls her eyes, and waves slightly. I smile and wave back.

After Alyssa and Kelsey decide they'll discuss Kelsey's plans to conquer high school another day, Alyssa glances down at her plate of chicken enchiladas. “I hate cafeteria food.” She looks up at me. “Did you bring us any samples today?”

I pull a container from my backpack and open it. “I call them butterscotch vanilla muffins.”

Kelsey sniffs the muffins suspiciously. “You didn't put anything weird in them, did you?”

“Not this time.” I've started working on my own cookbook. I've even given it a title:
Polly's Peculiar Portions
.

I finger my heart necklace while I watch Kelsey and
Alyssa eat. I've been wearing mine lately. Every now and then Kelsey and Alyssa wear theirs, although I think they do it just for me. It feels like old times. And I know it might not last. But I know something else, too. I know next time I'll be prepared.

On the day Kelsey and Alyssa and I first broke up as best friends, I felt like I had two choices: follow Kelsey to the Court or Alyssa to the Dungeon. It never occurred to me I could have picked option C: neither of the above.

I know there may be a day in high school when Kelsey will seek popularity (again) and Alyssa will refuse to come along for the ride. No matter what path the two of them may take, I'll always root for them. But now I'm ready to find
my
path. No matter how bumpy and twisty that path is, I'm going to love it. Because it will be my own.

It's funny, but now that I'm not popular, no one ever calls me Plastic Polly. They just call me Polly. And that's the way I like it.

As I wrote this book, I thought often of the friendships I treasure in my own life, so thanks must first be given to my incredible Journey Girls: Ann Davis, Cara Lane, Carrie Diggs, Ruth Gallo, and Sarah Mahieu. The five of you give me the space to be the real me, and you love me anyway. Every woman should have friends like you.

To those who read early drafts of this book: Doug Coleman, Ruth Gallo, Lisa Allen, Nancy Winkler, and Stefanie Wass. I treasure your feedback more than you could possibly know.

To Kathy Boyd Fellure, for the perfect plot point at the perfect time. To my husband, Ryan Lundquist, who spent hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon dreaming up “True Confessions” with me. The best ones are yours!

To Elizabeth Thompson, Joanne Kraft, and Chris Pedersen for your wisdom and guidance. To Xochi Dixon, I walk on your prayers. To Shannon Dittemore, you are my BWFF!

To the Apocalypsies, and especially to the Words of Wonder authors: Anne Nesbet, Jenn Reese, Marissa Burt,
Laurisa White Reyes, and J Anderson Coats, you have all made my first year as a published author a lot less scary, and a lot more fun!

To Kerry Sparks, Alyson Heller, and Team Sparks, for your incredible encouragement and support.

Thank you to my friends and family and to everyone else who has read my work and cheered me on, I feel incredibly blessed to have such a fantastic support system.

And finally, thanks must be given to my two sons, Noah Robert and Thomas Austin. The world is a better place because you're in it.

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Seeing Cinderella
by Jenny Lundquist

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