Let's Rock! (11 page)

“Then ladies,” Toni said, smiling, “I believe we have a plane to catch.”

Bria was jet-lagged from the long flight back home, but she wasn't about to let it stand in her way. She stifled a yawn as she made her way down the stairs of her house, careful not to wake up her dad and sister, who were still fast asleep.

“Have some breakfast,” her mom said, placing a plate of scrambled eggs and toast on the kitchen table. It was 5:00 Saturday morning, and Mrs. Chang had already been up for an hour cooking and packing everything they needed for the video shoot.

“Mom, you're too much!” Bria said, digging
into her plate. “I know sometimes I tell you that you're too tough on me, but—”

“Sometimes? How about all the time?” her mother interjected.

“Okay,
all
the time. But I really appreciate everything you do for me.”

Her mom stopped sipping her cup of coffee and smiled. “I do it because I love you, Bri. And I know you have it in you to do great things. I believe in you.”

“You do?” Bria asked.

“Of course I do! And Miss Toni and all those Sugar Babies believe in you, too.”

“Sugar
Dolls
,” Bria said, giggling.

“Oh, whatever you call them,” her mom replied. “And I'm very proud that you're doing this for a great cause. You know what I want you to be when you grow up?”

Bria wrinkled her nose. “A journalist like Dad? President of the United States? The first woman on Mars?”

“All of the above sounds fine,” she replied, laughing. “But most of all, I want you to be a
good person with a big heart who tries to make the world a better place.” She put her arms around Bria and hugged her tight. “And you've already proved to me that you are.”

St. Ignatius was bustling with activity: cameras and lights were going up, and even a huge “cloud” backdrop was being rolled up a huge ramp mounted on the front steps of the church. Jane Montgomery stood in the middle of all the mayhem, barking orders.

“Careful with those costumes—they cost me a fortune!” she called as a location truck unloaded garment bags on racks.

Bria and her mom pulled into the parking lot. “Wow,” Bria said, climbing out of the car. “This is crazy.” A man pushed past her carrying a glittering harp.

Inside, the other Divas, their moms, and J. J. were gathered and waiting for wardrobe, hair, and makeup.

“Hi, guys!” Bria called.

“Make way for the star of the show!” J. J. said teasingly.

Liberty silently pouted. She hated when anyone else stole the spotlight.

“Where's Miss Toni?” Bria asked.

Scarlett shrugged. “Don't know. We saw her a few minutes ago and then she disappeared.”

Bria looked around the shelter, hoping to spot Reese. She knew how excited she would be that the Sugar Dolls were filming there.

“Excuse me,” she asked one of the shelter's staff. “Have you seen a girl named Reese and her mom, Jenny? I talked to them last time I was here.”

The woman checked a list of names on a clipboard. “I'm sorry, dear,” she replied. “I don't see anyone by that name here. Do you know her last name?”

Bria wanted to kick herself: Why hadn't she thought to ask? “I'm sorry I don't.” All she had was her e-mail address.

“Well, maybe she'll come later. People drop in
all day and night. The door is always open,” the woman said.

Mrs. Chang saw how disappointed Bria looked. “What's wrong, honey? I thought you'd be so excited to be shooting your first big music video.”

“I am,” Bria said. “I'm just missing somebody, that's all.” She sent Reese an e-mail on her laptop and hoped she'd get it in time to meet the Sugar Dolls:

Hi, Reese, it's Bria. At St. I's! URGENT!

But there was no reply.

Jane ran through how the entire choreography would go. The Dolls would dance through the rows of pews in the church while the Divas twirled around behind them, dressed like their mini-mes. The costumes were breathtaking: gold sequin dresses topped with silver leather jackets and cool knee-high leather boots.

“Oh my gooshness! I feel like a pop star!” Gracie said, twirling in her outfit. She was Baby
Doll's mini-me and wore a rhinestone-studded pacifier around her neck.

Liberty held up a gold-and-white swirled lollipop. “The least they could have done was made me Rag Doll,” she said, and sighed. “I love her clothes!”

“I don't know what you're complaining about,” Rochelle said as Sporty Doll. “I've gotta dance while swinging this!” She held up a gold tennis racquet.

“I wish Reese could be here to see this,” Bria said. “She would be in heaven!”

She sent her another e-mail:

Where R U? Come to St. Ignatius ASAP.

I have a huge surprise!

She waited patiently and refreshed her e-mail. But there was still no reply.

“Maybe she's busy studying?” Scarlett suggested.

“Or maybe she's ignoring me because she doesn't want to be my friend,” Bri answered.

Jane clapped her hands. “I need my backup dancers in position now! Divas, that's you!”

Suddenly, Bria spotted a familiar face at the entrance to the church, trying to get past the Dolls' bodyguards. Reese! She raced over and pleaded with the big, muscly security men to let her friend in.

“Bria!” Reese waved at her. “I was at the library when I got your e-mail!”

But the guards stood tall. Bria raced over. “Please, let her in. She's with me!”

“Sorry, we have our orders,” one of the guards replied. “Only talent on set.”

“But she is talent!” Bria said. She remembered Reese's amazing dancing. She thought quickly: “She's one of the Divas.”

“I am?” Reese asked, surprised. “I mean, I am! Totally!”

The guard stepped aside and Bria grabbed Reese's arm. “I'm so glad you're here!” she said.

“I got here as fast as I could,” Reese said. She gazed around the room. “This is amazing! I can't believe I'm so close to the Sugar Dolls!”

Bria smiled. “Come with me. I think I know a way you can get a lot closer!”

It took another two hours for all the props, lights, and cameras to get into position, but finally, they were ready to shoot.

“This better be good, Jane. We're expecting you to deliver like you said you would,” the Sugar Dolls' manager said.

Jane rubbed her temples. “When I say
action
I want to see the Dolls sweep in. Divas, hold your places till I give you the cue.”

The music for “Heaven Sent” filled the entire church. “
A little bit of love, a little bit of kindness, the time we spent was Heaven Sent
…” The Dolls lip-synched the lyrics as they danced.

“Now, cue Divas!” Jane shouted. There, dressed like the Sugar Dolls, were Scarlett, Gracie, Rochelle, Liberty, Anya … and Reese!

“Wait! Cut! Why are there six of you? I choreographed a routine for five Dolls and five backup dancers. Who's this?” She pointed to Reese.

“I'm sorry,” Reese apologized. “I just wanted to be in the video and meet the Dolls.”

Jane was starting to pull her hair out. “This is what I get for working with amateurs! Security! Throw this imposter out!”

“No, wait! It's all my fault,” Bria spoke up. “I told Reese it was okay. I found an extra costume and pinned it on her.”

“That's okay, Bria. You tried,” Reese said. “I don't belong with you guys.” She began to walk away with the guards.

Baby Doll stepped forward. “No, you belong with us.” She held out her hand to Reese, who was utterly starstruck. “We're cool with you being in the video.”

“I … I … I … You … you … you …,” Reese stuttered.

“I think what she means to say is thanks,” Bria piped up. “And she'd love to be in the video.” She elbowed Reese. “Did I get that right?”

Reese was speechless but managed to nod.

“Then it's settled. Get this girl some Dolls' duds that fit,” Rag Doll said. “I'm thinking silver sequins?”

“No!” Liberty howled. “It's not fair!”

“Haven't you learned anything?” Bria asked Liberty. “It's not fair that Reese has no home. It's not fair that there are hungry people on the streets. That's what's not fair. Not that you don't get to wear some glitzy costume!”

Bria stepped forward. “I think Reese should be the spotlight dancer. She can have my part.”

“Oh, Bria!” her mother gasped.

“Are you sure?” her teammates said.

“I've never been more sure of anything, except maybe the diet of the earthworm,” Bria answered.

“That's very generous of you,” Jazzy Doll said. “I think this video could use two spotlight dancers. What do you say, Dolls?”

Candy Doll clapped her hands. “I say,
sweet!
”

Jane threw her hands in the air. “I give up! This video is getting more out of control by the minute!”

Bria spotted Miss Toni watching the action from a corner of the room with Reese's mom. Was she
actually
smiling?

Reese grabbed Bria and hugged her. “You are such an amazing friend,” she said. “I can't believe I'm going to be in a Sugar Dolls video!”

“Better than that,” Miss Toni said, walking over to them. “Reese, I was just talking to your mom and she said you danced and that you'd like to take a tap class at my studio after school?”

“I would!” Reese exclaimed. “But …”

“But what?” Rochelle teased. “You don't want to hang out with us now because you're a big music video star?”

“No!” Reese said. “It's not that at all.” She looked at her mom. “It's just that we don't have money to pay for dance lessons.”

“Who said anything about paying?” J. J. jumped in. “I'm teaching a new tap class every Tuesday, and I can use an assistant with a ‘professional' music video résumé to stand in the front of the class. Whaddaya say, Reese?”