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  SIMON SPOTLIGHT

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com Copyright © 2011 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  SIMON SPOTLIGHT and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Text by Alexis Barad-Cutler

  Designed by Giuseppe Castellano

  Manufactured in the United States of America 0911 OFF

  First Edition 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  ISBN 978-1-4424-3362-5 (pbk)

  ISBN 978-1-4424-3363-2 (eBook)

  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2011934861

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Ugh. I can’t believe what just happened! So it’s winter break-you know, a time when I’m supposed to be maxin’ and relaxin’ and just overall vegging out. And that’s EXACTLY what I planned on doing-well, except for Grizzly practice, but that’s fun for me-before The Phone Call. But instead? I’m having a major freak-out session. I mean, I should have guessed. Me? Being drama free? Ha-ha. Fat chance.

  Something crazy just happened and I’m so confused about what to do. I was v-chatting a little while ago with Lanie, trying to make plans for later, when Mom knocked on my door.

  “It’s your dad,” she said. “He needs to talk to you about something.”

  I’d heard the phone ring a few minutes before, but since Mom didn’t scream for me to get it immediately (like she usually does when he calls), I figured it was for her.

  “Ooh, must be serious,” I thought. Because usually when Dad calls it’s just to say hi, or to make me feel guilty about not being the genius daughter he always wanted. And then I was like, PLEASE don’t let Dad and his awful girlfriend Beth be engaged.

  I didn’t want to pick up the phone. I tiptoed toward it extra cautiously, as if Mom was holding out a writhing snake. I could just see it: Beth would make me go shopping with her at the Bridal Barn and pick out an extremely gnarly bridesmaid dress with like, giant poofs for sleeves.

  Gross. Finally, I picked up the phone.

  “Hey, Mads. You want to go with Beth and me to the Big Apple for the rest of your winter break?” asked Dad.

  Phew. Wedding crisis averted. Wait. What? Did he just say, “Big Apple”? As in New York City? This is way better than Dad getting engaged. My brain said, “Heck yeah! When’s the next plane?” Now this is something I can get down with: Me, all bundled up in my adorbs new winter coat (Christmas prezzie), ice skating under the Rockefeller tree. Eating one of those big New York pretzels . . .

  But then I realized all that daydreaming was just a big chunk of brain fog because right after my first thought of, yes please! this annoying thing called Reality hit: Hello! Madison Hays, aren’t you supposed to be a Serious Cheerleader? A C-A-P-T-A-I-N? On what planet are you allowed to miss a whole week of practice-especially during winter break? NO ONE misses practice over break. It’s the best time to totally throw yourself into training. No tests to worry about, no homework to do. It’s all cheer all the time. Or, in other words: Cheer Heaven.

  And when I say no one misses it, I mean not even the Grizzlies. We may not have any major games, but we do have an almost unhealthy amount of commitment to our team. My daydream of a snowy, carriage-ride-filled NYC trip began to dissolve into a puddle.

  “So? Maddy? Whaddya say?” asked Dad, interrupting my thoughts.

  I flopped down on my bed and sighed. “Oh, sorry, Dad. I was just thinking.”

  “Oh, so that’s what it sounds like when the wheels spin in your head,” Dad joked. Har dee har har.

  “Um, shouldn’t I ask Mom first?” Since she’s my coach and all (oh yeah, and also MY MOM) I was pretty sure she’d have an opinion or two about me saying adios to the team to have a week o’ fun with Dad.

  “I already spoke to her-she wanted me to be the one to tell you, and she thinks you should go. You deserve a break, Madison.”

  THAT explains what they were talking about before I got on the phone.

  Something is definitely fishy, though. First of all, Dad is always telling me I should be taking all advanced classes at school, plus weekend classes so I can “get ahead of the game.” I’m pretty sure his idea of a great winter vacation for me includes math camp or learning Japanese-not frolicking down Broadway. Like, I’ve never heard him use the words “break” and “Madison” in the same sentence. (Unless he’s wishing me good luck on a test, of course. Then he might say, “Break a leg, sweetie!” But that’s totally diff.)

  And also, what’s up with the super-duper last-minute plan? Did he just wake up this morning and say, “Not only would we like to go on a spontaneous trip, but I want to take my daughter, even though we haven’t been on vacation together since the time I enrolled her in the Little Tots program in Ski School.”

  On the other hand, what if this is just a convenient way for Dad to ruin my cheerleading career? He’s never been the biggest fan of the idea-especially since he had to listen to Mom talk about cheer the whole time they were married. And look how THAT turned out.

  “Dad, I’ve got to think about it. We have a lot planned for this week’s Grizzly practice.” And we do: The Grizzlies are training for the Washington Get Up and Cheer Competition in the spring, and we’re supposed to really rev things up this week. I know that the competition isn’t the same as going to, say, a regional qualifier. But it’s still a big deal for a novice team like us.

  Dad got all serious and said, “Well, it would be a nice opportunity for the two of us to spend time together.”

  Guilt trip much? I mean, it’s true. Dad and I haven’t hung out a lot recently (see ref to Tiny Tots Ski School trip). My eyes landed on the framed photo on my dresser of me and Dad on his old bike, with me in one of those baby seats attached to the back.

  Guess Dad and I did have some good times way back when.

  But then I realized, even if Dad was having a “my little girl” moment, this probably wasn’t going to be just a trip for Dad and me alone.

  “Dad,” I said, “isn’t Beth coming too? Having your girlfriend there isn’t exactly just ‘father-daughter bonding’ time.”

  “Beth would really like to be your friend, Mads.”

  Super barf. Yeah, I can just picture Beth and me putting on face masks from the Body Shop and gabbing about boys and crushes. Maybe we’ll download an awesome iTunes mix and start a hotel dance party! Ha! That’s not happening. Not with “Business Beth.” Does she even know HOW to vacation?

  The trip is planned for Sunday. But luckily, Dad said I could tell him on Friday. Going to do some major soul-searching.

  AFTER DINNER, IN MY MTV CRIB

  It was a good thing I had plans to go to Lanie’s this afternoon. I knew she would help me figure out my Big Dilemma. What I didn’t realize until I arrived there, though, was that Lanie had some problems of her own: Midget-Size Pop Star problems.

  I know, I know. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. Lanie’s mom answered the door with a grim expression on her face. “She’s upstairs,” she said to me, shaking her head. “But be prepared. It’s bad.”

  I was like, “Weird. Lanie didn’t mention anything being wrong when we were on the phone earlier.” From the look on her mom’s face, I was half expecting Lanie to be lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, like, Exorcist-style, going through one
of her what’s-the-meaning-of-life existential crises. Now that I think about it, THAT would have been a cheerier scene than what I actually did encounter once I opened her bedroom door.

  Her room looked like Dustin Barker had walked in and exploded all over her walls, bed, and dresser. (Sidebar: Dustin Barker is this celebrity whose photo is on the cover of every teen magazine. And in those photos he’s always making über-fake kissy faces that have captions above them that read, “Do You Want to Know How to Be His Number One Girl?” or “How to Win Dustin’s Everlasting Love.” Every time he’s shown on TV he’s flashing a peace sign. Lame-o.)

  At first I thought I was in the wrong room. Because MY Lanie is definitely not that kind of girl. Yeah, I know she’s always had a secret crush on him, but I never expected to see a Dustin Barker shrine in her room. First of all, Lanie’s the last person on earth to like the same guy as everyone else. In the entire time we’ve been friends I’ve never seen her glance at a teen magazine or listen to the radio. She’d much rather be reading some book of poetry. Also: Lanie doesn’t really even do crushes. And second of all, even when she does like a guy, it’s always someone really serious who wears all black and with combat boots and thinks not washing his hair makes a statement about his love of the environment.

  When Lanes first told me about her obsession with Dustin Barker, I was like, “He’s kind of cute. But really, I don’t see the big deal.”

  “Big deal?” Lanie had said, looking at me like I was wondering what the big deal of say, winning the lottery or breathing air was. She picked up her laptop to show me her Dustin Barker screen saver. “Just look at those kissable lips! That hair!” she swooned. “And whoa, can he dance!”

  Ok, fine, so he’s got (what everyone considers) “dreamy” hair that always falls down onto his left eye, and a constant smile that says, “Girl, you’re the one for me.” I know every girl in my school is gaga for him. I guess he’s just not my type.

  So here’s the full extent of the Dustin Barker Damage: She has three different posters of him around her bed, a Dustin Barker scented candle (the label said “experience his essence” on it, which just sounds icky), and his autobiography (Dustified: An Autobiography) standing up on her dresser face out like a work of art.

  I plopped down on her bed before giving her a dose of Maddy Reality. That’s when I noticed the Dustin Barker bedspread. This was serious!

  “Lanes, I thought that I was nuts when I fell for Bevan. But I didn’t fill my room with his dirty gym socks. This?” I said, pointing to the Barbie-size Dustin Barker doll next to her bed. “This is a tad out of control.”

  Lanie walked over to the Dustin Barker candle, her long black skirt trailing behind her. “True love is needs no explanations,” she said, echoing one of his number one songs. “But there is a reason for all this. I’m getting myself psyched for when I meet him.”

  “Say what now?” I asked. Since when do teen heartthrobs make door-to-door calls?

  She picked up the autobiography and held it to her chest. “He’s coming to the Book Worm to do a book signing. You didn’t hear about it?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. I don’t get the Dustin Barker fan club e-mails.”

  “Well, anyway. I’m going to meet him!” She swooned. “I don’t care how many hours I’ll have to wait on line. I’m even going to give him a pen to sign with so I can have something he’s touched.” She had a crazed look in her eyes.

  “I’m legitimately worried about your health.”

  “It’s perfectly healthy for a girl to have a celebrity crush. Dr. Drew even said it was ‘aspirational.’”

  “Ok, now I’m really worried. Lanie Marks does not watch VH1 or MTV. She watches PBS.”

  “I know, I know,” sighed Lanie. “But I didn’t have a choice. How else would I watch the Dustin Barker Little Bit o’ Christmas special?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “But that’s just it! My Lanie also doesn’t like superfamous pop stars.”

  Lanie leaned against the giant Powerpuff Girls pillow that has been on her bed since we were four. “Well, maybe this is a part of Lanie you didn’t know. Or maybe I’m the new Lanie.”

  “Whatever you say, Lanes. I’m here for you when he breaks your heart.”

  “Thank you,” said Lanie. “So. Let’s talk about you. What’s new?”

  I told Lanie what the sitch is, hoping she’d help me solve this mess.

  “Whoa. That’s amazing!” she said, before I even mentioned the dilemma part. “When do you leave?”

  “Well, I haven’t exactly decided if I’m even going yet,” I said. “That’s the thing. I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to miss Grizzly practice. Or even if I want to be on a vacation with my dad and Beth, you know?”

  Lanie rolled her eyes like she was trying to talk sense into a three-year-old and took a seat next to me on the bed. “I’m going to make this easy for you, Mads.” Her expression was dead serious. “You’re going.”

  “I am?”

  “You don’t have a choice! A free trip to New York? Um. Yes, please.”

  I grabbed Lanie’s ratty old teddy bear and played with the loose button on its shirt. “I know! That’s what I thought at first,” I said. “But then I realized, what kind of example will I be setting for the team about commitment, you know? I’ve been droning on and on about how we need to make the most of every night’s practices, and take as much time as possible to train over break. And now I’m just going to be like, ‘Peace out, Grizzlies’?”

  Lanie listened patiently. “It’s New York, Mads. Fashion capital of the world. Remember ‘fashion’? Your favorite thing after cheer and moi, of course. Do I really need to remind you?”

  “You forgot Bevan,” I said. “He’s up there too.” Sigh. Bevan. I haven’t seen him for over a week and I’m having withdrawal.

  “Fine, he can share my pedestal,” said Lanie. “But no more making fun of my crush. Anyway, I hear you about being a slave for cheerleading and all, but this is a great chance for a fun vacay. And also, since your dad and Beth will want some alone time, they’ll probably let you do your own thing a little.”

  I have to admit I hadn’t thought about that before she mentioned it. Being on my own in the city of my dreams? That would be awesome. We’ll have to see about that. . . . Dad’s usually a strict guy, but then again, I haven’t ever hung with him and a serious girlfriend 24/7.

  I just hope that the rest of the team agrees with Lanes. I haven’t even spoken to Jacqui about it yet. I’m too afraid of her being disappointed with the idea that I’m leaving her alone with the team for a week. Then again, maybe the fact that I’m feeling guilty about it means I’ve made my decision. . . .

  When I got back home from Lanie’s, Mom was up watching some black-and-white movie with Marlon Brando in it (he’s one of her favorite actors of all time). Even though he is from the age of the dinosaurs, I guess he was kind of cute back in the day. Maybe teenage girls had posters of him all over their rooms too (if posters even existed back then).

  Mom put the movie on pause. “Oh, honey, close the door quickly, please. It’s freezing outside!”

  Mom is always cold no matter what season it is. But she’s right-it’s colder than usual today.

  I opened the kitchen cupboard to grab some Swiss Miss.

  “So, have you decided? Are you New York bound?” Mom asked, holding her blanket close to her body with one hand and her mug of tea in the other as she shuffled into the kitchen.

  I put up some hot water. “Well, I have pretty much T minus five seconds to decide,” I told her. “I want to go. Lanie thinks I should go. Dad thinks I should go, obviously. But I’m worried about the Grizzlies.”

  She leaned back against the counter next to me. “I know that you were really looking forward to practice this week. But think of all the fun you’ll have. We’ll all miss you here, but trust me, we’ll be fine.” She took a sip. “What did Jacqui say about it? Did you talk to her?”

  “N
o, not yet,” I said, licking some of the cocoa powder off my hand. “I’m going to catch her first thing before practice tomorrow and let her know what I’m thinking. If she acts the teeniest bit upset about it, though, I’m not going.”

  “Madington,” Mom said, shaking her head. “You have to make the decision that’s right for you. Don’t worry about other people so much.”

  “I know, I know,” I muttered.

  But still, I’m not convinced. Everything hinges on how Jacqui and the Grizzlies react.

  Later on I called Bevan to give him the update too.

  “Awesome!” he said, when I told him about the trip. “I remember you saying that you haven’t been on a vacation with your family in a while.”

  It’s true, I did mention that. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon. I guess I was picturing something over the summer-but even then, that would interfere with cheer. I can’t really win, I guess.

  “Yeah, coming from the guy who goes on three big family vacations a year. I knew you’d understand.”

  This year Bevan has already been to Aruba and Florida, and they’ve also taken a family ski trip. And the year isn’t even over yet, technically.

  “I wouldn’t consider visiting my grandparents’ condo in Florida a vacation,” said Bevan.

  “Uh, spoiled much? Anywhere with palm trees and sun is a vacation to me.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I’m happy for you. I mean, I’ll miss you, but still. You’ll have a blast in New York. I’ll tell you some places to hit up.”

  Of course he’s already been to New York. Probably, like, ten times.

  “Cool. But I’m not 100% positive I’m going yet. I want to see what the team thinks first.”

  “I guess that makes sense,” said Bevan. “The team comes first, right, Mads?” I know he was being sarcastic, but that’s pretty much how I really feel.

  The team DOES come first. So how can I even consider abandoning them?