Free First Date by Krista McGee Page A

to believe this.” Kara jumped up and down and clapped.
    “What in the world . . . ?” Addy croaked, rubbing her eyes.
    Kara hopped over to Addy’s bed and deposited her laptop on Addy’s lap. “Read.”
    “More blogs?” Addy groaned. “I don’t want to know. I’m sure I already know: ‘Addy Davidson is the biggest idiot in America,’ right?”
    “Wrong,” Kara sang in her best opera voice. “Read, Addy. Read .” Kara was still jumping up and down.
    “Fine.” The headline read “America’s Sweetheart.” Addy looked at Kara. “What?”
    “Keep going, sweetheart .” Kara grinned.
    “‘Thumbing her nose at the other twenty-nine contestants, Addy Davidson triumphed with a rousing kazoo solo in last night’s Book of Love .’”
    “Honestly, Addy, if I didn’t know you, I’d think you were a genius.”
    She pushed Kara off her bed. “Thanks, roomie.”
    “Seriously. I know you weren’t using any strategy, but everyone else thinks you are, and brilliantly. Well played, my friend. You’re a shoo-in for the Top Twenty-Five. I wish I could see Hank’s face right now.”
    “There was no strategy,” Addy said. “I just don’t have talent.”
    “I know. Well, I mean, no offense, but . . .”
    “None taken. I am aware of my inabilities.”
    “America loves that you don’t have talent. Look.” Kara grabbed the laptop and clicked to an entertainment website. “‘Addy Davidson, Our Hero.’”
    Addy frowned. “I don’t understand. I play a kazoo and I’m a hero?”
    Kara shut her computer and looked at Addy. “Pretty much. You see, the rest of us were acting like this was Miss America or America’s Next Star . And I’m not gonna lie, we were all pretty amazing. It was like putting twenty-nine Picassos onstage with my little niece’s drawing of Barney. Picasso may be great, but Barney stands out. It’s cute, original, and endearing.”
    “So you’re Picasso and I’m Barney. Is that what you’re saying?” Addy asked with a crooked smile.
    “No. I’m Picasso and you’re my niece—she’s much cuter than Barney. And smaller. And less purple, and definitely not as annoying.”
    “Okay, okay. So people like me because I’m untalented?”
    “People like you because you’re not ashamed of being untalented.”
    Addy was still trying to understand when she heard a commotion outside her door.
    “Addy Davidson! We’d like to talk with you, if y’all don’t mind.”
    Addy looked questioningly at Kara, then walked to open the trailer door.
    A mob of girls in pajamas was crowded around the little metal steps leading to Addy’s trailer. A mob of angry girls in pajamas.
    Lord, give me strength . “Yes? What would you like to talk about?”
    Southern belle Anna Grace stepped forward. “Don’t act all innocent with us, Addy.” She tossed her short blond hair. “Do you think this is a joke?”
    Addy thought of at least half a dozen fabulous comebacks, but, remembering her desire to be a light, she held back. “I’m sorry?”
    “Well, you should be. We work our butts off preparing for last night, and you waltz in with that stupid kazoo and get the entire spotlight?” Anna Grace crinkled her perfect little nose. “First you act all nasty; now you’re a clown. You’ll just do anything to get people to notice you.”
    Addy massaged her temples and tried to speak but was cut off by another of the contestants—Taylor from Tacoma.
    “Don’t even try to deny it. We’ve all been watching you and we’re onto you. You’re going to regret this, Addy. We’ll make sure of it.”
    With that, the girls turned their heads and walked off. It was so perfect Addy wondered if they had choreographed the whole thing. She shut the door. These girls are ridiculous. Last night everything was fine. Lila even told me I was creative. I thought things were finally getting better, that maybe we could all be friends .
    “How could they change so much in less than twelve hours?” Addy picked up her