Free Solo Star by Cindy Jefferies

the hospitality room afterward.”
    â€œWe will?” said Chloe, feeling panicky again. “I won’t know what to say.”
    â€œIt’s just a party,” said Judge Jim. “All you have to do is enjoy yourself.”
    â€œOkay,” said Chloe. “I think I can manage that.”

10. Party Time
    Julie escorted the last performer back from the studio, and this time, instead of leaving right away, she came in and sat down. She waited while the students congratulated Isla.
    â€œGood job, Isla! You were fantastic,” one of the other senior students told her.
    Chloe had to admit that Isla had made the most of her opportunity and had ended the concert on a real high. Her cool, bluesy voice had really wowed the audience. She would be leaving school soon and fully deserved to make it big. A Rockley Park education had turned Isla into an accomplished and mature singer, and Chloe fervently hoped the school would do the same for her.
    Once everyone had calmed down, Julie stood up to get their attention. “Well,” she began. “Congratulations from me, too. You’ve all been wonderful performers and so easy to take care of. Thank you for being so professional.”
    A warm glow crept through Chloe’s body. It was so nice to be praised like that by someone who had probably seen countless stars.
    â€œIf you’re ready, I’ll take you through to the hospitality suite, where you can mingle with the audience and have a snack before you go back to school. Okay? Follow me.”
    Danny walked with Chloe. “I’m starving,” he said. “I hope they’re big snacks.”
    Chloe laughed. “Didn’t you eat any of the pizza they gave us for lunch?”
    â€œNot much,” Danny replied. “But I’m definitely hungry now.”
    â€œMe, too,” agreed Chloe, realizing suddenly how ravenous she was.
    The hospitality suite wasn’t as impressive as it had sounded. It was just another room, filled with members of the audience who were all talking loudly together. However, when they saw the students coming in, they began to applaud. Chloe felt very overwhelmed.
    For a few minutes, the students stayed bunched together, not sure what to do. Then a waiter came up to them with a tray of food.
    â€œI wonder who the most important person in the room is?” said Chloe, nibbling chips and looking around at everyone. Most of them looked very ordinary. But it was impossible to tell.
    â€œHow about him?” said Danny, pointing out a man with a very bright tie and a leather jacket. “Maybe he’s the head of a big record company.”
    â€œSorry to disappoint you,” said Mr. Player, who was standing nearby. “I happen to know he’s a reporter with the local paper. In fact, I’d better go and have a word with him. Excuse me.”
    With that, he was gone. Danny looked at Chloe and shrugged.
    â€œWell, I figure the A&R people will come up to us if they’re interested,” said Chloe.
    â€œI hope so,” said Danny.
    Someone was coming over to the two friends, but it was a person they already knew.
    â€œHow’s it goin’?” said Judge Jim. “Got enough to eat?”
    â€œYes, thanks,” said Chloe.
    â€œThere’s someone over here who’d like to speak to you,” Judge Jim continued to Danny. “Let me introduce you.” Without further ado, he took Danny away with him, and Chloe was left on her own.
    For a few minutes, she didn’t mind too much. It was fun watching everyone talking. Judge Jim had taken Danny over to a large man wearing a flamboyant hat. The man was grinning at Danny and now he had handed him what looked like a business card. A pang of jealousy ran through Chloe. It looked like Danny had someone interested in him, but it seemed no one wanted to speak to her. Hadn’t her performance impressed anyone ?
    She wondered about going over to Zil, but he was