Free Premiere by Melody Carlson Page A

a hand on her shoulder. “On the other hand, Paige is more dramatic and adventuresome. She’s confident and competitive and I want her to just take it up a notch.”
    “A notch?” Paige looks like she’s noodling on this.
    “Yeah, take it to the next level.”
    Paige’s eyes narrow slightly as her brows arch—I know my sister, and this is her watch-out-for-me look. “Okay,” Paige begins. “Let’s say I’m talking about Mia’s dress tonight. Areyou suggesting I should go ahead and give my honest fashion critique and maybe a bit more?”
    “Precisely.” Fran nods.
    “And if a catfight breaks out?” I query.
    Fran just laughs. “Then a catfight breaks out. That’s the nature of this beast. But the difference here is that Paige takes the high road. She plays the lady—she is simply expressing herself. She doesn’t pull hair or scratch. Right, Paige?”
    “I certainly hope not.” Paige looks slightly worried now.
    “And if she, say, manages to offend Mia?” I watch Fran consider my question.
    “Then Paige simply makes light of it and moves on. It will be Mia who will end up looking silly for overreacting.”
    I shake my head doubtfully. Something about this plan feels half-baked. But then I wonder if that’s how Fran wants it.
    “Absolutely.” Paige continues talking to Fran. “If a person wants to be offended, that’s their choice. I will make it clear that I’m only doing my job. Just like any fashion critique, I just want to teach and make this world a more beautiful place. And, really, what’s wrong with that?” She giggles as if this is some game.
    “And a fashion critique doesn’t get down and roll in the dirt,” Fran points out.
    “Yeah…right.” I try not to imagine one of those Malibu Barbies, or perhaps several of them in combined force, grabbing my fashion-expert sister by the hair and dragging her into a big, ugly fight. And if that does happen, what am I supposed to do about it? Jump in and save her?

Chapter 8
    “I think I might’ve fallen asleep while I was getting my hair done,” I confess to Paige as she drives us home.
    “Hopefully you didn’t drool.” She glances at me as if to check. “Your makeup still seems to be intact.”
    I shake my head. “I’m just not cut out for this kind of thing, Paige. I’m worried I’m going to ruin it for you.”
    “You’ll be fine, Erin. You just need to relax.”
    “According to Fran, I’m supposed to be myself,” I remind her. “And I have a feeling she thinks that’s an uptight, slightly neurotic worrywart.”
    Paige laughs. “Might make for good TV.”
    “Right…”
    Fortunately, once we get home, we have enough time for a real nap. Even Paige thinks this is a good idea. “Just don’t mess up your hair and makeup,” she warns me. “Although I’m sure there will be stylists at the set—just not our stylists.”
    “Meaning they might try to make us look bad?”
    “You never know.” She waves her finger. “Reality television is kind of a cat-eat-cat world.”
    “Clever.” I roll my eyes and head for my room.
    But after what seems only a few minutes of sleep, someone is knocking on my door. “Hey, Erin,” says Mollie as she lets herself in. “Your mom said you might be asleep.”
    “Yeah.” I nod and sit up. “I was.”
    “Sorry.” She holds up her hands. “But I was lonely, okay?”
    “It’s okay. But why are you lonely? No big plans for New Year’s Eve?”
    “I thought Tony and I were going out tonight. But now that’s all changed.” She frowns. “And it’s partly your fault.”
    “My fault?” I sit up straighter, putting pillows behind me.
    “Yeah. We were going to double with you and Blake.”
    “Me and Blake.” I frown at her. “What are you talking about?”
    “Blake thought you were going to go out with him.” She sits down on my bed, releasing what seems a dismal sigh.
    “But I told him—”
    “I know, I know. But Blake is slightly delusional. Anyway, once he figured