Free Confessions of a Backup Dancer by Tucker Shaw

haven’t even seen him in the flesh yet. Sigh, flesh.
    Other: now that I think about it, there’s no way they can be dating. she’s a virgin, and he’s too hot to wait around for her. that is, if she’s really a virgin.
    FRIDAY JUNE 7
    D-ZONE, JUST WAKING UP
    Mood: confused. when I woke up this morning I thought I was in my bed at home.
    Outfit: piggly wiggly pjs
    Fortune: Believe the hype.

    To: kaykay4real
    From: Tito_T
    Date: Friday June 7
    Time: 8:14 AM
    Subject : Re : The It’s Darcy ! ! players Thanks for the rundown. Sounds like quite a crew. No one you can’t deal with. No, we don’t know any virgins. Including Darcy Barnes. I don’t care if she has a trillion Beanie Babies. And another clue to catch: She’s definitely dating Jesse Nixon. I can tell! Just today there was a gossip item online about how they were together at a Dodgers game and his hand was on her knee the whole time. Is it true?
    Stay away from Rashid. Sounds like someone’s got a crush. I can tell that one’s gonna be trouble.
    PS-Have you seen Darcy’s website? Google her and see for yourself.
    Tito
    I knew about Darcy’s site. It’s this pink and baby blue website where Darla keeps a diary about Darcy. crazy, huh? what she does, where she goes, supposedly like some kind of “behind the scenes” about what really happens backstage. god if I’m ever famous I hope my mother doesn’t act like an idiot.
    May 30, 2003
    Darcy’s such a neat freak! She always has been. I think she gets it from me! I know I never have to worry about her keeping her room clean and her clothes ironed. And speaking of her clothes, people say she dresses sexy, but I think she just looks beautiful. My baby just takes my breath away! !
    I was like yeah right. She has a staff who does her ironing. Then I read this one.
    June 1, 2003
    Darcy just informed me today that she has a HUGE crush on one of her backup dancers. I can’t tell you which one because I don’t want it to get out, but … she’s been hinting that she wants to ask him out! I said he’s just too old for her, but if I know Darcy, she’ll find a way to sneak in a date behind my back! That girl! I just hope the press doesn’t get ahold of this info! ;-)
    The important thing is that I know I can trust her to make truly adult decisions no matter what. She’ll never go too far with a boy, and she’ll never let a boy get in the way of her career. Besides if she messes up she knows she’ll have to deal with her mama! !
    What? Darcy’s hot for a dancer? I wonder if it’s rashid she’s after? oh, great. damn! no way! there goes my master plan to ensnare his heart and begin a lifetime together making music and children. and swimming laps in our pool. ok wait, maybe tito’s right. maybe she IS dating jesse and this is just a big hoax. maybe darla’s just saying this.
    Ugh. does this mean I have to cancel my crush?
    FRIDAY JUNE 7
    D-ZONE, 11 PM
    Outfit: Rashid lent me his Etnies hoodie. it’s HUGE.
    Hair: sweaty.
    Mood: Alone at last. I finally feel like an official member of this tour. I think it feels pretty good but I’m not 100% sure.

    â€œSo, how does it feel to be my new best friend?”
    Darcy Barnes said that to me last night. I know, weird, huh? ok lemme back up.
    I have spent the last 24 hours straight with darcy barnes. nonstop. she needs Ritalin.
    I saw a different side of her. or more like a few different sides of her. I mean, she doesn’t really seem like what you think darcy barnes would be like. not like her pictures and videos and interviews and stuff. I mean, I knew she wasn’t going to be exactly like that or anything, but … I don’t know … I guess I just expected someone cooler. someone edgier. someone a little bit hipper than me. don’t get me wrong, she’s nice and everything, but there’s something weird about her …