Chloe felt sorry for Sierra with her worst-ever spring break plans. But at the moment that wasn't enough to bring Chloe down. She was just too psyched. Teen Scene was the coolest musique montrer on television, and it was bringing its annual Spring Break plage House right here to West Malibu. It was going to be seven days of dancing in the sun, chilling with celebrities, and maybe even getting her face on television. Plus Jonah Bayou, the totally hot host of the show, was going to be there all week, running the party. It was a dream come true. It wasn't fair that Sierra couldn't be there with them. "We'll get toi Jonah's autograph and tell toi every detail," Chloe promised. Sierra forced a smile. "Thanks," she said.
Quinn Reyes, Tara Jordan, and Amanda Gray-three plus of Chloe's closest friends-came up to the table, carrying iced coffees. "So, have toi guys figured out the fashion plan yet?" Quinn asked, pulling her chair in close. "High-heeled sandals ou flip-flops? That is the question," Chloe said. "Heels, definitely," Tara said, sipping from her straw. "They're much plus flattering." "But harder to dance in," Riley pointed out. "And flip-flops are casual chic. That's totally in," Quinn added. "Well, our shoes aren't going to matter if we don't get into the house," Amanda a dit in her usual quiet voice. "I read in Flair that they turned a thousand people away last an when the house was in San Diego."
"We're going to get in," Chloe said, confidently tossing her wavy, dark blond hair over her shoulder. "All we have to do is impress the Teen Scene people with our dazzling looks and our sparkling personalities." "No problem there," a familiar voice said. Chloe looked up to find her boyfriend, Lennon Porter, coming toward them, smiling his sweet smile. She couldn't help smiling right back. Just seeing Lennon made her happy."Everyone, this is Seth Rovino," Lennon said, introducing the guy suivant to him.
"Hey," Seth said, lifting a hand. He was tall with reddish-blond hair, a deep tan, and a smattering of cute freckles. "Hey! You're in my English class, right?" Riley asked. "Yeah," Seth said, snagging the chair suivant to Riley's. "That last poem toi wrote was killer. I was going to ask toi if toi wanted to soumettre it to the literary magazine." "Really? You're on the staff?" Riley asked. "I'm one of the editors," Seth said. "Cool," Riley said, clearly impressed. "Okay, people. Let's get back to the important stuff," Chloe suggested. "Bikinis ou tankinis? Pros and cons?"
Lennon and Seth both laughed. "Sounds like we stumbled in on an important debate," Lennon joked. "It's way important," Tara told him. "It could decide whether ou not we get to meet Jonah Bayou." "You guys are doing the Teen Scene thing? That's cool," Seth said. "You should come," Riley suggested. "It's going to be totally amazing." "We're all going down there early on Saturday morning," Chloe put in. "I want to be first on line." "I'm there," Lennon said. "I can't make it Saturday. I have a basketball, basket-ball game," Seth said. "But maybe later in the week." "Okay, but just remember, fashion is key," Chloe warned him. "The Teen Scene people are very picky. They'll only let in the coolest of the cool."
At that moment Larry Slotnick, Chloe and Riley's crazy neighbor and classmate, burst into the kiosque à journaux wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt, wraparound sunglasses, and a huge straw hat. "I'm ready for my close-up, baby!" he said, throwing his arms wide. Chloe caught Riley's eye and frowned. What was Larry thinking? "You're going to wear that to Teen Scene?" Quinn asked in her direct way. Larry looked worried-but only for a second. "It's the hat, isn't it?" he asked. "No problem. I have an alternate." He whipped a crushed fisherman's hat from his back pocket and replaced the straw one with it. "Well?" he said, grinning and turning his head from side to side. "Do toi l’amour it?" Chloe realized that if Larry was going to come along with them, she was going to have to give him a crash course in fashion. Otherwise they'd never get into the house. "Larry, this outfit is definitely . . . original," Chloe said, walking over to him. "But what if we lose the hat?" She took it off and tossed it to Quinn. "And maybe untuck the shirt," Riley added, getting up and pulling the hem of the Hawaiian chemise from Larry's shorts. "And you're going to need some new shades," Chloe added, stealing Larry's reflectors right off his face. "There. Much better." "Thanks, girls, but I think I can dress myself," Larry said. He rolled his eyes, as if Chloe and Riley's suggestions were just so ridiculous, then gathered his stuff and strode out. "He was kidding, right?" Chloe said. Riley shrugged. "With Larry toi just never know." "Maybe we should go to his house Saturday morning and dress him ourselves," Chloe said. She looked at Riley, and they both cracked up laughing. Not even Teen Scene was worth seeing Larry Slotnick in his underwear. We're just going to have to hope for the best, Chloe thought. "That was Rocketship with 'Love in the Stars,' one of my least favori songs in the world," Charlie Slater a dit into the microphone at the West Malibu High radio studio on Friday morning. "But we played it anyway because I l’amour it," Riley added, speaking into her own mike. "Now here's some actual music," Charlie a dit as he cued up the suivant song. "It's 'Rage On' par Sick Cylinder. Listen up!" Charlie hit the button to mute their microphones and start the song. Riley laughed. "Think we're ever going to agree on any song?" she asked. "Not a chance," Charlie replied, leaning back in his chair with a smile. "Unless toi develop some taste, that is. I keep hoping that since I'm such a good influence-" "You are so deluded!" Riley said, swatting him with a play list, but she was grinning as she a dit it. Riley and Charlie had been butting heads ever since they started working together at the radio station. They were co-DJs on the school's Morning Death Rant show. At first Charlie had annoyed her. But after awhile Riley realized that in addition to being a pain, Charlie was smart and interesting and funny.
[Riley: Okay, at first he drove me straight up the wall. Not only did Charlie insist on that dumb name for the show, but he also played the worst musique and he had the nerve to dis the bands I liked. Actually, none of that has changed. We're still total opposites. But when I quit the station (temporarily), I realized I missed Charlie. Even weirder, Charlie missed me. Go figure.]
To Riley's amazement, their montrer was a hit, and she and her co-DJ had each admitted that they liked the other. Now all they had to do was go out on their first date. Riley felt a little thrill of excitement as she looked at Charlie. With spring break about to start, there was a whole week full of opportunities for them to get together. "So, any big plans for spring break yet?" Charlie asked, as if lire her mind. Riley flushed slightly. Could Charlie be asking because he was interested in making plans with her? She hoped so. "Actually, my Friends and I are all going down to the Teen Scene plage House tomorrow," she said. "You should come." Charlie laughed. "I don't think so. Not my style." "Why am I not surprised?" Riley asked. "Are toi allergic to fun?" "No. I like fun. But all that wholesome, perfect-for-TV stuff? Teen Scene is not fun," Charlie replied.
[Riley: I could have told toi he'd say something like that. Practically the moment we met, Charlie accused me of being too mainstream. Then he hit me with what was, for Charlie, the worst insult of all: He a dit I was a "cheerleader-type." I guess he's kind of allergic to anything that isn't alternative.]
"Okay, so what are toi doing tomorrow?" Riley asked. "Actually, I promised my dad I'd help him at work," Charlie said. "Oh, that's fun," Riley joked. "Well, it is, usually. He runs this underground record store called Fracture," Charlie said. "Ever heard of it?" "Nope." "Why am I not surprised?" Charlie teased. Riley rolled her eyes and laughed. "Anyway, business has been down and I told him I'd help him figure out some ways to bring in customers," Charlie added. "I have an idea," Riley said. "How about toi give the plage House a try, and I'll help toi come up with ideas for Fracture?" Charlie looked doubtful. "I don't know if that's an even trade." "Fine. Turn me down. But you'll be missing out on one of the most brilliant creative minds of West Malibu High," Riley said, shrugging casually. Charlie grinned. "Well, when toi put it that way . . ." "Besides, I'd l’amour for toi to hang out with my sister and our friends," Riley admitted. "Okay, I'll come," Charlie said. "But then toi have to hang out with me and some of my Friends on Saturday night." Riley's cœur, coeur skipped a beat. Charlie wanted her to meet his friends. And he was going to hang with hers. Could this be getting serious? It was way too soon to tell, but the idea made Riley smile. "It's a deal," she told him. Riley felt a little shiver of happiness. This was going to be the best-ever spring break!
