Chapter 1: Sour Apples

"I keep on dancin'/ Keep on doin' the jerk right now/ Shake it, shake it baby/ Come on and show me how you work…" As the music played in the background, Meg tried her best to dance to the upbeat song by The Gentrys. Her heart just wasn't into dancing today.

"Hey, Meg!" Meg turned to see her best friend Roxanne beaming ear to ear. "Don't you love this song? '…dancin' and a-prancin', keep on dancin' and a-prancin', keep…'" Roxanne's voice trailed off as she began to dance her way through the crowd of Bandstand dancers on the floor.

A half smile crept onto Meg's face. Roxanne always seemed to cheer her up somehow. But right now she just couldn't pull herself into joining in on Roxanne's happiness bubble. Meg's had been popped and in no existence for a couple of days now. Maybe if I tried concentrating on the song instead I'll be able to at least pretend to be enjoying myself, Meg thought. "Yellin' in motion/ Keep on doin' the locomotion, yeah/ Don't worry, little babe/ Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it yes!" It seemed to work a little, but soon the song ended causing everyone to go back to their seats for the segment Rate-A-Record. Luckily, Meg wasn't scheduled to rate today. She didn't know how well she could rate anything the way she was feeling.

Meanwhile…

Michael Brooks was in the booth watching the mini TVs which showed the many teenagers dancing, smiling, and singing to the song "Keep on Dancin'." As he looked on he noticed Meg Pryor, the 16-year-old dancer he had "discovered" and asked to be a permanent dancer on American Bandstand. Something wasn't right with what he was seeing on the screen though. "Tell camera two to get off Meg. She looks like she's just eaten a dozen sour apples," Michael said, wondering what could be bothering her. I'll talk to her after the show, he concluded.

Since he had met Meg, he had taken her under his wing. He had seen the potential she had with her passion of music. She reminded him of himself at her age. He wouldn't be so surprised if she had his job sometime in the future. She had great ideas. That she had proven to him when he allowed her to help out with the memory lane special. She was so bright, not just mind-wise but personality-wise too. That brightness usually shined on her face through a big, cute smile, sparkling blue eyes, and bouncing golden blond hair. The brightness wasn't there today. There was definitely something wrong with her. He made it a point to get to the bottom of it before she left for home.

"Alright switch to Dick at the Rate-A-Record table," Michael directed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meg was lost in her thoughts while three teens rated records with Dick Clark, host of American Bandstand. She was torn away from them as she felt someone shaking her.

"Earth to Meg!" Roxanne whispered hoarsely. "What is up with you? You look like you're off in la-la land." Roxanne's big, deep brown eyes were full of concern.

"Nothing, okay?" Meg tried to shake off the rising feeling in her stomach to spill everything to Roxanne right there.

"It's not nothing, Meg. You look upset; now tell me what's wrong."

Meg looked at Roxanne's hand that was now resting on her shoulder in comfort. Meg blinked and looked away, straight ahead. I can't tell Rox now, Meg thought. There's just too much to tell. "Later, Rox. There's too much to explain."

Roxanne nodded her head in understanding. She turned to watch the segment then quickly turned back to Meg. "My mom and I are going out to eat tonight. Sort of a long, over-due mother-daughter-only time," Roxanne rushed on, her words blending together. "Can I call you when we get back tonight?"

"Sure." Roxanne had been looking forward to this dinner for quite some time now. Her mom was always working, so she frequently ate dinner with the Pryor family. Meg wanted to be happy for her, but her mind was on someone else who had her very worried.