On the Road to Stardom

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! On with Chapter 4! =D

Chapter 4: Decisions and Discussions

During the entire school day, all that was on Rocky, CeCe, and Tinka's minds was the recording contract and the chance to start their music careers. They were thinking about it so much that they were often unaware of what was going on around them. Tinka accidentally betwinkled Günther's hand in fashion class while they were working on an evening gown for their final project. CeCe's constant daydreaming about fame and fortune caused her to get pelted by dodgeballs during gym class, and her hatred for the class itself was not helping. Even Rocky zoned out several times during her advanced classes, to the point of mixing the wrong chemicals together in chemistry class and causing a mini explosion that shattered nearby test tubes.

The female trio met up during lunch and, after swapping embarassing stories of what happened to them earlier that day, agreed to talk to their parents about the recording contract and their music careers. They hoped they would have advice and support that would help them all come to a mutual decision in the end.

Dinner in the Blue apartment that night was a joyous event for Curtis and Marcie, as they welcomed their son home with open arms. Marcie cooked a delicious, five-course meal and, together, the four Blues seated themselves around the dining room table. However, only three of them were partaking in a friendly conversation.

"Oh, it is so good to see you again, Ty!" Marcie exclaimed, passing Ty one of the many plates on the table. "More mashed potatoes?"

"Sure, thanks, Mom," Ty replied, accepting the plate from her.

"So, we've been reading about you in the tabloids," Marcie began, smiling, "and we see you've been nominated for two Video Music Awards."

"Yeah, one is for "Video of the Year" and the other is for "Best Male Artist"," Ty answered, proudly.

"That's my son!" Curtis exclaimed, his face swelling with pride. "You're taking us to the awards show, right?"

"You bet I am!" Ty answered, enthusiastically. "Nothing is better than having my parents there."

"That's right, that's right!" Curtis replied, grinning.

Rocky was the only one at the table not taking part in the celebration. She was poking her caesar salad with a fork, her mind on her future career.

Marcie obviously noticed the mood her daughter was in because she asked, "Rocky, is everything okay?"

Rocky snapped out of her thoughts, looked at her mother, and said, "Yeah, Mom, everything's fine."

"Everything can't be fine since you're not eating," Curtis pointed out, concerned. "What's on your mind?"

Rocky looked to Ty, who raised his eyebrows at her. She sighed, knowing that it would be best if their parents heard the news from her first.

"Um, Mom, Dad," she began, putting her fork down. "You should know...Ty's visit is about more than just visiting us."

"What do you mean?" Marcie repeated, confused.

"You remember the spotlight dance on Shake It Up! Chicago Saturday night?" Rocky asked her parents.

"Yeah, the one where you sang and danced with CeCe and Tinka," Curtis answered, remembering the episode. "Did Ty come to see that live at the studio?"

"Not exactly," Rocky told them. "He saw it on TV back in California...along with the head of his record label."

"Mr. Bartlett saw you three perform?" Marcie asked, surprised. "Was he impressed?"

"Well, that would explain why he popped up in school today with Ty," Rocky explained, timidly. "He, um, wants to sign CeCe, Tinka, and I to his record company."

"Really?" Marcie asked, smiling broadly. "Oh, I'm so proud of you, honey!"

"Well, can't say I'm surprised," Curtis said, smiling proudly at his children. "I have the two most talented kids in the world."

"If he's offering you a recording contract, then why are you so sad?" Marcie asked her daughter, concerned.

"Remember my acceptance letter from Yale?" Rocky asked.

"Oh, that's right, the biology program," Curtis said, remembering the day when Rocky went to get the mail one morning and eagerly ran back into the apartment, shortly after, to report the good news. "You were so thrilled when you got accepted. You know, it's hard to get into that school."

"I'm aware of that," Rocky answered. "I worked my butt off to get in. Going there would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but - "

"So is your big break in Hollywood," Marcie stated, "and you can't decide which to go for."

"Exactly," Rocky said, sighing. "I know education is important in my life. It always has been, but so has dance and, just recently, singing."

"Well, if you kids had taught me anything, it's that you love what you do and you can't be forced to do something you don't love," Curtis stated, looking from Ty to Rocky. "I know you love both the medical field and dance, Rocky, and whichever you choose as your future career, your mother and I will support you one hundred percent."

"But, what if I end up picking the wrong one?" Rocky asked, scared. "I don't know where I'll be five, ten, fifteen years from now! What if I pick one and it results in disaster?"

"It won't," Marcie reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You are a very hardworking young lady and I know that you will succeed in whatever you choose to do with your life."

"It's a tough decision, sweetheart," Curtis reminded his daughter, "but if you want my advice, do what you want to do. As long as it makes you happy, that's all that matters."

Rocky nodded and replied, "Thanks."


In the kitchen of the Jones' apartment, Georgia was opening a hot, recently-delivered, pizza box when there was a knock at the door.

"I'LL GET IT, MOM!" Flynn yelled, making his way to the door from his spot on the couch.

"I'M RIGHT HERE!" Georgia shouted, using her cop voice.

Flynn opened the door and CeCe walked in, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes vigorously.

"There you are!" Georgia cried, exasperated. "You were supposed to be home three hours ago!"

"Yeah, but I got detention for falling asleep during English class," CeCe replied, carelessly. "I didn't know detentions lasted that long, especially near the end of the school year."

"Well, how was it?" Flynn asked, referring to the detention, as he closed the door.

"Great, I haven't napped like that since Rocky's "Chicago Tunnels" presentation a few years ago," CeCe answered, tossing her knapsack towards a nearby wall.

"Help yourself to pizza," Georgia said to her children, reaching for a plate from the stack on the table.

"Thanks, Mom," CeCe replied, grabbing two plates and handing one to Flynn behind her.

"So, anything happen at school today?" Georgia asked CeCe.

"Yeah, Ty popped in for a surprise visit," CeCe answered, pulling a cheesy pizza slice from the box, "and so did the head of his record label."

"What was the head of Five Star Records doing at your school?" Georgia asked, raising an eyebrow at her daughter.

"He saw the spotlight dance from Saturday night's episode of Shake It Up! Chicago and offered Rocky, Tinka, and I a recording contract!" CeCe explained, excitedly.

"You're kidding!" Flynn cried, not believing her. "You can sing?"

CeCe rolled her eyes and said to him, "Yeah, it's obvious you haven't been watching the show lately."

"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Georgia exclaimed, enveloping her daughter in a hug carefully, as to not drop her plate. "I can't believe it, my only daughter is going to be a star!"

"I know, I can't believe it either!" CeCe squealed excitedly.

"Are Rocky and Tinka as thrilled as you are?" Georgia asked with a large smile on her face.

"Well, yeah," CeCe answered, her excitement slowly dying down, "but, they have other career options that they might choose instead."

"And they can't decide between the two, right?" Georgia asked.

CeCe nodded, sadly, and said, "Yale accepted Rocky for their biology program and the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago accepted Tinka for fashion design."

"Well, not everyone wants to become a pop star like you, CeCe," Georgia pointed out, before taking a bite of her pizza slice.

"Oh, they want to, Mom," CeCe told her, "but, they're not sure if that's the right decision to make."

"Just give them some time to think it over," Georgia suggested, patting CeCe on her back. "They need to think things through and not make an irrational decision."

"It would suck not having Rocky as a partner on stage," CeCe said, sighing, as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

"And the blonde, foreign girl?" Georgia asked, curiously.

"Meh, I can live without her," CeCe answered carelessly, before savouring the taste of her cheesy, pizza slice.


Meanwhile, in the Hessenheffer apartment, Tinka was applying another ice pack to Günther's throbbing right hand. He winced as she placed the cold bag over the sore area.

"Once more, I apologize for the unfortunate incident, dear brother," Tinka said, sadly, referring to when she betwinkled his hand by accident.

"I forgive you, sister twin," Günther answered, not wanting to see her so upset. "The pain will subside eventually."

"At least I was able to safely remove the sparkles from your hand without causing you further distress," Tinka said, sitting next to him on the couch.

"Why were you so distracted today?" Günther asked, curiously.

"Eh, something happened this morning," Tinka replied, glancing down at her sparkly, manicured nails.

"Was it serious?" Günther questioned, worried. "Did anyone get hurt?"

"No, it was not bad," Tinka reassured her brother. "Nobody got hurt."

"Then, what happened?" Günther asked, anxiously.

Tinka sighed. She wished her parents were present, so she could tell them what happened and ask for advice. Unfortunately, they had to work late at the butcher shop. Luckily, she had Günther to talk to.

"Ty visited the school today," Tinka told him. "He brought along the head of his record label."

"Ty, really?" Günther asked, with a smile. "We have not seen him in a while."

"Yes, well, he is a busy man after all," Tinka answered, with a laugh. "You know, with his rapping career and everything."

"Wow, something extraordinary must have happened for Ty and the head of Five Star Records to fly all the way out here from California," Günther stated, surprised.

"You are correct," Tinka answered, smiling. "He saw Saturday night's episode of Shake It Up! Chicago, meaning he heard Rocky, CeCe, and I sing during our spotlight dance."

"And he liked it?" Günther asked with a grin.

"Liked it?" Tinka scoffed happily. "He offered the three of us a recording contract! That is why he was in school today with Ty."

"Oh, I am truly happy for you, Tinka!" Günther exclaimed, hugging his sister.

"Thank you!" Tinka chirped, returning the embrace.

"Wait," Günther said, pulling back to look at his sister again, "what about your acceptance into the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago? Are you going to give that up?"

"That is the reason why I was so distracted today," Tinka explained, sadly. "I spent the entire day trying to decide whether to go with fashion design or singing and dancing."

"I can see that it is a very tough decision," Günther said, rubbing his sister's back, gently. "You love both."

"But, which one do I choose?" Tinka asked, biting her bottom lip.

"I am afraid that I cannot answer that," Günther replied. "It is your career, therefore, your decision."

"But, what if I make the wrong one?" Tinka asked, scared. "What will our parents think?"

"You will not make the wrong decision," Günther reassured her. "As for our parents, you know that they will be proud of you, no matter which career path you choose."

"Ugh, why is this so hard?" Tinka questioned, burying her face into her hands.

"Well, who said life was easy?" Günther asked. "Nothing in life is easy and the decision you have to make is proof of that. Just follow your heart, sister twin, and you will not go wrong in life."

Tinka nodded, silently, as Günther got up. Keeping the ice pack over his sore hand, he made his way into his bedroom to continue his studying.

Chapter 4 Up! Questions? Comments? Should I continue?

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Next chapter: Deals and Diamonite

~TeenQueen661