Chapter 12 – The rescue of a friend
A week later, the crowds were gathering in the auditorium at TenderVille Middle School. Because the night of the music contest had finally arrived. Outside the auditorium, Nick, Liam, and the other TenderVille Kids were waiting for the competition to begin.
Nick: Okay, TenderVille Kids, this is it! Our big comeback!
Liam: I hope many people will remember us!
Felicity: Don't worry, Liam! I'm sure they will!
Dereck: I can't wait!
Stacy: Neither can I! But, aren't we missing someone?
Melvin: Uh-oh, Stacy's right! Somebody's missing!
The TenderVille Kids realized that Chloe is the missing person.
Nick: Where's Chloe? We can't go on stage without her!
Dereck: I thought she was with you, Nick!
Nick: She was! But now I can't find her!
Just then, Spike remembered something!
Spike: Guys, you're not going to believe this! But earlier today, I heard a man say he was going to force a pink-haired girl into performing in a stadium outside of town.
Melvin: Force someone into performing?
TenderVille Kids: (angrily) Oh, that Blackmailer Boris!
Nick: He must have found out that Chloe can sing and has probably tricked her.
Liam: Then, it's a good thing I attached a tracking device to the keystone.
Liam activated the tracking device and the screen shows a light near an 8-passenger limo about three blocks from the school.
Nick: That's where I last saw her!
Melvin: Uh oh, the limo's on the move!
Stacy: And Chloe is inside it!
Nick: Come on, Liam! The rest of you, stay in contact and let us know if our turn is next!
Nick and Liam hurried to the parking lot where the TenderVille Kids' tour bus was waiting.
Meanwhile inside the limo, Boris was thinking about his success.
Boris: Driver, take me to the stadium outside of town! I think I'll have some moon roof action.
With that, Boris opened the moon roof then reached for his bottle of champagne. Meanwhile, Chloe looked out the back window and saw the tour bus coming.
Chloe: (thinking) Now's my chance to get out of here!
Without Boris looking, Chloe climbed out through the moon roof.
Boris: Many people said I will never come back! But I'm going to prove them wrong! A toast to the girl who's going to blow the TenderVille Kids out of my face.
But when Boris turned, Chloe was gone! He peeked out through the moon roof, just in time to see Chloe jump aboard the bus. Nick turned to Boris!
Nick: Did you think the TenderVille Kids and I wouldn't find out about your scheme, Blackmailer Boris? Big mistake!
Liam: Let's get going!
The diver of the tour bus did a U-turn and the tour bus started back to the school. But Blackmailer Boris had told the driver of his limo to chase after the bus.
Chloe: He's after us, boys! We've got to lose him!
Nick: Agreed! We can't let him ruin our chance. He's got to be stopped!
Liam: Yes, but how?
Just then, Chloe noticed some police cars ahead on a three-way street.
Chloe: I got an idea! Turn here!
The driver turned the bus onto a different road. From his limo, Boris saw the bus turn. But he didn't tell the driver to turn onto the same road. Then, he saw the police cars ahead!
Boris: Driver, turn around!
But it was too late! The police surrounded the limo as quick as they could. Boris was blocked! The police chief quickly slapped the handcuffs on Boris.
Police Chief: Blackmailer Boris, you're under arrest!
Boris: Curses! I've been outsmarted by the TenderVille Kids!
Meanwhile, the TenderVille Kids' tour bus arrived back at the school. Nick, Chloe and Liam got off the bus and got to the auditorium, just in time.