My first waking thought this morning was of music. That's normal for me. I pretty much think about music all the time in some way or another. The difference this morning was that I was thinking about the Cheetah Girls' first international music contest! Today is the day that we meet with the New Voices Competition director and get our information packets about the contest. I just know that the girls and I are ready for this. We've been doing tons of shows in the last three years. After the near-breakup our freshman year, the four of us became closer and more focused than ever. We're at the top of our game, and as long as we just keep doing our Cheetah best, I'm sure we can win this thing!
Now I'm finishing my breakfast with everyone else out on the patio. I was worried that things might be weird with Chanel and me, but things seem fine. My secret's safe for now. Chanel even seems like she's relaxed a bit since last night. Oops, scratch that! She just totally snubbed Luc and now she seems like we can't leave quickly enough. She urges us away from the table so that we can leave for our meeting.
We just got to the contest headquarters and were directed to the main auditorium. After only a few steps into the room, I realize that this auditorium is like no other I've ever seen. Not only is it huge, but the decorations are incredibly beautiful and ornate. I am just admiring the stained glass window in the ceiling when a booming voice comes out of nowhere. I'm sure I jump a foot in the air--he startles me so badly. Realizing that he is the contest director, I introduce the Cheetahs and start to offer him our demo and some pictures from our recent shows. He completely cuts me off and asks what we had prepared to sing that day. I shoot a quick look to Chanel and the others as we rush to the stage. We quickly agree to do 'Sisters' and plan the harmonies. We've hardly begun singing before he tells us to stop. My heart sinks and I am sure he is going to kick us out of the contest. Instead he just answers his cell phone and starts walking away. I just stand there awkwardly, trying to figure out what is going on and feeling like my dreams are slipping away. Then the lady who directed us to the auditorium comes in the doors talking on HER cell phone and barely spares us a glance before welcoming us to the contest. It takes a minute for my brain to kick in, since I am so shaken by the director's abruptness. As soon as I realize that we're in, I start jumping up and down. I immediately grab Chanel for a hug and then Aqua and Dorinda join in.
"Let's go! I'm hungry," Aqua announces as we step down from the stage, making us all giggle. That girl sure knows how to eat! I think she even brought her own hot sauce with her to Spain. Whatever, I love her tell-it-like-is style and she does an amazing job with our stage costumes.
Back at the villa, I'm hard at work figuring out our rehearsal schedule. We have less than two weeks to prepare for the contest. The others are out on the patio, so I head outside to give them the schedule. They all moan as soon as I mention the word 'rehearsal.' I frown and remind them all how important this contest could be for us. I also mention that it's important for us to work as hard as possible, because we know absolutely nothing about our competition.
None of us notice a guy pull up next to the patio on a moped until he pipes up and says, "Ask the Dancing Cat." We all just look at one another in confusion until he introduces himself. Turns out his name is Joaquin and he is Luc's godson. He is also about our age and Luc has thoughtfully asked him to be our tour-guide. If only I could get Chanel to realize how great Luc is and get her to start being nicer to him, it might make things easier for her. We can't work on coming up with a plan to keep her in New York when she's so upset all the time. Oh, I'm getting off track. Anyway, Joaquin finally clarifies the dancing cat comment, telling us about a local teen club where we'll be able to scope out our competition. He offers to get us in tomorrow night. Dorinda eagerly accepts and Chanel, Aqua, and I share a knowing glance. Doe and Joaquin talk about dancing some more and make a date before he leaves. The second he's gone, we start teasing her because it's so fun making her blush beet-red.
As Aqua continues teasing Dorinda, my mind wanders back to Chanel. I wonder what the girls would think if they knew how I felt about Chanel. Would they be cool about it and tease me like this or would they think I was weird or gross or something? I mean, I know that Chanel and I will always be friends. She's not the kind of person who would turn her back on me if she knew. Things would just be weird for a while. If she didn't feel the same way, that is. But I'm trying not to get my hopes up that she feels the same way about me. I just want her to know, so that I can stop keeping this secret from her. She deserves to know the truth.