Chapter 7: The Superstar Reveal

Derek frowned, his gaze sweeping over my face before finally landing on the invitation in my hand.

Unexpectedly, he actually walked over to me.

I found it ridiculous and spoke first. "No one can plead for Chloe."

Derek looked down at me, his tone full of superiority.

"I'm not here to plead for her. I just want to ask you for a favor."

I was speechless. Why did he sound like I owed him something?

I was about to refuse when Derek continued, "An internal invitation lets you meet the performers, right? Come on, just one time—let me meet ROY, and I’ll even let you sit next to me again. Deal?"

His friends were stunned. "Derek, is it really worth it to go that far?"

I: "..."

After a beat, I let out a strange laugh and tossed the ticket scraps I'd picked up at him. "If you're out of your mind, go get it checked."

Even as I walked into the venue, Derek still looked stunned—as if he couldn't believe I'd actually turn him down.

If I could, I would have loved to tell him: I am ROY. The further you stay away from me, the better.

But I signed a confidentiality agreement. My identity can't be revealed yet.

Although, if I remember correctly...

That agreement is about to expire.

And when it does, this whole school will finally see who I really am.

...

The music festival lasted all day.

The organizers scheduled my performance for 6 to 7 p.m.

Backstage, the buzz of activity was almost as loud as the crowd outside. I popped a fry into my mouth, the cardboard DoorDash bag still warm on my lap, while the makeup artist, Aubrey James, worked on my face.

After I wiped off my lipstick for the third time, she finally lost patience. "Girl, you ever gonna let me finish your lipstick, or are you just gonna eat it again?"

I grinned at her. "Don't be mad. Your makeup skills are so good—even if I smudge it a little, it's still perfect."

She was amused by the flattery and picked at her salad with me.

"Eat more," I urged, watching her nibble like a bird.

Aubrey looked me up and down. "Maddie, you're a big-name online singer now. Can't you at least manage your image?"

I kept eating, ignoring her.

She cupped her face and muttered, "Then again, if you really cared about your image, you wouldn't show up at school looking like that."

I protested, "Looking like what?"

She gave me a withering look. "Like you just rolled out of bed."

She pushed me in front of the mirror. "Look at yourself now—who would ever recognize you as Maddie from Maple Heights High? You could walk a red carpet and no one would bat an eye."

With the makeup and hair, I looked like someone who belonged on a Spotify playlist, not in the back row of AP Chem.

I smiled and shrugged, running my hand over my now-styled hair. "Come on, it's just the filter effect."

We bickered until a staff member poked their head in. "Someone's looking for you outside."

"Male or female?" Aubrey asked, immediately nosy.

"Male. He's holding a bouquet—and he's pretty handsome," the staffer replied helpfully.

Aubrey let out a low whistle and shot me a mischievous grin. "Well, superstar, looks like you've got an admirer." I rolled my eyes, but inside, I couldn't help feeling a flutter of nerves. I wondered if, just maybe, the lines between my two lives were finally starting to blur. Maybe tonight, the truth wouldn’t just slip out—it would take center stage.