Fashion Frenzy (16 page)

Maeve started to giggle and for a minute, she couldn’t stop. If Kaloren and Jamie had any idea what they were missing, they’d want to be in the audience too, laughing with movie stars.

There was a rustling next to her, and Maeve turned to see Rini slipping into Bea’s seat. “Hope you don’t mind,” she whispered. “I just have a feeling we’ll have a lot to talk about, and Bea didn’t mind switching.”

Maeve mouthed a thank-you at Bea, who smiled at her, while Rini stared, also perplexed, at Jamie and Kaloren as they turned and started back. “I wouldn’t buy those outfits for anything,” she declared. “If they make your face all
sour like that, why would you want to wear them?”

Maeve laughed out loud. She had a feeling that Rini and all the BSG were going to get along great!

The music picked up and more confetti fell to introduce the final Blaze model, who was wearing the masterpiece outfit of his line. Wild applause erupted at the sight of the stunning young model in sparkling gold fabric. There was Katani, standing frozen on the stage. As Katani took her first steps on the catwalk, Maeve noticed that she seemed a little stiffer than usual. Katani seemed to be looking for someone in the dark sea of the audience. Maeve, sitting front and center, held up her hand and cheered louder than anyone. “Yeah Kgirl! Work it! Work it!”

Katani’s uptight expression instantly melted into radiant relief. She was familiar enough with that loud voice to pick it out of any crowd. Katani’s steps grew a little more fluid and soon her walk had the mark of regal confidence that the Kgirl was famous for. Katani looked fantastic, and as she got closer and closer to Maeve, her attitude became more and more fantastic as well.

Maeve whispered to Rini, “That’s Katani. She’s one of my best friends. Blaze put her in the show at the last minute.” By the time Katani reached the seats where Simon, Bea, Rini, and Maeve sat, she was walking like a pro, lightly balanced on her high boots, sure of herself and smiling from ear to ear. She looked amazing! Maeve applauded until her palms stung, and Rini did too.

“Your friend is a great model,” Rini said to Maeve when Katani had made the long walk back up the runway and disappeared behind the curtain.

“I know! There’s just nothing Katani can’t do,” Maeve said loyally. “If you think she looks good wearing
those
clothes, you should see the things that she designs. Katani wants to start her own fashion business someday.”

“Ladies and gentlemen!” blared the loudspeakers. “There will now be a ten-minute intermission. When we return, you’ll be getting the first look at the fantastic new line from the one and only, the great Dina B!”

“Ooh, I’ll be right back! I’m going to go see Katani!” Maeve jumped up and stuffed her bag underneath her seat. “Rini, would you mind keeping an eye on this for me? I just have to go back and make sure she’s okay.”

Rini smiled, “Yeah, no problem. Tell her good job for me!”

Maeve hurried backstage and gasped. If she’d thought it was busy there before, now it was bedlam!

Beautiful clothes were haphazardly thrown everywhere. Models were being zipped, buttoned, and strapped into new outfits in a tornado of motion. The designers screamed wildly about accessories gone missing, scarves draped “all wrong,” and skirts fitting improperly.
Even though I’m not always neat
, Maeve thought to herself,
I’d hate being in the middle of all this craziness every day!

She found Katani already back in her old clothes, lacing up her sneakers. Unlike the other models, Katani had not carelessly thrown anything she’d taken off. Her skirt hung neatly on a special hanger. Maeve was certain Katani’s clothes could be worn again without even being ironed!

Katani’s eyes lit up when she saw Maeve. “You’re
here!” she cried as she gave her friend a tight hug. “How’d I do?” Katani asked.

“You were unbelievable!” Maeve told her. “Katani, I swear, you really looked like a model! I think that you could be modeling
right now
!”

Katani shuddered. “No, thanks! Once was fun, I guess, but it’s way too stressful.”

“How so?” Maeve asked.

Katani laughed and waved an arm around at all the shouting and chaos. “I would never be able to handle this! Absolutely, definitely not for me. No, I guess Kelley was right. Fashion, fashion that’s my passion.
Designing
fashion, that is!”

“Well, then, it was a great idea to model, wasn’t it?” Maeve said practically. “Because now you know you don’t want this side of the fashion business.”

Katani looked at her, surprised. “You know, you’re right. Michelle did me a
big
favor by letting me see this. It seems like some girls get so caught up in the whole dream of becoming a model and they don’t get a chance to see what it is actually like.”

“Oh, no!” cried a familiar voice. Maeve turned. With her hands placed on her head in anguish, Dina B was walking around in circles, looking like she was going to cry.

“Dina!” Maeve rushed to her side and asked gently, “What happened?”

The designer just pointed. “Look—”

One of her models stood nearby, also looking tragic. She wore a pair of stunning magenta capri pants with a matching top. The only problem was the matching top was
soiled with a big, wet blob of coffee from her neck to her waist. It was completely ruined. Dina B’s show started in only a few minutes, and one of the models was covered in coffee!

“Oh!” Maeve said woefully. “Dina…do you have an extra shirt that would work?”

Dina shook her head. Tears rose in her eyes. “No…I planned the whole thing perfectly so the girls wouldn’t get confused.” Dina placed her head in her hand. “And I wanted today to be perfect,” she whispered. “This is my first show.”

Katani was surveying the disaster a little more hopefully. Maeve could see the sparkle of creativity in her best friend’s eye. “Got it!” Katani exclaimed. “Wait just a minute—I think I can help.” And with that she was off.

Dina B looked confused and overwhelmed. “Don’t worry!” Maeve assured Dina, comforting the famous singer as she would any friend in need. Maeve continued, “My friend’s a great designer. Katani always comes through in a pinch. Just give her a minute, okay?”

“Hey Dina?” It was Michelle, who was also looking tense. “We have a little problem. Even if Katani can fix this, we have to put the whole show on hold. Right now, the stage is empty. It’ll be dead space out there! We’ve got to keep this crowd entertained, so they don’t notice.”

“Hey, I think I might have an idea!” Maeve said excitedly. “Just tell me, Michelle—what’s the deal with your music and sound system?”

“Our guy Grant is running it—he can do anything,” Michelle said, looking a little surprised at the question.
“It’s a sweet idea, Maeve, but I’m not sure if just music is going to cut it—”

“Perfect!” Maeve cried. “That’s all I need to know!”

She sprinted away from the chaos and back into the audience again. When she reached Simon, however, she didn’t return to her seat. Instead, she took a deep breath, smiled, and said sweetly, “Simon, I have a little favor to ask you…”

A minute later, Michelle was having a quick chat with Grant and an even quicker chat with the show emcee as Maeve crept back to her seat. The lights came down again, and the emcee spoke through his microphone.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, a very special performance from one of England’s most popular stars. Unlike the models, he’s not here to show off his clothes, so he asks that you please not look too hard at them.” The audience laughed at this as the emcee continued, “Please welcome
The Swashbuckler
himself!”

The familiar beat of Simon’s biggest hit blared out of the amplifier as a dry ice machine released a low stream of mysterious fog. The fog began to clear to reveal the dashing Simon Blackstone standing in the middle of the runway.

The audience, surprised at his appearance, cheered madly. Maeve was clapping as hard as she could. How great was it that Simon was willing to get up on stage on a moment’s notice to help out the fashion show?

“Come on,” Simon shouted, “you all know this one!” And everyone did—not only could everyone sing along, they could dance to it too…

Katani to the Rescue

“Now, just hold still a minute,” Katani said to Dina B’s model as she fiddled with a pin. Katani was working with one of her own oversized hand-painted scarves that she had brought in her purse. She had selected an electric orange scarf that perfectly complimented the model’s pink capris.

“I can’t believe it.” Dina was astonished. “I think this scarf makes the pants zing even more than before!”

Katani blushed but didn’t say a word as she draped the scarf around the model’s neck like a halter, securing the ends at the waist with safety pins. It took her a while to get it right, but from the sound of it, the audience didn’t seem to notice the lag. Everyone backstage could hear the music and the huge commotion going on out front. It sounded like they were dancing out there!

“Hmm…,” Dina murmured as she inspected the model. “I love the scarf, but is there anything we can do to get rid of that droop at the top?” It was true that the scarf was drooping a little, right near the collar. “You can’t put a safety pin on the front! And the only kind of jewelry I have with me are necklaces and bracelets. They won’t help.”

What kind of pin would hold the scarf and still look like it was added on purpose? Katani wondered. “Wait a minute,” she said. “I think I might have just the thing!”

She rushed back to her purse and retrieved the horse pin Kelley had given her. She had worn it the whole time, as promised, only taking it off for the fashion show.

“That’s adorable!” Dina cried when she saw it. “I’ve been looking everywhere for interesting pins. Wherever did you get this?”

Katani smiled. “Actually, my sister made it,” she answered proudly as she fastened the clay horse to the scarf.

It worked. Everything worked. Models and designers were impressed at the new outfit Katani had cobbled together. They nodded in approval.

“Well, you come from a very artistic family,” Dina told Katani. “What talent!”

This was the second time in less than a day that Katani had seen compliments flying over fashion accessories she didn’t think were all that special.
I obviously have a lot more to learn than I realized
, she thought to herself.

Out front, Simon was dancing on the catwalk. His dancing was contagious. In a few minutes, the entire first row of the audience was on its feet and dancing too.

Maeve loved this song of Simon’s. The lyrics were really catchy with a beat that was impossible not to dance to. After all, this was the song that had made Simon a star. It didn’t take her more than a minute to start going wild.

Maeve felt someone elbow her and turned to see Rini. “Wow, Maeve! You’re awesome! Where did you learn how to dance like that?”

“Um, I take hip-hop classes,” she answered humbly without skipping a beat.

Rini studied Maeve for a moment. When she started to dance again she was following Maeve’s snappy moves to a tee. The girls began rocking out in synch, and Maeve laughed out loud—she felt like she was in a music video.

I am dancing with a famous pop star
! Maeve thought to herself.
It does not get better than this
. Maeve looked up at
the stage and her eyes met Simon’s. Grinning, he nodded right at her…and winked. Maeve had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
Okay, I was wrong. THIS is the ultimate! If only the BSG could see me now
!

As the music faded, the singing of the audience melted into applause. Simon was brilliant. Maeve sighed. After he blew kisses into the crowd, he gracefully jogged off stage.

The announcer’s voice blared through the loudspeakers. “Thank you once again to Simon for his impromptu half-time performance! And now…back to the show!”

In a moment Simon Blackstone appeared back in the audience, a little out of breath and dabbled in sweat, but grinning proudly.

“Well done!” Bea whispered.

“You saved the day!” Maeve said gratefully.

“By the way…,” she heard Simon say quietly. “Nice dancing, girls.”

She and Rini glanced at each other and giggled. Rini seemed just as flattered as Maeve.

A huge disco ball speckled lights across the catwalk as the voice of the announcer began, “Ladies and gentlemen, our next artist is also a musical star in her own right, but this is her official debut as a fashion designer! Let’s hear it for the great Dina B!”

There was more applause as Dina confidently strolled to the end of the runway. She stood to one side holding a microphone and showing the audience her pearly smile. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m very excited about finally contributing to the fashion world. And we have a beautiful new collection of clothes to show you!”

The models began their graceful parade down the catwalk, with Dina describing the outfits and accessories worn by each.

Dina made sure that the stage had cleared before the final model came out. “This last outfit is something brand new,” Dina said finally. “It’s not exactly the outfit I planned to show you—but I’m beginning to learn that in every fashion show, not everything goes according to plan!” There was a wave of appreciative laughter, and she went on. “I was fortunate to have the assistance of a terrific young designer you’ll all be hearing more from in the future—Katani Summers. So here’s my skirt and Katani’s hand-painted scarf—an outfit I’m now calling ‘Improvisation!’”

When Katani heard Dina’s announcement, she gasped. She had tiptoed around the stage and was standing against the wall with the rest of the latecomers. From across the dark crowd she could just make out Maeve’s face. They made eye contact and Maeve smiled.
Wow! It was so nice of Dina to give me credit
! Katani thought.
And how amazing to have my design in a major fashion show! This is definitely the very best moment of my life!

The model did a fabulous, slinky walk down the catwalk. She was confident with her shoulders fixed and her head held high. A wave of applause roared in her ears. There was no doubt about it—the outfit was a smash success!