Maeve on the Red Carpet (12 page)

When we finished up with dinner, Kenneth wheeled in a tray with a three-tiered cake. “Chocolate fudge,” he announced to Mr. Von Krupcake. “As you requested.”

“Marvelous!” Mr. Von Krupcake exclaimed, cutting a hefty slice, and placing it in front of himself as he licked his lips. “Hee hee, ha ha! This looks
delicious
.”

Mrs. Von Krupcake grabbed the plate from his hands. “Darling, you forgot your manners. Guests first.” Mrs. Von Krupcake smiled fondly at me and pushed the huge piece of cake in my direction. “Here you go, Maeve. It’s our own family speciality. The Von Krupcake signature Über Duber Decadent Chocolate Cake!” she whispered.

I took a small bite of the purest, richest morsel I had ever tasted in my life. “Oh my goodness!” I gasped. “This is the best chocolate cake I have ever had.”

The Krupcake King beamed as I took another bite.

“Me next!” Maddie pleaded.

Mrs. Von Krupcake shot her a stern look. “Madeline, you know you can’t have this. Chocolate cake gives you headaches, remember.”

“But, Mummy …” Madeline whined.

“Darling, we must watch our health now,” Mrs. Von Krupcake said with a smile.

Maddie looked sad. I didn’t blame her. I took one more big bite and then put my fork down. I didn’t want Maddie to feel bad that she couldn’t have any cake. It must be horrible to be allergic to something so heavenly.

“Stop pouting, Maddie.” Mrs. Von Krupcake raised her eyebrows.

Suddenly my delicious chocolate cake didn’t taste that delicious anymore. Especially when I saw how Mr. Von Krupcake was digging enthusiastically into his piece while Maddie sat looking at him sadly.

“Come on, Maeve. Let’s go!” Maddie huffed. She pushed her chair into the table and grabbed my arm … kind of hard.

“Now, darling, don’t
be
that way!” Mrs. Von Krupcake called. “Kenneth will bring you some grapes.” But Maddie was already stomping out of the room with me hopping around in the world’s ugliest dress to keep up. I looked back at Maddie’s parents. Mr. Von Krupcake was still eating and Mrs. Von Krupcake was still picking. Neither of them seemed bothered by the weirdness at all.

Guess what, Maeve?” Maddie whispered. We were finally in our pjs, all cozy in Maddie’s king-sized bed with the glorious lace veil around it. It was like being in another world.

“What?” I asked.

“Well I’ve been giving this a lot of thought, and I realized that you and I have more in common than anyone else I’ve ever known,” Maddie confessed.

I felt so touched. “Wow, Maddie. I know. We DO have tons in common. I mean, we both want to be movie stars …” I started, but then I wasn’t sure what to say.
Besides the movie star thing, what else do Maddie and I have in common?

Maddie continued. “So I decided that you, Maeve Kaplan-Taylor, are my new best friend!”

I was silent.

“Well … how cool is
that
?” Maddie pressed.

Okay, on one hand it was pretty cool that a famous person like the Krupcake Princess wanted to be my best friend. But on the other hand, I already had best friends … four to be exact. I didn’t want to be disloyal. But on the other hand, if there was one thing that the BSG taught me, it was that you can always open your heart to new friends. The more the merrier … right?

“That’s awesome!” I said. “You really want to be best friends … with me?”

“Well, of course, silly! We’re practically soul mates already.” Maddie giggled.

I smiled my kindest smile. “Cool.”

“Do you know the
first thing
best friends do?” Maddie asked, her eyes gleaming.

My throat felt dry. “What?”

“Tell each other all their secrets!” Maddie exclaimed. “So let’s start with an easy one. Who do you like?”

My heart fluttered a bit. “Who do I like?”

“Yeah. And not just as a friend. Who do you
like
like?”

I took a deep breath and thought about all the boys I’d had mini-crushes on this past year—Nick, Dillon, Riley, Matt the tutor … There were a lot, but there honestly wasn’t one totally special person I could name at the moment.

“I dunno,” I said. “There’s not really anyone right now.”

“Come on, that’s not true!” Maddie accused. “Do you
like Apollo? ’Cause if you do, that’s okay. But you should know that he and I … well … we kind of have a thing.”

That was sure news to me. Apollo was obviously cute, but hello? I barely knew him! “Maddie, I don’t like Apollo,” I promised. “Not like that … besides he’s older than I am.”

“Swear on our friendship?” Maddie asked, holding out her pinky for me to shake.

“Swear on our friendship,” I assured her.

“Good. Then I
know
you’re telling the truth. So next question. What’s your fabulous idea for the film?”

Talk about flattering! “You really want to know?” I asked, suddenly wondering if my idea—that last week had seemed soooo brilliant—would sound silly to the worldly and sophisticated Madeline Von Krupcake.

“Of course I want to know, Maeve! That’s what best friends are for …” She squeezed my hand reassuringly.

“What best friends are for,” I repeated.

Maddie nodded enthusiastically. “So come on … spill it,” she ordered.

“Well have you ever heard of
Roman Holiday
?”

Maddie shook her head.

I smiled. “Okay, let me explain …” I told Maddie all about the classic film and my idea for
Boston Holiday
—right down to the secret romance between Princess Sophia and the reporter. “And listen, here’s the best part of all. The reporter would secretly be a kung fu champion who has to protect Princess Sophia from kung fu fighting bad guys. We could have
awesome
kung fu choreography around all
the famous Boston landmarks.” I took a deep breath and looked up nervously. “Well … what do you think?”

Maddie put her hand to her chest. “Oh, Maeve. It’s a fabulous idea!”

“Really?”

“Of course, darling! A classic movie set right here in our very own Boston? It’s brilliant—just brilliant. Artemia will love it.”

I almost wanted to cry out of joy. Maddie seemed to know all there was to know about movies. This was definitely a good sign.

“Hey can I ask you a question now?”

Maddie sat up and twirled a strand of golden hair around her finger. “Of course. Anything.”

I smiled and leaned in. There was something I had been wondering about ever since the first day of camp. “So what’s the big surprise your dad planned?”

Maddie opened her mouth when suddenly the intercom buzzed. “Ten o’clock. Bedtime, Miss Madeline,” said Kenneth.

Maddie sighed. “Oh well. Looks like that’ll have to wait ’til the morning.” She yawned, clapped her hands together, and the lights in her room instantly went off.

“But,” I began.

Maddie giggled and put one finger over her lips. “Shh! We’re very strict about bedtime at my house. Sweet dreams, darling.”

I didn’t want to disobey the rules, so I snuggled into her feather-stuffed comforter and pillows, feeling very
much like the princess from
Boston Holiday
. “Sweet dreams, Maddie,” I whispered. “I’m glad we’re friends.”

“Best friends,” Maddie added. “Good night.”

All night long I had the most wonderful dreams about what the surprise would be. My imagination was going crazy. One dream was about a week-long cruise after camp was over. Another was that Maddie and I were cast in a real Hollywood movie, with Artemia directing. I woke up to the sound of a little dog barking. “Mmm … Marty … shh …” I mumbled as I groped around to give my furry little buddy a good morning hug.

“Who’s Marty? Is he your
secret crush
?”

I bolted upright. Maddie Von Krupcake was sitting next to me with her hair in curlers stroking Fitzy the Pomeranian. For a split second I forgot that I was sleeping over at the Von Krupcakes’ and thought I was back in the Tower with the BSG. Maddie pressed the clicker and Kenneth’s voice sounded through the intercom. “Ready for breakfast?”

“Yes, Kenneth. Now. I’m starving. So tell me, Maeve, who is Marty?”

I laughed. “Marty’s my dog. Well, me and all my friends’ dog. He’s the BSG mascot.”

“What’s the BSG?” Maddie gave me a weird look. If she wasn’t one of my best friends, I would’ve been afraid to answer.

“Um … the Beacon Street Girls …” I said softly.

Maddie suddenly burst out laughing. “You are just too cute Maeve—I can’t even stand it.”

I wiped the sleep out of my eyes. “How am I cute?”

“I don’t know. You’re just so … commonplace … with your little club and your little sleepover parties.”

I was beginning to get that horrible boring and ordinary feeling again.

“We aren’t
that
cute,” I said quietly. “Hey, Maddie … now can you maybe tell me about the surprise?”

“Well … maybe I can give you a clue. Tell me honestly, have you ever been to a real red carpet event?”

“Um, besides the first day of camp … no.”

Maddie threw a satin robe over her shoulders and squeezed some lotion on her hands. “The first day of camp doesn’t count,” Maddie pronounced as she walked over to the bookshelf that went all the way up to the ceiling. Maddie climbed a ladder to reach whatever it was that she was looking for. “All right, Maeve, since we’re best friends, I’m going to show you my most prized possession,” she said, climbing back down.

In her hands was a giant black book. “I’ve been going to red carpet events my entire life. Every socialite and actress absolutely must keep a scrapbook of all the amazing things she does and all the fabulous people she meets.” Maddie threw the book on her bed and plopped down beside it. “It’s like a portfolio, sort of.”

I reached out to open it, but Maddie yanked it back. “Don’t touch,” she ordered again. Maddie opened up the book to the middle and pointed to a cutout magazine photo
of her with a gorgeous blond man in a tux. “That was at the premiere of
Wyoming Rodeo
,” she informed me.

My jaw dropped. “Whoa! Is that you with … Keith Ridger?” Keith Ridger was a big-time, A-list Hollywood star—talented and adorable. I read somewhere that his nickname in Hollywood was Brad Pitt Jr.

Maddie shrugged like it was no big deal. “Yeah. Keith said he’d love to work on a movie with me someday. Isn’t that just too much?”

I nodded and tried my hardest to smile. Keith Ridger was as dreamy as dreamy could get—especially with his Western accent. I had been hopelessly devoted (tragically, a one-sided romance) to Keith ever since I saw him in his breakout movie
Kiss Me, Karen
. I couldn’t help feeling just the tiniest (okay maybe not-so-tiniest) pang of jealousy, but I knew that as a best friend it was my job to be supportive. “Too much,” I echoed.

Maddie flipped the page. “Oh and here’s one of me with Venice Doubletree.”

“The famous hotel heiress?” I gasped.

Maddie tilted the book in my direction. “See for yourself.” Sure enough, there she was standing with her arms wrapped around the willowy bleach-blond model/ socialite. “Venice and I are totally best friends,” Maddie added. I looked at Maddie and wondered how an eighteen-year-old celebrity would want to be best friends with a twelve-year-old.

There was a knock on the door and I heard Kenneth announce, “Breakfast is served.”

“Enter,” Maddie called.

“Good morning, Miss Madeline. Good morning, Miss Maeve,” Kenneth said cheerfully as he opened the door and smiled. And for the record, he had a smile that could melt any girl’s heart.

“Morning, Kenneth,” I said with a huge grin. “What’s for breakfast?” I asked when I noticed the cart with two silver platters on top.

“Belgian waffles with whipped cream and strawberries,” he answered, dramatically lifting the silver cover. My mouth instantly watered when I saw the stack of thick, piping hot waffles and bowl full of sugary strawberries. “And the tape you requested, Miss Madeline.” Kenneth took off the second cover to reveal a DVD.

Maddie leapt off the bed and snatched up the movie. “Look, Maeve! It’s
Roman Holiday
! Daddy had his people buy it this morning and bring it over.”

“People being me,” Kenneth added with a wink.

“I thought maybe you could use a little inspiration,” Maddie said with a shrug.

“Wow, Maddie, that’s so nice of you.”
Maddie really is a sweet girl, once you get to know her
, I thought.

Maddie ran over to her enormous flat screen TV to pop in
Roman Holiday
. I had to admit, I was a little surprised at how eager she was to learn more about my idea. Who knew that I had such a natural flair for movie ideas?

Kenneth carefully prepared our waffles. “Lots of strawberries,” I mouthed. (I do love those little berries.) As Maddie fiddled with the TV, I stared at the scrapbook.
Who else is in here?
I wondered. Without even thinking I flipped it open to the front.
“What?”
I whispered to myself. One person on the very first page was obvious—President Bill Clinton. But who was the little girl standing next to him? Okay, maybe little would be the wrong word. The girl looked about seven maybe, but she was kind of chubby, and it didn’t take the fashion brain of Katani to know that the leopard print leggings were a big mistake. Her hair was brown and frizzy and she wore a pair of thick dark glasses.

Suddenly a hand reached out and slammed the book shut. “What are you doing, Maeve?” Maddie cried.

“Huh? I—I—I was just looking.”

“Well don’t!” Maddie snapped. “Why would you want to look at my cousin anyway?”

“That’s your cousin? Wow, she looks nothing like you.”

Maddie huffily sat back down on the bed as the movie started to play. “Thank goodness. Why do you think we’re not close, Maeve? Ugh. She’s terrible and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay,” I agreed … definitely not wanting to talk about it either. I didn’t know what to say because I didn’t know what I had done wrong.

“Now, let’s eat, shall we?” Maddie asked.

“We shall,” I said quite properly if I do say so myself. But I was starting to think that all of the Krupcakes, including my new best friend Maddie, were kind of weird.