On a Slippery Slope (10 page)

“Hannah,” Andy cuts in, “you
were
amazing today. Your face is made for the camera and you have incredible stage presence like your dad. You are a natural.”

“I am?”

“A diamond in the rough, so to speak.” Gwendolyn frowns.

“Gwendolyn.” Phillip wags his finger at her.

“We want to offer you a spot on our team,” Andy says, breaking into a huge grin.

“I'm already on the team. I'm your production assistant,” I say, confused.

“Hannah,” Gwendolyn says impatiently, “we'd like you to help us to grow our younger audience. Basically, we want to offer you a weekly segment on the show. It will air every Friday.”

“What do you mean?”

“You'll be learning to do something along with the viewers at home. Say, for instance, how to administer CPR or how to use that defibrillator thingy.” Gwendolyn waves her hand in the air.

“Or …” Andy cuts in, “you could learn how to make homemade ice cream in a Ziploc bag, or how to make a funky scarf out of an old
cut-up
T-shirt
.”

I jump in, “Or lip gloss, bath bombs, or gummy bear popsicles!”

“Exactly!” Andy beams.

“But you want
me
?”

“You're perfect,” Phillip says, grinning affectionately, “Messy hair and all.”

A Whole Lot of Nothing

“H
annah
, are you ready?” A.J. says, breaking my trance.

OMG
… have I been staring at him this whole time? That little touch of windburn on his cheeks is making him look cuter than ever; I just can't help myself.

“For what?”

“
Um
… last time I checked you
were
still our
minutes-taker
.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, opening up my notebook to a clean page. I scribble the date at the top. “Have I missed anything?” I whisper to Gabby, who has been staring at Marcel, a boy who moved here from France exactly nine days ago.

She has been listing new reasons every day for why Marcel is
perfect —
today's reason (number nine): he smells like
heaven
— fresh, clean, and
sooo
outdoorsy. With every whiff, she falls more deeply and hopelessly in love. She thinks he has to be wearing cologne that you can only get in France because boys around here don't smell that
ah-maaazing
.
I agree he smells good, but I think it's just body spray from Hollister — I mean, he smells just like the store.

“I haven't been paying attention.” Gabby giggles.

“I noticed,” I reply, nodding in Marcel's direction.

Just so you know, he's cute, but nowhere near as cute as A.J.

“Hannah, did you catch that?” A.J. asks, loudly.

“
Um
… fundraising ideas,” I say, scribbling the words on my paper.

“Yes, but I'm wondering about
your
ideas. You said you'd have some good ones, remember?”

“I did?” I squish up my nose.

“Wow, Hannah!” Chloe barks. “You know you did! We were depending on you!”

With working at the station and trying to
invent
reasons for why I haven't been able to go skiing with the group, I completely forgot!

“Um, what about a car wash?” I blurt out.

“Very funny, Hannah,” A.J. says, folding his arms over his chest.

“Oh yeah, it might get a little cold.”
I chuckle.

“Well, how about a …” I trail off because I have absolutely nothing.

“Well, how about a — what?” Chloe shouts. “I told you she would do this, A.J., didn't I?
Didn
'
t I
?”

“
Just give her a chance, Chloe,
” A.J. says, looking irritated. “I'm sure she has some other ideas.”

“This is a complete waste of time.” Chloe says. “She probably can'
t even ski!
”

“What!” Gabby yelps. “Hannah can totally ski!” She looks at me,
open-mouthed
, like she can't believe what she's hearing. I stare back blankly — I mean, what else can I do?

“You're wrong, Chloe!” Gabby roars. “You don't know anything about Hannah!”

Ivy, who's sitting on the other side of Chloe, purses her
duck-lips
. “And you do?”

“I do!” Gabby nods with all of the confidence in the world. “Hannah is awesome! And you would be lucky …
lucky
, I tell you, to snowboard half as well as she does!”

“Seriously?” Ivy rolls her eyes. “She hasn't been up to the hill once. Don't you wonder why?”

“In case you forgot,” Gabby says, wagging her finger at Ivy and Chloe, “Hannah has been a little busy with her new job. Did you know it takes her a full week to prepare for her show, which is amazing, by the way.” Gabby throws a wink in my direction. “Plus, she's got tae kwon do training — she's working toward her black belt!”

(So, truthfully, I'm a few belts away from a black belt — actually, I'm only a white belt, but hey, you have to start somewhere, right? And earning a black belt requires hard work, sacrifice, and lots of practice — something I remind Gabby of whenever she doesn't like one of my reasons for why I can't go skiing. It seems to work, too, because every time I mention tae kwon do, she not only stops bugging me, but she insists that I am, without a doubt, the most dedicated person she knows.)

“Also,” Gabby continues, “she has to keep up with homework,
and
she volunteers at the old age home …”

(Okay, technically, I don't volunteer at the old age home, my mom does. Sometimes, when Dad is working late, I stop in after work to get a ride home. I usually visit a sweet old lady named Doris, who gives me cookies her daughter has baked for her. This week it was snickerdoodles — so yummy.)

“… and if that isn't enough,” Gabby yells, stomping her foot, “she has to deal with her poor mother who has been completely stressing out over moving away from the only home she's ever known!”

(For the record, my mom isn't really that stressed out. But, in Gabby's defence, I did kind of tell her last week that I couldn't go skiing because my mom
really
needed me to organize my room. I might have slightly exaggerated when I said I had to rearrange everything in my closet
and
drawers,
again
for the fifth time, because Mom wanted everything neat and orderly, and perfectly arranged in order of the colours of the rainbow. Gabby said, “Your mom is totally wigging out. She's, like, way too strict!” I probably should have argued, or at least tried to defend my mom, but I didn't. Oh gosh, I know it sounds awful, but Gabby was all, “Enough is enough! You need to come with us to the hill, and I'm not taking no for an answer!” As soon as I gave her that excuse, she stopped. She felt sorry for me, which is great, but I felt so guilty that I ended up organizing everything anyway. On the bright side, my closet looks great!)

“Hannah,” Gabby says, finishing up her rant, “is the real deal!”

I am the exact opposite of
the real deal —
I still don
't even have ski gear.

“Whatever,” Chloe says, shaking her head.

“So, let's have it then.” Ivy smirks.

“What?” I ask.

“Your big fundraising idea, Hannah. I mean, you must have one, right? Seeing as you're ‘the real deal.'”

“Well … um …” I stutter, looking into Gabby's warm eyes.

“What about the station, Hannah?” Gabby whispers. “Would they sponsor us?”

“My station?”

“Yeah, Channel Nine.”

“I don't know. Maybe,” I answer, noticing that everyone's eyes are suddenly set on me.

“Hannah,” A.J. says, a smile growing on his face, “Do you think you could work your
Hannah magic
on all of those bigwigs at the station?”

“Magic.” Chloe sniffs. “Forget it! My dad already asked his boss, Gwendolyn, and she said no way. End of story.”

Everyone's eyes dart back to me. I shrug and A.J.'s face falls.

I can't stand how disappointed he looks, how disappointed everyone looks.

“Come on, Hannah,” A.J. says, lifting his sparkling eyes to meet mine. “I have faith in you. You can do it!”

No, I can't. I can't do this at all! If Gwendolyn said no to Chloe's dad, there is
no way
that she'll ever say yes to me. Gwendolyn hates me!

“
Um …
” I gulp.

“Come on, Hannah,” A.J. pleads, “just try, okay?”

Why does he have to smile like that?

“Okay.” I shrug. “I'll try.”

Suddenly, sounds of whistling, clapping and cheering fill the room. Everyone, with the exception of Chloe and Ivy of course, is looking at me like I'm their hero, ready to lead them to victory.

Why do I keep doing this to myself?

Silver Linings

“H
annah
,” Mom yells from the kitchen. “Come in here for a sec. I want to talk to you about something.”

It's never good when she wants to “talk about something.” Oh my gosh, she knows! It was just a matter of time before she found out.

“Hannah!”

I don't move a muscle. I'm not ready to deal with this. Why did I do it? Why did I dig myself into this hole? Mom must be so mad. No, she'll be more disappointed than mad — which is way worse. How did she find out? I never said anything. Oh no! Gabby's mom. Oh god! All that stuff I said to Gabby about my mom being all stressed out and weird! Oh, she's going to be
SO MAD
!

“Hannah! Will you pleeeeze get in here?”

“What?” I say from the hallway.

“Come in the kitchen.”

“No.”

I hear Mom's chair slide back from the table. She's getting up. She's coming to get me. I have to run!

“Hannah,” Mom says, coming into the hallway, “what do you mean, ‘no'?”

“I'm busy.”

“You're not busy. Get in here!”

“Fine,” I growl and follow her to the kitchen table.

“So how is work going?” Mom asks, smiling a little strangely.

“Good,” I say suspiciously.

“You're doing a wonderful job. I think the station was really smart hiring you. Your father says the ratings are just going up, up, up.”

I nod. “Yeah. I guess lots of kids are watching online too. The station is pretty stoked about it.”

“So how do you like your boss?”

“She's awful and she hates me.”

“Andy?” Mom says, her eyes wide with shock.

“No, Gwendolyn, the mean one,” I answer. “Andy is great.”

“Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that.” Mom looks oddly relieved.

“What's going on, Mom?”

“Well,” she says, grabbing my hands, “wonderful news, ac­tual­­ly — for your dad and me, anyway.”

“Wonderful news? Hmm … wonderful news!” I say, excitedly. Wonderful news means she doesn't know. This
is
wonderful news!

“Yes, well, your father and I are finally going to have a honeymoon.”

“You never had a honeymoon?”

“Nope, we couldn't afford one back then.”

“So when? Where?”

“You know your father is leaving tomorrow for a conference on climate change, right?”

“Yeah, in Australia.”

“Well, I'm going with him! The station agreed to let your dad take a few weeks off after the conference.

“So, what about me? Am I going?”

“No honey, not this time. You have school and your new job.”

“So, who's going to take care of me?”

“Your boss!” Mom winks.

“Not Gwendolyn!”

“No.” Mom laughs. “You'll be staying with Andy for the next four weeks. Are you okay with that?”

“Um …”

“I know you probably would have rather stayed with Gabby. We did consider asking, but Gabby's grandparents are back visiting, so they have a houseful already. Plus, Andy said she would love to have you, and you two get along so well. It just makes sense. Best of all, her apartment is across the street from your school.”

“Really, she just offered to take in some random
fourteen-year
-old for an entire month?”

“Hannah, you're not random. She loves you to bits. Andy says she looked after her niece for the entire summer last year and it was a blast. She's actually excited that you're coming.”

“Well, I guess. If you're sure it's okay.”

“It's all settled.” Mom smiles. “So, get yourself upstairs and start packing. We're dropping you off tonight!”

“Tonight?”

This
is
sudden.

Hmmm … I'm trying to figure out how I feel about this. I mean on one hand, Mom and Dad are going on a dream vacation to Australia, a place I have always wanted to see, especially since I did a project on it in seventh grade. I mean what's not to love about Australia? It's warm and sunny, the people have cool accents, and they surf, and hunt crocodiles, not to mention the fact that I'm obsessed with koala bears! Who wouldn't be? I mean they are so cute. I can't believe my mom is going to see one before me!

On the other hand, I'll get to stay with Andy for a whole month. How cool is that? We'll chill and do girl stuff. I'll have my own little
mini-vacation
at Andy's!

“By the way,” Mom says, digging in the junk drawer. “Is there something you're forgetting to ask me?”

“No.”
What the heck is she taking about?

“I was talking to Lori last night.” Mom takes out a pen and her chequebook and puts them on the counter.

“Gabby's mom? What did she say?”

“She asked me if I had signed the permission slip for the big ski trip you're going on.”

Oh no! I knew this would happen! Oh crap!

“What did you say?” I demand.

“Well, what do you think I said?” Mom frowns. “I told her the truth.”

“Oh my gosh, no!” I yelp. “What did you say?”

“Hannah, settle down. I just said I didn't know about the trip. She was pretty surprised, She said it's all Gabby talks about. Why didn't you tell us about it?”

“What else did you say?” I screech, ignoring her question.

“Hannah, seriously. What is the deal?”

“Nothing, just tell me exactly what you said. Okay?”

“Well, I said you couldn't go because —”

“Because why?” I yell, cutting her off
mid-sentence
.

“Because you'll be working, silly.”

“What about the fact that I can't ski? Did you mention that?” I bark.

“No, it never came up. Hannah, what is with you?”

“And what about gear? Did you tell her I have none?”

“No. It was a short conversation, Hannah.”

Good! Mom never spilled the beans. And even better — I can't go on the trip because I have to work. How could I have forgotten that
oh-my
-
gosh-fantastic
piece of information? I'm off the hook. No ski trip for me! Yippee!

“Oh no!” I cry, trying to force down the smile that's threatening to take over my entire face. “I totally forgot about work! There is no way I can go!”

“Yes, that's what your dad and I thought, too,” she says, starting to write out a cheque.

“Wait,
thought
?” I say, confused.
Why is she writing a cheque?

“Oh, Hannah. You've had to give up so much moving here. I don't want you to miss out on this, too. Trips like these are great bonding experiences — a chance to spend some quality time with friends, you know, where you really get to know one another.”

I don'
t want them to get to know me better,
'
cause then they
'
d find out that I
'
m a big, fat liar.

“Honestly, it will ease my guilt over leaving you at home. I know how much you want to go to Australia.”

“Well, Mom, as much as I want to go on the ski trip, work comes first. I made a commitment to Channel Nine, and I can't let them down.”

“Hannah,” Mom says, pointing her finger in the air. “Where there's a will there's a way! It's not like you to give up on something you want!”

“What?” My head flies up in horror.

“Can't you work this ski trip thing into your job?”

“No, I don't think so.”

“Your dad thinks you should do a ‘Learn to Ski with Hannah' thing for your show.”

What a horrible idea!
OMG
! That would be the worst ever! I would have to learn to ski in front of all of my friends who already think I am an expert! This is getting to be too much. Why is the universe doing this to me? But then again, the universe has also given me Gwendolyn, who would never agree to this. Not in a million years!

“Gwendolyn wouldn't go for it,” I tell Mom, confidently. “I'm sure of it.”

“Sure of what?” Dad asks, walking into the kitchen.

“Um … just some ski trip to Mount Sunshine.”

“
Some
ski trip?” Dad raises an eyebrow. “Your mother said it's supposedly the trip of the year. At least that's what Gabby's mom told her last night on the phone.”

“Well, it doesn't even matter. I can't go because of work.”

“Never say never, Hannah. I'll just give Andy a call. Maybe we could work it into your show!”

“No, Gwen won't allow it.”

“Andy has been saying that she wants to get your show out of the studio — take it on the road.” He picks up his phone. “Don't worry, Hannah. We'll make this happen. I'm calling her now.”

“No!” I yell. “
Um
… it's my show and I think it's important that I handle this on my own.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive!”

“Well, that's very responsible of you, Hannah,” Dad says, popping his phone back into his pocket. “I'm impressed with you, young lady.”

“
Um
… thanks,” I gulp down the lump of guilt rising in my throat. “I'm just saying, Gwendolyn won't go for it, though.”

“Don't worry. Andy has a way of getting what she wants,” Dad says, smiling. “So apparently, there is a permission form we need to fill out?”

“Umm … yeah, it's in my backpack.”

“Well go and get it!” Dad grins. “We need to get all of this paperwork out of the way so that we can get you on that trip.”

Should I be worried? Nah. I know Gwendolyn. She doesn't like me, or my segments, not to mention my hair, and she's still mad that she was forced into hiring me. I just can't win with Gwendolyn … except for this time because
this time
, hearing her shout, “Absolutely not!” will be music to my ears. It's settled then; I'll go straight to Gwendolyn.

My ski trip is history!