Leading Ladies #2 by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel Page B

is so completely unfair. The whole showcase is ruined now! Seriously, I feel like somebody should do something about this. Bring Mr. Barrymore to his senses or lodge a complaint or something! I’m going to scream!”
    Tally’s voice had in fact been rising and was reaching the point of a screech that only dogs and bats could hear. It seemed like an overreaction. Even coming from Tally.
    â€œTal, I can’t stand her, either,” Audriana said. “But come on. The show isn’t ruined. I didn’t even get a decent part. I’m just some background character, and I don’t feel like some injustice has been done or anything.”
    â€œBut it’s not the same for you,” Tally said. “I mean, I know you get it—some of us are leading ladies and some of us aren’t. Before I lost my voice, I really thought I had a shot at getting Annie.”
    Ouch.
    â€œTal, you might want to—” My voice was drowned out by the sound of the bell.
    Audriana stood frozen, an odd look on her face that Tally didn’t seem to notice.
    â€œAt least he’s put up an understudy list,” Tally said, rooting through her gym bag. “Now that my voice is back, there’s no reason I can’t sign up on that.”
    Audriana walked abruptly out of the locker room.
    â€œPlus, Buster wants us to—” Tally looked around. “What happened to Audriana?”
    â€œShe took off,” I said. “Listen, Tally, I don’t know her all that well or anything, but . . . I don’t know. Maybe Audriana is a little disappointed about her part, too.”
    Tally shook her head.
    â€œTrust me, Audriana did not want to be Annie,” Tally said. “I’ve been in enough shows with her to know that. It’s Valerie Teale that’s making her mad. She’s such a diva!”
    Tally pulled her gym shoes out of her bag, tossed the bag in the locker, and slammed it shut.
    â€œOkay, well I’m going to run,” I said.
    Tally waved and began pulling her mass of curls into a tiny elastic band. I heard the elastic snap as I walked away and Tally squeal again.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    I got to bio just as the teacher, Mr. Pilsen, was arriving. I hated double-period science days. They combined our session with the AP class, where everyone was superbrilliant, and it felt like class went on forever.
    There was an empty seat next to Miko. I hesitated for a moment. But when she looked up and saw me, she gave me a smile. I sat down, relieved that she was in a friendly mood. Maybe things didn’t have to stay uncomfortable between us.
    â€œHow are you?” I asked. “How’s your honors project coming along? And everything else?”
    â€œOkay,” Miko said. “Everything is still really crazy. I think I’ll finish my project by the deadline, but it’s going to be close.” Miko drew a few little sketches in her notebook. Then she turned to me, looking me straight in the eye. “Look, I know how it must seem to you guys. Me stepping back from
4 Girls
, but then being on Shelby’s Dance Committee.”
    â€œOh,” I said. “No. I mean, we did sort of wonder about it. But only a little.”
    Miko smiled. “Shelby is not good at taking no for an answer. I thought it would just be the one poster, but I was wrong. I’ve decided to quit the Homecoming Committee.”
    â€œReally?” I was shocked. Miko hadn’t even completely quit
4 Girls
.
    Maybe there’s still hope after all
, I thought, trying not to get my hopes up.
    â€œYeah,” Miko said, shrugging. “I meant it when I told you guys I just don’t have any spare time. But I really want to do
4 Girls
again. I don’t even like doing dance posters.”
    â€œI kind of got that impression,” I said. “Will Shelby be okay with it?”
    Miko shrugged. “I don’t