The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver Page B

pinch my cheeks. Instead, she threads her arm through mine and steers me toward Nordstrom. There’s a huge mob ofpeople at the other end of the mall. Cameras are flashing, and reggae music is blaring.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I ask.
    â€œLet’s go see.”
    Come to find out, it’s the grand opening of Jaded. Natalie’s always lamenting about never getting to go to L.A. or New York, because, up until now, those were the only two American cities deemed cool enough for Jaded. Eva’s parents take her to New York to do Christmas shopping, and when she returns with a shopping bag full of Jaded clothes, Natalie’s green with envy. She’d pay a hundred bucks for the shopping bag alone.
    A twentysomething dressed like Gwen Stefani breezes past us, and when I see the bag she’s toting, I get what Natalie’s talking about. It’s a big iridescent jade-colored circle, kind of like a hatbox, and the handles are silver chains. IS SHE OR ISN’T SHE? is printed on one side in graffiti-style lettering, and JADED on the other.
    When Grandma and I get closer, I see that the music isn’t coming from a CD as I had assumed. It’s live. Am I imagining things, or is that Astra 8 It? Alex
loves
thatband! I dig out my cell phone, taking care that my flute doesn’t fall out of my purse, and text-message him: ASTRA 8 IT IS AT DESIGNER PALACE. COME NOW!!!
    Then I send: JADED IN DENVER! GRAND OPENING AT FASHION PALACE. COME NOW!!! to Natalie.
    Before I have a chance to put my phone away, it beeps and there’s a message from Alex: I’M AT WORK. CAN’T GET OFF.
    SAY U HAVE A STOMACHACHE OR SOMETHING. U CAN’T MISS THIS! I type back.
    NO CAN DO he text-messages me. UNDERSTAFFED. THANKS, THO. I’m disappointed, but I knew deep down that Mr. Work Ethic wouldn’t ditch his job for this.
    Grandma Perkins and I dance to the next song, having such a great time together. I glance at my cell, just in case another text message sneaked through unnoticed. Nope. God, Natalie is being so lame. I can’t believe she’d let our tiny little misunderstanding get in the way of something as big as this. I mean, this is
huge.
You know, like the Broncos winning the Super Bowl!
    Suddenly, a Hugh Grant look-alike taps me on the shoulder. “Excuse me, miss. I couldn’t help noticing that you have a greatlook. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Philip Stanford, a talent scout for Envision Modeling Agency of Denver.” He holds out a shiny gold business card.
    Grandma Perkins snatches the card, studying it for a few seconds. “She does have a great look, doesn’t she?” she says, pressing the card into my outstretched palm.
    â€œYou must be the proud mother,” Philip says, beaming at her.
    Grandma chuckles demurely. “You’re a charmer, that’s for sure. I’m her
grand
mother.”
    The talent scout clears his throat and then grins at me. “You won the genetic jackpot, young lady.” Ha! If he only knew…. “Have you ever thought about being a model?” he asks.
    I look at Grandma, but she’s busy digging for something in her purse, pretending not to be listening. “Not until very recently,” I admit.
    â€œThat’s great news. Well, dear, you simply must call the agency and arrange an interview. The number is on the card”—he taps the business card that I’m holding in the air like a total nerd—“I’m sure we could book you more work than you’d ever believe possible. And what is your name, dear?”

    â€œRoxy Zimmerman.”
    â€œWell, Roxy Zimmerman,” he says, “I’ll let you in on some fabulous news. Envision has been selected to represent Jaded on a local level. Even an international fashion company like Jaded recognizes the quality of our talent, you see. In fact, we’re doing a runway show for Jaded right here next weekend,” he says,