The Fame Game, Starstruck, Infamous: 3 book Collection

“It’s . . .” Kate had to think about this for a moment. It was chic and obviously super-exclusive and everything, but did she like it? She wasn’t sure. “It’s . . . well, it’s definitely not like any club I’ve ever been to before.” She smiled broadly, hoping that that would convey the enthusiasm she didn’t quite feel.

“Well, you aren’t in Kansas anymore,” Madison said as she headed toward the table.

“Ohio,” Kate said quietly, but Madison was already distracted by some guy with one too many buttons undone on his collared shirt.

Carmen smiled at Kate. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes I love a club and sometimes I’d rather be at home eating popcorn and watching Clueless.”

“I love that movie,” Kate said.

“So brilliant, right?” Carmen replied.

“Completely. Although it definitely messed me up for getting around L.A. when I first moved here.”

“What are you talking about?” Carmen said, laughing.

“‘Everywhere in L.A. takes twenty minutes,’” Kate quoted.

Carmen laughed even harder. “Oh, honey, you can’t take traffic advice from Cher’s dad in Clueless.”

“Duh,” Kate said. “I know that now. . . .”

She laughed, too. She was surprised at how quickly she’d bonded with Carmen. At first she’d been starstruck—after all, the most famous person she’d met before her was the guy who did those annoying mattress commercials—but by the time they’d all finished their post-Grant’s burgers that night a few weeks ago when they met, Kate felt like Carmen was just another girl trying to find her way in L.A. Which, in a way, she was.

She liked Drew, too. He looked intimidating because of his height and his tattoos, but he was down-to-earth and funny. He didn’t make a big deal when Kate had spilled her Coke on his sleeve (oops!) when the three of them hung out the other night, and he laughed at all her lame jokes. But it was Carmen to whom he devoted most of his attention. He seemed to hang on every word she said, and Kate had to wonder if there was something going on between them. But she didn’t know Carmen well enough yet to ask.

“Aren’t you hot in that?” Madison asked, leaning over to catch her attention. She plucked at Kate’s long sleeve.

Kate smiled, embarrassed. “Uh, yeah. No one told me that it’s like, a violation to cover more than thirty percent of your skin around here.”

Madison laughed as if this was one of the funniest things she’d ever heard. “Oh, you can cover up whatever bits you want. You just have to do it in high style.” She took a sip of her drink, which was something pink served in a martini glass. She squinted over the rim, taking in Kate’s outfit. “Yes, I think it’s time you got yourself a new look. Do you have any favorite designers?”

Kate gripped her drink tighter and shook her head. Designers? Why in the world would Madison think she knew anything about designers? Madison should ask her about guitars. Gibson, Maton, Les Paul: Now those were names that meant something to her.

“Time to show off those legs, girl,” Carmen said.

Madison nodded without looking in Carmen’s direction. She obviously wanted this to be a two-way exchange; that way the cameras could catch her being sweet for once. “You’re cute as a button, Kate. We have to maximize your assets. Which means”—and here she raised her glass, toasting Kate—“we have to make a date for my very favorite activity: shopping.”

“Sounds great,” Kate said brightly. Now it was clear why Madison was being so nice to her: Trevor had written them a shopping date. She’d seen it in her filming schedule.

Kate and Madison—Shopping

Time: 11 a.m.

First Location: American Rag

She’d assumed that if they were going to have her shopping it would have been with Carmen. Of course, Carmen hadn’t just spent a season on TV doing makeovers. Surely Trevor wanted to showcase one of the things Madison was now famous for.

And she’d play her role in this story line as best she could. Barneys! Kate Somerville! Lunch at Joan’s on Third! Gossip with Madison! It would be fine. She was much better already at living on-camera. The first night she was filmed, when she’d moved into her new place—complete with a fake phone call her to mom—she kept looking right into the lens, whereas now, she sometimes found herself forgetting the camera was there (but only for a moment).

Oops! She’d just looked. That’s what you get for being too cocky, she thought.

But then she noticed something strange: Even though she, Carm, and Gaby were all on one side of the small, round table, the cameras were trained only on Madison.

Huh? she thought. Do the PopTV people find Madison as fascinating as she finds herself?

And then, materializing out of the club’s dimness, Kate saw a familiar shade of platinum approaching the table. She was stunning in a flowery, floaty dress, strutting in gold wedge sandals. She was none other than Sophia Parker.

Oh, thought Kate. Wow. That’s what the cameras were waiting for. And maybe that’s why Laurel was acting so weird earlier.

In that moment, Kate was no longer a cast member. She was at home, in her pj’s, watching this all unravel in the docusoap she had grown to love. Only this was so much better. This was the unedited version.

One lens was focused on Sophia now, and one on her sister. Sophia let out a high-pitched squeal.

“Oh my God, sis!” Sophia cried, holding out her hands. “What are you doing here?”

Madison paled. The hand holding her pink drink trembled a little, and she quickly set the glass on the table. Kate saw her willing herself to smile. “Sophie . . . ah! I might ask you the same thing!” Madison stood up and gave her sister an air kiss on each perfect cheek. Then she stepped back. “You look good,” she said. “But what’s that in your glass?”

Sophia beamed. “Nothing but Pellegrino, sis. Scout’s honor.” She drew an X over the plunging neckline of her dress.

“Well, sit down with us,” Madison said, sinking to the couch.

From her vantage point, Kate could see how rattled Madison was. But she was a pro—she acted as if running into the fame-seeking sister who’d humiliated her in front of the whole world was no big deal at all.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Sophia sat next to Madison and crossed one lovely leg over the other. “I’m Sophia,” she said to Carmen.

Carmen introduced herself and everyone else, but Kate could see that Sophia didn’t care what their names were. Her blue eyes were bored, glassy. The only thing Sophia cared about was the cameras and whether or not they were turned toward her. When they were, her eyes came to life again.

“So—how’ve you been?” Sophia asked her sister.

“Amazing,” Madison said. “Totally amazing. But let’s talk about you. How was rehab? Did you get really good at Ping-Pong?”

Sophia leaned back, laughing, so the cameras could get a good view of her ample cleavage. “Only the mental patients play Ping-Pong. The addicts—we read magazines. Speaking of which, I kept looking for you, Mad, but I never saw you.” Sophia’s smile was sly now.

“Oh, I was in them, all right,” Madison said. “One of my fans must have cut out all the articles about me to put in her Madison Parker scrapbook. I’m told that happens a lot.”

Nice, thought Kate. Madison was well trained in the art of the rejoinder, that was for sure.

Sophia snorted. “Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly it. So—come on, tell me. What are you up to these days?”

“Loving life,” Madison said simply. She finished her drink and then stood. “Well, it’s been fun, you guys. Soph, so great to see you again! But I’m going to head home. I’ve got a big day tomorrow. Gaby, you want a ride?”

“Okay,” Gaby said, which was pretty much the first thing she’d said all evening. She’d been too busy scoping out the crowd for unaccompanied guys to flirt with.

Madison air-kissed Kate, gave Carmen a wave, and then she and Gaby exited, one of the cameras following them. And of course once all the cameras left (after they got a sad-looking reaction shot of Sophia), Sophia did, too. She didn’t even bother to say good-bye; she just evaporated into the crowd.

“Wow,” Kate said. “That was kind of uncomfortable.”

“Yeah . . .” Carmen agreed. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer girl. Now, come on. Let’s get rid of the mikes and have some fun.” Both girls tugged off their microphones and spotted a PA to hand them off to. Then Carmen grabbed Kate’s hand and pulled her toward the bar. They hadn’t gotten more than ten feet before someone reached out and grabbed Carmen in a big bear hug.