Page 105 of With a Little Luck

Really, really glad.

So glad I sort of want to take her phone and chuck it through the window.

Pru’s cheeks are flushed as she talks, a combination of her excitement and the fact that she probably just rode her bike here all the way from home—I see it leaning against the wall outside.

“Someone filmed your performance and the awards,” says Pru. Ari takes the phone from her, and they both focus on the screen. “I looked up footage from the past few years they’ve hosted this contest, and they typically get a few thousand views. But this one already has more than fifty thousand, and the comments arenotnice.”

“Not nice?” I say, my hackles rising instinctively. “To Ari?”

“Oh no, everyone loves Ari,” says Pru. “Most people think she should have won, or really, any of the other finalists. That girl who did win is a joke.”

Ari winces. “That’s terrible. They don’t even know her!”

Pru sighs and gives Ari an impatient look. “And when has that ever stopped people from criticizing someone on the internet?”

“I’m just saying, she is a person,” says Ari. “With feelings. Even if people don’t like her song—”266

Pru waves her comment away. “Yes, yes, people are jerks. That’s not the point. Ari, this is the best thing that could have happened to you.”

Ari’s brow creases. “How?”

“Because a regular old songwriting competition hardly gets any interest, unless maybe that song goes on to be in the Top 40 or something. For the most part, contests like this are ignored by the general public. Butcontroversy!” Pru beams like she’s just been offered a shopping spree at the Container Store. “People like controversy. They’re even hypothesizing that there could be foul play involved, and trying to look into the judges to see if anyone could have pulled some strings to get this girl picked as the winner. Now, I obviously don’t know if that’s true or not, but it has created speculation and it has people talking, and look!” She grabs the phone back and opens a new window with Ari’s video.

My eyes widen as I see how many hits it has—ten times more than the last time I watched it, and her subscriber count has increased exponentially, too.

“There are even reels of people lip-syncing to the song!” Pru scrolls to a couple other social media channels to prove it. We watch, stunned, as two girls about Penny’s age belt out a heartfelt rendition of “Downpour.”

Ari presses her hands to her cheeks. “I can’t believe this.”

“As your manager, I advise you to put out more content,” says Pru.

Ari is speechless, still staring at the phone screen.

“Promptly,” Pru adds.

Her tone startles Ari into looking up. “Oh. Um. I do have a few new songs … or we could record some of my older ones …”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with,” says Pru. “I don’t want you to post anything that isn’t ready yet, but this has the potential to get you and your songs a lot of attention. Strike while the iron is hot!”

Ari smiles, looking a little dazed.

“Also, I have a proposition for you,” Pru continues, her whole face lit up. “What would you say about performing at this year’s Record Store Day?” She says it like it’s a bigger deal than it really is, even selling the267idea with a big sweep of both of her hands in the air, like she’s framing an invisible banner overhead.

Ari frowns, and I get her confusion. She’s performed here during every open mic night for months. “Sure?”

“You’re not seeing the vision,” says Pru, grabbing Ari by both shoulders. “You’re it, Ari. The big draw! A local, award-winning singer/songwriter whose song went viral before she even got her first publication deal. This is huge, and if you agree, I am going to promote the heck out of this. We’ll announce it on your channel, of course, but I bet I can get local media attention on this, too. TheChronicleloves stories like this.”

Ari’s eyes widen, a little nervous, but she says, “You’re my manager, so I guess … promote away!”

Pru does a wiggly happy dance. “Music to my ears.”

268

Chapter Thirty-Five

Hey, Ari. I was wondering if you’d be up for getting dinner tonight?

Too casual.

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