Page 136 of Disharmony

Tiffany smirks. “This is why we have substitutes!”

One of the Lockets steps forward, already dressed in costume.

“I know the part!” The girl gushes. “I can take her place.”

“You’ll have to do it,” McCallister says, waving his hand flippantly. “We’re slashing Ashley’s solo.” He looks at Tiffany. “Can you sing it?”

“Of course!” She flicks her hair over her shoulder smugly, content to be getting what she wanted all along. “I can sing the whole song in my sleep.”

“Fine!” McCallister pinches his nose. “Everyone, get into position!”

“We all knew Video Girl couldn’t hack the pressure,” Tiffany declares as everyone lines up. There’s a hum of agreement from the rest of the group, not that anyone would speak up if they disagreed.

I expect Cookie to say something to defend Ash, but she stays quiet and presses her lips together to hold herself back. It’s a good thing Ripper isn’t around because he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. He and Zed are getting comfortable in a private green room. After the hideous final show ends, the Lionhearts have been tasked to announce who has won the place in Popstarz and will be heading straight to the live shows.

I peer around the curtain to a table opposite the stage where the judges will take their seats. Jacqueline will sit right in the center. On one side, she’ll be joined by the other Popstarz judges: Jacinta Vickers and Yu Jin. The three J’s. Jacinta was a solo sensation in the seventies, has the best connections, and is known for her kinder nature. Jin is a well-respected music professional with years of experience who kickstarted several high-profile careers. He presents himself as a family man, but everyone knows he has a string of boyfriends on the side. McCallister and a representative from Starnote will sit on Jacqueline’s other side. She needs an extra person from the label to tip the votes in her favor if the votes are tied.

“Places everyone!” Cookie calls in a sing-songy voice, clapping her hands. Other campers dart around to complete all the final checks. “We’re going on in five!”

Zed and Ripper slink out of their private room, and Zed nudges his head to the right to signal it’s time for us to go out there. My heart sinks. The only good thing about returning to Camp Harmony has been having a break from constant interviews and the paparazzi. After camp ends, Jacqueline has made sure we’ll be in the public eye even more, and I fucking hate her for it.

We were naive when we signed the record deal as soon as our time in Camp Harmony ended. Our contract and the hundreds of clauses within it means her hold on us is as real as a leash around our necks. We’re nothing more than puppets for her to parade as she sees fit, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

I join my bandmates to head out onto the main stage to introduce the event. I look past the sea of faces staring at us and focus on the trees behind them. As usual, Zed will do the talking.

“Welcome to the final Camp Harmony show!” Zed waves his arms, gesturing for the crowd to make noise. He waits until the raucous applause dies down to continue. “We’re delighted to have been mentors at Camp Harmony this year and return to the place where we ourselves started out. We’ve seen the campers develop over the course of the summer, and what a treat we have in store for you this evening! Tonight’s performers are some of our best yet, so without further ado, we’ll move onto the moment you’ve all been waiting for.”

I let the cheers wash over me as we file offstage and take our reserved seats in the front row. The campers head onto the stage to take their places.

“So, she couldn’t make it,” Ripper murmurs, seeing a stranger standing in Ash’s spot.

I shake my head. “She’s too sick.”

His mouth curls, but Zed shoots him a glare to be quiet. We’re around too many people for him to lose his temper or risk someone overhearing. Ripper crosses his arms and leans back in a sullen silence as the music starts.

They perform the first song perfectly without a step or toe out of place, but it falls flat on my ears. Without Ash, there’s nothing special about it. As it ends, the campers leave for a costume change. This is why only one song is performed on live television.

After a quick swap, they’re back again. Tiffany laps up all the attention. Her mom, who is sitting next to the judging panel, is declaring: “That’s my daughter!” to anyone who’ll listen.

The second song goes as well as the first, but it lacks any real emotion. As the performers leave to get ready for the final song, someone behind me taps on my shoulder, jerking me out of my reverie.

I spin around to face a guy who looks like a model with his muscular build, perfect tan, and pressed suit. Is he famous? I don’t recognize him instantly, but it’s possible we’ve met at an award ceremony in the past.

“Um… hi,” he stammers, suddenly starstruck.

Ripper and Zed also turn to see the stranger gawping at us.

“Is there something we can help with?” Zed intervenes, saving me from having to speak. I’m not good at talking to fans, and if we start signing autographs, we’ll be here all night. “Would you like an autograph?”

“An autograph?” The guy blanks, then grins sheepishly. “Well, yeah, sure I would… but I actually wanted to know whether you know where Ash Cooper is.”

The older man next to him chips in, “We thought she was singing in all three songs.” He smiles proudly. “I’m her dad.”

I can see the family resemblance. She has his nose and brown eyes. Fuck. Ripper tenses, but his stare isn’t focused on Ash’s dad. He’s busy checking out the handsome guy. Who the fuck is he? Ash never mentioned a boyfriend to us.

“Ashley won’t be performing tonight,” Ripper snaps. “She’s too sick.”

“Sick?” Her dad straightens in his seat. “We saw her a few hours ago… she seemed tired, but…”

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