Page 56 of Disharmony

“What is she doing here?” Cookie asks, gesturing at Jacqueline, who stands to the right of the stage. She’s deep in a hushed conversation with McCallister, who is drooling like a lovesick puppy. Seeing him happy is vomit-inducing. “No one said something is happening today.”

“There’s going to be a big surprise announcement,” Declan replies. He stabs his stack of pancakes and saws them into tiny pieces but doesn’t eat them. “No one knows what it’s about, even Tiffany and the Lockets.”

Conor’s grip tightens around his fork as his face pales. I’m not the only one who had a rough trip last night. I glance over to Tiffany and the Locket’s table. Tiffany watches Jacqueline’s every move. Staring isn’t going to make her a fucking psychic. If she doesn’t know what’s happening, Mommy’s influence mustn’t extend as far as she hoped.

The Lionhearts enter the mess hall and heads turn. I get a waft of crisp laundry detergent as Zach Royal passes. Damon saunters behind him, reading something on his phone, and Levi drags his feet, avoiding eye contact with swooning campers.

Jacqueline beams as she spots the guys and goes to greet them. The Lionhearts are her biggest success to date. They have made her a sickening amount of money. Will anyone in the room now have such staggering levels of success too?

Cookie drums her fingers on the table impatiently. “What do you think it’s going to be about?”

“Who cares?” Conor slouches. “What does it matter?”

“Shut up, Con,” Declan hisses. “You’ve only got yourself to blame.”

Conor scoffs bitterly, neither of them talking about the upcoming announcement now. “Yeah, you would say that…”

Their brotherly feud is cut short as Jacqueline climbs the stage. Everyone falls silent, listening to her pointed heels echoing as she goes to the podium.

“Good morning, Camp Harmony,” she addresses. “I’m pleased to be here with you this morning, and I have some exciting news.”

The room buzzes with questions. For Jacqueline to spare time out of her busy schedule, this has to be big. Tiffany’s ass is practically hovering off the bench, like she’s about to float away from excitement. I, on the other hand, lean forward and prop my chin on my hands. It’s hard to be enthusiastic when you feel like shit and haven’t eaten yet.

“As you all know, the Camp Harmony final show will happen at the end of the summer. As usual, one of the three songs performed will be broadcast live.” She pauses to build impact, knowing everyone is hanging on her every word. “But there will be a prize this year.”

McCallister is standing at the bottom of the stage and nods smugly. I hate the bastard more than I did yesterday. I look at the Lionhearts next to him. If they know what’s happening, their facial expressions don’t give anything away. Zach is sporting a half-smile, Damon’s teeth are clenched, and Levi is a blank, unreadable canvas.

There has never been a prize for the final show before. The best singers usually go on to receive worldwide recognition and a record deal with Starnote, which is reward enough. Aside from the vocalists, other campers tend to get hired by one of the many observers in the industry, who attend as spectators on the day.

“In the final show broadcast, we will be joined by my fellow judges from Popstarz,” Jacqueline reveals. “They will select one performer to go straight past the audition stage and compete in the show.”

Whispers ripple through the hall. Popstarz is the most popular TV show in the country, inviting aspiring singers to compete for cash and a recording contract. Jacqueline is one of the three judges. If the Camp Harmony show doesn’t give enough exposure to catapult you into stardom, a spot on the show will.

I can scrape through Camp Harmony pretending to be a pop star, but could I keep up the pretense and sing live weekly in front of the entire country? The winner of Popstarz will receive half a million dollars, which would help Dad retire early and finally fix the hole in the roof back home. The cash won’t mean anything to most campers who are already due to inherit mansions in the Hamptons, but I stand no chance of being picked over Tiffany.

“You all need to make the most of the next few weeks and listen to your coaches. Our staff and mentors can help get you to the next level,” Jacqueline continues. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and one of you will make Camp Harmony history.”

Jacqueline scans the crowd. Her gaze lands on me, then continues along the row of benches. Her stare makes you feel you’re the only person in the room and gives hope that, maybe, you are the person who can secure the spot. Her eyes fill you with false hope and promise opportunities that might never happen. Her final comments wash over me. When she’s done, she leaves the stage and strides out of the mess hall, without saying anything else. A perfect mic drop moment.

“Ash!” Cookie squeals. “You have to get that spot!”

“Me?” I scoff, almost falling backward off the bench. “On Popstarz? Have you seen me?”

“I mean, you don’t look your best today…” At least she’s honest. “But you can do it. Imagine what it’ll be like to be on Popstarz. She didn’t say the lead soloist is guaranteed the place. If you stand out, they could pick you.”

“Tiffany is the only one they’ll be looking at,” I say. “Her and McCallister have made sure no one else will stand out.”

Cookie turns to the twins. “What do you think, guys?”

Declan mutters something under his breath, and Conor jumps up. His fists clench at his sides as he storms out.

“What’s his problem?” I ask.

“Nothing,” Declan grumbles in a tone that implies the opposite.

“Shit.” Cookie checks her beeping phone. She’s subscribed to every celebrity news channel and gets live alerts. She insists that keeping on top of all scoops is part of her job if she’s considering being an agent in the future. “That’s not the only news to break this morning.”

Cookie isn’t the only camper keeping tabs on the latest gossip as others exchange looks at their own cells. There’s a few intakes of shocked breath, and campers discuss the same article. I hear snippets of conversations and whispers of the same name.

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