Caught Up in the Drama Read Online Free PDF Page B

the song?” Taraji asked after she walked back over to me.
    â€œI sure did,” I said. I held up the CD she’d delivered the day after I’d told her my mom was going to let me be in the video.
    â€œI know it’s short notice, but tell me you have your verse down.”
    â€œOh yeah, my verse and every other verse in the song.” I only had a couple of verses, but I had literally stayed up all night practicing that song. It was so tight. After I’d learned my part, I’d learned the whole song. I knew it by heart.
    â€œGood, that’s what I like to hear.” She clapped her hands together. “Tammy, where’s wardrobe?” she asked, looking around the room like she just realized the wardrobe person wasn’t there.
    â€œI don’t know. She was supposed to be here,” the makeup artist replied.
    Taraji huffed. “We are on a schedule. Why do you people not get that?”
    Before she could continue ranting, the door swung open. A young Asian woman with long blond hair came in holding a bunch of outfits.
    â€œSorry I’m late,” she mumbled. “I just—”
    Taraji shot Tammy such a chastising look that Tammy didn’t bother finishing her sentence. Taraji snatched the clothes from her and held up a shiny fuchsia minidress. “No,” she said, tossing the dress on the floor. “No, no, and no,” she said, throwing three more items on the floor. She paused. “Yes.” She spun around to face me. “This is perfect.”
    My mouth fell open at the sight of the skimpy gold skirt. The skirt was super-mini, and it was connected to two wide, suspender-like straps. I took the dress and held the straps up.
    â€œThese suspenders are kinda wide, huh?”
    Everyone chuckled as Tammy quickly scurried over to me. “No, that’s the top of the dress,” she said.
    â€œThis is a dress?” I asked, my eyes wide.
    â€œThe straps crisscross in the front and tie around the neck,” Tammy said, demonstrating for me.
    I scrunched up my nose in confusion. “What do I wear under this?”
    â€œNothing, silly,” Tammy said, like I was just playing around. “The straps cross over your chest. We’ll tape them down.”
    â€œExcuse me?” I said. I’m sure the look on my face told her I was dead serious. “I . . . I can’t wear that.”
    â€œAnd why not?” Taraji said, turning her attention back on me.
    â€œIt’s . . . I mean, there’s barely anything there,” I stammered.
    â€œ
And?
Good grief, there’s not an ounce of fat on you. Why can’t you wear this?” Taraji snapped.
    â€œIt . . . it’s just so skimpy.”
    â€œWhat did you think you’d be wearing? A turtleneck and a floor-length ruffled skirt?”
    â€œNo, but—”
    â€œBut nothing. Sam, hurry up with her hair. Mona, that lipstick is too bright. I need Camille on the set in fifteen minutes.” Taraji spun and walked out of the room.
    I fingered the outfit. There was no way I could wear this. Even if I was bold enough to wear it, my mom would so lose her mind when she saw it.
    Mona, the makeup artist, must’ve read my face. She said, “Girl, just wear the dress, or else they’ll think you’re difficult. And you don’t want to get on Taraji’s bad side.”
    â€œYeah,” Tammy whispered like Taraji was still in the room. “They got rid of the last girl they called difficult.”
    Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement.
    Mona wiped the bright lipstick off my lips. “Just put the dress on, tell yourself it’s not as skimpy as it is, and do your thing. Taraji don’t play. She will pull you from this video in a minute.” She dabbed a darker pink gloss on my lips.
    â€œMaybe I can talk to Sisco,” I said after she was done.
    â€œYeah, if you want to make her even