Star of the Show Read Online Free PDF Page A

and even more pages were hanging out.
    â€œI did not have time to finish my magic with Fay so close,” Storm woofed apologetically.
    Tessa quickly put the diary behind her back as Fay walked in.
    â€œHi. I’ve been looking for—” Fay broke off, looking puzzled, and her smile faded. “What do you have behind your back?”
    Tessa gulped. She knew that Fay would be deeply upset if she found out that Kelly had been reading her private thoughts. She slowly brought her hands forward. “I . . . um . . . just came in and found this lying on the bed. I was going to put it back in your drawer, but I dropped it and the cover got a little messed up. Sorry,” she finished lamely.
    Fay frowned. “I never leave my diary on my bed.”
    â€œMaybe you forgot this time?” Tessa suggested.
    Fay’s face darkened. “No, I didn’t. Have you been reading it?” she said in a trembling voice. “Don’t try and pretend you weren’t. I bet you thought my scribbles were so pathetic that you kicked my poor diary all around the room and then jumped on it or something!”

    â€œI didn’t. I would never do that!” Tessa exclaimed.
    â€œLooks like it, doesn’t it?” Fay snatched her diary and then stood there hugging it to her chest and stroking it. “I thought you liked me, but you were only pretending. I thought you were different, Tessa.”
    Tessa felt terrible, even though none of this was her fault. She knew that Fay wouldn’t believe anything she said now, but she still had to try. “I do like you, Fay. And I didn’t read your diary. Honest. Cross my heart and hope to die!”
    But Fay wasn’t listening anymore. She threw herself onto her bed, buried her face in her pillow, and curled up with both arms wrapped around the diary.
    Sighing heavily, Tessa trudged toward the bathroom.
    Storm padded in after her and she closed the door behind him. “I am sorry. I have made things worse,” he woofed sadly.
    Tessa pet his silky head. “You were only trying to help. Besides, this is all Kelly’s fault.”
    Tessa emptied a soap dish and washed it out before pouring water into it for Storm. “And just when I thought I was starting to get along with Fay,” she murmured as she watched the tiny puppy lapping thirstily.
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    The following day it was classes again and then hours spent in costume and makeup before filming another scene with Donny. This time it was inside Harpford Manor’s great hall.
    It was a long scene and Tessa had a lot of lines to say. The director was very demanding and bossed everyone around but seemed satisfied with the way things went.
    When he called for a coffee break, Tessa decided that she’d go and sit with Fay to try again to make things right. She passed Kelly, who was sitting munching on a bag of chips.
    â€œI wouldn’t bother looking for Fay if I were you,” Kelly said. “She’s gone off somewhere by herself. I bet she’s writing more stuff in her stupid diary.”
    â€œGet lost, Kelly!” Tessa said angrily, having to make a huge effort not to say something even worse. “Grrr. Why does that girl have to be so mean?” she complained to Storm.

    There wasn’t enough time to go looking for Fay, so Tessa got a cold drink and then sat down with Storm. “Fay probably hates me now. I bet she’ll never speak to me again,” she said to him.
    â€œI do not think that anyone could hate you,” Storm woofed, patting her leg with one soft little rusty paw.
    â€œThanks, Storm.” As Tessa reached down and took hold of the loyal pup’s paw, she felt herself starting to calm down. An idea popped into her head. “Why don’t we walk across the field to the village later? Maybe it will have a store that sells diaries. I can buy Fay a new one!”
    Storm nodded. “I think Fay would like that.”
    â€œShe’ll