toward the parking garage where her black Range Rover waited.
The ride from Helena Gardens was quick even with the traffic. Bixby Studios was like a fortress. All twelve buildings that housed the sets and offices were enclosed on three sides by cream stucco walls that were nearly impossible to climb. The main entrance was lined by a tall wrought iron fence adorned with ‘B’s. The fence broke in the center for a small building with two drives on either side. Each drive had gate arms that rose and fell to grant or deny access to and from the studio. It was the only way in and out.
A group of loyal security guards occupied the building at all times. One of their duties was to check and record any and all persons entering or leaving the lot. Mom drove up to the gate stopping just before the black and white striped arm protecting the entrance from outsiders. Will, one of the younger security guards appeared at mom’s window to check for our parking pass. She rolled the window down.
“Afternoon, Ms. Trish,” Will said with a wink and a nod.
“Hello, Will.” Mom’s tone was so sweet, it could've attracted a whole hive of bees.
“Here for the announcement?” he asked in his southern draw l .
“Yes. Hoping it’s all good news. Have you heard anything?” She batted her lashes and smiled. Security was the eyes and ears of Bixby Studios. The guards patrolled the lot on an hourly basis and watched surveillance camera footage. They were privy to info that most people weren’t, and Ms. Trish found that you could be too, if you flirted with the cute guards.
Will blushed. “Everyone’s been pretty tight lipped but I’m betting on good news.”
“Thanks, Will.” She sounded disappointed.
“I wish I could be of more help.”
“You’ve helped,” Mom said.
He smiled shyly. “I’ll quit holding you lovely ladies up and go’on ’n lift the gate.” He gave us another nod and went back inside the small building. The gate’s arm lifted and mom waved to Will as we rolled into Bixby Studios.
“We have to go to building Twelv e, ” she said, reaching for her tote that rested at my feet.
“Twelve? Hm. That’s odd.” I handed her the bag. “I didn’t know they were using Twelve again. It hasn’t been used since OMG ! .”
“I got an email this earlier saying the announcement would be made in Twelve at four. We better hurry.” She tapped the console’s display, indicating the time and turned the wheel, easing into our assigned parking space.
It was six minutes to four. We got out of the car and hustled over to building Twelve.
Every employee of The Bixby Network filled the stage that was once Maddie Charles’ bedroom. Even though the building hadn’t been used in the two years sinc e OMG ! ended its one hundred fifty episode run, not a single prop had been moved. I almost expected Maddie to burst through the door at stage left with some wacky plan to start a new adventure. But something would have been different about this episode. The lighting on the set was low, casting odd shadows on the fake room.
Why were we meeting here and not the cafeteria where Mr. Bixby usually made announcements?
Something wasn’t right.
“I’m gonna go find Kac i, ” I said, turning toward mom. “She probably already has the inside scoop.”
I moved through the crowd, passing groups of people having quiet conversations and found Kaci standing near the edge of the stage. She wasn’t alone; Brendan, Taylor and—to my surprise—Amber Lao were with her. The four of them were caught up in conversation. Brendan smiled as I approached. I pretended not to notice since Taylor was there. Though she’d given me advice at the party, something in my gut told me I couldn’t quite trust her.
“What happened to your arm?” I pointed at the white cloth bandage covering Amber’s arm. Kaci and Taylor’s heads turned in my direction. I probably should’ve started with
The ride from Helena Gardens was quick even with the traffic. Bixby Studios was like a fortress. All twelve buildings that housed the sets and offices were enclosed on three sides by cream stucco walls that were nearly impossible to climb. The main entrance was lined by a tall wrought iron fence adorned with ‘B’s. The fence broke in the center for a small building with two drives on either side. Each drive had gate arms that rose and fell to grant or deny access to and from the studio. It was the only way in and out.
A group of loyal security guards occupied the building at all times. One of their duties was to check and record any and all persons entering or leaving the lot. Mom drove up to the gate stopping just before the black and white striped arm protecting the entrance from outsiders. Will, one of the younger security guards appeared at mom’s window to check for our parking pass. She rolled the window down.
“Afternoon, Ms. Trish,” Will said with a wink and a nod.
“Hello, Will.” Mom’s tone was so sweet, it could've attracted a whole hive of bees.
“Here for the announcement?” he asked in his southern draw l .
“Yes. Hoping it’s all good news. Have you heard anything?” She batted her lashes and smiled. Security was the eyes and ears of Bixby Studios. The guards patrolled the lot on an hourly basis and watched surveillance camera footage. They were privy to info that most people weren’t, and Ms. Trish found that you could be too, if you flirted with the cute guards.
Will blushed. “Everyone’s been pretty tight lipped but I’m betting on good news.”
“Thanks, Will.” She sounded disappointed.
“I wish I could be of more help.”
“You’ve helped,” Mom said.
He smiled shyly. “I’ll quit holding you lovely ladies up and go’on ’n lift the gate.” He gave us another nod and went back inside the small building. The gate’s arm lifted and mom waved to Will as we rolled into Bixby Studios.
“We have to go to building Twelv e, ” she said, reaching for her tote that rested at my feet.
“Twelve? Hm. That’s odd.” I handed her the bag. “I didn’t know they were using Twelve again. It hasn’t been used since OMG ! .”
“I got an email this earlier saying the announcement would be made in Twelve at four. We better hurry.” She tapped the console’s display, indicating the time and turned the wheel, easing into our assigned parking space.
It was six minutes to four. We got out of the car and hustled over to building Twelve.
Every employee of The Bixby Network filled the stage that was once Maddie Charles’ bedroom. Even though the building hadn’t been used in the two years sinc e OMG ! ended its one hundred fifty episode run, not a single prop had been moved. I almost expected Maddie to burst through the door at stage left with some wacky plan to start a new adventure. But something would have been different about this episode. The lighting on the set was low, casting odd shadows on the fake room.
Why were we meeting here and not the cafeteria where Mr. Bixby usually made announcements?
Something wasn’t right.
“I’m gonna go find Kac i, ” I said, turning toward mom. “She probably already has the inside scoop.”
I moved through the crowd, passing groups of people having quiet conversations and found Kaci standing near the edge of the stage. She wasn’t alone; Brendan, Taylor and—to my surprise—Amber Lao were with her. The four of them were caught up in conversation. Brendan smiled as I approached. I pretended not to notice since Taylor was there. Though she’d given me advice at the party, something in my gut told me I couldn’t quite trust her.
“What happened to your arm?” I pointed at the white cloth bandage covering Amber’s arm. Kaci and Taylor’s heads turned in my direction. I probably should’ve started with
Similar Books
