Rock Idol (Reality With a Twist Series) by Veronica Tower

wardrobe.”
    “Thanks,
Gina,” Rick said as he got to his feet. “And thanks Ember, I really appreciate
the tips you’re giving me. Zach Donderhue was saying the same thing earlier.
Everybody knows it. You’re the judge who really cares.”
    Ember
got to her feet. She had her equilibrium back—thanks to Rick—and felt ready to
do the show. She could hear the usual pep in her voice as she called out after
him. “I’ve got one more piece of advice, if you’d like to hear it.”
    Rick
immediately turned back to face her.
    “Since
you’re going to wardrobe anyway, why don’t you ask them to find you a new
shirt?”
    Gina
Hartley nodded emphatically. “She’s right, Rick. That shirt is a loser! Get
something that shows your chest off a little.”
    Ember
laughed. “That’s right! Give your female fans a treat tonight.”
    Rick
looked down at his shirt. “But…”
    “Trust
us on this one, Rick,” Ember told him.
    He
looked up and met her eyes again. His baby blues were beautiful, even without
his smile to brighten them. “If you really think so, Ember. I guess if I’m
going to take your advice on singing, I should take it on wardrobe as well.”
Rick still looked dubious as he walked out of the room.
    “Boy,
is that young man hot!” Gina whispered. “If Fox hadn’t laid down the law this
year, I think I’d be looking to give him some private direction.”
    Ember’s
chest clenched in apprehension. She didn’t like the idea of the younger Gina
Hartley giving Rick a little private tutoring. Fortunately Fox’s assistant was
too preoccupied with Rick to notice Ember’s reaction. She caught the door as it
swung closed and leaned slightly into the hall to watch Rick walk away.
    “He’s
got some talent too,” Ember told her. “He just may be on the outside track to
winning this thing.”
    She
followed Gina into the hall trying not to think about the look of adoration
she’d seen on Rick’s face.

    “Well,
the best that I can say is that you’re dressing better,” Mitch said.
    Rick
was getting better at taking Mitch’s criticisms because his smile actually
broadened. “Well, that’s something! Mitch Daniels just complimented me.”
    Mitch
didn’t share in Rick’s amusement. “Well, I’m glad you can find some humor in
this, because honestly, Rick, I don’t see anything funny about your situation.
I mean, you’re a nice kid, but this is the big leagues and you’re only ready
for a high school team.”
    “Ember?”
Jonathan King asked.
    “I
don’t suppose it will come as a surprise to anyone that Mitch and I don’t see
eye-to-eye on this,” Ember said. “Rick, I do think your overall performance is
improving. It’s not just the clothes—although they help. You also have more
poise and self-confidence—”
    “All
of that is very nice, Ember,” Mitch cut in, “but when we cut away all the bells
and whistles, this is still a singing contest and on that criteria, Rick simply
isn’t doing as well as his fellow competitors.”
    “I
don’t agree,” Ember said. “While he’s not the strongest singer we’ve heard
tonight, there were at least three and maybe four performances that were
clearly more deficient.”
    Mitch
actually half-conceded her point. “One or two, perhaps, but I think they should
go home as well.”
    “How
do you weigh in on this Fawn?” King asked.
    Fawn
shook herself as if she’d been on the verge of drowsing on the stage. “What?
Oh? I, I think I agree with Mitch this time.”
    Dead
silence crashed across the theater and Rick’s smile fell with it.
    Fawn’s
atypical comment clearly startled King as well. “What? Did I hear you
correctly? You agree with Mitch on something?”
    Fawn
glared at him, defiance etched deeply across her face. “Yes,” she insisted.
“You did! Rick just isn’t performing as strongly as I think he should be.” Her
defiant expression cracked for a moment, leaving her looking uncertainly at the
stage. Then she seemed to