With Friends Like These by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

interviews. Angel looked so cute and innocent as she talked about cheating on tests.
    “Okay.” Tameka stood up, paused the tape, then turned to me. “Camille, you see how you’re leaning in. You need to be aware of that, because it’s distracting. And Angel, you’re not making eye contact.”
    Me and Angel looked at her like she was crazy, but we didn’t say anything.
    Tameka pushed play again, and we watched a few more minutes of the tape before she stopped it again. “Okay, Camille, you’re going to have to have a little more personality.”
    Jasmine spoke up before I could respond. “Excuse me,” she said, waving her hand. “Since when did you become the talk show expert? I’m just wondering, because I must’ve missed the memo or something.”
    Tameka folded her arms and cut her eyes. “I’m trying to help you all out. I’m the only one here who has some television training.”
    “You sat in the audience at one taping of the Nickelodeon awards. That hardly qualifies as training,” Alexis said. Tameka had let it be known about her Nickelodeon experience. The way she boasted, you would have thought she starred with Nick Cannon in a Nick Movie of the Week.
    “It’s more than you’ve done,” Tameka said defensively. “Besides, my cousin—”
    “Yeah, yeah,” I cut her off. “We know, your cousin is a reporter for CNN.”
    “Whatever.” Tameka threw her arms up. “Y’all can look crazy all you want, then. But don’t be mad when I win this competition hands-down.”
    “I thought we agreed that you guys wouldn’t see this as a competition,” Angel said.
    “Well, I wasn’t, which is why I was trying to go through the tape with y’all,” Tameka said. “I mean, if you want to know the truth, I’m the only one who even stands a chance.”
    Okay, this girl was smoking something for real. I stood up because I saw Jasmine getting worked up.
    “Look, Tameka,” I said. “I’m sure you think you have what it takes to win this thing. Heck, we all do. But one thing we agreed on was that we would keep this a friendly competition.”
    Tameka rolled her eyes and leaned back in to the TV. She pushed eject on the tape. “That’s what I was trying to do.” She pulled the tape out. “But obviously you all don’t appreciate that.”
    “Tameka, chill out,” Alexis said. “Nobody’s upset with you trying to help. I think it’s just the way you came across.”
    Tameka stuffed the tape in her backpack, then slung the backpack over her shoulder. “Well, you know what? You don’t have to worry about how I come across anymore, because I’m out.” She turned and stomped out the door.
    We all sighed in frustration. So much for thinking she’d changed.

11
Camille
    W alter and I sat in the parking lot of the Channel 2 studios. I was nervous as all get-out, but he was trying his best to calm me down. He was dropping me off for the on-air test with the producers.
    “I told you, you got this,” he said, stroking my hair.
    “I’m just worried I’m going to freeze up,” I replied.
    “Please. This is what you want to do when you grow up, so you’ll do fine.”
    His calmness and confidence eased my fears. I smiled.
    “Now, you need to get going.” He pointed to the digital clock on his dashboard. “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late.”
    “Okay, now you sound like Mrs. Reed, my history teacher.” I laughed as I gathered up my purse and backpack. Today was the day the producers saw what we looked like on camera and decided if we’d even take this audition any further.
    “You know I wish I could go inside with you,” he said.
    “Yeah, right. I’m nervous enough. I would sho’ mess up if you were in there with me.”
    He grinned. “Call me as soon as it’s over.”
    I gave him a quick kiss and made my way inside.
    I was in awe at the huge lobby. All of the anchors’ pictures were lined up against the wall. I recognized two of my favorites, Melinda Spaulding and