Read Online Solo Star by Cindy Jefferies - Free Book Online

usually very good at it.
    He looked at his watch. “It’s almost time for dinner,” he said. “They’ll be coming out of French.” He twirled his sticks again and dropped them both.
    â€œI don’t think you should try that on TV,” said Zil.
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Danny. “I won’t!”
    Just then, Chloe’s cell phone vibrated and she pulled it out of her pocket.
    â€œMine’s going off too!” said Danny.
    Chloe looked at her text. Thinking of you. Break a leg. Love Lolly, Pop, and Tara.
    â€œI got one from them as well,” said Danny, when Chloe showed him the text. “Oh, and Marmalade’s sent one, too. He never usually texts people.” He showed her his cell phone. “Look, it’s for you as well.”
    Chloe read the text. Friends, make me proud! it said. Chloe giggled. Trust Marmalade not to put anything obvious like “good luck.” But it was nice to know that people were thinking about them. Everyone at school knew what time the performance was going to take place, so they must have realized that dinnertime was a good opportunity to send their best wishes.
    Very soon now the audience would be arriving and settling into their seats. No one knew exactly who would show up, but there would certainly be some important people there. That knowledge only added to Chloe’s last-minute nerves.
    Would she remember all that she’d learned? When the program was eventually shown on TV, she knew all her friends from Rockley Park and beyond would be watching. Her family would watch it, too. She simply couldn’t let all those people down. And what about Mr. Player? He had spent hours helping her to get the best out of her voice. Now Chloe wanted to show him that she had taken to heart all that he had said. She wanted to do it for him and for Judge Jim, who had always encouraged her. She wanted to do it for her friends and family, too, but most of all, Chloe wanted to make a success of this concert for herself and the rest of the band.
    As Chloe was thinking this, everyone else was quiet, too, mentally readying themselves for the performance of their lives. Then the door opened and Julie came in.
    â€œIt’s time,” she said.

9. Chloe Sings
    The first act followed Julie out of the room, and the remaining students cheered them on.
    â€œGo for it!”
    â€œBreak a leg.”
    â€œYou can do it!”
    The door closed behind them and the room fell silent. The other band had looked very nervous. Chloe hoped they’d be all right. Just then, a screen mounted high on the wall flickered into life, and the students could see the studio for themselves. The audience was there and waiting for the first act to appear.
    â€œFantastic!” said Zil. “I didn’t realize we’d be able to see the concert, too.”
    The band got into position and their drummer counted them in. Chloe watched carefully. Shots from all the cameras were being fed to the monitor and sometimes she could see clips of the audience reaction.
    â€œMrs. Sharkey is there!” said Jeff, pointing at the screen.
    â€œWhere?” asked Chloe.
    â€œI just caught a glimpse of her as the camera panned over the audience.”
    Then they saw her again. Mr. Player laughed at the students’ excitement. “You didn’t think the principal would miss this, did you? It’s the high point of the school year for her.”
    â€œI guess so,” said Lenny. “It just hadn’t occurred to me she’d be there. I feel much better now that I know she’s backing us up.”
    Chloe felt the same. Mrs. Sharkey could be pretty scary, but somehow it was reassuring to see her in the audience.
    In no time, the first band had finished their performance. They arrived back in the room looking relieved that it was over. Ayesha and Rob were already on their feet.
    â€œBreak a leg!” Chloe called out as the two singers