Read Online Sugar and Spice by Sheryl Berk - Free Book Online Page B

down.
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” Harleigh assured her. “If you need help, I’ll be right there beside you.”
    Then Lexi saw something that made her stomach do a sickening flip-flop. Meredith was wearing a ribbon that read “14,” which meant Lexi would be standing right next to her as well!
    â€œGo, go!” Delaney said, smoothing Lexi’s skirt and pushing her toward the ballroom. “Five minutes.”
    When they got backstage, Lexi tried not to bump into Meredith. She hoped she wouldn’t notice that they were standing next to each other, but no such luck. Miss Jen pushed Meredith into the line. Meredith’s face fell.
    â€œ You ! ” she screamed. “Why are you next to me?”
    Lexi shrugged. “Lucky, I guess.”
    â€œDon’t talk to her,” Miss Jen instructed Meredith. “Focus! Be fierce. When you get up there on the runway, look the judges dead in the eye and own this pageant.”
    Thankfully, Meredith turned her back on Lexi so she could get “in the zone,” as her coach called it. Lexi breathed a sigh of relief. A cold shoulder she could handle; it was better than a fistfight.
    Hershey was racing around backstage, checking names and numbers on a clipboard, and making sure everyone was in place and ready to go. She stopped to straighten Lexi’s ribbon.
    â€œGood luck!” she said, smiling.
    Lexi took several deep breaths, trying to calm the feeling of terror rising in her chest. What was she thinking? How could she possibly enter a pageant, much less beat Meredith Mitchell?
    But it was too late to run—Laura and Fitzy were onstage welcoming the audience, and Mr. Jim was already announcing the contestants. As each girl walked out, she took the microphone and introduced herself. Each had a catchy two-minute speech outlining who they were, where they were from, what they loved to do, and what they wanted to be. There were lots of future doctors, fashion designers, Broadway stars, Presidents of the United States—even a pig farmer. But Meredith’s intro was definitely the most memorable!
    â€œMeredith Mitchell, that’s my name!” she rapped, right there in her long gown.
    â€œI don’t want money; I don’t want fame!”
    â€œShe doesn’t?” Kylie asked. She was seated in the audience with the rest of the PLC entourage. “Are we talking about the same Meredith Mitchell?”
    â€œGonna make the world better—one step at a time
    And tell you ’bout myself in rhythm and rhyme.
    Be kind to people, generous and true.
    A message of compassion from me to you!”
    The judges beamed and the audience applauded wildly.
    â€œHow am I supposed to follow that?” Lexi asked Harleigh.
    â€œJust speak from the heart,” she replied. “Anyone can see that girl is as phony as a three-dollar bill!”
    Lexi took a deep breath, touched the lucky horseshoe pendant around her neck, and stepped out onto the stage. Here goes nothing!
    Mr. Jim handed her the mic.
    â€œHello,” she said softly into it.
    â€œSpeak up!” Mr. Jim reminded her.
    â€œHello!” she tried again. “My name is Lexi Poole, and I’m twelve years old and a proud member of Peace, Love, and Cupcakes, the best cupcake-baking business in Connecticut.”
    â€œHey! I’ve had those cupcakes and they’re awesome!” shouted a boy’s voice from the back of the audience.
    Lexi blushed. “I used to be really shy, and I’ve learned that everyone needs to find her voice. Everyone has something to say and deserves to be heard. So that’s why I’m here today. To prove that no one can hold you down if you speak up for yourself.” She glanced at Meredith in the wings before adding “thank you” and strutting down the runway confidently. She tried to remember everything Delaney had told her—especially the part about looking the judges in the eye and