3 Yep, That's Just How Popular I Am

"But… that's…"

"For what other reason would he need you, Laura?"Maya asked.

I couldn't reply. Maya and Jeremy remained silent while I let that sink in.

"During your first appointment with Adler, he would probably check if you are skilled enough to write songs."Jeremy said.

"And we know how TALENTED you are, Laura,"Maya said, holding both my hands.

We had come to a stop in front of a bookstore. Jeremy fished abook out from the racks in the front of the store. I took a look at the cover page and it made my hear skip a beat.

"So they really did it", Maya said, glancing over my shoulder.

The coverpage of the book said, in big, golden letters: "SIDE STORY BY WEB NOVELIST MAYDAY"

I remembered the mail I had received three months ago asking me to send a side story of the novel I was writing. I did as they asked and received a message the very next day saying that my story was 'brilliant' and that it would be very 'nice' of me if I gave permission to publish. I had consented to the sender's request but I never really expect it to be published. I flipped through the pages and found posters and stickers of the characters and scenes of 'my' work. But suddenly, the book was snatched out of my hands.

"Maya, I didn't finish…"

Maya pointed towards a couple of girls flipping through the pages of the book I was holding.

"Hey! That's my book!"

The two girls slowly turned around and the three of us gasped. It was Mandie Morales, the School Queen and her faithful sidekick, Lisa Parkinson.

Mandie Morales and the three of us have shared a history dating back to when we were in kindergarten. I don't know what we ever did to come in her bad books, but I think she used to envy how close Maya, Jeremy and I were. Back then, she was not really popular around kids because of her superior aura. Of course, her family has great financial prowess. But it's amazing how the same aura that made others dislike her in the past made things get under her control these days. And Lisa Parkinson, whose father is Mr Morales' secretary, had been her sidekick for as long as we could remember.

"Oh, if it isn't Cartwheeler and her loyal friends… right, you want this book? You don't deserve to even 'touch' any of the awesome Mayday's books with those filthy hands of yours. Now, shoo, these deluxe editions are selling like hot pancakes,"Mandie said in a dragging tone, which always made me grit my teeth, but this time, it didn't. I was amused at how she said that 'I' didn't deserve to touch my own books.

Right, Mandie was the number one fan of Mayday, but also the number one nemesis of Laura Carter. She reminded me of the character Rosetta from the novel I pen. Rosetta, who always envied and loved to bully the female protagonist, Brianna. 'Remind' me? I think I phrased that wrong. Mandie was the 'model' for the character Rosetta. I had said it before, right? I love observing-people, surroundings, everything that comes within my range of sight. All the characters in my novel are modelled after someone I know in real life. Maya and Jeremy were inspirations for Brianna's best friends, Vanessa and Liam. I could frequently hear Mandie raging about Rosetta in front of the whole class and it made me chuckle how she didn't know that Rosetta was sculptured after herself.

"What are you laughing at, nerd?,"Mandie asked, a trace of annoyance on her pretty, amber face.

"How silly of 'you' to pick a fight with 'me'."Before Mandie could say anything more I beckoned to Jeremy and Maya, both of them listening indifferently to Lisa blabbering about how great Mayday was and how unfortunate they were to not get a copy of the deluxe edition.

"Phew, those two are a handful," Jeremy said, once we were out of earshot.

"But I was quite proud to hear them talking about 'Mayday'." Maya said, smiling.

"Heh. One day, they will learn their lesson,"I said, sneering.

"Oh, will they? We've known them for so long and they haven't changed a bit. How do you think they will 'learn their lesson'?"Jeremy asked.

"I don't know. But they will, one day. Ah, and about those copies of the side story, I will just ask the publishers to send three copies."

"But what if your aunt and uncle see them?"Maya asked "Have you ever received a post during your fourteen years in New York?"

"I will take care of that. It's fine as long as the package isn't delivered home, right?,"I said, glancing mischievously at my friends.

"I see. Anyway, how about we have lunch and head back to the entertainment company? Laura has got a job to do."Jeremy said, looking at his watch.

I had momentarily forgotten about the interview. Yes, I had a troublesome job to complete. Secretly, I wished they would send me back once again and tell me never to come again.