SHOWTIME!
Emma tried to slow her thumping heart on Friday afternoon, as she unzipped the official Allegra Biscotti garment bags. Had it only been a half-hour ago that she’d packed her runway-ready clothes inside the waterproof bags and wheeled them on a clothing rack two blocks east? Had she only know Adja and her sisters for three days? They’d spent so much time together working and talking that Adja joked they’d adopt Emma as the fourth sister and bring her back to their village.
Emma was ready to go. She owed the sisters so much. Their beading was stunning—it gave her chills!
Allegra really was a team event.
It was happening. Really happening.
Emma felt as if she hadn’t taken a breath for days.
They were all in Sven’s photography studio on the eleventh floor of a building in the city’s flower district. Sven blended into the snow-white walls with his white skinny jeans, white T-shirt, and shaggy blond hair. Paige, in a wool cantaloupe shift dress, talked on her phone and looked out the open window. The sun was out, and although it was early February, the cool air was scented with honeysuckles from the surrounding florists.
Sven’s studio was a closet compared with the warehouse space used for the Madison fashion shoot, and instead of tables of food from a ritzy caterer, Emma brought her mom’s blueberry muffins. Who cared? She was having her designs filmed and when it was all done it would look totally professional—she hoped. Sven would film each outfit separately and then edit together all Holly’s runway walks, so the final reel appeared to be an uninterrupted fashion show—with the same model over and over. Charlie would add in the music and backgrounds later.
In a corner, a tiny woman with nut-brown skin and spider-like lashes applied deep, black liner to Holly’s eyelids, which already shimmered with dramatic green and gold eye shadow. Realizing that Emma was a lip gloss-only girl, Paige had brought along Luella, an assistant in Madison’s beauty department, to do makeup. Luella planned to keep Holly’s face fresh and natural, except for her eyes, which were bold Queen-of-the-Nile.
“You like?” Francesca asked, as Emma steamed out the few small wrinkles in her clothes with a hand-held steamer.
Emma checked out the shoes Francesca had brought to go with the dresses. Choosing accessories was definitely Francesca’s forte. She had chosen gold strappy sandals that looked like a modern gladiator sandal. Perfection. They drove home the Egyptian theme but didn’t overpower the dresses.
“I love, love, love,” Emma said. She slipped her feet into the shoes. “I want to keep these.”
“Oh, no, no! They come from Madison’s accessorizes closet. It is a secret.” Francesca raised a finger to her lips. “No one can know.”
“I can keep a secret.” She snipped a few stray threads from the hems, as Sven fixed the lighting and rolled out a long, narrow jade-green carpet that Holly would use as her runway.
“Si? Okay, I tell you my secret.” Francesca leaned in close. “I wore these shoes last night. Bad, no? Do not tell Paige.”
Emma giggled. “I won’t. Where’d you go? Someplace fancy?”
“I wore these shoes on a date.”
“A date? With who?” Emma asked. Francesca’s life was so exciting.
“Mr. Billy Perez.”
“You did not!” Emma couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Not a date-date. He met up with my friends at a restaurant in a new hotel. A big group,” Francesca explained in a whisper.
Emma wasn’t sure how she should feel about this. “Does he know about Allegra?”
“Never!” Francesca widened her eyes sincerely. “He thinks I am her right arm.”
“Do you mean her right hand? Her assistant?”
“Si, that is it.” Francesca bobbed her head. “He believes Allegra is traveling in Italy.”
Emma guessed that was good. It was the story they planned to tell everyone at the benefit.
“Do you like him?” Emma tried to imagine what he looked like. The name Billy Perez made her think of weird morphed faces.
“I do not know.” Francesca blushed. “Forse. Perhaps.”
“You’ll be careful about Allegra? If he finds out—”
“Do not worry. I even told him that Allegra is scared of the camera, does not like to have her photo taken. He keeps bothering me. Will not stop. But I said ‘No pictures,’ good?”
Emma nodded. She wondered if she should tell Paige about Francesca and Billy.
“Do you have a special boy?” Francesca asked.
Emma thought back over the week. Jackson had stopped staring at her in class. Now he kept his eyes on the teacher or buried in his notebook, drawing comic book characters. She guessed what had never really started between them was officially over.
“No, not anymore.” They’d never finish their super hero sketch. She’d never made it to his basketball game. They never shared a brownie sundae. “You know, Francesca, I just thought of a way to get Billy to stop asking for a photo—”
“Everyone ready?” Sven called. “I’m set to roll the camera.”
“Completely,” Emma said, her focus instantly shifting back to her fashions.
“No way!” Holly’s shrill cry echoed throughout the small space. “Absolutely not!”
Holly jumped up and raised her arms, blocking Luella. The flapping sleeves of the comically large button-down shirt she wore covered her hands. Emma had borrowed it from her dad, so Holly didn’t mess up her makeup by pulling a top over her head.
Emma dropped the steamer and ran over to her friend. “What’s wrong?
“Paige said my hair has to go. I will do a lot for Allegra, but Luella is not, and I repeat, not cutting my hair!”
“The clothes you made are statement pieces. They cry out to be seen,” Paige explained to Emma. “Holly’s thick hair is a distraction and covers the necklines. A pixie cut would be much more edgy.”
“I don’t want to be edgy!” Holly cried.
“We’re not doing scissors.” Emma reached for Holly’s hand. She loved Holly’s long honey-brown waves. She chewed her lower lip, thinking about Paige’s suggestion. She saw her point. So much of the bead work and the details were in the straps and shoulders and when you saw Holly, your eye immediately went to her shiny hair. “How about a high pony? Like your assistant Caroline wears?”
Paige wrinkled her nose. “Could work but boring.”
Emma gently guided Holly back to the chair. “Maybe her hair can be pulled up away from her face another way?”
They all watched as Luella experimented with tight ballet buns, messy buns, and twists. Paige tapped the toe of her nude heels impatiently. “I’m not getting any ‘wow’ here.”
Emma had no idea what to suggest. Most days she wore her hair in a loose ponytail. Her lack of style, when it came to hair, made Holly crazy. Holly was forever experimenting with curling wands, flat irons, French braids, and updos. She even went through a ribbon phase back in fourth grade, weaving them like party streamers through her hair.
“What about beads? Could they be woven like ribbons?” Emma asked. “Or sprinkled in her hair?
“Whoa!” Luella waved the comb she held. “I’m a make-up person. That sounds tricky, and hair’s not my thing.”
“Not your thing?” Holly whirled to face Paige. “You were going to let her cut my hair!”
“Never. Don’t be silly.” Paige waved away Holly’s outrage. “I like this bead thing. Luella, if we—” She pushed Holly’s bangs to the side. Luella reached over with a clip.
“Everyone back up. I got this,” Holly said. “Em, where are the extra beads?”
Emma quickly found the stash she’d brought in case of wardrobe malfunctions. “Holly’s great at hair,” she assured the others.
For the first style, Luella pinned Holly’s hair in a twisted coil. Then Holly added one round metallic bead to a U-shaped hair pin. She artistically placed the bead along the curve of the twist. She made several more bead-pins and scattered them in the same area of her hair. The effect added just the right amount of shine and fun.
“For the next style, I’m going to need a long strand of beads threaded on nylon string,” Holly explained. “I’ll fold the strand so it looks like two strands then braid it into my hair and pin the braid into a bun. The beads will look like they are snaking through the bun.”
Paige nodded her approval.
Emma handed the string and tiny red teardrop beads to Francesca and put her to work, while she helped Holly wiggle into the first dress. Charlie pumped the music, and Sven climbed onto a high ladder to film Holly as she strutted down the runway.
Emma stood off to the side and watched in awe as Holly stepped into the spotlight wearing the first outfit in Allegra Biscotti’s newest collection.
* * *
One week later, Emma stood nervously off to the side of the cavernous Park Avenue Armory and watched the beautiful people pour into the Saving the Earth benefit. The women sported every shape and cut of black cocktail dress imaginable. Some of the more daring added a pop of color to the evening—cherry red, ice blue, and blush pink—in soft chiffons and rustling taffetas. The men wore sleek dark suits. Competing perfumes mingled together and filled the air. Everyone milled about, accepting bite-sized appetizers off recycled bamboo trays held by waiters wearing olive-green shirts designed by Ralph Lauren.
“I got you a tart thingy.” Charlie raised his palm, revealing a tiny cheese pie.
“I can’t eat.” Emma scanned the room again. There was Clancy Child in a peacock-patterned fedora. She recognized him from a feature on downtown-cool menswear on E! Style News. She was part of the same benefit as a designer featured on television. Unreal!
“More for me.” Charlie popped the tart in his mouth.
“Are you kids okay?” Mrs. Richardson balanced a drink in one hand and navy-silk clutch in the other.
“We’re fine. Mrs. R.,” Charlie assured Holly’s mother. “Mega thanks for bringing us tonight.”
“Holly had to have all her fans here. Can you believe she was picked to model in one of the films? I don’t understand why she didn’t tell me about it until after it was done. Why not tell me about the audition or any of it?” She peered closely at Emma. “Do you know why? Holly said you know the designer.”
Emma gulped and nodded. She’d always been intimidated by Holly’s high-powered mom. “She wanted it to be a surprise for everyone. I just gave in her photo. I hear she’s really good.”
“Good at what?” Holly swooped over with Lexie and Kayla in tow, followed by Kayla’s mom.
“Modeling,” Charlie filled in.
Kayla and Lexie were in their usual too short, too tight ensembles. Holly wore a sequined skirt with a T-shirt. Effortlessly chic, with a little help from Emma. Emma wore a simple black T-shirt and black cigarette pants with strands of beads—chunky, delicate, all different lengths, and one with a sparkling pendant—all courtesy of Adja.
“Oh, you’re one of the models!” Kayla’s mom crooned. “My people are doing mini-makeovers at our Beautylicious booth. Come model for us, too. You’d look fab in Pouty Peach lip color!”
“I still cannot believe the model scouts for that designer woman chose you, Holly,” Lexie sneered. “I mean, you’re pretty and all, but Ivana is going to be so ticked. They wouldn’t even meet her.” She turned to Emma. “Did you ever tell them about Ivana?”
“Well…” Emma began, not sure how to finish.
Luckily the lights dimmed so an older woman in a knit suit could make an announcement. She thanked everyone for their donations and explained the concept behind Goin’ Green. “Every up-and-coming fashion designer and beauty entrepreneur and stylist has a booth. The booths circle the room. Please wander about. These designers will certainly go on to make headlines, but you will be able to brag that you were the first to see the hottest new designs.”
The crowd cheered then began to move toward the booths and tables. All her friends headed toward Allegra Biscotti, but Emma remained rooted to her spot.
She hadn’t yet seen the completed film. Charlie had tried to show it to her several times, but she couldn’t bear to look. What if it wasn’t good? What if it looked like a school project? Now it was about to be played on a large screen in front of all these people who lived and breathed fashion. Maybe she should sneak out to the bathroom….
“Walk with me.” Paige appeared alongside her. She wore a sleek hot pink snakeskin dress paired with daringly-high heels. “This is a big night for Allegra.”
“But what if—?”
“No what-ifs. Hold your head up and be proud.”
Paige led her to their section of the room. As the Allegra Biscotti representative, Francesca stood behind a table covered in lush black velvet. A rainbow of tiny beads had been sprinkled on the velvet. Guests reached for the business cards that Charlie designed with the link to Allegra’s website. Charlie had also designed flyers explaining how the found fabric had been dyed using all natural kitchen ingredients.
Suddenly, the large screen above the table crackled to life and the sound of rain drumming against the pavement made everyone lift their heads and stare. The rain was interrupted by the startling noise of hundreds of beads scattering on a hard wood floor. Emma smiled. Every time Francesca had spilled the beads, Charlie had been recording.
The music began. Ruthie’s acoustic guitar sounded raw and soulful. As she picked up the tempo, watercolor-images of sparkling lights in the rain appeared on the screen and then the title: Bead-dazzled. Holly’s long leg stepped out from the swirl of color. The background changed to stark white and Holly strutted confidently forward, modeling the red gown with a high beaded collar, wide shimmering cuffs adorning her wrists. On the big screen, she moved effortlessly from look to look, disappearing into a colorful abstract background and then reappearing again with a new hairstyle and a new outfit. The green column, the gold one-shouldered gown, the short embellished tunic dress, the beet red toga wrap, and finally the emerald green boat-neck with the show-stopping beaded collar. Six inches deep, it was a giant circle that got sewn around the neck of the dress and rested beautifully on Holly’s shoulders. The beads—expertly sewn by Adja and her sisters—went from a deep emerald around the neck to a pale sea green at the bottom. They beautifully mirrored the ombre pattern Emma had created from the kale-based dye in her bathtub, what seemed like a lifetime ago. The screen went black and the image of crystal beads, twinkling like stars appeared with the logo: The Allegra Biscotti Collection.
The crowd bubbled to life, eagerly discussing the fashion, the graphics, the collection. Everyone wanted to meet Allegra Biscotti. Who was she? Where was she?
Emma wanted to dance and twirl and sing.
“What did you think?” she asked Paige, who was still by her side.
“The presentation itself was a bit rough around the edges, but that will come in time.”
“Oh.” That wasn’t the response she was hoping for. She knew Paige was tough, but had it been that bad? “And the clothes?”
“The clothes…” Paige took a moment to consider the collection. “The fashion was a wow. Total Wow.”
Emma pumped her fist and took a deep breath. She did it! They all did it!
She pulled Holly and Charlie aside and thanked them. Without Charlie dragging her back to Earth, the fashion show never would have happened. Then she texted her parents and told them Allegra was a hit. Marjorie was old school and didn’t text, but Emma was sure her dad would fill her in. Last but not least, she texted Adja with an outfit-by-outfit rundown of the fashion show. Emma knew she’d want to hear more. Luckily, on Monday, she’d be only an elevator ride away on the eighth floor. Emma hoped Adja would make enough money beading prom dresses that she could someday have her own jewelry line.
“Check out the crowds trying to talk to Francesca about Allegra!” Charlie said.
“I feel bad. I wish I could help her,” Emma said.
“It looks like she found a helper,” Holly pointed out. “Who’s the short, dumpy guy with the bow tie next to her? He’s totally into her.”
“That’s Billy Perez,” Paige replied.
“Seriously, that dude?” Charlie laughed. “Priceless.”
“He’s not how I thought he’d be,” Emma admitted.
“Allegra is probably not as anyone here tonight thinks she is either,” Paige reminded her. For a moment, the four of them watched Francesca and Billy laugh together. It was clear he no longer cared about finding Allegra Biscotti. He’d found Francesca.
Paige moved on to talk with other fashion industry people, while Emma, Holly, and Charlie circled the enormous room. Emma took in the amazing flower arrangements, the spectacular diamonds glittering around women’s necks, and the color palettes of the different make-up lines. She insisted on watching the other designers’ fashion shows two or three times. Every collection stirred new ideas in her brain. Her fingers itched for her sketchbook.
“Where’ve you been?” Kayla asked Holly, as they returned to the Allegra area. “I’d be front and center watching the Allegra show non-stop if I were the star.”
“I’m not the star,” Holly said. “The clothes are.”
“Allegra Biscotti used Egyptian fashion as an influence, too,” Lexie pointed out to Emma. “I was so right to come up with that idea. I’m always on trend.”
“Yeah, I saw.” Emma wasn’t going to let Lexie’s bragging ruin her best night.
“You should watch her runway show again, if you want to get into fashion. Nothing against you, but her clothes are so much better than your sketches.”
“They are pretty great.” Emma shared a secret smile with Holly and Charlie.
“I’m glad our project worked out,” Lexie continued, too self-involved to clue in. “I’m psyched for the B-plus. But I almost fell over when Chloe whipped out that tunic she sewed. The girl needs some serious lessons.”
“Don’t be harsh. It’s not so easy to sew,” Emma said. “I thought it was a good first try.”
“It was lame.” Lexie fished her phone from her quilted bag. “This is getting boring.”
Raffles, silent auctions, and speeches had started, and the designers stopped showing their films. Emma decided she’d talk to Chloe next week. She felt bad that she hadn’t helped with the tunic. Maybe she’d offer Chloe a sewing lesson. Maybe they could be better friends.
“Hey, Holls,” Lexie said. “Ivana just texted from the play-off game. It’s half-time, and Clayton tied it up with a free throw.”
“Really? I wish I could’ve seen it,” Holly said.
“I say we grab a cab and go to the school. The fun part of this is over, and we still get our gift-bags if we leave early,” Lexie said. “You’re in Kayla, right? Holls?”
Holly glanced at Emma.
“Go!” Emma commanded. Holly and Clayton had just officially starting going out. “Although,” she teased, “I doubt that’s really the best outfit for a school basketball game.”
“I’ve learned from you, Em. Always go in style!” Holly laughed. “Clayton and Jackson will think we dressed for their game, Lexie.”
Lexie grimaced. “I doubt Jackson cares what I’m wearing.”
“Why? I thought you two were—” Holly hesitated, not sure how to finish with Emma by her side.
“Jackson’s crushing on some other girl,” Kayla filled in. “But this girl has a boyfriend.”
Boy, he moves fast, Emma thought. He was just into Lexie. Now who?
“Who’s Jackson crushing on?” Holly lowered her eyebrows, confused.
“You guys don’t know?” Kayla giggled. “Emma. Jackson likes Emma.”
“Me? But I don’t have a boyfriend,” Emma protested.
“Yes, you do,” Kayla said. “Everyone knows that you and Charlie are a couple. You’re always together.”
“Charlie?” Emma cried.
Charlie whooped and bent over laughing. “That’s a good one!”
“Get over yourself,” Emma warned him. She faced Kayla and Lexie. “Charlie is my best friend. He’s not my boyfriend.”
Charlie wrapped his arm around Emma’s shoulder. “Friends until the end. No more quitting.”
“The bitter end,” Emma agreed.
“You two are strange,” Lexie muttered. “I’m out of here.” Kayla followed her to the door.
“Come too, Em,” Holly encouraged. “You can tell Jackson he had it all wrong. He still likes you.”
“It’s too late,” Emma said. “Beside I’m going to stay and help Francesca.”
Holly hugged Emma and ran to catch up with Lexie and Kayla. Charlie followed the waiter passing out mini cream puffs.
“You like that boy?”
Emma whirled around.
“I have good hearing.” Paige shrugged. “So?”
“Yeah. I did. Well, maybe I still do, but it’s not going to work,” Emma said.
“Why’s that?”
“I can’t focus on my fashion and also chase a boy.”
“Doesn’t sound like you have much chasing to do.”
“He thinks I’ve been blowing him off, because I like Charlie,” Emma explained. “He’s wrong, but I can’t tell him what I’ve really been doing. It’s too complicated.”
“It’s not that complicated. Complicated is pulling off a collection in record time using only recycled materials and searching out undiscovered beading artists to help.” Paige pulled her cell phone from her Hèrmes satchel and quickly sent a text. “Get your coat from the coat room and hurry. He’s waiting by the curb.”
“Who?”
“Benny, of course. He will drive you to your school gym. There’s a basketball player you need to set straight.”
“Why are you doing this?” Paige had never taken an interest in Emma’s life outside Allegra.
“It’s not easy to balance work and love and friends when you’re crazy about what you do. I haven’t done it so well.” Paige twirled her huge cushion-cut engagement ring and sighed. “You’re young, and Allegra is just beginning. You did great tonight, and tomorrow the emails and orders will pour in. Go have fun. Go!” Paige nudged her toward the door.
“What about Allegra?”
“The night’s over. Francesca will clean up—and it looks like Billy will, too. You don’t want to get in their way. Go on.”
* * *
Emma sat in the back of Benny’s car, watching the street lamps sparkle in the light mist as they raced down Park Avenue. She felt glamorous sitting in the back of a chauffeured car in her awesome beads. She felt like Allegra Biscotti, up-and-coming fashion designer.
She opened the glossy Goin’ Green program that was handed out as the guests left. Each designer was featured on an individual page. She found Allegra Biscotti’s page and laughed loudly. Francesca had done just as she asked.
“Everything okay back there?” Benny eyed her in the rearview mirror.
“Everything is perfect.” With her finger, she traced the picture. Not a photo, real or created on the computer. A drawing.
Emma held the cartoon up to the light. In it, she saw both herself and Allegra.
The girl wore a pink cape and a flirty mini skirt that sparked. Her wide eyes gleamed triumphantly as she flew over tall building and through the sky. A super hero’s mask covered part of her face, keeping her identity forever hidden.
