Miley couldn’t believe her eyes. In fact, she had to open and close them several times to prove what she was seeing was real. Standing on the threshold of Adriano’s house was one of the meanest, most popular girls from Miley’s high school:
Amber Addison.
So much for nobody here knowing Miley. So much for no familiar faces. Miley was face-to-face with a very familiar face, not to mention an unfriendly one!
“Miley Stewart?” Amber said. “What are you doing here?”
“Going to a party,” said Miley, already on the defensive.
“I mean, what are you doing in Rio de Janeiro?” Amber said impatiently.
“My family and I are on vacation,” Miley replied. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” Amber said. She had a way of saying things as though what she really meant was “Duhhhhhhh.”
“Actually, you live in Malibu,” corrected Jackson. “I used to deliver the newspaper to your house.” After moving to Malibu, Jackson had tried several jobs before working at Rico’s Surf Shack. Once, a long time ago, he was a paperboy. “Remember? You used to hurl them back at me?”
“Sorry,” Amber snapped, “doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Actually you have a pretty decent arm,” said Jackson.
“So, you’re the girl who’s living with Adriano’s family,” Miley remarked. “Adriano told me a girl from Malibu was staying with them. It never crossed my mind it’d be you.”
“Well, you never were the quickest girl, were you?” Amber said.
“I guess I didn’t think it’d be you,” Miley retorted angrily, “because Adriano said the girl who was staying with them was supernice and friendly.”
“Now, Miley,” scolded Mr. Stewart from behind her. She’d forgotten for a moment that her dad was witnessing this.
“You tell her, girl,” whispered Roxy in support.
“Is Ashley here also?” Miley asked. Amber and Ashley were almost always together. It was unusual to see one without the other.
“No,” said Amber. “Is Lilly here? Or do they not give passports to freaks?”
Now Miley was really angry. It was one thing to be mean to her, but it was another to insult her best friend. She hadn’t even made it past the front door, and Amber was already being nasty. Miley didn’t want to cause a scene, but she was no longer in a party mood.
“Maybe we should go,” Miley told her dad, Jackson, and Roxy. She turned on the heels of her new gold sandals to walk back to the limousine.
“But they’re playing flamenco!” Mr. Stewart exclaimed.
“I haven’t gotten anything to eat!” Jackson complained.
“I was going to show some of my new capoeira moves . . .” Roxy muttered.
Just when Miley thought she’d have to use force to get her family to leave, she heard someone else walking toward the door.
“Hey,” said a deep voice. “Who’s here? Amber, everything all right?”
Miley recognized the voice. It belonged to Adriano.
Miley quickly tried to think of a good excuse to explain why she and her family suddenly had to leave. She would have to come up with something fast if she didn’t want to spend an entire evening around Amber. Then the most unexpected thing happened.
At the sound of Adriano’s voice, Amber’s attitude completely changed! Amber smiled, uncrossed her arms, and opened the door wider. “Adriano, look, your friends have arrived,” she said in a singsongy voice. “And what a coincidence! They’re my friends, too! We’re old pals from Malibu.”
“Say what?” said Miley.
“Say who?” said Roxy.
“Dude!” exclaimed Jackson, shoving past Amber to shake Adriano’s hand. “Miley didn’t say we were going to Adriano de Souza’s house! You’re the star forward for Brazil’s beach-soccer team. I’ve read all about you. You’re awesome! Do you think I could get some tips on charging the ball from you? Oh, and that reverse-scissors double cut you used in the game against Australia? That was incredible!”
Mr. Stewart interrupted Jackson. “Nice to meet you, Adriano,” he said. “Thanks for having us. I hear you’ve got a live band and an uncle who’s sweet on samba.” He held up his guitar and shakers. “Do you think they’d mind if I joined them?”
Miley’s face reddened. How embarrassing! she thought.
Adriano didn’t seem to mind, and pointed Mr. Stewart in the direction of the band.
Miley hesitated before stepping inside the house. She was still reeling from the whole Amber situation. What had just happened?
“Please, come in, come in!” Adriano said. “I’m so glad you could make it!”
“That’s what I keep telling them, Adriano,” Amber said sweetly. “Come on, you silly people. Let’s go enjoy the party. I can’t wait for my new family to meet my old, good friends.”
Old, good friends? Miley looked from Adriano to Amber to Roxy. What was going on with Amber’s sudden change in attitude?
“I got you covered, girl,” Roxy whispered as she followed Miley inside the house.
“Let’s go out back to the garden,” Adriano said. “That’s where the real party is.”
Roxy and Miley followed Adriano inside, and Amber trailed after them.
They were walking through the living room when Miley heard a menacing whisper in her ear. “Tell them anything about me, anything at all,” Amber warned, “and you’ll regret it. I’ll make next year at school your worst ever!”
Before Miley could think of something to say, Amber pushed past her.
“Adriano, wait for me!” Amber called, looping her arm through his.
Miley’s stomach sank. Some party this was turning out to be!