I didn’t know what was more unbelievable, the fact that we were sitting in an enormous limousine or that we were sitting in Quincy Vanderstan’s limousine. I couldn’t forget that she was a big star, and yet here we were sitting with her like she was a regular person.
“Everybody in? Let’s go!” Quincy said.
The limo was huge. There were two seats facing each other, individual seats on one side along the door, and what looked like a miniature kitchen and entertainment system in the middle.
“You have to give me the address of your site so I can see it,” Quincy told us, opening a laptop.
“Can you do that while we’re driving?” I asked.
“You can do just about anything in this limo,” Quincy said.
“Here—I’ll do it,” Miko said, and Quincy handed her the laptop.
“This is so great of you to show us some of the city,” I said.
“Are you kidding? This is fun for me! And I owe you guys. You really helped me out yesterday. If I had stayed in that sample room any longer, Helvetica would have found out I went missing. I was such an idiot,” Quincy said.
“Who doesn’t get mad at their parents sometimes?” Miko asked. “We’ve all been there. That was a ton of pressure for you on that set.”
“Did you get to talk to your mom about it at all?” Ivy asked.
“I did, actually,” Quincy said. “She ended up being supernice about it. I think she was even more relieved than me that we got back on track without Helvetica finding out. Sometimes I forget that I’m not the only one whose life has turned upside down in the last year. She’s pretty much made my career her full-time job.”
“Oh, that reminds me of my question,” I said. “Can I ask it now?”
“Shoot,” Quincy said. “Ask me anything.”
Miko tossed her camera to Ivy, who turned it on.
“Okay,” I began. “So like you said, this has all happened really fast. You had the TV show last year, but then you got the movies, and it seemed like you suddenly skyrocketed to fame. What’s changed the most for you? And if you could get one thing back from your old life, what would it be?”
“Wow, that’s a good question,” Quincy said. “I can’t even say what’s changed the most because everything has changed. I was about to start my senior year in high school. We’d shot most of the show over the summer, but I had to have a tutor on set so we could keep on schedule. I never in a million years imagined myself saying this, but one thing I’d change back would be school. I really miss just being around people my own age, going through the regular old dramas, you know? Who’s going to ask who to Spring Fling, who dropped their lunch in the cafeteria, who’s trying out for the school play. It all seems kind of endless and boring when you’re in it, but you can never get those days back. I really miss them.”
I nodded thoughtfully.
“Can I ask my question now, too?” asked Tally.
“Sure,” Quincy said.
“Well, I’ve wanted to be an actress since forever,” Tally said. “My mother says I’ve been acting like the world is my stage since I learned to walk. I love acting, and I love going to the movies and to the theater, and I’m really sure it’s what I want to do. And if someone offered me the chance to be famous like you, I wouldn’t say no. I mean, who would? But there must be things you don’t like about being famous, on top of having to miss school,” Tally said. “Is being an actress ever less fun when you become more famous?”
“Well, in terms of the acting itself, it’s way more fun than ever,” Quincy said. “I have so many more parts to choose from. There are so many options. I loved doing theater in school, and that’s something I really want to get back to, but that’s one of the downsides of being considered famous. You guys saw a little of what it was like yesterday on the shoot. There’s a ton of people around, and if I lose my temper or have a bad moment, they all see it happen. It’s hard to function when you’re in the spotlight all the time. So as much as I really want to do a play, I kind of worry about it. What if I had a bad day in front of all those people? Would they think I was just being a diva, or would they tell stories about me to the press? What if the real me is so different than the celebrity me that people don’t like me, or I disappoint them? Or what if I’m great for TV or film, where you can do stuff over again if you mess up, but I don’t have what it takes to be a Broadway actress? Sometimes I think if I got a little less attention, I might feel more brave about trying new things. Does that make any sense?”
“It makes perfect sense,” Tally said. “But you shouldn’t let that stop you from doing a play. You’d be a smash on Broadway. I know you would.”
“Thanks,” Quincy said. “And speaking of Broadway, check it out!”
We all looked out the window, and I took a deep breath as Tally exclaimed loudly.
“Oh, Times Square!” she cried.
We had driven down a street where all the buildings created this great opening—like a grand canyon in the center of the city. Every building seemed covered with brightly colored ads and pictures. On the side of one building was a massive television screen and above and below it were electronic billboards on which moving images flashed. I couldn’t look at any one thing for too long because something else would catch my attention. My eyes went from a glassed-in television studio to a theater to a rotating, blinking Coca-Cola can to a store that seemed to sell nothing but M&Ms. There was so much to take in, and we were moving briskly with the traffic. There were so many people jammed onto the sidewalk, I was suddenly grateful to be in the quiet, roomy limousine. Times Square was overwhelming, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it on foot, in the middle of all those people.
“I never get used to that sight,” Ivy said. “Not even when I lived here. Times Square is always so crazy. That’s why they call New York the ‘city that never sleeps.’”
“You think it looks packed now—check it out tomorrow when the Thanksgiving parade comes through,” Quincy remarked.
“Garamond said you’re actually going to be in the parade,” Miko said. “Is it true?”
Quincy nodded, grinning. “Yep! I’m way more nervous about that than the photo shoot. There’s going to be thousands of people everywhere and millions watching on TV! What if I do something stupid? What if I have to, like, climb off my float and run into a Starbucks to use the bathroom?”
“Oh, but you’re a star!” Tally exclaimed. “They should give you your own bathroom inside your float!”
Quincy laughed. “Maybe you should be my manager, Tally,” she told her.
“Okay, so now that you’ve seen Times Square, we’ll head somewhere a little quieter,” Quincy explained. “Hey, guys, your site is really cool!”
“If you hit that link, it goes to the blog,” Ivy pointed out. “You can see the comments people have been leaving about what we’ve put up so far.”
“I want to see,” Quincy said, pushing a button. “Oh wow. Here’s a thread called ‘Quincee’—they spelled my name wrong. Are all these comments about me?”
“Well, we didn’t know who we were going to be interviewing until the day of the shoot,” Ivy explained. “It turned into a big ‘guess who it’s going to be’ thing.”
“‘Please tell Quincy Vanderstan she is my favorite actress,’” Quincy read. “Cool! ‘Can you guys get Quincy to come to Bixby so we can meet her, too?’ Hah—you never know. Oh, here’s a good one: ‘Ask Quincy what Johnny Depp is like in person.’ Please. I wish I knew!”
“We get all different kinds of comments,” I explained. “Some of them might seem silly. I’m sure nobody imagined you’d be reading them!”
“Want me to post a message?” Quincy asked, grinning.
“Wow, seriously? Would you do that?” Ivy asked. “Just a sentence or two. Everyone would go nuts!”
“Absolutely, let’s do it,” Quincy said.
“Here, I’ll sign you in as Quincy Vanderstan,” Miko said, turning the laptop toward her. “Okay, there you go.”
We all watched as Quincy began to type, her tongue tucked in the corner of her mouth as she concentrated.
“Okay, how’s this: Hi, 4 Girls readers. Thanks for all the comments. I’m sitting here with Miko, Tally, Ivy, and Paulina having a great time in New York City. This site is awesome, and I love reading your comments. I will definitely keep reading—I am 4 Girls’ biggest fan!”
“That’s perfect! Everyone will love it!” I exclaimed.
“Can you leave my log-in so I can post again if I have time?” Quincy asked.
“Sure,” Miko said, taking the laptop. “I’ll just set a password for you. What do you want it to be?”
“Something I can’t possibly forget,” Quincy said.
“How about ‘Helvetica’?” Ivy suggested.
Quincy laughed. “Perfect,” she agreed.
Miko typed in the password. “All set,” she said. “Oh wow—Ivy, look what your mom just e-mailed!”
Miko turned the computer so we could all see it. Mrs. Scanlon had sent the picture Raavi had taken of all of us at the photo shoot. I don’t know how Raavi had managed it, but he seemed to have captured something utterly unique in each one of us. Quincy was giving a glamorous smile, but she had turned her head and arched one eyebrow like there was a secret we were all in on. Tally was grinning wildly, her eyes huge and clear, and her face flushed with all the excitement. Miko was standing up very straight with a cool, half smile, but I could see she was clutching Tally’s arm very tightly. Ivy was looking slightly past the camera, around the spot where her mother had probably been standing. And I wasn’t looking at the camera at all, I was looking at the four girls standing with me, and my face was just starting to go into a full smile. I actually looked like I was about to laugh.
It was amazing that one picture could say so much. Whatever the finished web issue contained, whatever footage and stories made it in, and whatever details never appeared, it was all contained in this one single image, what the four of us were individually, and what we became together in one glorious day.
Quincy tapped on the glass separating the back area from the front. “Hey, Tom, can you pull over for a minute so we can get out?”
The car came to a stop, and Quincy opened the door. “Come see!” she said.
We got out on the sidewalk, where the whole city seemed to be divided into two worlds.
“This is my favorite place in Manhattan,” Quincy said. “Central Park.”
On one side of the street were big buildings and on the other a paved path led into a world of grass and trees. The park seemed to go on forever. Near the entrance was a line of horse-drawn carriages. There were hot dog vendors and tables set up where you could buy anything from a purse to T-shirts. People were streaming into the park—joggers, mothers pushing strollers, and couples taking pictures or just walking and holding hands.
“It’s beautiful,” I exclaimed. “I wish we had time to walk through it.”
“We can, if you want,” Quincy said. “They might already be getting set up to start inflating some of the balloons for the parade. Or we can keep driving and see something else. I know you guys have a train to catch. Why don’t you decide? Whatever you want, I’m game.”
I had no idea where to go, but Tally seemed to be about to explode.
“I have a feeling Tally has a suggestion,” Miko said.
“Oh I do, but we should all decide,” Tally said, making a visible effort to control herself.
“Well, anything is fine with me,” Ivy said. “I spent most of my life here. You guys pick.”
Miko and I exchanged a look.
“What do you think, Miko? Are we okay with Tally picking our final stop in New York?”
“Definitely,” Miko said. “I’m sure whatever it is, it will be dramatic.”
After a blur of traffic, a short line, and an awe-inspiring elevator ride, I had to agree that Tally had made a perfect choice. It was nothing if not dramatic.
We were standing together on the observation deck of the most impressive building in Manhattan. We could see almost the entire island the city was built upon, with the East River running up one side, and the Hudson River on the other. To the south, the Statue of Liberty was clearly visible on its own tiny island and to the north the sun glinted off the top of the Chrysler Building, which glimmered like a jewel against the bright blue sky. The sight was absolutely breathtaking. I realized for the first time just how massive the city really was. It was busier and even more exciting than I’d imagined, and at the same time, it made me feel very small. And a little homesick. Soon it would be time to head to Grand Central to catch the train home. So much had happened in the last three days, I would be sorry to leave the city, but very glad to get home.
“I can’t believe it! The Empire State Building!” Tally said for the twentieth time.
“Why don’t you give me your camera, and I’ll record the four of you saying good-bye from the city,” Quincy suggested.
She had put on a baseball cap and sunglasses, and to my amazement none of the hundreds of people milling around us seemed to realize a movie star was in their midst.
“That would be great!” Miko said, giving Quincy her camera.
We all stood together near the railing.
“Talk loudly,” Quincy said. “The sound will be hard to pick up because it’s so windy up here.”
“You start, Ivy,” I suggested.
“Hi, readers! 4 Girls here,” Ivy began. “Well, our trip is just about over. We’ve had an amazing couple of days at City Nation.”
“I hope our video and articles give you an idea of what it’s like to work at a magazine,” Tally said.
“It has been unbelievable seeing all the work it takes to bring just one issue to the readers,” Miko added.
“I feel like we’ve seen it all, but I know we’ve really had only a tiny glimpse into what goes into publishing a big magazine,” I added. “We had a blast, but we can’t wait to get home!”
“Keep your questions and comments coming,” Ivy said. “You never know who’s going to be reading them.”
Quincy turned the camera around to capture her own image.
“I know I will,” she said. “These 4 Girls rule!”
Then she panned the camera in a full circle to capture the people around us, the buildings looming up beyond them, and the horizon in the distance.
It was the perfect way to end our trip. A movie star was filming US. We were literally up in the clouds, and the world was spread at our feet. I for one felt like there was nothing we couldn’t do. We had triumphed in New York City. And where would we take 4 Girls next?
Well, that was up to us. The sky was the limit.