Pop Princess. ((Closed))

[Casey Allen G5]

“Eden!” “Five minutes okay!” Casey called as she shrank to the floor of her dressing room. She couldn’t do this. She wasn’t ready. After all, the last time she took the stage she ran off. She was too confused. She wasn’t over Ethan’s death. How could she possibly do this? Casey shook her head. No, no no! This was all wrong. Casey was finally a little bit happy. Sure, she and Ezzie weren’t talking, but Casey was officially with Carson. They were officially happy together. But, now she was back to this. Since Ethan’s death, Casey had avoided being Eden Sweden with the plague. She didn’t attend any events at all and she refused to perform on stage. But, she couldn’t get out of this one. Bradley insisted that she had to be Eden again and this would be her first appearance. Eden had to stock up on her appearances in preparation for her tour this summer. Casey was actually excited for this. She got months away from Hogwarts and the country. The tour was all over Europe and then it ventured into the U.S. for three whole weeks. Casey was stoked for the tour, but not for this. “Eden Cala Sweden!” Bradley called. He couldn’t help but laugh at her fake full name. “I’m coming.” She grunted. Casey let one more tear fall. She shook her head. She had to bit the bullet.

Another award show. What was the name of this one again? The Loral Awards or something like that. It rated songs and artists sort of like the Grammy’s did, but it was on a lower key. Plus, it doubled as a charity event for countries that didn’t have clean drinking water. It was a good cause and all, but Casey just wanted to fade in the background. But, she couldn’t. Eden was the host of the event. “The Loral Awards begin in 5, 4, 3 ,2..” “And live it’s the 5th annual Loral Awards with your host, Eden Sweden!” Casey plastered on her fake smile. The crowd erupted in laughter as she took the stage. Her blonde wig was longer than usual and wavy all over. She was wearing a champagne sequined cocktail dress that looked adorable on her. Casey looked off stage to her dad. Bradley nodded and smiled. She smiled and took center stage. “Hello everyone and welcome. I’m Eden Sweden and I’m stoked about tonight.” She said to the audience and the cameras. “Tonight, Europe's favorite artists will receive awards. And it’s going to be a blast, right?” Applause. “But more than that. We’re raising money for those countries that don’t have clean drinking water. Make some noise for that!” The audience erupted with applause.

“Eden. Come here for make-up!” It was the first commercial break and Casey wouldn’t be any happier. Eden walked over but bumped into to someone on the way. “Sorry.” Eden murmured. “You should be.” The girl said cruelly and walked off. Casey raised an eye-brow but walked over to make-up. “Who was that?” She asked her make-up artists, Clarity. Clarity applied blush to Eden’s cheeks and shook her head. “London Star. She’s a military brat. Born in Glasgow, but raised all over the world. She was discovered less than a year ago in London, ironic as it is, and now she’s a raising pop star.” Casey looked over to London who was clutching some poor boy who looked as if he would rather be anywhere else. Eden nodded. “So, why is she such a brat?” She asked. Clarity laughed. “You’re one of the biggest pop princesses in the world and she is a maiden still without a crown. Do the math.” She laughed as she applied peach lip gloss to Casey’s lips. “Right.” She said nodding.“ Great. All Casey needed was another person who hated her on her back. Eden shook her head. “By the way. You’re back on in 5,4..” “Oh boy.” Eden ran to the stage.

“Welcome Eden Sweden back to the stage!” Eden smiled. “Thanks everyone.” She said taking center stage. “Now tonight is also full of several stellar performances.” She smiled and nodded as everyone clapped. “And thank the lord that I’m not one of them.” Everyone laughed. Eden nodded as she read from the monitor. “Because there are some great acts tonight. And the first is uprising pop star.” Oh great. “London Star!” That was exactly what Casey got from not reading the script before the show. London came out and the crowd erupted. London came out in a fiery red and orange dress. It actually went quite nicely with her natural red hair. Casey nodded and made her way to the side stage to watch London perform. “Well you know everything's gonna be a breeze. That the end will no doubt justify the means. You could fix any problem at the slightest ease. Yes, please...” Oh great. She was actually good. “Everything is not what it seems. When you can get all you wanted in your wildest dreams. You might run into trouble if you go to extremes because everything is not what it seems.” Eden plastered on her fake smile again and went out. “Wow awesome London.” Yea, she was defiantly reading from the monitor. Eden walked over to her. “Aww thanks Eden. That is so great to hear that from you.” Yea, to the average person, that sounded kind. But, London’s voice was dripped with sarcasm that only Casey understood. Fake smile. “And later in the show.” Again with the monitor reading. “We will reveal a big secret about us that even me and London don’t know yet.” What? Wow, Casey really needed to read ahead. “Aww I can’t wait.” London said in that fake voice of her’s again. “Me too.” Eden smiled. “And commercial. Great job guys.” Eden left the stage as quick as she could. What?

[Casey Allen G5]

“Dad!” Casey screeched as she got off stage. Bradley’s face went pale. “Yes, sweetie.” He said simply. “Don’t yes sweetie me.” She said dragging him into her dressing room. She slammed the door and eyed her dad. “What in bloody hell is going on?” She asked rudely. Casey couldn’t take surprises. Not since Ethan’s death. She had gone through so much with Ethan, Carson, and now Ezzie. She couldn’t take it anymore. Casey’s head had been spinning for months. Surprises were not in the cards. She couldn’t take them at all. Casey sighed. She felt like she was going crazy and in a way, she was. Too much pressure, not enough Casey. Bradley eyed her and didn’t say a word. “The label wanted you to find out tonight even though I told them that it was a bad idea.” He told her trying his best to calm her down. Casey shook her dad. “You know that this is hard right now dad. It’s hard without surprises. I can’t handle them.” She pulled a water bottle to her face and chugged it down. She clenched her stomach. “I don’t feel good.” He head was whirling. Maybe Casey couldn’t handle this industry. “Casey..” Bradley said walking up to her. “Eden. Get on stage!” Someone called from outside the room. Casey shook her head to her dad. “Coming!” She called to the outsider.

Casey so wished that Carson was here to calm her down. But, he wasn’t. What she would give to have him near her. “Tonight we come here to celebrate some great talents. But, we also come here to raise awareness for a powerful issue.” She paused and looking to the screen. “Millions of adults and children don’t have clean drinking water on a regular basis. Watch now as our own London star visits Ethiopia.” Great. Casey really did need to read the script before hand. The video rolled and Eden walked backstage, but continued to eye the screen. London pretended to be a little saint in the picture, but Casey could see right through the fake. “I’m here in Ethiopia..” Casey turned away from the screen and clued the voice out. She was trying so hard to gather her thoughts, but it wasn’t working. “We can, we can break out of here.” Casey sang to herself in the corner of the stage. “Jump on over there where the air is clearer.” Suddenly she heard someone clear there throat. She looked up and noticed the girl beside her. “Nice song.” London sneered. “I don’t think we’ve officially met. London Star.” London said reaching out her hand. Casey sighed and shook it. “Eden Sweden.” “I know.” London said rudely. Eden shook her head. “Look, London I’m not in a great mood so why don’t you just tell me why you hate me?” Casey asked defeated. “Why do you think I hate you? After all, you are no competition of mine.” Casey’s eyes bugged out as she listened to the wicked girl. “In a year, no one will even remember your name, Eden.” She sneered. Casey sighed. “Good. You want this world so bad, take it. But know that it isn’t easy or fun. It takes over your life. It breaks you and brings someone else into the mix. In a year, you might be huge but you won’t be London. You will be a shell of your old self just like I am. Excuse me.” She walked away. London eyed Eden with a dropped jaw as she walked. Casey couldn’t hold back the tears any longer and let another one fall.

Bradley had to push Casey back on stage for her final appearance of the night. She couldn’t take this anymore. She just wanted to go back to Carson and pretend this night never happened. But, she still had five minutes to go. “And now for our big announcement.” Oh great. London appeared on stage. She eyed Eden in terror. She was confused by her now. And Casey knew that London knew that Casey was right about everything she said. “We are pleased to announce that..” Drum roll. “This summer Eden Sweden and London Star will unite in a major European and American tour!” Gulp. No, really? No! Casey was screaming in your head. “So look for ticket to our Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun Tour coming soon!” And the show was over. Casey nearly ran off stage and to her father. She wanted to hit him, but she couldn’t. He pretended like she wasn’t upset and smiled. “So, do you have any ideas for an opening act?” He asked. Casey frowned and rolled her eyes. And then she thought of something. “Yea. I do.” But, it wasn’t exactly what Bradley was thinking. Casey ran away to gather her thoughts. She had one that would defiantly push London out of the big picture.