arms. âThey have better taste in tunes,â she said. âKaty, Beyoncé, an occasional Ariana Grandeâ¦â
She pointed to Charlotteâs crib. âYou pick her up and try it.â
Lexi lifted the baby out of the crib and gently rocked her back and forth. âSo I sat quietlyâ¦agreed politely,â she sang softly. Charlotte yawned. âYouâre gonna hear me roarâ¦â
Delaney gasped. âLex! You can sing!â
Lexi made a face. âNah, not really. I just mostly hum to the radio.â
âNo, really!â Delaney insisted. âYou have a gorgeous voice! You should be the one to compete against Meredith.â
Lexi stared. âNo way. I could never get up on a stage and sing in front of hundreds of people.â
âThousands, maybe even millions,â Delaney pointed out. âThe pageant is going to be on local Connecticut TV, remember?â
Lexi placed a sleepy Charlotte back in her crib. âThatâs even worse!â she whispered. âNo way. Iâm not doing it.â
She returned to the living room and found the rest of the cupcake club debating who was the worst singer among them.
âI think I am,â Sadie said. âMy mom says Iâm totally tone deaf.â She demonstrated a very off-key rendition of âHappy Birthday.â
âI always mangle the lyrics,â Jenna insisted. âI had to sing âSanta Claus Is Coming to Townâ in first grade chorus. You know the part about him making a list and checking it twice? I sang, âHeâs making a list, chicken and rice!ââ
Kylie cracked up. âWe all stink!â
Delaney came bolting down the stars. âNot all of us!â
âFine, we know you want to do it, Delaney,â Jenna said.
âNo, I donât! I think Lexi should enter the pageant.â
A hush fell over the room. âLexi? Lexi Poole?â Jenna said what everyone else was thinking. âAre we talking about the same girl?â
âIâm right here!â Lexi complained.
âSheâs an amazing singer,â Delaney insisted, patting Lexi on the back. âI just heard her upstairs doing âRoar,â and she sounds just like Katy Perry!â
âDo you want to do it?â Kylie asked Lexi.
âNo!â Lexi crossed her arms and pouted. âI absolutely do not.â
âBut weâd coach you,â Delaney continued. âAnd Jennaâs mom could make you an amazing pageant gown.â
â SÃ ,â Jenna said. âMy mami would definitely sew you something precioso .â
Lexi stood up and stamped her foot on the floor. âAre you guys listening to me? I said no.â
âBecause youâre afraid Meredith will beat you, right?â Kylie asked. âThat sheâll humiliate you and call you a loser.â
Lexi nodded. âExactly.â
âAnd thatâs exactly the reason you should do it,â Kylie continued. âTo stand up to her and stop being afraid.â
âTrust us,â Delaney said, gently. âWeâll be right behind you.â
âJust think about it,â Kylie added. âNo monster was ever beaten without someone being brave enough to step up and challenge her.â
Lexi knew that was true and that her friends were right. But did she have to challenge Meredith on a huge pageant stage in front of millions of strangers?
âFine,â she said, finally giving in. âIâll think about it. But no promises.â
Lexi didnât have to think too long or hard about the pageant. The decision found her fourth period in study hall. Meredith skipped into the classroom with Abby trailing behind her. Ms. Rathbane wasnât there yet, and Lexi smelled trouble.
âSomeone had spinach for lunch,â Meredith said, giggling and pointing to Lexiâs teeth. She tossed her bag down on the desk next to Lexiâs. âOr are you just green with