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“And what?”

“Come on, Ella. I know you. I know you’re upset that he’snot here. Even though the two of you have mastered the art of living parallellives, this is a big deal.”

I shoo her hand away, twisting toface her. “What do you mean, parallel lives?”

She looks like a deer in headlights. “I…I just meant thatyou both have these careers that have nothing to do with each other and keepyou apart almost more than you’re together. And…I don’t know…you still make itwork.”

“Oh.”

She steps in front of me. “Care to explain why you got sodefensive?”

“Maybe because I don’t particularly enjoy the parallel life?Or because I wish he hadn’t taken the contract with Toronto? Or how I wish hecould be here with me because this is a big flipping deal. And because being abaseball wife is sometimes no fun at all?”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” That’s it. That’s all shesays before crouching and hugging me.

She doesn’t push for more information, doesn’t ask me totalk about it, she just leaves it all up to me.

And I kind of love her even more for it.

“I sound like a brat.”

She’s back behind me with the curling iron. “No, you don’t.You sound like someone who is proud of her work and wants the person she lovesmost in the world to be here to celebrate with her.”

“I guess you’re right. It’s times like these when I reallymiss him.”

“I know you do. Well, I don’t have gorgeous blue eyes, andmy butt doesn’t look hot in baseball pants, but I’m honored to step intoChristian’s cleats and be your date tonight.” Then she’s back in front of me.“Do you think you’re going to be as popular as the original series cast?Like…in thirty years, will people be talking about Ashla? How cool would thatbe? And then I can say that ‘I knew you when.’”

We both laugh at that.

“That would definitely be cool. I just hope the fans likeher. She’s new and different, and while I can see her growth, viewers may notunderstand that from the beginning.”

“Oh, please. They’re going to get it because she’s awesome,and they should know by now that every character has growth and changes as theseries goes on.”

I let out a long breath. “I hope so.”

We finish getting ready, and the studio sends a Town Car totake us to the premiere.

“It’s not a limo, but it’s still impressive,” Jen whispersto me as we climb in.

One of the things I love most about my friend is her nervouschatter. She hates lulls in conversation, so while I’m just absorbing theenormity of the moment, she’s talking on and on and on about her favorite GalacticWars movie, her favorite characters, and even recites several lines.

I may have to shoot her with a blow dart to calm her down.

By the time we arrive, she seems to have gotten a lot of itout of her system.

I step out of the car and onto the sidewalk, where handlersare waiting to direct us to where we need to go.

“Oh, my goodness! It’s Ella Lucas! The voice of Ashla!” Ihear someone call out, and the crowd cheers.

Jen gives me a thumbs up and motions for me to startwalking.

Cameras are filming and flashing, and as I step onto the redcarpet, I have a feeling my life is about to change.

ChapterNineteen

If this is a dream, no one had better wake me up.

Right now, I’m at Wonder Land for Galactic Wars Weekend—meetingfans, signing autographs, sitting on panels, and living the kind of weekendtwelve-year-old me used to wish on every shooting star for. And the best part?I get to be in the big Galactic Wars parade.