1. Sierra

1

SIERRA

TWELVE YEARS AGO

" S ierra Noelle! We're going to be late! Get down here right now!"

My mom's voice booms up the stairs, but I'm too frantic to answer. My room is a disaster zone—clothes strewn everywhere, drawers hanging open, jewelry scattered across my dresser.

But I can't leave without it. I just can't.

"Where is it?" I mutter, tossing aside a pile of crumpled t-shirts. My heart races with anxiety as I dig through another drawer. It has to be here somewhere.

"Sierra! I mean it!"

I ignore my mom's increasingly annoyed tone, dropping to my knees to search under the bed. Nothing but dust bunnies and an old sock. Panic rises in my chest. I can't go without my?—

There! A glint of silver catches my eye from beneath a creased magazine. With a huge exhale, I snatch it up, relief washing over me as I clasp the delicate chain around my neck. The familiar presence of the pendant kisses against my skin.

"Sierra, I swear, if you're not down here in ten seconds?—"

"Coming!" I grab my backpack, bolt for the door, and fly down the stairs. My mom is waiting at the bottom, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently on the floor while my dad stands nearby checking his watch.

"Sorry, sorry," I say in a rush. "I couldn't find my necklace."

My mom's expression softens a little, but she still looks exasperated. "Well, you found it. Now let's go before we hit traffic."

I nod, turning to give my dad a quick hug. "Bye, Dad."

"Good luck, sweetheart," he says, squeezing me tight. "You're going to be great."

The screen door slams behind us as we step out into the bright Montana sunshine. My mom heads straight for the car, but I pause on the porch, drinking in the sight of our front yard. My twin brother Gabe and my boyfriend Logan are tossing a football back and forth, their laughter carried by the warm summer breeze. My heart does a little flip at the sight of Logan—so tall and messy-haired, his t-shirt clinging to him in all the right places.

"Yo, sis!" Gabe calls out as he throws the football to his best friend. "Break a leg!"

Logan catches the football, chucks it back to Gabe, then jogs over to me, his boyish good looks making my heart skip. He stops just inches away, close enough that I can smell the faint scent of hay and sunshine on his skin.

"So, this is it, huh?" he says, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "My girl's off to become a superstar."

I roll my eyes, but can't hide my smile. "Please. I'll be lucky if I make it past the first round."

"Are you kidding?" Logan's hands find my waist, pulling me closer. "Those judges won't know what hit 'em. You're gonna blow them away, Sierra."

"As long as I don't end up on one of those ‘Worst Auditions Ever' compilations, I'll consider it a win."

Logan laughs, the sound warming me from the inside out. "No way. You're going to be the one they use in all the promos. Mark my words."

I lean in, resting my forehead against his. "You really think so?"

"I know so." His voice is soft, sincere. "You're amazing, Sierra. The whole world is about to find out what I've always known."

My cheeks flush at his words. I'm about to reply when my mom lays on the horn, the sharp blast shattering our moment.

Logan grins. "Guess that's your cue."

"Yeah," I say with a sigh. "I should go."

He cups my face in his hands, pressing a sweet kiss to my lips. "Knock 'em dead, beautiful. I'll be right here waiting when you get back."

I kiss him once more, savoring the moment before reluctantly pulling away and getting into the car.

As my mom navigates us down the driveway, I twist in my seat, waving at Logan until he disappears from view.

Turning back around, I absently finger the silver pendant hanging from my neck. Excitement and nerves battle in my stomach as we head toward the airport. In just a few hours, I'll be in LA, auditioning for my shot at stardom.

But a part of me is already counting down the hours until I can come home and tell Logan all about it.