The New Champion Read Free

prop? Something to use in a film about a day in the life of a contestant in one of the Gollywhopper regionals? If he made that into a video, maybe it would go viral. Yeah, right.
    He kept his camera rolling anyway. “What am I doing here?” he muttered.
    â€œGetting ready to win the Games?”
    He turned, his camera focusing in on . . .
    â€œYou’re—” He felt his mouth open and close like a starving guppy.
    She laughed. “I get that all the time. Isn’t this awesome? I mean the Games. I mean even without me having a chance to win this year. I’m Bianca. What’s your name?”
    He dropped his camera to his side but kept it rolling to capture the sound. “Cameron.”
    â€œHi, Cameron.” She reached for his camera, and he did something he never did. He let her have it. Then she pointed to Walker. When had he gotten here? “Who’s this guy?”
    â€œHe’s my brother,” said Cameron.
    â€œYay! Cameron’s brother!” She handed him the videocam. “You have a new job. I love being on camera and your brother’s never in his own movies. Am I right or what?”
    â€œYou’re right.”
    She turned back to Cameron. “So Cameron, huh? That’s a lot of letters.”
    Just one more letter than in your name, he wanted to say.
    â€œYou need a nickname. What should we call you?”
    She could call him anything she wanted.
    â€œNot Cam. He was the worst boyfriend ever. His name should’ve been Jerkface. Something else, some other name. What about Ron? Ronny? No. You don’t look like one.” She bit her lip. “I have it! Let’s do initials. What’s your last name?”
    â€œSchein?” he said, like he was asking her if he was right.
    â€œShine? Like the sun shines?”
    â€œThat’s the way it sounds.”
    Bianca shook her head. “Nah. Not Shiny. And CS doesn’t have any rhythm. Ooh. Maybe your middle name!”
    â€œNo,” said Cameron. “It’s Stanley.”
    â€œUgh.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œSo that makes you CSS. Like ‘kiss,’ but with a C .” She shook her head. “You probably don’t kiss many girls.”
    You think?
    â€œNot yet, I mean,” she said.
    Huh?
    â€œOh, you will be hot one day. Those lips will get some action.”
    Could he turn any redder?
    â€œLook at you with those green eyes, hiding behind all that curly hair. And you’re smart, right?”
    â€œHe is,” said Walker, still holding the camera.
    Bianca smiled even bigger, then looked beyond Cameron’s camera to the professional one that had been filming them the whole time. “I have a feeling about this guy,” she said. “His name is Cameron Schein. You need to watch him. He’s going to be hot one day. Right now he’s just preheating.”
    A woman came up. “Time to go, Bianca.”
    Bianca held out her hand. “Sharpie, please?”
    The woman handed her the marker, and she stepped over to Walker. She steadied her hand on his and signed the camera: Bianca LaBlanc .
    â€œReady now?” said the woman.
    Bianca held up a finger. “Both cameras are rolling, right?”
    She paused to make sure. Then she planted a big kiss on Cameron’s cheek. “A kiss for luck.” Then she gave him a hug. “This is not for the cameras,” she whispered, “just for you. I’m rooting for you, and I don’t say that to everyone.” She pulled back. “Good luck, Cameron Schein. See you in Orchard Heights.”
    And for a minute Cameron believed every word she said.

“Y ou what?” said Spencer, death-clutching his Last-Chance Lottery card.
    Cameron pointed to the lipstick lips on his cheek, then to the signature on his camera.
    Spencer shook his head. “First you win my ticket. Then Bianca kisses you. Next thing you’ll be promoted to king of England.”
    They