"Are you sure we're talking about Melli, K?" Sky asks lightly. "Stop getting so stressed out. It's ruining your complexion." She takes a loud sip of her coffee, smiles at Matty, and practically skips off to her dressing room to get ready for the next scene.

"HEY!" Nadine's voice is so loud and bubbly; I practically fall backward into the craft services table. Pete, who was in the middle of making a smoothie for Matty, drops the top of the blender and it clanks onto the floor.

"What are you doing? Are you done with the scene?" she asks. She's clutching an oversized paperback book to the bible, which can only mean she wants to . . .

"Run," Matty whispers in my ear.

"I was hoping we could do another SAT test," Nadine says. "I wasn't thrilled with your last score."

I groan. "Nadine, I've been studying every day," I complain. "I don't think I can handle another practice test. Not today. I'm exhausted."

"What are you going to do if you have to work late the night before the test?" Nadine asks me. "You'll have to trudge on. This is good practice!" Her beaded bracelets dangle on her wrist. She's wearing a cute brown sweater with khaki pants. The look is dressed up for Nadine.

"Are you going somewhere after work?" I ask.

She looks at me like I'm crazy. "We'll be on set till at least ten PM."

"Then why are you dressed up?" I ask.

Nadine looks down at her outfit. "I'm trying to dress more professionally," she says. "But that's not important. What is important are the SATs. The test is --"

"In a few weeks," Matty and I finish in unison, our voices as flat as a supermodel's stomach.

"Exactly." Nadine nods, oblivious to our tone. "We should really get in one extra test a day until then. Oh! And I talked to Seth again." She begins flipping through her binder and hands a few loose papers to Matty.

"Since when does she talk to Seth?" Matty asks me quietly.

"Ever since she started morphing into Laney and Mom," I whisper. I love Nadine to death, but I don't know how much more of these cheerleader SAT/career pep rallies I can take. I want my real Nadine back. I don't understand what happened. Nadine went home for the holidays and came back a task-master monster.

"It looks like the director of Manolos is still out of town." Nadine frowns. "I think Seth sounds a little worried you're not going to get this part, but that's just my opinion. The folks from that play are flying out this week to talk to you. But that won't work. You have to study for the SATs. I'll have to reschedule that." She begins dialing her phone.

"Nadine, wait!" I beg. "If they're flying out to meet with me, I can't reschedule."