I glance at my friends in horror. Is he saying what I think he’s saying? Whenever Paul brings up the network, it makes everyone nervous. After all, the network are the people who pay for Sadie Solves It to be on the air. They’re the ones who approve all our story ideas, weigh in on casting, and green-light future seasons. They also have the power to cancel a show.

“What do you mean?” Aubrey asks. “Are you saying that the network might shut us down if we can’t keep to the schedule?”

Paul sighs heavily. “It’s a possibility.”

My heart starts to pound. Canceled. Everything I’ve worked for. Everything my friends have worked for. Jobs for all the cast and crew…gone.

“What can we do?” I cry. “There has to be some way to make sure that doesn’t happen!”

“We’ll shoot the outdoor scenes in the meantime,” Paul assures me. He looks around at the whole group, a stern expression on his face. “But when the electricity is working again, no more delays. No more freak-outs.” His gaze moves to Amelia, and I see her shrink. “No more trouble. Okay? This is important.”

I’m nodding so hard it feels like my head might wobble off my neck. When I look to my right, Cody is biting hard on his lip. He looks scared. Really scared. And I know exactly what he’s nervous about.

I reach over, grab his hand, and squeeze it hard. It’ll be okay, my squeeze says. I won’t let us get canceled. And I mean that with all my heart.

My friendships depend on it.

Chapter Fourteen

That night, Mom drops Salmon and me off at Aubrey’s house. She lives in Tarzana, a suburb of LA, and her front yard is filled with ride-on toys, stuffed animals, a half-filled kiddie pool, Popsicle wrappers, and a bashed-in piñata in the shape of a Minecraft creeper. It looks like some kids had a wild birthday party out here, but actually, this is just a regular Tuesday at Aubrey’s place. She has three younger siblings and two older ones, so her family is more chaotic than a tornado.

I ring the doorbell and stand back. Thunderous feet sound from inside, and when the door whips open, Aubrey’s seven-year-old twin sisters, Calla and Carly, start shrieking excitedly. They want to pet my hair, admire my bracelets, and most important, they want to see Salmon, who is pouting inside his cat carrier.

“Okay, okay, great to see you girls too,” I wade past them as they pepper me with questions about Sadie Solves It. “Will you take care of Salmon while I talk to Aubrey?” I ask them.

“Can we dress Salmon in a tutu?” Carly asks.

“If Salmon’s okay with it, sure,” I answer.

“What about a superhero costume?” says Calla.

“Go wild.” I look around. “Where is Aubrey, anyway?”