It seems like time has stopped while I wait for Nick to respond. He just stares at me for what feels like an eternity. My mouth feels dry, and my heart is pounding as I wait for him to say something. I have no idea how he’s going to react, and I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth. Everything was going just fine. Why did I have to go and screw it all up?

“You’re Star Beck,” Nick says flatly. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.

I nod.

“The pop star,” Nick says, as if there could be another Star Beck I’m talking about.

“That’s me,” I say.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” he says finally.

“What do you mean?” I ask, my voice tentative.

“I mean . . .,” Nick’s voice trails off. “If you’re really Star Beck, what are you doing here?”

“Looking for my dad,” I say, disturbed that he doesn’t seem to believe me. “I told you the truth about that. It’s a long story, but he and my mom broke up when I was a kid, and she’s been keeping him from me ever since. I just found out.”

Nick just stares at me for another moment, and I feel sad. I just want him to reach over and embrace me and say something comforting like I understand, and it’s okay that you lied about who you are. Don’t worry about your dad; I’m sure he’s never stopped loving you.

Instead, he says, “You don’t look like Star Beck.” Then he adds, “Not that I’m a big fan or anything.”

I reach for my wallet. I dig through until I emerge with my California state driver’s license.

“Here’s proof if you need it,” I say, handing him the license. He looks at me for a moment; then he takes the license and looks down at it.

“It says Amanda Star Beckendale,” he says, studying it with a confused look on his face. “So your name is Amanda.”

“Yeah,” I say. “But I use my middle name as my stage name. If you don’t believe it’s me, just Google me online. It’s on, like, a million sites that that’s my real name.”

Nick hands back my license. “No,” he says finally. He sighs and looks away. “I believe you. I just . . .” His voice trails off and he shakes his head. “I just don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” I reach over and put my hand on his. “I just wanted you to know. I wanted to be honest with you. I—I think I really just need a friend right now.”

Nick slowly pulls his hand away.