Chapter Text
On a stunning, crisp autumn Monday afternoon in Los Angeles, California, sixteen-year-old Camille Roberts concludes a lengthy rehearsal for her beloved role in the popular teen drama, Witches of Rowdale Drive. She adores this opportunity, reveling in the chance to express herself through various costumes and characters. After leaving the studio, she hops on her bike, heading home to the Palm Woods, a residence bustling with teens pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. Among her neighbors is the newly-formed boy band, Big Time Rush, which includes her devoted boyfriend, Logan Mitchell.
Logan's personality contrasts sharply with Camille's; she is vibrant, outgoing, and occasionally over-the-top, while he tends to be shy, reserved, and meticulous. Despite his smaller stature and lack of muscular build, he excels at hockey and aspires to become a doctor, driven by his love for math and science. Alongside his bandmates—Carlos, James, and Kendall—Logan works at Rocque Records, creating albums and honing their choreography for performances. Their manager, Gustavo Rocque, is known for his fiery temper, frequently scolding the boys for off-key notes or missteps in their routines.
After securing her bike in the designated area for residents' personal rides like scooters and skateboards, Camille enters the lobby, sinks into one of the plush chairs, and props her feet up on an ottoman, pulling a Pop-Tiger magazine from her bag. As she reads, the cheerful voices of Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan fill the air as they stroll in, clad in basketball gear and dripping with sweat from their two-on-two game. Camille quickly notices Logan's slight limp, contrasting with his otherwise cheerful demeanor.
Concerned, she asks, “Oh my goodness, Logan, are you okay? What happened? Why are you limping?”
Logan sighs, aware she’ll pick up on his discomfort, and replies calmly, “It's nothing serious, Cami. Just a little mishap on the court. Please don’t panic.”
Sensing he’s not sharing the full story to protect her feelings, Camille’s expression turns serious as she crosses her arms. “Logan Mitchell, you need to tell me exactly what happened, right now.”
A flicker of fear crosses Logan’s face, the familiar response to her using his full name when she’s upset. He exhales, “I tripped on the court and scraped my knee a bit. It’s really nothing; I’ll be fine.”
Camille softens her tone, asking, “Why didn’t you just say that?”
“Because I didn’t think it was worth making a fuss over. You know how you get when I get hurt or sick. You always overreact,” he explains.
Camille gasps, feigning offense. “I do not!”
In unison, Kendall, James, and Carlos chime in, “Yeah, you do.”
Logan nods silently, knowing that any verbal confirmation would only annoy her further.
With a playful smile, Camille retorts, “I just care, Logan. Is it a crime to be a caring girlfriend?”
He wraps his arms around her and says, “Not when you’re the coolest girl in the world,” gazing at her affectionately.
James teasingly interjects, “Oooh, are you going to kiss her?”
Logan shoots him a withering glance while Carlos and Kendall snicker. Camille pretends to be annoyed but can’t hide her smile.
James shrugs innocently, “What’s with the look, Logan? You and Camille are a couple. Couples kiss, duh.”
Rolling his eyes, Logan replies, “I’ll kiss her when I want to, not for your entertainment, you weirdo.” James frowns at the remark.
Kendall attempts to lighten the mood, saying, “Chill out, man; he’s just messing with you.”
Carlos beams and adds, “You and Camille’s love is beautiful, Logie.”
Logan grins and responds, “Thanks, Carlos. We should get upstairs and tackle our homework.” A chorus of groans erupts from Kendall, James, and Carlos.
“Come on, guys, you know we have to do it,” Logan says, slightly exasperated. “See you later, Cami. I’ll call you tonight.” He heads toward the elevators with the others.
Just moments after they leave, Camille receives a text from her best friend Jo Taylor, Kendall's girlfriend and the lead in the new teen show New Town High. The message reads: Meet me in my bedroom. I have someone I want you to meet.
With a smile, Camille quickly types back, Ok, I’m on my way up now.
She slips her phone into her pocket and heads up to Apartment 3I, where Jo and her dad live. She knocks on the door and enters to find Mr. Taylor relaxing in his recliner, engrossed in an LA Dodgers baseball game. He looks up and says, “Hi, Camille. Jo mentioned you would be stopping by. She’s really excited for you to meet her friend.”
Camille smiles back, “Thanks, Mr. Taylor. Jo texted me to come right away. I’ll head to her room now.” She walks down the hall and enters, greeting, “Hi, Jo.” She finds Jo sitting on the bed, chatting with a girl she doesn’t recognize. “Who’s this?”
Jo beams and replies, “Cami, I want you to meet Veronica. She’s my newest co-star from New Town High, and she’ll be playing Jasmine.”
Veronica boasts long, wavy auburn hair and a sun-kissed complexion, with brown, slightly slanted eyes that hint at her Eastern Asian roots. She’s dressed in a soft, flowing pink long-sleeved shirt, adorned with a colorful "LOL" stitched right in the middle. Her pants are comfy, cotton-soft sweatpants, and her high-top sneakers are a vibrant mix of purple and neon green. Adorning her are jewelry pieces that reflect Asian colors, and she has a unique star-shaped birthmark on her right hand. Approaching Camille with a warm smile, she greeted, “Hi, Camille! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Jo has shared so much about you. She made it sound like you’re destined to be a royal princess! You must be an incredible friend to earn such a title.”
Camille beamed back, “Aww, well, Jo is the real princess here. I’m just thrilled to be her best friend. So, you’re the new character in the New Town High show! I’ve seen online that they were adding someone new, and all the Pop-Tiger magazine articles had everyone buzzing to discover who it was. They kept that a secret for like two months! I can only imagine how nerve-wracking it was waiting to find out if you got the role.”
Veronica sighed dramatically, laughing, “Oh my gosh, it was! I think I lost ten years of sleep just waiting for that call that would either launch my acting career or crush it before it even began. It was so stressful!”
Camille nodded with empathy, recalling her own struggles while waiting for her role on Witches of Rowdale Drive. “I think Jasmine would be a lovely name for your character. It reminds me of the Disney princess from Aladdin, who’s one of my all-time favorites. I personally relate most to Belle. Do you have a favorite Disney princess?”
Veronica replied, “Whenever I’m asked that, everyone assumes I’ll say Mulan just because I’m Asian, but I’m not even Chinese! My mom is from Singapore, and my dad is from Malaysia, so I speak both languages. My favorite Disney princess is actually Ariel. I admire her sense of adventure and independence, plus I love swimming!”
Camille agreed, “Ariel is a fantastic role model! What other interests do you have?”
Veronica shared, “I’m into a lot of different things! I love Broadway shows, creating art, and baking. I also play a few musical instruments, like the flute, drums, and piano. I’m passionate about helping animals, and I enjoy reading and spending time at the mall.”
After listening intently, Camille said, “Wow, Veronica! It turns out we have quite a few things in common; we both love the dramatic arts! I adore Broadway shows too, and I’m big on animals and baking. I try baking with my dad, but he’s not exactly Gordon Ramsay. His culinary experiments usually look like a science project gone wrong!”
Veronica chuckled, “Oh no! Does he ever get hurt?”
Camille replied, “Just a few minor burns, but nothing serious. I think he tries out new recipes he finds on YouTube to bond with me creatively. We have more differences than similarities, coming from Connecticut so I can chase my dream of acting. I truly appreciate his support. He’s pretty quiet and reserved—doesn’t say much unless necessary. He loves gardening and meditation and has become an advocate for food allergies. I can’t eat shrimp without having a severe allergic reaction. That’s why I always carry an EpiPen. If I accidentally ingest shrimp, my throat swells to the point where I can’t breathe, and I break out in hives all over my arms and chest, plus I get awful headaches for days. Food allergies are no joke.”
Veronica gasped, “Oh my goodness, that sounds terrifying! Have you ever been hospitalized for it?”
Camille nodded, “Yes, when I was about seven or eight, I spent three nights in the ICU at Connecticut Children’s Hospital. Those three nights were filled with agony, pain, and hardly any sleep. My dad cried more than I did.”
Jo chimed in, “If I were in that situation, I bet my dad would react the same way. At least my mom would manage her emotions better.”
Camille agreed, “Your mom is really cool. Your dad is almost like a superhero working for the CIA!”
Jo laughed, “I don’t think he sees himself as a hero, but I appreciate you saying that, Cami.”
Camille smiled, “You’re welcome!”
Veronica then asked, “So you both are dating members of that new boy band, Big Time Rush?”
Jo confirmed, “Yep!”
Camille added, “That’s right.”
Veronica took a moment to process this and inquired, “What’s it like?”
Jo sighed with a laugh, “An adventure!”
Camille chimed in, “Absolutely! It can be stressful at times, but it’s definitely manageable.”
Veronica nodded, “Good to know. I should get going; I have homework and chores waiting for me.”
Before she left, Camille asked, “Quick question—why weren’t you at Palm Woods school this morning? It’s a requirement for kid and teen residents here to attend when they have a job.”
Veronica explained, “I prefer taking my classes online. I struggle in traditional classroom settings. I’d rather focus on honing my acting skills. While education is important, I’d much rather be rehearsing my lines for a role than memorizing textbook paragraphs for tests.”
Camille nodded, “I totally understand. Not everyone thrives in a classroom full of kids. Sometimes, adjustments are necessary. I’m glad Miss Collins lets you take her lessons online. She’s an amazing teacher!”
Veronica smiled and waved goodbye.
Jo turned to Camille and asked, “What do you think of her?”
Camille replied, “She’s wonderful and kind. I really like her. I’m excited to get to know her better!”
Jo smiled back, “I’m glad you two hit it off so well. I’ll see you tomorrow!” She watched as Camille walked away.